TV remote controls Archives - Dan's Electronics Blog

Does Watching TV Before Going to Bed Keep You Up

June 26, 2018August 8, 2018 ReplacementRemotes.com

For most people, keeping the TV on right until bedtime can affect how well we fall asleep and how much restful sleep we get. If you find you are having a difficult time putting down the TV remote control, you are not alone.

We tell ourselves we are going to watch just one more episode, and then stop for the night. Next thing we know, it is 4 a.m., and we just finished watching ten episodes back to back. Aside from binge-watching keeping us up at night, another reason we can have problems falling asleep is due to the type of blue light our TV and device screens emit.

This blue light slows down the production of melatonin, the hormone that helps us sleep. Rather, our bodies are tricked into believing it is still daytime. Have you ever been sleepy while watching TV, and then, the moment you shut it off, you are wide awake? This is caused by reduced melatonin levels.

restless woman

How to Get to Sleep Easier

One way to fall asleep easier is to shut off the TV and discontinue using ALL electronic devices at least one hour before bedtime. Doing so allows your mind and body to relax and melatonin levels to increase, which will make it easier to fall asleep.

To help you shut off the TV sooner, set the timer on your TV with your remote so it automatically turns off. During the hour or so before bed, read a paperback or hardcover book or engage your loved ones in conversation.

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Use Commercial Breaks to Your Advantage

April 1, 2017March 23, 2017 ReplacementRemotes.com

The average hour-long television show has about 14 minutes of commercial breaks. What are you doing with that time? Flipping through other channels with your remote control or passively watching commercial messages while waiting for your show to come back? Why not put that idle time to good use?

Commercial Breaks to Your Advantage

By using those 14 minutes of commercial time for easy household tasks, you can keep from having to set aside another time to do them. This will improve your personal productivity and free up more time during your day for more important activities. Here’s a list of a few things you can do during commercial breaks:

Plan your day – Make a list of everything you need to do tomorrow. This will help keep you organized and allow you to make better use of your time.
Make your grocery list – Take advantage of a commercial break to make your shopping list for your next grocery trip. It’ll save you from having to do it later.
Respond to emails – Use the short commercial break to respond to emails you may have left unread or unanswered during the work day. Also, clean out that inbox.
Tidy up – Toss your socks in the dirty clothes basket, put away DVDs and books, and perform a few other minor cleaning tasks.

Replacementremotes.com is a provider of new and refurbished TV remote controls for a wide variety of televisions and other electronics. In addition to remotes, the company also provides TV stands, accessories, replacement product manuals, lights, and other accessories. The company also operates a repair service for remotes and other devices.

Six of the Greatest 80s Television Comedies

March 18, 2017March 23, 2017 ReplacementRemotes.com

If you’re a member of Gen X, the TV comedies of the 1980s probably hold a special place in your heart. It was a great era for television comedies, as the network sitcom hit its peak and cable began to innovate and take comedy to new places.

Greatest 80s Television Comedies

It’s tough to pick out the best comedies of the 80s because there were so many, but here are a few that we would stop and watch if we saw them the next time we were flipping through channels with our TV remotes:

Cheers – The definitive TV comedy of the 1980s, whose influence can still be felt in modern comedies, such as It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Married with Children – This risqué comedy signaled the beginning of an edgier age of comedy and the deconstruction of many old sitcom conventions.
Moonlighting – An innovative detective comedy known for its great writing and quirky cast, including Bruce Willis.
ALF – Any child of the 80s will always love the furry alien from Melmac.
Golden Girls – Featuring four older women living together in Miami, the Golden Girls entertained while also getting audiences to think more about issues such as aging and equality.
Full House – A much-beloved family-friendly comedy which has found new life in a modern revival that has won a new generation of fans.

Replacementremotes.com sells new and refurbished TV remote controls for a wide variety of televisions and other electronic devices. The company also provides TV stands, accessories, replacement product manuals, lights, and other accessories. The company also operates a repair service for remotes and other devices.

Why Traditional Batteries Are Better Than Rechargeable Ones for Remotes

March 4, 2017February 23, 2017 ReplacementRemotes.com

Rechargeable batteries are often a great solution for many electronic devices, as they allow users to reuse the same batteries over and over again, sparing them the cost of buying new batteries. They are not cost-effective for all electronics, however. For TV remotes, traditional alkaline batteries remain the best option.

Rechargeable batteries can be re-energized many times, keeping their owners from the time and expense of purchasing new ones. The small cost of recharging batteries using your electric utilities is much cheaper than the cost of purchasing new batteries.

However, rechargeable batteries do not hold charges for as long as traditional batteries do. This means that, when they’re placed in low-draw devices such as remotes, much of their energy is unused. They’ll need to be recharged more often, reducing their lifespan and inconveniencing their owners. A traditional battery is a better option for these devices, as they hold onto their charge for a longer time when not in use.

Rechargeable batteries are much better for electronic devices that are frequently used or draw a lot of power from continuous use, such as video game controllers. Rechargeable batteries and chargers can save consumers a lot of time and money when used in these devices.

For consumers seeking top-quality remotes, ReplacementRemotes.com is the place to shop. ReplacementRemotes.com sells new and refurbished TV remote controls for a wide variety of televisions and other electronic devices. The company also provides TV stands, accessories, replacement product manuals, lights, and other accessories. The company also operates a repair service for remotes and other devices.

Three Tips for Perfect TV Positioning

December 18, 2016December 20, 2016 ReplacementRemotes.com

You can always tell when a television just isn’t positioned right. The glare from lights or windows is distracting. You have to crane or tilt your neck to get a good view. You have to either squint to see text on the screen or you’re overwhelmed by how close the screen feels. It’s tough to use the TV remote.

Finding just the right spot and positioning for your television isn’t easy. If it were, we’d all be home consultants. For folks struggling to properly set up their television, the following tips can help:

One of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make is whether to mount the television on the wall or place it on a TV stand. Wall mounting frees up floor space and is also helpful in homes with active children or pets. If you mount it on the wall, you’ll need to make sure that the television is securely fastened to the wall, and that it’s at an angle and height that is conducive for viewing.
If you have a little more room, a TV stand can be a good choice. It’s easier to adjust the height with a stand, and the stand itself can come in handy for storage. If you place the TV on a stand, you’ll want to position it so that it’s at eye level when you’re seated, for optimal viewing.
How far away your seating should be from the television is another major concern. In general, the larger the television, the farther away your seating should be for optimal viewing. For 26-inch screens, the optimal distance is around five feet. For 40-inch screens, a seven-foot distance is ideal. And, for 50-inch screens, you’ll need six-and-a-half feet or greater.

ReplacementRemotes.com sells new and refurbished TV remote controls for a wide variety of televisions and other electronic devices. The company also provides TV stands, accessories, replacement product manuals, lights, and other accessories. The company also operates a repair service for remotes and other devices. To learn more, contact 1-877-671-7173.

America’s Love Affair with Television

August 1, 2016August 1, 2016 ReplacementRemotes.com

Being the birthplace of television, it’s little wonder that America has a long-running love affair with the medium. Generations have grown up with a TV remote in their hands, and although technology is changing how we watch, it isn’t changing our appreciation for a good story presented with great visuals.

Consider these statistics about television viewership:

Although traditional television viewing (watching broadcast and cable networks) is declining, it doesn’t necessarily mean that people are watching less TV. They’re just choosing a different medium to view it. More and more people are watching streaming services like Netflix that offer fare from traditional TV networks, along with original programming.
Traditional television viewership remains an ingrained habit with older viewers. Just 23 percent of the over-65 crowd watch streaming services like Netflix.
Netflix now has 74.76 million customers around the world, including more than 44 million in the U.S., according to Variety.
Streaming is huge for younger viewers. About 60 percent of 35-44 year olds watch streaming video on demand.
Parents have a big impact on their children’s viewing time, but, as kids get older, that influence wanes. According to CBS News, parents have the biggest impact on kids’ viewing time from ages 6-11.

Sources:

http://variety.com/2016/digital/news/netflix-tv-ratings-decline-2015-1201721672/

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/parents-tv-time-may-be-the-biggest-influence-on-kids-viewing-habits/

Top Four Dystopian TV Shows

August 1, 2016August 1, 2016 ReplacementRemotes.com

It may be a reflection of the times we live in, but television shows portraying a dystopian future are increasingly popular. Unlike the happy, optimistic future portrayed by classic TV sci-fi like Star Trek, dystopian television shows portray a darker future, where technology hasn’t cured all of society’s ills, and, in fact, may have made them worse.

Some of the top dystopian television shows include:

The Walking Dead – More than half the population are zombies and the other half seem to be trying to kill our heroes. It doesn’t get much more dark or dystopian as this show, based on a popular series of comics by Robert Kirkland.
Doctor Who – While often branded as happy-go-lucky sci-fi fare, many episodes of Doctor Who see the Doctor and his companions struggling against greedy, all-powerful corporations in the future of fascistic governments.
Firefly – “Firefly” follows a band of misfits as they travel the edges of a space-faring society, hunted by representatives of an oppressive interplanetary government. The themes of personal freedom versus collectivism are explored, along with the cosmos, in this modern sci-fi classic.
Black Mirror – An anthology series, “Black Mirror” holds up a funhouse mirror to modern society, offering a darkly speculative look at the implications of our technological progress. The show has gotten rave reviews, and one episode has even been optioned for a movie by Robert Downey Jr.

Five Tips to Avoid Losing Your Remote

July 18, 2016July 19, 2016 ReplacementRemotes.com

Losing your TV remote is a real pain. Today’s television remote controls do a lot more than just flip between channels and, without your television remote, you may not be able to operate your TV.

For folks who’d like to avoid losing their remotes, these tips can help:

Designate a spot for the remote – Keep up with your remote by always leaving it in the same place. By returning the remote to an end table or coffee table after each use, you can avoid losing it.
Make it more visible – Paint your remote or tie a brightly colored ribbon around it to make it easier to find if it gets lost.
Get the kids involved – Establish a rewards system that gives prizes to your kids if they remember to put the remote in the right place or help in finding it.
Get a sofa caddy – Sofa caddies store remotes and connect to your sofa. They allow easy and convenient storage of your remotes.
Get a tethered remote – Tethered remotes are used in hotels to avoid theft of remotes by guests. The remote is connected by a cable to a device bolted on to a table or the wall. At home, these remotes will keep your device from being lost.

Four Steps for Selecting the Right TV Stand

July 9, 2016July 11, 2016 ReplacementRemotes.com

Consumers spend hours researching what type of TV they want – poring through review sites to learn more about HDTVs, OLED TVs, and other types of television sets. They often neglect to put much thought into the TV stand they purchase, though.

That’s a shame, because a good television stand can help improve the presentation of their expensive new toy and protect it from damage. When choosing a new TV stand, keep the following in mind:

Aesthetics – Make sure that your TV stand fits the décor of your living room or home theater room. You’re going to spend a lot of time looking at your TV and the stand it rests on, so make sure the stand isn’t an eyesore.
Setting – Consider the shape of your room and the best place to put your TV stand. Also consider lighting in the room and how it will affect how your screen looks.
Size – This is one of the most important factors in choosing a stand. You’ll need to ensure that your stand can support the weight of your television. You also want some buffer between the TV and the surrounding area so you and guests can avoid bumping into it and knocking it over.
Storage space – It’s typically a good idea to buy a TV stand that offers storage room for other media devices, such as DVD players and gaming systems, as well as games, DVDs, and other gear.

Four Tips for Productive Television Time

July 9, 2016July 11, 2016 ReplacementRemotes.com

You don’t have to feel guilty about plunking down in front of your home entertainment center for a few hours. Television time can be productive, as you can turn entertainment downtime into uptime used to complete easy, but often time-consuming tasks.

Consider the following ways to make TV time more productive:

Do your laundry – When your favorite shows are on, take care of a few loads of laundry. You can sort while you watch, pop them in the washer during a commercial, pop them in the dryer when they’re done, and fold while enjoying your favorite sporting events, movies, or shows.
Make schedules and lists – While watching television, you can plan your week. Sit down with your calendar and make grocery lists, cooking plans, and other schedules while watching your favorite shows. If a little more focus is required, work on the schedules and lists during a commercial break.
Pay your bills – Go online and pay your bills while watching television. Logging in and entering your info won’t take too much focus away from what’s happening on screen.
Organize your wallet or purse – Rearrange your wallet or purse to make it easier to find your ID and credit cards. Take the time to get rid of business cards, old gum, and other things you don’t need.