Toshiba 21V13B - accidentally disabled remote in service mode

[pomeranian]

Hello,

I've done something a bit stupid with this TV. It's not terribly vintage (2002) & was heading for the dump anyway but I was hoping to use it so it's a shame I've possibly wrecked it.

Searched high and low for a possible solution but Googling hasn't brought back much (apart from a couple of people who had the same issue). Which lead me to this forum. Hi!

Anyway, the TV worked fine but had a slightly horizontally shifted image which I hoped to correct in Service Mode. I was supposed to press Vol- on the TV, 9 on the remote, taking me to Service Mode.

Instead I accidentally pressed Vol- and 8. Which according to the Service Manual means: Writing of EEPROM initial data.NOTE: Do not use this for the normal servicing.

The TV still powers on and works but doesn't now respond to the remote (the batteries are fine, I can also see the IR flash through my smartphones camera.) The TV only has vol & channel controls so without the remote can't do much.

I've noticed lots of service manuals have the same button presses and the wording in service manuals look very similar so I guess this is a generic chassis used for different manufacturers.

Short of finding another EEPROM or EEPROM file from one of these, what are my chances of getting it working properly again?

[Maarten]

If it's a Vestel, it now might respond to Vestel codes instead of Toshiba codes.

Edit: The servicemanual at Elektrotanya suggests it's an Orion, so please read Orion instead of Vestel in the above.

[hamid_1]

A universal remote control is worth trying if you have one. As suggested, you can try setting it up for an Orion or Vestel TV instead of Toshiba. Most universal remote controls also have a "code search" function. Typically you switch on the TV, point the universal remote at it and press a combination of buttons, then wait until your TV turns off. Then you can use your universal remote control instead of the original one.

[SiriusHardware]

Do you know if the remote is an infra red one or RF (radio)? Appearances can be deceptive, the remote for my 'Sharp' TV looks like a traditional IR remote complete with a semi-clear window at the front end, but it has a little wireless module where the I/R transmitter would normally be. If you aren't sure the easiest way to tell is to point a phone camera or digital camera at it and operate the remote, if it is I/R you should see the I/R LED flashing, if not then it may be an RF remote.

RF remotes usually need to be 'paired' with their TV and defaulting the EEPROM may have removed the pairing information which associated the remote with that particular TV. There should be a way of re-pairing them without having to go through menus, because of course you'd need a working remote for that, unless there are buttons on the side which allow you to navigate the menus.

[Cobaltblue]

Originally Posted by SiriusHardware

Do you know if the remote is an infra red one or RF (radio)? Appearances can be deceptive, the remote for my 'Sharp' TV looks like a traditional IR remote complete with a semi-clear window at the front end, but it has a little wireless module where the I/R transmitter would normally be. If you aren't sure the easiest way to tell is to point a phone camera or digital camera at it and operate the remote, if it is I/R you should see the I/R LED flashing, if not then it may be an RF remote.

If you read Post#1 again he has already used the pointing remote at his camera technique and can see the flashes.

Cheers

Mike T

[SiriusHardware]

Sorry, it's been a long day.

[pomeranian]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I took the advice to get hold of a universal remote, and sure enough the TV had turned itself into an Orion. Now going to go through the painstaking task of entering the EEPROM hex codes as per the service manual so it can become a Toshiba once more.

Thanks again everyone

[simpsons]

I've been watching this post evolve and the knowledge of Maartin on branding backed up by hamid 1 on using a universal remote control was epic!

To enable the domestic remote control to so easily access "Factory reset," or in this instance EEEPROM reset without demanding a yes/no option must have caused pomeranian's heart to miss a few beats.

With many vintage TV's configeration etc to be digitally controlled, this problem is likely to repeated a few more times!



Chris

[marceljack]

In case the chassis is a Vestel, the remote codes would be RC5, so using Philips TV codes on a remote should work (at least for main controls).