remote problem and box problem

[vectralad]

i have the starview4 usb but i have had a problem with the remote as soon as i have pressed anything on the remote nothing happens even with new batteries. so i switched off the box at the rear and everything was alright. this has happened to me twice bit strange really. also i origionall had the boxes upstairs using a splitter so basically had 4 boxes but had problems with noise comming through apparently this was also showing up on the ntl box at the end of the street. so is there anyway i can overcome this by using all the boxes without any problems or could it be the splitter? as i brought it from ebay for about £5.