Advice Needed Lg magic remote control problem with virgin v6 box

Journey

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I wasn't quite sure if I should post this one in the TV section or the Virgin Media section

It's going to be a long shot anyway tbh as I've extensively 'googled' with no real joy as of yet

I'll try and explain my problem as best I can

I have an LG OLED55C8PLA TV which I love, along with an LG soundbar, Nvidia Shield, PS4 Pro and all of these things work beautifully together off the one Magic Remote (a remote control provided by LG that has a very thorough universal remote feature). Even the PS4 and Nvidia Shield (using BlueTooth) play nicely.

The problem I am having is with the Virgin Media V6 Cable Box and the Magic Remote - please allow me to explain.

I've setup the universal remote as I normally would for (hdmi3) the Virgin Media V6 box and here's the really strange thing, the Magic Remote works straight away BUT only as Infrared using a line of sight. My problem is that the V6 box is located in a small AV cupboard with all my other tech and I really need the Magic Remote to work in RF mode. The V6 remote itself works in RF mode as standard (through the thin partition wall into the AV cupboard).

I am desperate to get my Magic Remote to operate my Virgin Media V6 box in RF mode so I can close the cupboard and put the Virgin remote away once and for all.

Please help me to resolve this, thanks for reading
 

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What frequency does the Magic Remote run at ?
 

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If I'm reading your post correctly the V6 box can be operated either by IR or RF and the universal control can be set up to work in IR mode. Your problem is that you want to operate V6 box in RF mode using the universal remote control (presumably the dedicated V6 RF remote control works fine).

I wasn't aware of any universal remotes that also did RF until I googled the problem. There appear to be such beasts so have a read here. Sorry it's in the US.

 

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The LG magic remotes are not 'universal' per se. From what i have read they are specific to a year of production of other LG equipment. None of what I saw suggested there was a radio transmitter built into them, but it was only a few minutes worth.
 

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@Channel Hopper Sorry but I've no idea what frequency they run at sorry :(

@PaulR Thank you for that link, I'll certainly have a read of it when I settle down this evening. It's a pretty clever device and it flawlessly controls the BlueTooth Nvidia Shield and PS4 through the wall without issue which is why I was so surprised and hugely disappointed that I can't (yet) get it to work with the RF V6 box.

The Magic Remote does apparently work with RF (from what I've read), I simply can't figure it out.

I hate having to use a separate remote (i know, i know - real world problems) and would love to find the solution.

I'll keep trying, thank you both :)
 

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@Channel Hopper Sorry but I've no idea what frequency they run at sorry :(

@PaulR Thank you for that link, I'll certainly have a read of it when I settle down this evening. It's a pretty clever device and it flawlessly controls the BlueTooth Nvidia Shield and PS4 through the wall without issue which is why I was so surprised and hugely disappointed that I can't (yet) get it to work with the RF V6 box.

The Magic Remote does apparently work with RF (from what I've read), I simply can't figure it out.

I hate having to use a separate remote (i know, i know - real world problems) and would love to find the solution.

I'll keep trying, thank you both :)
What is the exact model of the magic remote ?

You may of course have already answered a reason, if the remote has Bluetooth capability then you should check if the Virgin box can be operated with same.
 

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What is the exact model of the magic remote ?.......
Check the model number which is usually printed on a label on the back, or behind the batteries inside the battery compartment.
 

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Getting the model number of the remote was far more difficult that I thought, I indeed needed to remove the battery panel but the writing was super tiny. Fortunately I was able to use my phone's zoom to see it because my eyes certainly couldn't.

AN-MR18BA is the model number of the 'Magic Remote'
 

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The specification suggests it is a bluetooth enabled remote, though some sites mention ZigBee as a protocol.


To start the V6 in bluetooth mode

'press the channel down on the box for 10 seconds'
 

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The specification suggests it is a bluetooth enabled remote, though some sites mention ZigBee as a protocol.


To start the V6 in bluetooth mode

'press the channel down on the box for 10 seconds'

Hi CH, thanks for all your efforts in trying to help me.... I'm pretty gobsmacked right now and I'll try to explain why

I know already the LG remote has BT (BlueTooth) as I already control other BT devices within my setup (Shield & PS4), however I was told specifically by the Virgin engineer who did the initial setup that the V6 boxes are not BT but in fact RF. Everything I've ever found on the internet, including the Virgin support forums (awful place imo) state the same.

Your post is the first time I've seen it suggested that I can put the V6 in BT mode, if this really is this case then there's real hope I can get this sorted, I thank you sir in advance.

I shall try as soon as I can get access to the TV today, being saturday will not be easy.

Thanks again, I'll let you know how I get on, purely from an information point of view.


EDIT... btw this is what TechRadar state about the V6

There are two kinds of remotes for the V6; new hardware and a slightly improved smartphone app. The former is a lighter, sleeker version of the old TiVo remote, which now uses radio frequency (RF) instead of line-of-sight infra-red (IR). That tech also powers a ‘find me’ option – hit a button on the set-top box itself and the remote will beep.

Everywhere I'm reading says the same thing...

Virgin TV's uses RF technology, Sky Q uses Bluetooth
 
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Bluetooth is RF of course - 2.4GHz, and so they are correct.

The protocol for enabling and communication is via pairing though, which is where things in your household are currently pear shaped.
 

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Bluetooth is RF of course - 2.4GHz, and so they are correct.

The protocol for enabling and communication is via pairing though, which is where things in your household are currently pear shaped.

thank you - I hope I can find a way, I will try the method you mentioned earlier about holding down that button on the box when I get at the TV.... only thing is that's for the official V6 remote and not to do with the LG one, so I'm totally confused and lost now..... I need some fresh air and a walk but it's bloody freezing out there atm
 

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I mentioned pressing the button on the virgin box, not the remote control.
 

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I appreciate nobody here would really be that interested in this topic, however others searching for a similar solution (or lack of) in the future may come across this page and drive traffic to the site :)

So it's been just under 2 whole weeks and I've received a response from LG, I'll go ahead and post the response below but in a nut shell it's a no go with what I'm wanting to do



Good Afternoon Journey,

Thank you for your recent inquiry regarding your LG OLED55C8PLA.

Firstly I would like to apologise for the delay in getting back to you.

I am sorry to hear of the issues that you are having with setting up your Magic Remote and the Virgin Media V6 box.

I have spoken to my Technical team regarding the issues that you are having and they have advised that the Magic Remote doesn’t have an RF Mode or function. With our Magic Remotes they use a mix of Infra-Red, for the power, volume and channel buttons, and Bluetooth. But when you are connecting the Magic Remote to an external input it only uses only the basic functions which all use Infra-Red.

I understand that this must be an annoyance for you; especially as all other devices are working fine, so I can raise this as suggestion for improvement to LG Head Office in the form of a Voice of the Customer or VOC. This may not directly affect your TV and set up but if we have enough feedback that this feature is desired then this may be implemented on future models. If this would be something of interest to you please can you provide us with the following information so I can create a file for you;
- Surname
- Title
- Post code
- First line of address
- Phone number
- Email address
- Model number
- Serial number
- Exact date of purchase
- Name of the retailer
-Would you be happy for LG to contact you via email about our goods and services (this can include product launches, special offers and future promotions) that we think will be of interest to you?
- Are you happy to receive satisfactions surveys, regards repair experiences, which could come phone, email and SMS?

I am sorry that I was unable to resolve the issue you are experiencing, if you do have any further questions please don’t hesitate to ask.

Kind regards
Naomi
LG Electronics UK Help desk
 

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I did mention bluetooth was almost certainly the only RF method of connection. Compatibility and operation is going to be down to the two companies of yoour kit being part of the SIG (which they almost certainly are), confirming their 15.1 compatible devices should be visible to each other when in pairing mode.
 
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PaulR

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I appreciate nobody here would really be that interested in this topic
Not at all, I am interested in the result, even though it wasn't what you wanted. And thank you for taking the time to let us know. It's frustrating when we never learn the outcome of a problem.
 

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Not at all, I am interested in the result, even though it wasn't what you wanted. And thank you for taking the time to let us know. It's frustrating when we never learn the outcome of a problem.

Thanks Paul... appreciate your reply mate :)
 

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I did mention bluetooth was almost certainly the only RF method of connection. Compatibility and operation is going to be down to the two companies of yoour kit being part of the SIG (which they almost certainly are), confirming their 15.1 compatible devices should be visible to each other when in pairing mode.

you did indeed say this.. your input was appreciated and at least I know now...

simply means i have 1 extra remote control out, first world problems :-rofl2
 

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Maybe follow up the link I posted about what appear to be universal RF remote controls?
 
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