History of the question
Sampling from materials of the forum of the site Tuner, devoted to a problem of unstable operation of a remote control unit (RCU) for TV-cards AverMedia TVPhone/Capture98 w/VCR here is reduced.
Many have met with this problem, and writer including. So:

257. Sergey, < grom@maykop.ru > : Maikop, Russia. Writes:
It for all AverTVPhone98 w/VCR the console such sickly? For me from walls does not work and directed it is necessary precisely in the receiver :( Can is it treated?
It was on Tuesday, January 18, 2000 at 01:30:22
Comment:
Valery, < d_valery@mail.ru > : Moscow, Russia. For me the same history from meter - is exact in the purpose ; o) Speak for some well works :o (
It was on Tuesday, January 18, 2000 at 08:06:18
Alexandr, < A.Yarkin@vaz.ru > : Togliatti, Russia. Works and from distance, but through two times on third. Nobody tried to assort a photodetector? The photodiode must be more sensitive, is it?
It was on Tuesday, January 18, 2000 at 10:36:08
Mexika, < mexika@usa.net > In conference below such problem already considered.
It was on Tuesday, January 18, 2000 at 18:06:59
Nickey, < buzzero@mail.ru > : Volgograd, Russia. Well and what result? Can though who will tell than to replace the sensor?
It was on Tuesday, January 18, 2000 at 22:07:13
Maxy, < mailtohell@chat.ru > : Volgodonsk, Russia. Well, my console works very good for me, and problems was not such. Though can then will...
It was on Tuesday, January 18, 2000 at 22:37:16
Alexey, < alexkuzn@mail.ru > : Novgorod Velikiy, Russia. I join to you. For me the same history. Would very much like to find out, in what business.
It was in the Wensday, January 19, 2000 at 21:26:52
Cray Try to change battery.
It was on Thursday, January 20, 2000 at 14:31:33
Nickey, < buzzero@mail.ru > : Volgograd, Russia. Well you say! Think here beginners gather?
It was on Thursday, January 20, 2000 at 20:21:10
Alexey, < alexey@alexey.pptus.ru > : Ryazan There is real a problem with the IR receiver. It is necessary to put anyone another, for example that that there is in last units MCH-501 from the TV set a Horizon. The change Battery change facilitates operation, but not for a long time.
It was in Saturday, January 22, 2000 at 16:14:59
Nickey, < buzzero@mail.ru > : Volgograd, Russia. The first clever advice! And what there stands? The photodiode, resistor or transistor? I by the instrument metered, anything defined has not caught.
It was in Saturday, January 22, 2000 at 22:28:19
NAVUHODONOSR: Volgograd, same. Apparently photodiode with the preamplifier, three legs: ground, power supply (+5v), output signal. On end of socket - power supply, average contact - signal, cartridge clip of socket - ground. Took today on the sale photodiode for Funai with marking D423, about same as well as in the original, but it do not take, the very low sensitivity, there is also others (in last number). Who can find more suitable - write here.
It was in Sunday, January 23, 2000 at 16:32:51

Research of the problem
As it is visible even from this small selection, the remote unit works very different: both is excellent, and is very bad. Personally I had also that and another, but in the whole operation of the console was accident-sensitive. Advice about battery replacement is real helpful, but not for a long time. It is and still clear, that there should be a reason of such dispersion of reliability. It is difficult to explain it by any random reasons.
Having taken for a basis last reduced advice, I have decided to check up a problem of sensitivity of the sensor.
So, digital multimeter M-832 MASTECH, with the help of an adapter, meters fixed voltage on wires of the sensor at loaded Windows 98. Software of a tuner is not loaded. The denotations of contacts: 1 - end of the plug, 2 - average contact, 3 - cartridge clip (ground) of the plug. It turns out:

The observations of the indicator of the instrument chaotically vary in limits, approximately: + /- 0,1 V- #, + /- 0,25 V - ## and + /- 0,2 V - ###.
Interference in a signal lead?!
It is necessary to mark, that voltage indicated at a pushed button, is the same from any distance in limits of a room. The corner of a direction on the sensor also can be modified in limits not less than + /- 45 degrees.
After loading btTool.exe and JTVRemote.exe in the mode of diagnostics it became clear, that the console works or does not work, and the voltage about the same, means that business not in a voltage level of a signal of the console, but in inability of the decipherer of the card to process it.
Conclusion: Probably, together with a sensor signal on an input "Remote" of TV-card the strong signal of interference acts.
As the interference random, decipherer can not select a signal in 100 % of cases, but when it is possible to it - console works. Most likely, it is external interference and it is coupled to appearance of harmonicses of the electric system or parasitic oscillation on an input "Remote" of card.
At such supposition, discovers an explanation the fact of change of quality of operation of the console per different days and improvement of operation at buttery change, when the relation signal / interference, generally, is a little boosted. It is understandable also, why the different copies of cards so carry on themselves for the different owners.
That the interference external in relation to card, confirms as well by that the attempt of additional screening of the card circuit side with the help of the screen from a foil nothing has given.
For more exact diagnostics it is necessary to use the oscillograph.

Possible solution #1
The elementary variant - to suppress interferences, not suppressing, whenever possible, useful signal. The elementary filter - capacitor. Not pressing in details of the process of selection, we take a small-sized ceramic capacitor (for example, such as KM-5 or Km - 6) the nominal 5000 - 10000 pF and connects it to contacts 2 - average contact and 3 - tank plug.
It can be made on the card, having soldered the capacitor immediately for the "Remote" plug circuit side. If to look at card circuit side that, from the right - to the left, first sealed-in - contact of the plug - tank (3), second sealed-in - power supply (1), third sealed-in - signal (2). On my card AverMedia TVPhone98 w/VCR I have put KM-5 6800 pF. If to judge under the observations of multimeter, the interference has not disappeared, but now TV-card completes pressing buttons of the console at 90-99% of cases.
If soldering the capacitor on card is undesirable, it is possible to make an adapter and to place the capacitor in it, or to use a standard T-junction and additional plug with the capacitor, placed in it, - effect will be same.

03/02/2000. © Ivan Kolin, ivkolin@mail.ru

If you have taken advantage of this information, also have received result or not, or have additions and specifications which can help anothers, please, mail about it to the address <jtvhost@mailru.com> or write in guestbook of this site. Your responses will be located here. Do not forget to point your hardware configuration: Processor / Motherboard / Videocard / TV-card / OS version / TV-software.

Responses ...

04/04/2000. Alexey, <shest@id.te.ru>
I met with the given problem at once after software installation. First of all thought, that battery is week (all probably so think:) To essence....
My configuration is such: Celeron466 - > 525, Asus P2E-B, Intel 740, TV Phone 98 w/VCR, Win 98. Native software, version 0.90 (and JTV remote I use too).
Well, I soldered two capacitors: 5 nF or 10 nF, I shall tell at once - result the same. Before alteration hits was from 0% till 40-50%, after alteration, if SHOOT STRIGHT from 1 meter, that is real, there was almost 100% (earlier and it was not).
It is interesting, why the given problem exists not for all VCR owners? I know at any rate two people, for which this problem is not present in general and they enjoy operation of the console from walls, windows, even from own eye:)
It aims on thought about defective batches etc. If it is a reject, one of two: or card, or cable with the sensor. Author writes, that screened card, result - the changes are not present. We pass to the sensor... Here again two paths: or the sensor generates signal with interferences, or these interferences are aimed in a cable on path to card. And if to screen a cable? Did not try?
I have thought to take this cable from TVPhone NOT VCR and to try. It will check up the sensor. And at the same time and console to take from not VCR. It is very interesting, whether it is possible to take any eligible sensor and connect it through a shielded cable? As you can see, it is more questions, than results, I hope together we will find some solution.
Best regards, Alexey. (-Lexus-)