topic Re: Google TV remote batteries draining in Streaming

Google TV remote batteries draining

ziggy81ziggy — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 21:14:50 GMT

Remote batteries drain in a couple of weeks. Purchased Chromecast with Google Tv in January 2021.

Answers to the questions Google support will ask:

What is the firmware version of your Chromecast and Chromecast Voice Remote?

Up to date, there's no updates available

Are you using AAA 1.5 V alkaline batteries?

Yes

What troubleshooting steps have you already tried?

Reset, disconnected / re connected. Nothing works except changing the batteries.

As short battery life is a known issue, my questions are:

Has this been fixed in recent models?

If yes, how can I exchange my remote for one that doesn't have this problem?

If no, when is it going to be fixed and can Google send me some batteries please as it's costing a small fortune?

Re: Google TV remote batteries draining

Ashepherdson — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 22:50:57 GMT

Hi Ziggy, I am flagging this to the google team as it MAY be a faulty remote, as an alternative you can try contacting google support directly as well.

Re: Google TV remote batteries draining

hdcookies — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 17:20:46 GMT

This is something that I've been experiencing recently too. My first set of batteries lasted several months, but since then I'm going through a pair about once a week.

Re: Google TV remote batteries draining

ziggy81ziggy — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 17:25:03 GMT

Hi, thanks for that. I'll try contacting Google Support once I work out how. I just constantly get redirected to the Community.

Though it is a problem experiences by lots of people - all you need to do is a quick Google to see this, yet Google are yet to acknowledge it.

Re: Google TV remote batteries draining

ziggy81ziggy — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 08:44:07 GMT

Will the Google team respond here?

Re: Google TV remote batteries draining

Ashepherdson — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 13:37:44 GMT

No this isn't a direct support Channel this is as I said a community forum so your best bet is to visit the link I provided above to get in touch with support directly as you may have a faulty remote.

https://support.google.com/googlenest?hl=en#topic=7029097

Re: Google TV remote batteries draining

ziggy81ziggy — Sun, 14 Nov 2021 15:23:51 GMT

6 days the last ones lasted and we were away for 2 of those.

Re: Google TV remote batteries draining

ziggy81ziggy — Sun, 14 Nov 2021 15:29:43 GMT

A tip for others - the hours of operation are wrong. 15.29 on a Sunday afternoon and they're closed.

Re: Google TV remote batteries draining

Nhowe006 — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 00:43:50 GMT

You're lucky to be getting a week out of a set of batteries. I get an hour or two ever since the factory batteries died. Been using my TV remote to control it, the factory batteries in which haven't died in the year I've owned both devices.

Re: Google TV remote batteries draining

ziggy81ziggy — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 08:30:22 GMT

It's ridiculously isn't it?

I spent ages on chat for them to basically tell me to buy better branded batteries or rechargeable ones so I always have a pair ready 🤦‍♀️

How do you get your TV remote to control it? I thought they were infrared and the CC was Bluetooth?

I've tried the remote on my phone but it's a faff not being able to have it as a widget and doesn't help the OH who is Apple....

Re: Google TV remote batteries draining

Antioc — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 16:06:59 GMT

Hi Ziggy I'm having the same issue. Changed the batteries 3 times in the past 5ish months.

One thing I remember doing sometime within that timeframe is install the Stadia app and link a controller. This could just be coincidence or be related. If you also did something similar that could help explain why this is happening and hopefully lead to a long term solution. In the meantime, I was able to get Google support to initiate a replacement.

Interested to hear if you're in the same situation.

Re: Google TV remote batteries draining

ziggy81ziggy — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 07:20:37 GMT

Linked controller? What do you mean?

We haven't installed anything. Just use it for Netflix and iPlayer really. You couldn't get more basic users than us!

I tried on Google chat (which turned out to be a messenger not chat?) and it took ages. Gave up in the end as they just kept going on about better batteries...

Is your replacement any better?

Re: Google TV remote batteries draining

Ashepherdson — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 13:50:49 GMT

Stadia is Google's gaming service and has a game controller , but I use this on my Chromecast with Google tv with no battery drain.

Did you setup your remote so it can control your tv? Do you also have a sound system the remote controls ? Need more information on your setup, as the batteries (if they are high quality ones) should not drain like this.

Re: Google TV remote batteries draining

ziggy81ziggy — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 13:53:04 GMT

We haven't done anything other than use the remote to control the Chromecast.

I'm not the only person this happens to though - a quick Google will tell you that.

Re: Google TV remote batteries draining

Ashepherdson — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 13:54:43 GMT

I understand, and while there are some that are faulty remotes, in other cases there are other factors (people using rechargable batteries or low quality ones is a big one) that can cause it. Just trying to help out.

Re: Google TV remote batteries draining

ziggy81ziggy — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 13:58:48 GMT

Apologies - please don't read bad tone into that reply 🙂
Google support themselves told me to use rechargeable batteries - I don't, I use Duracell. I don't think there's a better quality out there available without going specialist (which you shouldn't need to for an off the shelf product)?

Someone on a different forum mentioned a reset where the LED flashes (remove batteries, hold home, put back in etc) but there's no LED - any idea what he might have meant?

Someone else said they use their TV remote to control the CC - I thought TV remotes were infared and the CC was bluetooth?

Re: Google TV remote batteries draining

Ashepherdson — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 14:08:15 GMT

It is Bluetooth , they may have been using a universal remote with Bluetooth (such as a Logitech Harmony, RIP).

For the IR LED on the Chromecast remote, you can see if it's on by using your phone's camera, aim the camera at the front of the Chromecast remote and look at your phone's screen, if the IR is on you will see it there. If it's constantly on then there may be a hardware issue with the remote. I prefer to use CEC to control the tv, but that's beside the point.

As for using rechargable batteries, you can of course use them, however I find I get a much shorter life out of those vs energizer ultimate batteries.

I suspect it may be a faulty remote if there are no stuck buttons, probably a short somewhere causing a battery drain. I'll escalate this so someone from Google can get in touch with you.

Re: Google TV remote batteries draining

prsyahmi — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 23:58:13 GMT

Hi, I too experienced battery draining too fast.

It happens right after I bought the 2nd GCWGTV.

Re: Google TV remote batteries draining

Ashepherdson — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 00:32:56 GMT

Did you try using your phone's camera to see if your IR is on for the remote?

Re: Google TV remote batteries draining

Nhowe006 — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 00:34:23 GMT

I did, good suggestion though!