The unit is blue, or the backlight? I've noticed that about the IR emitter too. I was fast-forwarding commercials, and someone walked in front of the VCR. "Oh great" I think, since normally the signal will be cut and it'll stop. But nothing happened - it continued. So, in testing I had someone standing right in front it (2-3' away) and it still worked! About the same effect on the IR receiver. It seems to work behind a sheet of paper, under blankets, etc.