What you'll notice
The remote changes channels perfectly but does nothing to the volume, forcing you to use two remotes.
Why it happens
The decoder remote has not been taught your TV's brand code. Volume is a TV function, not a decoder one, so the remote has to learn to speak to your specific television.
This is not a fault at all — it is a setup step that was never completed, and it annoys people daily for years without anyone mentioning it.
Why two remotes exist in the first place
The decoder controls channels; the TV controls volume, input and power. A decoder remote can be taught to send your TV's commands as well, at which point one remote does everything and the TV remote can go in a drawer.
What the setup involves
Entering a brand-specific code for your television, usually via a button-hold sequence on the remote. The right code depends on the TV brand and sometimes the model year, and there is occasionally a little trial and error across two or three candidate codes.
Where it commonly goes wrong
- The TV is a brand not in the standard code list, needing the auto-search method instead.
- The code was set for the old TV and the household has since replaced the set.
- A soundbar is handling audio, so the volume command needs to go to that rather than the TV.
Our standard
Every installation we complete includes programming the remote to the TV and confirming volume, mute and standby all work before we leave. If yours does not, tell us — we will sort it out on the phone.
How we fix it
We program the correct TV code during every installation and setup we do. If a previous installer skipped it, it is a five-minute fix and usually a phone call rather than a visit.
Still not working?
If the checks above haven't restored your remote control, this usually needs a technician. Our Decoder Installation & Setup service covers exactly this fault — from R350, quoted upfront.