Why does my VCR player keep turning itself on?

Question

I live near a police station with some type of big communications antenna, also Moffet Field and Lockheed located not too far from me,.. could this have something to do with it? I already ruled out the timer feature. When I tape a piece of tin foil over the Infrared sensor it will remain off, but once it is removed it will switch itself on again usually within an hour or two. I considered the possibility of my neighbors TV remote control triggering it but I don't think it would be strong enough to penetrate walls from across the street. Or maybe Comcast triggers it with their sniffing devices? I myself don't even use a remote on this VCR unit. Hmmm

Answer 1

OK hold on....

FIRST it's obvious your IR sensor is picking up an IR signal....

NEXT.....RF communication signals are NOT IR....so forget the police and Moffet field and Lockheed scenarios....

And I'll Assume your REMOTE has the batteries removed....so it's not a stuck button on the remote....

But I'll BET you have a Flourescent LAMP in the room....those lamps generate IR, along with visible LIGHT....
Or you might have a Neon display....
The fact is your IR (infra-red) reciever is picking up SOME source of LIGHT....not radio waves.

So.....you have any energy-saving flourescent bulbs in your room?? They are the MOST LIKELY source.
And yes, they can be lit for hours before it actually develops the "ON/OFF" command that "tricks" your VCR.

I have seen this problem with older Toshiba TV sets....
Scares the hell out of people when their Tv set turns on all by itself.

Answer 2

It sounds like your IR sensor is responding to a signal from the communications antenna. Your neighbor's remote control wouldn't do it, too weak a signal as you say. On the electromagnetic spectrum, IR is right next to microwaves, which are used for communication purposes as well as cooking, so it's entirely possible that the sensor responds to MW's as well as the IR frequencies it's supposed to. Just put the aluminum foil over the sensor when you're not using the VCR.

Answer 3

Hi

Is it a philips brand? they seem prone to that sort of thing happening. I in the past had one of there vcrs and it was always doing that.I used a power surge protector and cleaned the plug pins and it seemed ok after that.Another thing it could be is it facing a window as sun light can trigger so machines?

Answer 4

Do you know a priest who can perform exorcisms?