Remote Control Warehouse Blog

Mash, smash, bash… why do I have to press so hard to turn my Playstation 3 on?

We’ve repaired thousands of PS3s over the past 6 years but recently we’ve seen quite an increase in calls from folks who have trouble with their RESET and EJECT buttons.  The calls sound just like those we get from frustrated remote control buyers who report having to press their old remote’s buttons excessively hard in order to get them to work.  Both are caused by contact issues but the difference is in the type of contacts involved.

Remote controls have a circuit board and a springy rubber keypad that, when pressed, makes contact with the traces on the surface of the board. The Playstation 3 reset and eject buttons are actually motherboard-mounted spring contacts that touch the contacts embedded in the underside of the case top, when then PS3 is properly assembled.

These “buckboard seat spring” type contacts (Google buckboard you non-western movie watchers) can be crushed

• when the PS3 is dropped or
• when the PS3 is improperly handled during repair

As Playstation 3 consoles get older, we’re seeing more and more that were opened for cleaning purposes and the button springs were accidentally crushed.  Fortunately, they are almost always totally repairable.

As we describe in the video above, all you need to do is to GENTLY grab the crushed spring with your fingernails and pull upward until it expands to match its partner spring.  Use a magnifying glass if necessary to examine the other spring, so you have a better idea of how much the crushed spring needs to be pulled up.  DO NOT OVER STRETCH the spring.  If you break it, you’re done… but in 6 years, we’ve never broken one.

COMMENT here or on the YouTube channel if you have questions.  Thanks for reading!

Remote Control Warehouse is happy to announce that the always hard to find Vizio VUR10 remote is on sale for $54.95. That’s a $20 off the normal price.

http://www.remotecontrolwarehouse.com/Vizio/VUR10.html

Walmart is selling millions of Vizio flat panel tvs that come with this slide-out QWERTY keyboard and blutooth ready remotes.  Although they’re not old, they break when you sit on them or the dog mistakes it for a chew toy.

This IS an original Vizio VUR-10 remote control.

Order before 3pm for same-day shipping.  Satisfaction guaranteed, as always.

Thanks from the Warehouse!

Replacing a Playstation 3 Bluray laser is simple enough, but you’re doomed if you don’t know to look for 2 accessories that may not come with the new laser: the white plastic laser gear and the aluminum rail guide spring.

The following video shows exactly what to pay attention to.

Replacement lasers often do not have laser gears and rail guides attached, but they are critical to drive function. The white plastic gear is held on by 1 tiny screw and is easy to transfer to the new laser. The rail guide is simple enough if you study the old laser first, but remember that when installing the new laser in the drive THE RAIL GUIDE SPRING MUST REST BELOW THE LEFT LASER RAIL… not above it. It puts gentle pressure on the bottom of the rail, thereby keeping the laser steady as it slides back and forth in the drive.

If there’s one remote that the Remote Control Warhouse staff associate with 2011 it’s the illustrious Vizio VUR10 with bluetooth and slide-out qwerty keyboard.

Walmart seemingly sold 4 billion net-ready flatpanels over the past 2 years and the VUR10 was at the helm for more than a few ( M470NV, M550NV, SV422XVT, SV472XVT, VF552XVT, XVT323SV, XVT373SV, XVT423SV, XVT473SV, XVT553SV).

In no time we were receiving calls and emails from heartbroken owners in need of a new remote.  At first, most of them had broken the slide out keypad in one way or other… that’s to be expected. Soon after, though, everything from the bluetooth to IR to other keys started going bad.  Guess that’s part of the price of producing such a complex and feature-packed device.
http://www.remotecontrolwarehouse.com/Vizio/VUR10.html

If your VUR10 is wounded, what’s wrong with it?

COMMENT BELOW!

All is not lost however!   Follow these instructions and you will be able to unlock the channels.

What will they think of next? 

Did you know there are actually Television Remote Controls that will interact with your TV to tell you who is calling your phone without even having to turn your head to check?  That’s right.  TV Remotes have delved yet one layer deeper in the quest for the perfect television viewing experience by insuring you will never again miss a key play during your favorite football game, or one Dancing with the Stars move by Chaz Bono, or even the between idol contestant banter of Steven Tyler and J. Lo because you felt the need to see who is on the line. When the phone rings a discreetly positioned box will appear in the corner of your screen displaying the name and number of the party calling. 
 
By programming your television with one of these new remote control devices, you will be able to keep your eyes focused on the screen, your favorite beverage in hand and still have a hand free to pump in the air with glee as your favorite player clears the bases with a grand slam while still knowing that its just another one of those annoying pre-recorded political messages or your dear Aunt Mable on the line.  These remote controls put real choice into your evening and help you decide what you will or will not allow to distract or take time away from your family’s entertaniment hours.
 
Aside from convenience, this is an excellent feature for the hearing impaired.