Bugzilla – Bug 485
severe loss of IR remote sensitivity
Last modified: 2005-03-28 09:14:39 UTC
I just upgraded my Squeezebox using the display upgrade kit that arrived today. After the upgrade the product has a huge loss in IR remote sensitivity versus before the upgrade. Sitting about 6 or 7 feet away and a bit off center, I used to be able to literally point the remote in any direction (including toward the wall OPPOSITE the Squeezebox), and it worked flawlessly. After the upgrade, the remote is now actually difficult to use from that same position. The Squeezebox now seems to be VERY sensitive to angle of the IR beam. From my normal reclining position (just to the left of center and just below horizontal with the player, 6 or 7 feet away), the player actually seems to work best with the remote pointed at a point a foot or two _below_ the player, but it's very inconsistent and difficult to use. If I move closer to center, it works better. The person on the phone at Slim Devices said that this was mostly likely due to a recent firmware change in the Squeezebox, so he asked me to report this as a Squeezebox firmware bug. Before the upgrade, my Squeezebox was running version 29 firmware. It's now running version 31. I didn't check the operation of the remote at version 31 firmware with the old IR sensor, so I can't say for sure whether it was the firmware change or the new IR sensor attached to the new display that made the change.
I have the same problem. I did run using firmware 31 a couple of days before the display upgrade, and I don't remember any IR sensitivity loss with that firmware version (but I could be wrong).
I've had a very similiar experience. If I move more than 10 feet away from the SqueezeBox the remote has to be pointed directly at and be on the same level as the SqueezeBox. Even then I might have to press the desired button several times. I would be more than happy to help debug this. Can the new graphics display run on older firmware, v29. If so I could upload the older firmware to the SqueezeBox (if it's possible to upload older firmware) and see if that helps.
Roger: According to the display upgrade document, the player MUST be at firmware version 31 or later to support the graphic display. The revision notes at http://slimdevices.com/su_downloads_beta.html agree with this. I still have my old display and IR sensor. I could take the Squeezebox to work and use the soldering tools there to reinstall the old display and sensor, then try it out (with the version 31 firmware). However, before I do that, I would like to hear from someone at Slim Devices on this problem (which I think is now pretty clearly a real problem with 3 independent reports).
Sean, please comment...
Please contact support@slimdevices.com if this is still an issue for you.