TX-NR515 won't power on from remote control or from iPhone remote app

Hi iklein,

So you are having the same exact issue as the others with the 515? I just want to make sure this is the case.

OnkyoUSA wrote:Hi iklein,

So you are having the same exact issue as the others with the 515? I just want to make sure this is the case.

Yes... same exact problem on my 616. I can NOT power ON the receiver via the included remote or any other remote... ie Harmony 1100.
After I power on manually, I can use the remote(s) and Android app.
Last night was the first time since receiving/installing my new receiver that I tried to turn it on via a remote. I had just finished programming my Harmony 1100... and was testing it out. The receiver would not turn on. So I tried the Onkyo remote... and it still would not turn on.
Only when I push the power button on the front will it turn on.

This could quite possibly be one of the most ridiculous failures I ever experienced.
The most basic function of turning on the receiver with the remote... isn't working.
Wow.... and the waiting game is maddening.
What should I do?
Wait for a response on a firmware update?
How long should I wait?
If I wait to long I won't be able to return it.

Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

I noticed this morning when I hit the remote power button, it actually came on, however, the receiver had also been left on input 2. Every other time I tried to use the remote or Harmony One for the past 3 weeks, the avr had been left on input 1 and nothing would happen until I physically hit the front panel power. I'm going to try again after letting it sit all day powered down and see what happens now that I've switched input back to bd/dvd. I'm curious if anyone else notices the same.

Kormus wrote:I noticed this morning when I hit the remote power button, it actually came on, however, the receiver had also been left on input 2. Every other time I tried to use the remote or Harmony One for the past 3 weeks, the avr had been left on input 1 and nothing would happen until I physically hit the front panel power. I'm going to try again after letting it sit all day powered down and see what happens now that I've switched input back to bd/dvd. I'm curious if anyone else notices the same.

I'm confused by your saying it was left on INPUT 2 or INPUT 1....Can you explain? I have the 616, but I didn't see anything on the 515 regarding input numbers... only input selections, i.e. CBL/SAT, GAME, AUX, etc. Maybe I'm missing something.

Hi iklein,

If you'd like we can offer to have your unit brought here for evaluation by our technician but if you are running out of time on the exchange with your dealer then by all means return it. If you choose to accept our offer please PM me and let me know. Thank you.

iklein wrote:

Kormus wrote:I noticed this morning when I hit the remote power button, it actually came on, however, the receiver had also been left on input 2. Every other time I tried to use the remote or Harmony One for the past 3 weeks, the avr had been left on input 1 and nothing would happen until I physically hit the front panel power. I'm going to try again after letting it sit all day powered down and see what happens now that I've switched input back to bd/dvd. I'm curious if anyone else notices the same.

I'm confused by your saying it was left on INPUT 2 or INPUT 1....Can you explain? I have the 616, but I didn't see anything on the 515 regarding input numbers... only input selections, i.e. CBL/SAT, GAME, AUX, etc. Maybe I'm missing something.

Sorry for the confusion, the rear HDMI inputs, at least on the NR515, are labeled and numbered. For example, Input 1 is labeled BD/DVD, Input 2 is CBL/SAT, etc. In my case, it seems like whenever the receiver was last on input 1, BD/DVD, I noticed I would be unable to power on the device using the remote after a certain length of time has passed. I haven't verified that yet, since I just noticed it this morning, but hope to test it over the next few days.

Hi Kormus,

Please keep us posted. Thank you.

Bought rec on monday.Installed it on wednesday for customer.Will not power on with either Harmony or Onkyo remotes.Took it back.got another new 515.Installed it.Turn on first time with remote,but if you turn it off it will not turn on again with remote,only manualy on frontpanel.Reset it,then it turn on with remote,then you turn it off and will not turn on again.Must be some firmware screwup,two receivers in a row.If I look at all the complaints I wonder if Onkyo is loosing their quality name?

Hi TVinstallguru,

We apologize for the inconvenience but as stated previously in this post we are currently looking in to this issue and hope to have an answer soon.

I have the same problem with my TX-NR709. This is not with the Onkyo RC-807M remote but with the Onkyo2 App on my iPod Touch. It does not wake the receiver up when it has been shut down. This is not a big issue but I wanted to report this problem with the model Onkyo I have.

Hi transmaster,

Thank you for information.

I was having a similiar problem in that I could not turn on the TX-NR616 with the remote control if the receiver had been off for a while.
I had just got the receiver and I noticed the problem after I had done the firmware upgrade although I didn't try it before the upgrade. I reset the receiver and the problem went away until I tried to turn on the receiver the next day. Then it would not turn on with the remote, but once I turned it on with the receiver power button I could use the remote control normally and I could even turn the receiver off and on with the remote. Until I let it sit for a few hours and then I could no longer turn it on with the remote.
I called product support and they said to remove then replace the batteries in the remote. This seemed to fix it. Until I let it sit for a few hours and then I could no longer turn it on with the remote again.
I called two more times and the verdict from product support was to return the unit and get another one.
I guess my question is, is this problem a hardware problem (something is broken and I need to replace the receiver) or is this something that can be fixed with a firmware upgrade.
If I need to take it back I need to do it in the next week or so. Any ideas as to the nature of the problem?

Hi Tary,

Please see the following post from Onkyo:

TX-NR515/616 remote control not turning your receiver "on" topic

I just returned the 616... and bought a DENON!

Hi iklein,

We are sorry to hear that.

Brand New TX-NR818 just bought from Amazon (got here yesterday). Very excited to replace my Yamaha which had weak bass. But the new 818 is already acting up. Sometimes the remote won't turn on the unit (I'm talking about both the Onkyo remote and a Logitech universal remote). This happens randomly. Sometimes I can't turn on the unite even after just a few seconds of turning it off. But other times I can turn it on. What is going on?

Laser Sharp wrote:Brand New TX-NR818 just bought from Amazon (got here yesterday). Very excited to replace my Yamaha which had weak bass. But the new 818 is already acting up. Sometimes the remote won't turn on the unit (I'm talking about both the Onkyo remote and a Logitech universal remote). This happens randomly. Sometimes I can't turn on the unite even after just a few seconds of turning it off. But other times I can turn it on. What is going on?

Have you updated the firmware version of this receiver? What is the firmware version currently enabled on this receiver?

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