topic Re: BT remotes with voice control in TV

BT remotes with voice control

Asquaredcomm — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 12:03:12 GMT

There are several remotes advertised offering voice control for the EE TVpro box. I bought one but it does not work. Spent quite a lot of time with an EE adviser who seemed to find it hard to understand that it did not work. Gave up in the end. Trawing the net I found a post from 2022 in which it said this option was expected in 7months. Hmm. Anyone else got a voice operated remote which works with EE? Oh, please don't get me started on the clunky interface of EETV.

Re: BT remotes with voice control

Northerner — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 12:51:22 GMT

Hi @Asquaredcomm

On the Apple TV it will have the service becase it uses Siri.

I might be wrong but i don't believe EE TV has the functionality becase the software has no assistant associated to the firmware. Google, Siri, Alexa, Sky AI etc...

Thanks

Re: BT remotes with voice control

Asquaredcomm — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 14:11:38 GMT

Hi Northerner,
Thank you for that info. Be interesting to see if we can get a response from EE.
I don't know how to ask them though.
Also, it would be nice if they stopped advertising these remotes as voice capable. Trades description Act?
Asquaredcomm

Re: BT remotes with voice control

Richardr66 — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 15:27:22 GMT

Is there more than one official remote for the box - the one that comes with it?

The one shown in the user guide page 5:

https://ee.co.uk/content/dam/help/user-guides/eetv-box-pro-user-guide.pdf

That certainly doesn't have voice control, and as far as I am aware is the only remote EE supply. Where on the EE website are you seeing these voice capable remotes for the TV Box Pro?

Re: BT remotes with voice control

Asquaredcomm — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 16:18:09 GMT

Not on the EE website but widely available via google or Ebay. These are all advertised as having voice control. If the EE box does not have voice control then can I have an official word from EE that this is so.

If this is the case then the Trading Standards Authority ought do do something about the adverts. All of which does not really help me. I would like this feature. I have still not had an official word from EE about it.

Re: BT remotes with voice control

Matt_124 — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 16:54:27 GMT

EE wouldn't bear any responsibility for the descriptions given by third party sellers. Voice Control is not supported by the EE TV Box Pro or Box Mini.

The only EE TV remote which supports any form of voice control is the Apple TV remote when used with EE TV Apple TV 4K units directly dispatched from EE with an EE TV Subscription.

This feature was to be "coming soon" to BT TV some years ago but was never implemented. This is reflected in the lack of any voice control or microphone button on the EE TV Remote controls.

Re: BT remotes with voice control

Asquaredcomm — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 18:32:34 GMT

Thank you Matt.

It does not say if you are an official EE spokesperson but you have the sound of authority and authenticity.

You have basically confirmed my suspicions and all I can say is that several black marks should go to EE for not fulfilling their promises. Especially when the technology has been around for a while.

Also, and perhaps on a different topic, black marks to EE for the dreadful clunky interface. Nearly all the stuff I want to watch is there but it can sometimes take several minutes to find it. Yuk.

The only thing in their favour is that it is - slightly - cheaper.

Re: BT remotes with voice control

Matt_124 — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 18:55:34 GMT

I am afraid I am a user/customer much like yourself, although with a long history of using and discussing EE and BT Products with their various nuances, the negatives and the various failed implementations or withdrawn features in some cases.

In all cases it is disappointing to see features fall through the cracks or not live up to the expectations but I believe it can all be improved upon. Further to that point, it's been nice to see the Youview feedback panel be opened up as laid out in the Community Announcement here for customers to give feedback on features they would like or aspects of the service that could be improved: https://community.ee.co.uk/t5/TV/Join-the-YouView-research-panel/td-p/1518139

The few EE Employees on here are a small Community Support Team whose profiles are marked as such, but they do tend to be stretched thin and can't deal with individual customer issues directly but can signpost to resources or contacts to help in some cases.

I have gotten an official answer on this in the past which was essentially the information I have outlined previously.

Re: BT remotes with voice control

Chris_B — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 20:15:43 GMT

@Asquaredcomm Where has it been stated it’s got voice control? Where was it promised? I’ve seen it mentioned it’s being worked on but no mention of it being available. And that was over a year ago

Re: BT remotes with voice control

zulu17 — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 23:43:07 GMT

@Richardr66 when first launched the remotes supplied for the Box Pro had a microphone symbol on the search button. At some point in time the remotes supplied changed so that the microphone symbol on the search button was replaced with a magnifying glass. So there are probably at least 3 versions of the Box Pro remote , BT with microphone symbol , BT with magnifying glass symbol and the EE with magnifying glass symbol.

Re: BT remotes with voice control

Awfulremote — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 20:26:55 GMT

Hey does anyone know of an all for one remote which might be worth considering. I have a Sony TV, EE pro tv and a Yahama receiver for sound. I have been sent my 4th remote now as they seem to pacify you as a customer by sending you something. I was livid at the end of last week.

I hate using 2 remotes !! Why is something so simple so hard to fix. Sky sorted the issue out 10 years ago. Feel like i have back 10 years in time

Re: BT remotes with voice control

Awfulremote — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 20:38:58 GMT

I hate using 2 remotes !! Why is something so simple so hard to fix. Sky sorted the issue out 10 years ago. Feel like i have back 10 years in time

Re: BT remotes with voice control

Chris_B — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 21:14:48 GMT

@Awfulremote it might work. the EE box remote is Bluetooth
As you program the all in one remote from the other remotes you have.

Might have to dig out my all in one remote to got a go, not used it in a few years and don’t know if I have the manual for it.

Re: BT remotes with voice control

Richardr66 — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 09:23:07 GMT

I've a One For All remote that works fine with the EE box. It has the right codes in its database - just use one of the BT ones. I've a different TV [LG] and AV Amp [Denon] from you, but I'm sure it should also work with a Sony and a Yamaha. I've a Contour 8 model from them, but I suspect the database of codes is the same for all their similar models.

I'm currently using my TV remote to control the EE box - an LG remote - which may be an option with your TV remote.

Re: BT remotes with voice control

Awfulremote — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 13:14:16 GMT

Thank you

Re: BT remotes with voice control

Garethrprice — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 15:59:28 GMT

@Awfulremote Go to the largest online shopping site (think forest /river) and enter the following in the search bar

One For All Contour 4 universal remote control

It’s manufacturers model number is URC 1240

No voice control but can handle up to 4 independent devices, and comes with a comprehensive booklet of codes for all devices (tv/dvd/audio etc)

Re: BT remotes with voice control

Awfulremote — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 18:14:52 GMT

Thanks Curry’s then 😝 😝 cheers

Re: BT remotes with voice control

Garethrprice — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 19:12:30 GMT

@Awfulremote 😄😄😄 👍

Re: BT remotes with voice control

Chris_B — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 21:37:21 GMT

@Garethrprice You can say Amazon and you can even link the remote on here if you wish.

Like THIS

Re: BT remotes with voice control

Garethrprice — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 00:26:59 GMT

@Chris_B I have used that method of linking before. Just couldn’t remember if direct links to commercial retail sites was allowed on here, or maybe I was thinking of the BT Community or some other forum 🤷‍ I’m getting old and decrepit 👨‍