Nintendo Wii Remote/Sensor Bar Issue

Soldato
Joined
4 Nov 2003
Posts
4,496
Location
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Is there a reason why I only get about 2 metres range with my remotes before they disappear. Sensor bar is located below telly and batteries are fully charged. I mean 2 metres isn't exactly a lot and it seems to cut out just as I sit down on my sofa. I don't want to have to lean forward everytime I have to collect a star on Mario Galaxy :p Are any other users on this forum having similar issues? What range are most people getting with their Wiimotes?

Thanks.

Whappers.
 
Here's ~J~ Christmas Top Tip For Wii.

OK, heres' what you need:

1 Wii Package.
1 Digital Camera (with LCD preview screen)

Ensure that the Wii package is turned on.
Ensure that the Digital Camera is fully charged.

Stand where you want the play area to be and with the digital camera, take a photo of the Wii Sensor Bar.

Look...

Now, if you can see the IR LED's in the sensor bar CLEARLY, it maybe the batteries on your Wiimote are a little low, try some good strength batteries like 2500+mah.

IF you can't see the IR LED's in the sensor bar CLEARLY (and the way the sensor bar is designed, they are housed further back that you think), then you'll need to reposition the Wii Sensor bar, or, cut a large hole in the floor to stand in, or, remove several inches from your legs.

Hope that ~J~ Top Tip has made life easier, and on behalf of the team here, Wii (lol) wish you a merry christmas.
 
lol. Thanks for that J :D What range are you getting with your Wii. Also which batteries are you using for your Wiimotes?
 
The Wii sensor is on top of my monitor, and roughly for something like WiiSports I'll be about 3 metres away from the screen.

Without question, if I put the sensor under the monitor, the IR LED's just can't see high enough for things like tennis swings, bowling, etc.

Batteries I use are just 2x2500mah rechargables.

If it helps, this is what you should see in the preview of the camera:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...20/20070108050920!Nintendo_Wii_Sensor_Bar.jpg
 
whilst the photo thing sounds interesting could you not adjust the sensitivity in the setting menu instead ?
 
whilst the photo thing sounds interesting could you not adjust the sensitivity in the setting menu instead ?

My problem isn't sensitivity but range.

Here is my sensor bar http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/4382/dsc00011cc7.jpg
edit1: As you can see, the IR sensors inside the bar are working. However, I wonder if the reflection off the Samsung TV stand is causing the issue. I'll have a wee try at moving it elsewhere when I get a min.

edit2: Nope. I moved the sensor bar above the TV and I'm still getting bugger all range :( Oh well. I'm going to try uber fresh batteries. Brb.

edit3: Nope. Damn. Fresh batteries and it still won't work. Ah well, guess I'll have to bring the couch forward when I want to play. That sucks.
 
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Can I just ask a question? You don't happen to have a Xmas tree near your TV do you? Just that I had the exact same problem you describe and I couldn't figure out why, then I realised, after about an hour, that this had only started since I put the Xmas tree up and the lights off the tree were interfering with the sensor bar/wii remotes :o
 
Can I just ask a question? You don't happen to have a Xmas tree near your TV do you? Just that I had the exact same problem you describe and I couldn't figure out why, then I realised, after about an hour, that this had only started since I put the Xmas tree up and the lights off the tree were interfering with the sensor bar/wii remotes :o

Yeah loads of people had that happen last year. Quite funny really :D
 
make sure you havnt got an large heat sources near by either..

I have an electric heater to the left of my TV and while it isnt that close when its on the wii somtimes gets confused with its heat signature and goes all screwy.

So worth checking :)
 
Nope. No christmas tree or lights. It actually seems to be getting worse. I'm literally down to 2 metres now. When I first got the console I didn't have any issues regarding the range of my Wii :p. I wonder what has changed. This is my setup here:
Room1.jpg


Room2.jpg


I mean, it's not as if I am asking the sensor to travel a mile or anything. It's annoying. I wonder if there is something wrong with my sensor bar. Both Wiimotes are the same poor range.

Whappers.
 
sunlight through your skylight is shining on the corner of your tv. do you have a blind, or something you can pin up to see if that cures it? you are supposed to keep the wiimosts and sensor bar away from direct light...
 
That was my first thought when I saw the picture. I don't get a particularly good range with my TV next to the living room window in daylight.
 
blinds can be closed. But the problem still exists at night (when it is obviously dark). I might have to try a third party sensor bar.
 
I would have thought that you'd have covered that angle anyway, but worth recommending. Does adjusting the sensitivity at all affect your range?

As a thought, try a couple of tea-lights on a coffee table a little closer to you.
 
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