Verizon FiOS TV → remote not working correctly with Cisco stb

Samsung tv and Cisco HD stb. When changing channels and come to some channels not subscribed to the remote will stop communicating with the stb. The indicator light on the stb doesn't flash when any button on remote is hit. You can control the stb with the arrow keys on the front of the stb. When the stb isn't responding to the remote if you unplug the hdmi cable from the stb the box will start to respond. It doesn't matter if you are using hdmi component or rca connections. They all have the same trouble . Any solutions?

Trouble also happens on on demand . Looks like it happens on all Img items

When this happens, if you put the remote DIRECTLY (less than a foot) in front of the box, does it work then?