AVR Remote acting up!

[KEW]

It some times works perfectly and other times it is intermittent and other times it is just dead only to reawaken.
I just started working with mp3 files via the AVR (Marantz SR7008) which results in my using the remote much more than I have in the past, but when it quits, it quits everything (source selection, volume, etc.) so it is not the media player.
IO have yet to find any trends or consistency in when it works or not.
I know if sunlight hits the receiver that often will interfere with a remote. That is not the problem, but I am wondering if there are any other likely causes for this type of behavior. It is one of those situations where if return it it may work just fine when they test it so I would like to do whatever trouble shooting I can.
Thanks!

PS - One thing different when this started - I had set up a music stand which represents a 18.5" by 14" sheet of metal in the middle of the room. While I wasn't shooting through it, I wonder if it might create strong reflections that would interfere with the signals. I know I held the remote close to the stand often. I'll test out that theory next time I mess with it.

TIA

 

[TLS Guy]

It some times works perfectly and other times it is intermittent and other times it is just dead only to reawaken.
I just started working with mp3 files via the AVR (Marantz SR7008) which results in my using the remote much more than I have in the past, but when it quits, it quits everything (source selection, volume, etc.) so it is not the media player.
IO have yet to find any trends or consistency in when it works or not.
I know if sunlight hits the receiver that often will interfere with a remote. That is not the problem, but I am wondering if there are any other likely causes for this type of behavior. It is one of those situations where if return it it may work just fine when they test it so I would like to do whatever trouble shooting I can.
Thanks!

PS - One thing different when this started - I had set up a music stand which represents a 18.5" by 14" sheet of metal in the middle of the room. While I wasn't shooting through it, I wonder if it might create strong reflections that would interfere with the signals. I know I held the remote close to the stand often. I'll test out that theory next time I mess with it.

TIA

I would bet that it has a crack in the circuit board.

 

[Alex2507]

Send me the circuit board. I've got a soldering iron and should be able to fix all it's problems.

 

[KEW]

I found these troubleshooting steps on the Marantz website. I thought Step 3 - using your cell phone camera to see if the IR signal is being emitted is a pretty neat trick!

Here are some troubleshooting steps to test that the remote and the unit's IR sensor are physically operating properly.

1) Please make sure the remote is in "AMP" mode. This will activate the remote to communicate fully with your receiver or pre-amp. To do this, simply press the "AMP" button on the remote. In some cases (on certain remotes) you may have to push the "AMP" button twice. The first push will activate the remote and the second will activate the mode.

2) Please make sure there's no source device or output device plugged into the Remote Control (RC-5) Input on the rear panel of your receiver or pre-amp. A non-Marantz device plugged into the Remote Control (RC-5) Input will disable the receiver / pre-amp's IR sensor and IR Flasher In.

3) Please make sure that the remote is emitting IR. (infrared) To do this, you will need a digital camera or a cell phone camera to view the infrared light. Simply point the top window of the remote (where the IR emits from) to the camera and press the button in question (or any button) on the remote to see if there's a white light emitting from the window. You will need to view this through the camera's viewer as you will not be able to see IR (white light) with the naked eye. If you see the white light, that tells you the remote is emitting IR.

None of the above revealed an issue. I got rid of the music stand (just in case), and pulled out one of my SR6001 remotes. It is also intermittent on the SR7008 while both remotes work fine on the SR6001, consequently I am grieved to believe the receiver is receiving deceptive reception from the receiver's (IR) receiver!

Send me the circuit board. I've got a soldering iron and should be able to fix all it's problems.

Wow! What a great offer!
Seeing how as it's not the remote, but the receiver, how about I send you the AVR instead?
I've also been having some issues with interfacing the RS-232C port via my Vista based PC. With your comprehensive experience with Vista and a soldiering iron (!!!), I know you are a perfect fit for the job!