Give me back channel 3!

[Christinko]

Wow...I rarely come to this forum....but I figured you lovable geeks could help me out...

I'm so mad at myself...I can't get channel 03 on my TV because I accidentally moved the channel to a real TV station and I can't use my clicker (did it die? I got fresh batteries even and it no longer works!) to move it to 03...Using the TV channel buttons moves from 2 (ABC) to 5 (NBC)...dern it!

How can I get my TV back to 03 so I can watch movies? Help!

[Cherbunny]

ch-ch-change the input/source channel to Video 1, Video 2, etc. until your movie comes on.

[Christinko]

Thanks for trying, Cheryl!

I don't have a clicker or a button for the TV (it's a 19-inch 11 year old TV) that indicates input source with Video 1/2 type of labels...arg...old technology!

Should I borrow a "universal" remote from a friend or neighbor to try to ch-ch-change the channel at this point?

[Cherbunny]

I'd buy a new TV.

Maybe another geek can be a better help.

[Ardbeg... innit]

Chris

This sounds like what would happen if both your computer's keyboard and mouse went out.

A universal remote might work, if its 'universal' enough, otherwise try searching the internet for sources of your current remote, by model number.

[Kawaii Kaiju]

Okay Chris, If your TV is like mine (yes, I have an ancient television also) there should be a large power button, a channel up and channel down set of buttons, a volume up and volume down set of buttons, and...? Do you have a small button TV/video? If you do, try pressing that. If you don't, what other buttons (if any) do you have on the front of the TV?

Zilla (who has considered getting a newer television, but can't justify the cost against how much I *use* a television, which is maybe 2 hours a week)

[Christinko]

I'm with you Zilla--I only watch a movie a week and can't justify buying a new TV (I don't even have cable).

I have another button on the front and tried pushing that before I even posted and couldn't get anything worthwhile from it...and definitely not video stuff. My whole movie watching separate VCR and DVD are jury-rigged to the max with parts from Radio Shack to make it all work in the first place.

I'm waiting for my neighbor to come home in high hopes they have a remote that will talk to my TV and then I'll put in on Channel 3 and NEVER touch it again since I don't watch TV anyway. Crossing my fingers. If that doesn't work, I'll do the Internet search for a new clicker.

Sigh! Natch, since I can't watch movies, now I want to more than ever!

[Chicago Jake]

Chris -

If your TV jumps directly from channel 2 to channel 5, that kind of implies that somewhere along the line you programmed in some "favorites" so that it won't bore you by grinding through all the channels that have no signals when you press "channel up" or "channel down."

That kind of programming typically has to be done from a remote control, so you'd need the remote to undo it. I'm guessing that you don't need to undo it, though; you just need a direct-access channel command, which the remote should also be able to do. If it works!

Are you just pressing "3"? Try "03" instead; it might be expecting two digits. Or it might require you to press some sort of "enter" button after you press 3 or 03.

The universal remote idea might work, but if the TV is too old, the remote might not be quite "universal" enough for it.

You might be able to get a replacement remote from the company that made the TV, or find one on eBay.

Good luck!......Jake

P.S. - one other idea: you said you put fresh batteries in the remote. Check the battery contacts. If it hasn't been used in a while, they might be corroded. Just scrape them a bit with the point of a knife.

[Christinko]

BINGO! Tiny bit of corrosion! We have contact, Houston. THANKS SO MUCH! (EVERYONE!)

This weekend I'm the movie-watching maven once again...between naked parties of course.

[Chicago Jake]

It's another TNMC miracle!!

[Christinko]

Release the pigeons!