IR receiving problems with H/K 325

[Topher]

The IR receiving functions on my AVR-325 have been misbehaving the last few weeks. After pressing the volume up/down or cursor control keys, they keep on going.
I don't have any flourescent lights, only pot lights. This happens with them off, dimmed or at full brightness.
Has anyone else had this problem?
Does anyone know how long the Canadian warranty is? I purchased it around Nov. 2003, so I guess it's expired, but I have heard that HK customer service is good.

 

[MDS]

I remember a huge thread on that topic on avsforum not too long ago. You might be able to find it if you search for 'volume repeating' or 'volume rapid' or something along those lines.

IIRC, the problem was fixed by HK with a firmware upgrade.

 

[Topher]

I couldn't find a thread on that subject, but I got an email, I presume from HK, to call someone at JamIndustries.com for assistance.
I was using the receiver yesterday afternoon with sunlight coming in from a small window about 3ft. in front, 3ft. above & 5ft. to the right & couldn't replicate the problem. I'll keep an eye on it & try to figure out what conditions are present when it happens.

Chris

 

[Topher]

I spoke to the company that handles HK in Canada & he suggested resetting it. I told him that it was under warranty & he asked if I wanted an RMA number. I said that Future Shop told me to bring it in & they would send it out.
I'm under the impression that I should send it in since it's under warranty & I'd hate to reset it & just be masking a problem that may reoccur. Then again, I have to ctrl+alt+del on my computer every now & then I don't send it in.
What should I do?

 

[Topher]

I tried resetting it, but it didn't help. I tried adjusting the volume, but it did it on it's own.
I guess it's back to Future Shop. Bummer. I don't have a replacement & I imagine it'll be a couple of months.

 

[Topher]

So I took it to Future Shop on the 10th. I had packed everything (remotes,manuals, etc.) up, but the girl said that they wouldn't need them & gave them back.
Got a call from the Future Shop depot today asking me to send in the remotes. Sweet.
And the lesson we learn from the story is...
Always send in everything, whether or not the counter person says not to.

 

[JohnA]

I know...

you already sent everything in...but...did you replace the batteries?

 

[Topher]

I still have to take the remotes over to the store.
I usually don't use the supplied remote because I have a Marantz RC2000. It happened with both remotes.
I had a Recoton IR extender plugged into the MR jack & that worked fine.

 

[Topher]

So, on Mar. 21st, I took the remotes over to the Future Shop store in St. Catharines & the girl put them in a bag & put the tag number on them.
I've inquired twice about the repair status & both times they told me the repair depot was waiting for the remotes. I assumed that the store just had outdated info.
I finally got through to someone at the depot & they said that they never got the remotes, didn't fix anything & shipped it back on April 6th.
I called the store & they said that they have no record of me bringing the remotes in & that they won't have the receiver till Monday. ARGGGHHH!!!
The woman at the depot suggested that I pack the remotes in the receiver box & ship the whole enchilada back to them & this time they'll actualy fix it! Like that'll ever happen.
I smell a letter to Harman Kardon.

 

[Topher]

I spoke to the manager at the Future Shop store & he said that when they get the thing back, he'll check to see if the repair depot did anything. If they didn't, he'll test it & if it doesn't work, he'll try to pull a few strings & try to get it exchanged. If it does work, he'll order new remotes since they lost mine.

 

[Topher]

Okay, Monday came & Don never called. On Tuesday the 12th, someone else from the store called & said he tested it, it was working fine & a remote was in the box. I went there that evening & spoke to a department manager. He called Don at home & told me Don would come in on his day off, Wed. the 13th, & call me at work so I could go over there to see him test it.
Needless to say, Don never called. The first guy did call & said that he tested it & they put the remote from the store display AVR 335 in the box, but Don would check it on the 14th & then I could take it back.
I'm not very confident that it's the same unit, let alone that it's working. A sales rep turning it on & pressing the remote buttons isn't the same as a trained technician opening the unit up & checking it. Even after Don telling me that he'd order 2 new remotes, all they want to do is throw in 2 used ones.
I fear that when I get it home, it'll start having the same problem again, I'll have to pay to ship it elsewhere & be without the use of it for another couple of months. At this point, I would prefer that Future Shop just bite the bullet & give me a replacement, even if it was an AVR 430.
I'll keep you informed of the goings on when I go there tomorrow.