Author Topic: HELP! Problems with my Wii Sensor Bar (Read 14551 times)

vudu · « **on:** June 28, 2009, 02:34:33 PM »

A few weeks ago I started to experience some problems with my Wii sensor bar. I have to hold the Wii remote within 6' of the sensor bar or the remote won't recognize it and I lose all pointer functionality. My Wii remote is approximately 9' away from the sensor bar during normal gaming, so this presents a problem. I never experienced a problem with distance prior to this.

I've tried changing batteries in the Wii remote, using a different Wii remote, checking the sensor bar connection and nothing fixes the problem. I've also tried moving the sensor bar from the top of my TV to the bottom and it still has no effect. Ambient light isn't the cause, because it doesn't matter if I try in the middle of a sunny day or in the dead of night--I experience the same issue.

The problem started at the same time I bought a new TV. I got a 46" Panasonic Plasma G10. As far as I know, the TV itself isn't causing the problem. As a test I turned off the TV (but kept the Wii on) and the same problems occurred. I moved the sensor bar away from the TV and experienced the same distance constraints. I plugged the Wii into a different outlet, thinking there was a slight chance the new TV was sucking too much energy and the Wii couldn't properly power the sensor bar, but that didn't work either. My new TV is approximately the same height as my own TV, so it's not an issue with the sensor bar being too high.

As I already said, I don't think the TV is causing the problem, but since the problem started as soon as I got it, I can't figure out what else it could be.

Does anyone have any ideas?

BeautifulShy · « **Reply #1 on:** June 28, 2009, 03:16:32 PM »

Hmm try using candles. Those also work as a sensor bar. If the candles work than you know it is the sensor bar.

decoyman · « **Reply #2 on:** June 28, 2009, 03:20:18 PM »

I think the first step to finding out if it's your tv or your sensor bar is to try another sensor bar. Do you know someone with a Wii who'd let you borrow theirs for a little bit?

Let's narrow this suckah down!

Flames_of_chaos · « **Reply #3 on:** June 28, 2009, 04:33:15 PM »

Sounds like the positioning of the bar.

vudu · « **Reply #4 on:** June 28, 2009, 04:46:28 PM »

Quote from: Flames_of_chaos on June 28, 2009, 04:33:15 PM

Sounds like the positioning of the bar.

/facepalm

You're kidding, I hope.

Quote from: decoyman on June 28, 2009, 03:20:18 PM

Do you know someone with a Wii who'd let you borrow theirs for a little bit?

That's a brilliant idea. I have a friend at work who has a Wii. With any luck he'll loan me his sensor bar for testing.

Mop it up · « **Reply #5 on:** June 28, 2009, 04:50:26 PM »

I don't know if this is an obvious suggestion or not, but since you didn't mention anything about it:
Have you tried cleaning the sensor bar and the Wiimote lenses? If the sensor bar and/or lens is dirty then it would reduce the range.

vudu · « **Reply #6 on:** June 28, 2009, 04:52:17 PM »

I wiped both clean with my shirt. Neither were particularly dirty.

Mop it up · « **Reply #7 on:** June 28, 2009, 04:57:41 PM »

Sometimes there might be dust, smudges, or fingerprints which you can't see, so I'd recommend using a soft tissue with some surgical spirit to clean them.

By the sound of it though it probably isn't the problem...

Flames_of_chaos · « **Reply #8 on:** June 28, 2009, 05:08:04 PM »

A good way to check if the sensor bar is emitting an IR light is to film it or take a picture.

UncleBob · « **Reply #9 on:** June 28, 2009, 05:10:14 PM »

Use a cheap digital camera (Like a camera phone) and point it at the sensor bar when it's on - see if the IR lights are coming on...

vudu · « **Reply #10 on:** June 28, 2009, 05:44:30 PM »

When I look at the sensor bar through my digital camera I see one blue light, a space, three more blue lights, another space, and then a fifth blue light.

I see that on both sides.

EasyCure · « **Reply #11 on:** June 28, 2009, 06:36:50 PM »

Quote from: vudu on June 28, 2009, 05:44:30 PM

When I look at the sensor bar through my digital camera I see one blue light, a space, three more blue lights, another space, and then a fifth blue light.

I see that on both sides.

arent there supposed to be 3 or 4 lights on either side?

KDR_11k · « **Reply #12 on:** June 29, 2009, 03:31:58 AM »

Have you tried adjusting the sensitivity?

BranDonk Kong · « **Reply #13 on:** June 29, 2009, 10:37:38 AM »

Quote from: EasyCure on June 28, 2009, 06:36:50 PM

Quote from: vudu on June 28, 2009, 05:44:30 PM
When I look at the sensor bar through my digital camera I see one blue light, a space, three more blue lights, another space, and then a fifth blue light.

I see that on both sides.
There are 5 lights on each side, just like vudu described.
arent there supposed to be 3 or 4 lights on either side?

KDR_11k · « **Reply #14 on:** June 29, 2009, 11:00:42 AM »

Quoting fail?

BwrJim! · « **Reply #15 on:** June 29, 2009, 12:08:04 PM »

Hey VUDU,

Why not try the settings in the wii console to see if you are registering.

Now, here are a couple of problems that people run into that is similur to your predictament..

1) no external light sources (i.e. reflected sun really blows)
2) make sure the plug on the back where the sensor bar is plugged into is pushed all the way in.

Ways to troubleshoot
1)candles in low light situation
2)swap sensor bars
3)use buddies wiimote to see if it is your wiimote.
4)bug Nintendo 1 800 255 3700

Really, to me it sounds like the infrared signal is getting interrupted some how, check for anything new added to the house since the problem has happened, remove it and see if the problem persist.

low batteries could also... wait... I just remembered something, clean off the front of the wii mote. seriously.. windex it clean...

that Baby guy · « **Reply #16 on:** June 29, 2009, 03:12:58 PM »

There are now 3rd party sensor bars that offer both battery and Wii compatibility, if worst comes to worse. My cat chewed through my sensor bar's cord, and so I purchased a battery-powered one, and while it worked well, having to push a button to turn it on and off was a little annoying, and with lower power, the lights grew dim and difficult for the Wii-Remote to read.

Since then, I bought a new one, by "Gameshark," (I didn't know they existed anymore, but I believe it's now a MadCatz brand), that works with batteries or plugged into the Wii. For batteries, you have to turn it on and use a timer button, but plugged into the Wii, there's no difference between it and Nintendo's sensor bar, as best as I can tell. It was approximately $20, and unlike the first one I bought, it's no larger than Nintendo's bar. The first one was massive, FYI.

If I had to guess, I'd say the light bulbs in the sensor bar are beginning to burn out. That's my idea at this.

vudu · « **Reply #17 on:** June 29, 2009, 07:49:40 PM »

Quote from: KDR_11k on June 29, 2009, 03:31:58 AM

Have you tried adjusting the sensitivity?

This was the problem. I feel a little stupid.

I had erroneously assumed that 'sensitivity' referred to how fast the pointer moves in relation to the remote. I did a little research and 'sensitivity' actually refers to how much light is required for the remote to pick up a signal.

When I first hooked up my Wii to my new TV I hadn't played much for the past several weeks and I guess I forgot how fast the pointer moves on the main menu (it might also be that my new TV is much larger than my old, as well as widescreen). One of the first things I did was turn sensitivity down to 1. This explains why the problem started as soon as I got my new TV.

Thank you everyone for your help!

BwrJim! · « **Reply #18 on:** June 29, 2009, 08:49:52 PM »

yay, solved in one page!

BranDonk Kong · « **Reply #19 on:** June 29, 2009, 10:23:50 PM »

KDR you got me there. I guess I accidently clicked in the middle of the post before I started typing - but I think it might be a bug if you quote someone who was quoting someone else now that I think about it. Anyway - There are 5 lights on each side, just like vudu described - that was my point.

BwrJim! · « **Reply #20 on:** June 29, 2009, 11:54:41 PM »

you know, i was reading on this to kill time, and the construction of the unit I believe is actually 3 l.e.d. per side.

NinGurl69 *huggles · « **Reply #21 on:** June 30, 2009, 02:24:24 AM »

Like most 3rd party INFRARED RAY INDUCTORs you'll find in stores and online. So the even the knockoff products get some things right.

BranDonk Kong · « **Reply #22 on:** June 30, 2009, 01:45:05 PM »

Take a digital camera and look at the sensor bar up close when the Wii is on, there are 5 lights like this * *** * on each side.

NinGurl69 *huggles · « **Reply #23 on:** June 30, 2009, 01:51:15 PM »

Oh THAT bar. You know, that cluster of 3 acts like 1.

Smash_Brother · « **Reply #24 on:** June 30, 2009, 03:09:43 PM »

Thinly-veiled excuse to brag about his new TV.

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Author Topic: HELP! Problems with my Wii Sensor Bar (Read 14551 times)