The Mystery of the Boston Acoustics Horizon Duo Remote Control

One of my favorite radios is the Boston Acoustics Horizon Duo, which I bought for $105 plus $10 shipping about six months ago. No radio fills my kitchen with such warm, friendly sound. The reception is great.

But here's the rub. The Duo often will not respond to its remote control. I aim and I aim and I press and I press and I get nothing. I have changed the battery. I have contacted Boston Acoustics and they replaced the remote with a new one. When the new one fared no better, I put in a new battery but with little improvement.

In the kitchen, I toggle while seated at the breakfast table, aiming upward. I thought perhaps the upward motion is not friendly to the relationship between the Duo and its remote.

So I moved the Duo to the piano/workout room, sat it on the bench and while standing I pressed the remote and the radio works fine and with ease. 

I see two potential factors as to why the remote works in the piano room but not the kitchen. One theory, as I surmised earlier, is that the remote doesn't work pointed upwards, but works fine pointed downwards.

My second theory is that there is sunlight coming through the kitchen window and the light obscures the communication between the remote and the radio. The piano room is darker. 

But here's the rub: The Duo and the remote exist in a happy marriage in the piano room, but the Duo does not perform on FM with the same strength as it does in the kitchen. When I rigged it in the kitchen, I elevated the wire antenna, looping it around a tapestry hook. In contrast, from where it is in a lower position, elevating the wire on the bench back support does not bring in the same strength of FM performance, no matter which way I manipulate the wire.

For now, the Duo is in the workout room, but I have another Duo in transit, which I will use, once again, in the kitchen.

I'll figure this thing out. I don't think I'd be happy unless I had some radio "problem" to dabble with. 

Comments

[Angelo]

Sounds like something is interfering with the remote in the kitchen. A light source is possible---or something stranger.

[Ken K.]

>

I have the same problem with the remote on a JVC Boombox I have. I like to bring it outside on the patio on nice days, but the remote won't work --too bright.

[Jeffrey McMahon]

Thanks. I'm not crazy. The kitchen light seems to be the culprit.

[JW]

Good info:
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/remote-control2.htm

[Jeffrey McMahon]

JW, if the kitchen has fluorescent bulbs or similar light, the remote can be impeded, as your link informs me. Thanks for that link.