Hello @muzicman61, thanks for reaching us.

Depending on the type of the remote control, these can have different frequency based on the functions of each one. These are set by default and depends on the manufacturer. 

We will take this feedback and our customers will be the first to know in case this is available in the future.

Hailey, DIRECTV Community Specialist

The tv volume, on/off and input are IR. The rest are bluetooth.

Are you saying that can't be changed?  I read somewhere the remote can do IR, RF or bluetooth.

It's my understanding that the remotes transmit IR before they are "paired" to the box. If you want to make it spit IR for everything, just find the procedure to unpair / clear the pairing on the remote, and then it should go back to spitting IR. The TV keys (volume/mute/input) are obviously IR all the time to control the TV.

If you are looking to program a universal remote control of some sort, it's my understanding that the IR codes used are identical to old DirecTV (DBS/satellite) IR codes. If you're working from a code database, you can supposedly pick any of the more recent DTV remotes and they should work (via IR).

Note that if the remote isn't paired, you can't do voice searches with it.

Bluetooth is better than IR. Has a better range. And doesn't stop working when there is an obstruction. 

Ludwick that is a great reason to use Bluetooth, but some people like/want to use universal remotes, and there's (to my knowledge) no way to universalize Bluetooth remote control like this. (If only!)

I have URC-brand remotes that have their own RF base stations that have IR emitters on them. The base station is near the components/tv/etc. The remote sends wireless signals to the base station and the base station converts them to IR and flashes the equipment. So I don't have to worry about obstructions, plus my RF runs in the ~400MHz range (IIRC), which carries a lot further (and gets through walls better and has less interference) than Bluetooth's 2.4GHz.

So, that's my reason for wanting to use IR, at least. 😉

Hello all,

My wife and I find it very difficult to locate the appropriate remote button in a darkened room - very frustrating!  The dash button doesn't help much either.  Any suggestions (other than turning on room lights)?

I usually hit the volume button which is easy to feel. That in turn will light up the remote send then ok can see all the buttons.

Thanks for the tip muzicman.  I'll try that tonight; hope that it works better than the dash button (lighting is much too brief).

Let us know how it works. Since my volume is controlled through my stereo, I usually do a volume down and then once I've done whateva function I needed to do, I hit the volume up key before setting the remote down.

While that works its still a pita and shouldn't be necessary.  We need a firmware update to light-up the buttons (on voice command).

C71KW-400 Remote has got to go down in history as the worst. Former TIVO "Peanut" user.