Rogers Ignite Big Button Remote for Seniors

[wilson9]

Hello,

I recently installed Ignite TV at my parent's home, they are 90 and 93 yrs old.

WHAT A MISTAKE!!

They are completely stressed out about the remote, can't use it and now both of their TV's have "quit".  They inadvertently change the input and get flustered and don't know how to fix it, are unable to follow instructions on remedy.  I live more than 2 hours away.  I saw the "Big Button Remote for Seniors" online, called ALL the Rogers stores, nobody can help me get them.  I need two of these remotes.  Why is it so hard to find them?  How can I get them sent out?  I have so much regret for stressing out my elderly parents.  Please help!!

Thanks kindly.

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[-G- · Accepted solution]

@wilson9  There is now a another (and better) "big button" remote option available: https://www.rogers.com/support/iptv/how-to-use-large-button-remote-ignite-tv

The Big Button Remote was a pain to use because it was an infrared remote, not an RF remote.  You had to point it DIRECTLY at the Ignite set-top box.

The new Large Button XRA remote was developed by Comcast, specifically for those is accessibility issues.  The remote itself is larger, can lie flat on a table, it is easy to clean, and most importantly, the buttons are easy to press.  It is also an RF remote, so you don't need to point it at the set-top box, and it also supports Voice Commands.  The only downside is that it does not have A/B/C/D buttons.

[Pauly]

I will ask my parents if they have issues with the current ignite tv remote, if so I will request the newer big button one.

[wilson9]

Thanks so much!  I got a Rogers Tech to send out a couple of these to my parent's home, will set them up and hope for the best.  I appreciate you kind help!

[Jtrflash]

How ? Where? can we purchase the Big Remote. Can you get it at a Roger’s store? Thanks Jim

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@Jtrflash wrote:
How ? Where? can we purchase the Big Remote. Can you get it at a Roger’s store? Thanks Jim

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I don't know if the Rogers stores stock the Large Button Voice Remotes.  The easiest way to get these would be to send a private message to @CommunityHelps  and ask them to send you one.

[asturias7]

Please tell me they are free.... I was told they are and I just have to ask them to be mailed to me. My mother would prefer using the big button remote.

[Jtrflash]

Hi! Yes they are free delivered to your door. My wife loves it!

[asturias7]

Thanks for the reply and info @Jtrflash! Did you have to return the regular remotes?

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@asturias7 wrote:

Thanks for the reply and info @Jtrflash! Did you have to return the regular remotes?

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No, you still keep the Ignite Voice Remotes that came with your set-top boxes.

[asturias7]

I was on Live Chat with someone in Tech and he said that if I keep the original remotes and don't return them within 30 days I will be charged $25 for each remote. In my case it would be $50 since I had him send me 2. Can anyone confirm if this correct, that I will be charged if I don't return the original remotes?

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@asturias7 wrote:

I was on Live Chat with someone in Tech and he said that if I keep the original remotes and don't return them within 30 days I will be charged $25 for each remote. In my case it would be $50 since I had him send me 2. Can anyone confirm if this correct, that I will be charged if I don't return the original remotes?

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I'm surprised by this.  My parents were able to keep their XR15 Voice remotes, and this was a good thing because there are buttons/functions missing on both the Big Button (Royal) remote and the Large Button (XRA) Voice remote.

However, if Rogers now insists that you return your old XR11 or XR15 voice remote(s), you will need to do that.

Tagging @CommunityHelps .  Hopefully, they can provide you with additional advice and guidance.

[asturias7]

I know the A.B,C,D buttons are missing, but what else is missing from the big button remotes?

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@asturias7 wrote:

I know the A.B,C,D buttons are missing, but what else is missing from the big button remotes?

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Those are the only missing buttons.

Losing "A" is not a big deal.  You can access the Help screen from Settings.

Losing "B" is a bit of a pain.  The (XRA) Large Button Voice Remote has its own Accessibility Shortcut button but it behaves differently; it can only be programmed to open the Accessibility Settings menu, the Screensaver, or the Guide.  There is no way to have it trigger the "Accessibility Settings / Remote Shortcut" function that you have configured.  (I miss being able to double-click "B" to quickly turn on/turn off closed captioning.)

Losing "C" is also a bit of a pain.  Yes, you can still access the "Sports App" by using that voice command, but that's impossible for people with speech impairments or other disabilities that make it impossible for them to use voice commands.

When you lose "D", you lose access to some functions.  "D" is used as a "delete" shortcut in a few areas.  You can still easily manage your PVR recordings without it.  However, If you want to clear all the items that you see when you press the ⬅️ / Last button, the only way that you can do this (that I know of) is with the "D" button.  I am sure that there are other examples.

If Rogers insists that you return your old remotes, just do it,  You can probably get another one for free by going into a Rogers store and telling them that your Ignite Voice Remote is broken.  If they stock them, they will probably give you one without requiring an exchange.  If you see a Rogers field tech working in your area, you can probably also get a "recently returned" remote for free by asking nicely.

As an alternative, you can also find Xfinity remotes on Amazon (and elsewhere online) and they work perfectly fine with Ignite TV.  They have an Xfinity logo on the menu button rather than a Rogers logo; that's the only difference.  You can use either an XR5, XR11 or XR15.

[57channels]

Out of curiousity, I got Rogers to send me two of these new "large button" remotes. I intially really disliked the Rogers Ignite remotes, as the buttons are super stiff, but have grown to be ok with them. Anyway, I received the two new "large button" remotes yesterday. Sadly, I will be sending them back. Why, you ask?

• The remote is actually BIGGER and heavier than the regular Ignite remote. It's wider and hard to hold.
• The weighting seems wrong. It's thinner at the bottom and thicker at top, the reverse of the Ignite remote. Again-- seems hard to hold.
• The material is very slippery. I can see myself dropping this remote often. The old remote has much more grip.
• The buttons do light up, but not as bright as the regular Ignite remote.
• As mentioned, there are no ABCD buttons, which I do use (for sports app and closed captioning). You can use the voice button to access these however.
• There is no "record" button.
• You have to point directly at the cable box for it to work. This is a deal breaker. Nope! I am used to just hiding the boxes and the remote works from anywhere, no pointing needed.
• They insisted that I need to send two of the regular Ignite remotes back to them.

It's really too bad, as I was expecting a new comfortable, soft button remote. I feel they missed the point with this remote.

Note.. "57" if you read this, I tried changing my nickname... I don't see where I can do that! I know you post here all the time and you should have the unique name... It's a great name, based on the Springsteen song... Do I have to create a new account?

[57]

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@57channels wrote: Note.. "57" if you read this, I tried changing my nickname... 

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1. Feel free to keep your nickname.

2. I've had mine for over 65 years and it's because of my first name, not the Springsteen song.

3. If you want to change, you probably need to contact the mods. Click @CommunityHelps when logged in and send them a message.

4. I didn't like the IgniteTV remotes at first but after some use the buttons become easier to press and I'm used to them.

5. I also thought about getting this or an earlier different larger button remote, however, they always had issues that made them unworkable for me.

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@57channels FYI, here's Comcast's press release for (what they call) the XRA Voice remote: https://corporate.comcast.com/press/releases/xfinity-large-button-voice-remote-innovative-new-produc...

The Large Button Voice Remote was designed to improve accessibility for people with certain disabilities, not be a replacement for the XR11 or XR15.

As a "voice remote", the XRA Large Button remote does communicate with the set-top box using RF; you should not need to point the remote directly at the STB.  If that is not working for you, try re-pairing the remote.  (Press and hold the Home and Info buttons simultaneously for 5 seconds, wait for the status LED to change colour (you should also get haptic feedback from the remote), then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.)

[summer22]

how do I get one of these senior tv remote controls

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@summer22 wrote:

how do I get one of these senior tv remote controls

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You need to contact Rogers directly (either by telephone, chat or by sending a private message to @CommunityHelps ) and they will send them to you.

[User1410762]

• The weighting seems wrong. It's thinner at the bottom and thicker at top, the reverse of the Ignite remote. Again-- seems hard to hold.

Agreed. My wife didn't like the XR15 - D-PAD is a "membrane" v. buttons - and it was bothering her thumb. A store (and posts in ether) say you can get the XR11 or the senior remote. Called Ted and they couriered out the senior remote [as picture in white] - and didn't insist on me sending back anything. My wife agrees that the senior remote is now FRONT HEAVY - but agrees that the main pad has eliminated thumb issues.

Though I would have preferred to not lose keys - the ABCD without a replacement is a pain. Yes I want to delete specific channels form the "LAST" list and now there is no option as there is no D. They could have/can still do - allow the D pad to be used say "press & hold down" on a prior program to simulate the D. (pressing either in LAST review mode does nothing - so it could be made to do something)

Incredible how non-TV people live in the IT world and are plotting our future. And no one says anything.

I think I get the reason they moved to membrane since the D pad has now become the main input for most functions and they probably had a lot of D pad failure on the XR11; but gosh how . it is on the XR15 - again people that didn't watch TV and didn't use the remote for gobs of hours - ever tested the upgraded XR15. It was shown in a room - the price was right - done.

PS I was able to AMZN for $50 an XR11, [xfinity and beyond], however, advertised as NEW (though I had my doubts) and was not new. Debating to return. However, it was able to pair (need to google the method as the XR15 is slick and XR11 is rather archaic) to Ignire and works fine otherwise.

Another post mentioned this:

"Any universal remote that can control a Comcast Xfinity set-top box should be able to control the Ignite set-top box

I may investigate that but ... there isn't always a utopia with 3rd party. e.g. they don't always solve problems - they fix a few and create more problems. 

[57channels]

Update, after many months of having the "seniors" remote--

My wife loves it compared to the XR15 remote. She says the buttons are much nicer and softer. I tend to agree, the buttons are much nicer. While there are some things I don't like about the remote, it's pretty nice overall. I have both in my man cave and I only use the Seniors remote now.