Sony RM-BR300 Remote Control "cable works intermittently" Questions

...a while but intermittently the remote seems to lose partial control either zoom or presets or both. Cables have all been checked as well as dip switches etc... Any ideas welcome! Had the same problem ...

...works if pointing directly at descrambler, but that does me no good as the tv is upstairs away from descrambler. Batteries are new btw, and I have tried different sets of batteries as well. Thanks in ...