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Handhelds Hardware Technology

Recommended Programmable Remote Controls? 59

Posted by Cliff from the consolidation-of-the-table-ornaments dept.
Slashdot Junky asks: "I am fed up with having several different remote controls for my living room A/V gear and have decided to buy a high-end programmable remote to replace them. I have a TWC SciAtl Explorer 8000 DVR box, DVD player, Onkyo HT receiver, TV, and a home brew PC media server connected. I am looking for one that is comfortable to hold and more importantly, capable of DOING EVERYTHING that each of my existing remotes do. So, what remotes are you all using? Why did you select the one you have? What should I look for in my search? What don't you like about it? What do you like? What else should I be asking?"
"Once the new remote is programmed, I want to be able to leave the factory remotes in the cabinet for good. I want the new remote to be able to handle even the non-day-to-day tasks like using the TV OSD menu. It should also be easy enough for my non-techie wife to use, too. Although the Logictech Harmony line seems nice, I don't really know much about it. Of course, there are others as well."
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Recommended Programmable Remote Controls? More

Recommended Programmable Remote Controls?

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  • Philips Pronto (Score:3, Informative)

    by rmcphx ( 793538 ) on Friday December 10, 2004 @07:18PM (#11056574)
    I recommend the Philips Pronto http://www.pronto.philips.com/ [philips.com]

    Lots of information on programmable remotes is available at Remote Central http://www.remotecentral.com/ [remotecentral.com]

    • I second the Pronto recommendation. Remote Central is a godsend, as well. Wouldn't be without my Pronto.
    • I want to second this recommendation. I have the cheaper and now slightly outdated Pronto Neo [philips.com]. I enjoy it a lot and it pretty elegantly solves the problem with most universal remotes: you can create a buttons to match any functionality of your original remotes. You're not limited to some fixed set of buttons.

      The screen is a little small and it is B&W (a problem solved by purchasing newer, more expensive models), and the included software is a little quirky, but it definitely fills the need I had, es

  • Sony RM-VL900 (Score:3, Interesting)

    by RzUpAnmsCwrds ( 262647 ) on Friday December 10, 2004 @07:19PM (#11056589)
    I have the Sony RM-VL900. It's simple (hard buttons only) but has full learning capabilities and macros. It's also only about $60, and it goes forever on 4 AAs.

  • JP1 (Score:3, Insightful)

    by crow ( 16139 ) on Friday December 10, 2004 @07:22PM (#11056612) Homepage Journal
    If you don't mind a little soldering, make yourself a JP1 cable, and buy a cheap remote that you can program from your computer. If you're not familiar with the JP1 interface, it's a little connector that you hook up to the parallel port on your PC. You can then create and upload new code sets for devices that it doesn't already know. With my cheap Radio Shack remote, I now have almost complete control of every button, so it works exactly the way I want it to.

    • Re:JP1 (Score:3, Informative)

      by scalveg ( 35414 )
      Learn ye the miracle of the JP1 remote:

      http://www.hifi-remote.com/jp1/index.shtml
    • I love my RS 15-2116

      There's a good One For All remote available at Wally World for $18 that's almost equivalent to the 2116 minus the LCD display. (The 2116 is $30.)

      The 2116's feel is great in your hand, plus it's an amazingly flexible remote when combined with JP1.
    • Yeah, add me to the list of JP1 supporters.

      I'm using the "fancy" RadioShack control 15-2116 (8-in-1 control) that was super cheap.

      I use it to control MythTV, the TV, VCR, stereo, and cable box. All from one control.

      The great thing about JP1 is that you have complete control over the thing. So much that you can even add new IR protocols and assign any button to perform pretty much anything. Good stuff.
    • Thank you for making me aware of this. I wasn't really out looking for a new remote, but now that I've seen this [hifi-remote.com] I might just find myself getting one. Since programmable remotes are available, why would anyone ever buy something else?

  • I'd settle for a universal that will run my ExpressVu (Dish Network) receiver and JVC receiver and DVD player. It seems to be an impossible combination, and programmable units are WAY too much fluff for me. Universal remotes look like ass most of the time, too.

  • Pronto! (Score:3, Insightful)

    by GoRK ( 10018 ) on Friday December 10, 2004 @07:23PM (#11056621) Homepage Journal
    I highly endorse the pronto line of remotes. They are expensive, but they are very well supported, a lot of people use them, and they really can do a ton of stuff. They don't have many hard buttons if that's what you want, but for maximum flexibility, it's really hard to beat a touchscreen.

    I use a Pronto NEO and found that with a lot of work, it really works well. It's a lot cheaper than the other Pronto's but still very capable if you are willing to put a lot of work into setting it up. I think that I'd probably spring for a real pronto remote if I were going to buy another, though.

  • MX-500 (Score:5, Informative)

    by Slarty ( 11126 ) on Friday December 10, 2004 @07:23PM (#11056623) Homepage
    I really like the MX-500. Fully programmable, hard-key, you can hook it up and program it with your PC (w/ some extra hardware, I think, but not too expensive), and everyone I've heard of who has one just loves the thing. It's a slightly older remote, so you can get one for 70 bucks now:
    http://www.bluedo.com/bluedocgi/product.cgi? model= MX-500

    Also, tip for your HTPC... pick up one of these:
    http://www.notestation.com/ack571_2.htm

    It's a USB infrared keyboard w/ mouse built in, both of which work perfectly w/ just about any OS, since the computer sees it as a regular USB keyboard and mouse. But the really nice thing is, since the keyboard is IR, you can use it to train your remote to "press keys", and then not have to deal with lirc (assuming your HTPC is running Linux, although you'd have similar issues with Windows). Then you can stick the keyboard in the closet w/ your older remotes and still have a full keyboard available when you need one. It's a nifty solution.
    • Additional features I love on mine:

      -Macros, so you can program multiple actions to a single button.
      -Backlighting! Wonderful for darkened room use.
      -"Punch through" - allows you to (for instance) control the master volume on the receiver while navigating the dvd player.
      -Reliable, well thought through layout allows easy use by feel.

      A truly great remote.
  • It works just fine. The software comes with templates for the most common home entertainment devices, plus you can define your own devices and it has "learning remote" functionality so you can program in any other remote codes you want. Dont forget this handheld has a good quality illuminated colour screen and has Wi-Fi and bluetooth built in. It's also cheaper doing this than buying a dedicated programmable LCD remote, at least it was last time I looked.

  • I have a Marantz RC2000 that I use with a Sony WEGA TV, Tivo, DirecTV receiver, Kenwood surround sound receiver, Sony 5 disc changer, Panasonic DVD player, and a Sony laser disc player.

    At the time, it was one of the better remotes available, and more importantly, I could afford it without refinancing my house. It's usable, but it's not ideal. It's pretty easy to select the device to control, but each device can have 4 pages of 10 buttons. This can lead to confusion with the less technically inclined in

  • But do any of those support X10? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by xmas2003 ( 739875 ) * on Friday December 10, 2004 @07:31PM (#11056682) Homepage
    I use X10 to turn my 17,000 christmas lights on and off [komar.org] and it would be neat if the various remote vendors added some X10 capability to their devices - my kids think so too! ;-) [komar.org]
  • http://www.pacificneotek.com/linkProducts.htm

  • Exercise (Score:4, Funny)

    by pipingguy ( 566974 ) on Friday December 10, 2004 @07:41PM (#11056751)

    Get off your butt and change the settings by twirling that clicky, rotating knob on the front of the moving picture device.

    Sheesh. You kids today don't even remember when TVs didn't have remote controls - no wonder you're all so fat.
    • Speaking of knobs, I'm replying to one right now :p I'm 26 - even I remember the days when remote controls didn't exist.

      When friends/significant other are over it is not polite to get up, go to the media cabinet and block people's view of the screen.

      During a party it may be easier to skip to the next song or alter the volume from the other side of the room, especially if it is crowded.

      Using remote controls isn't making people that fat... it's spending hours every day immobile on the couch that does it, w

      • Back when this knob was rich he bought one of the first JVC S-VHS recorders. It came with a really nifty 5"x5" black remote control that had a flip-up panel and some kind of display thingamajig. It also had more buttons than I had pencils. In other words, a lot more than 50.

        I'm still confused by remote controls and have about 7 of them. Let's see now...TV, VCR, DVD, Cable, Walkman, soundcard and RealDoll. Yup, 7.
        • If you are confused by remote controls and dislike them, you might be a good canidate for a Harmony remote. You tell it whatever equipment you have and how it's hooked together, then you punch buttons on it like "Watch TV" and "Watch DVD" and "Turn Everything Off". I have not used one, so I don't know how well it actually performs, but they continue to be popular after at least 3 years on the market.

    • Get off your butt and change the settings by twirling that clicky, rotating knob on the front of the moving picture device.

      That's what younger siblings are good for - getting up and changing channels for you.

      Especially when our channel changer came off and you had to grab some chewed-up looking plastic tongue with the needle nosed pliers to actually change the channel.

  • Engadget had a piece on the Nevo SL, an upcoming device with a color touchscreen, a good compliment of hardbuttons, and a builtin pocketpc with wifi and the whole bit -- http://www.mynevo.com/Mynevo/Home.aspx [mynevo.com]
  • These are some ideas I've built-up from reading related Slashdot articles:

    1) Duct tape all the factory remotes together into one franken-remote.
    2) Same as #1, but add a gratuitous LCD screen. [slashdot.org]
    3) Same as #2, but running Windows CE. [slashdot.org]
    4) Same as #2, but running Linux [slashdot.org]
    5) Create a robot that pushes the buttons on the TV. Completely universal! Even works on TVs with no IR receiver!
    6) Hack an iPod [slashdot.org]
    7) Hack a Nintendo DS [slashdot.org]
    8) Create a Brainwave [slashdot.org] remote

  • Home Theater Master MX-700 (Score:3, Informative)

    by the eric conspiracy ( 20178 ) on Friday December 10, 2004 @07:59PM (#11056900)

    I really like this one - the programmability from PC is huge advantage, not just an incremental feature.

    The Prontos are nice, and well supported, but a lot of people like me like to have physical buttons.

    I haven't owned a Harmony unit, but they have a large following so take a look at these.

    Sony makes a $60 RM-VL900 unit that is very functional - I used one of these for a couple of years and found it works great for the money. However it's programmability is limited compared to the above, and it probably won't completely replace your existing controls.

  • I like my Harmony Remote [harmonyremote.com]. It's easy to configure but also versatile. And it has real buttons, not like the fingerprint-smudged touch-screen that lacks tactile feedback (such as the Philips Pronto.)

    • Definately, the harmony is an Exelent remote. Forget Macros, States is the way to go :)

      When I turn on my tv, it turns on the tv and surround, selects the correct inputs (if they are not already in the correct possition) and select the correct Aspect mode. Thats a lot of keypressing saved.

      Also the customer support is the best I've ever seen . They actually send you a mail and ask to help you if they detect that you are having trouble setting up the remote...
    • I have the 659 Harmony and I love it. I have programmed it to control literally every device in our home that uses IR. It works flawlessly with our three televisions, my 5 year old Technics stereo gear, the different DVD players, and blah, blah, blah.

      Neato stuff is that I also have it programmed to control my ceiling fans.

      Something that is nice is that it is activity based so I press the Watch Tv button to turn the TV, Stereo, HDTV receiver on and set the Tv input to DVI. For a movie, press the Watch Movi
    • The link you posted is just, apparently, a redirector. Logitech Products > Harmony® Remote Controls [logitech.com]

      Anyway, this remote resembles the Tivo remote quite a bit. That's nice; I like the shape of the Tivo remote. In fact, the Harmony 688 is listed as being able to control a Tivo. I may have to look into getting one of these; I'd seen pictures but didn't know who made the remote. Now I do. I have set up my Tivo's remote to control my television set, and it works great for that, but I'd also like it to b
    • I love my Harmony remote. I have a DirecTiVo, VCR, multi-disc DVD player, amp/receiver, tape deck, PS2, laptop (for MP3s etc.), and more and I control it all and the TV with the one Harmony remote, and my wife uses it flawlessly too, which is a big deal.

  • Home Theater Master is where its at (Score:4, Informative)

    by Kevin Stevens ( 227724 ) <kevstev@ g m a i l .com> on Friday December 10, 2004 @08:07PM (#11056977)
    Im really surprised that Home Theater Master has not been mentioned... I bought the MX-500 for my father for christmas last year and its just awesome, and can be found for under $100 also. It mixes both programmable "soft" keys with hard keys and if the codes dont provide all the functions of your device, as long as you have the original remote you can teach it new functions. It can control every function of every device I have (including my complex yamaha reciever and digital cable remotes). It also has "punch through" keys that allow you to control the volume on your reciever while still flipping channels on your tv or cable box (sounds intuititive, but most cheaper remotes require you to change mode from tv to reciever for this). The light up function also makes it easy to see at night, though the softkeys are not backlit. Unlike what I hear about alot of other high end remotes, the battery life is long and on par with a typical remote.

    I sound like a fanboy, but I really cant say enough about it. Its easy enough for my family to use, and very versatile. http://www.remotecentral.com is an excellent site for remote reviews, and you can see that it is rated very highly.

    links:
    MX-500: http://www.remotecentral.com/mx500/index.html
    Mx- 700 (updated 500?)
    http://www.remotecentral.com/mx700/index.ht ml

  • I've see quite a few programmable remotes on the market. But they always seem to cost tons of money.

    Got a laptop with irda or, even better, a Palm?

    Then you already have the most powerful remote in the world.

    For the Palm, look at OmniRemote. Does lots of neat stuff including allowing you to program your own UI.

    The best part is macroing. One button turns on and opens my DVD drive, turns on my TV, turns on my receiver and turns it to DVD input, sets the volume to low, and turns off my VCR. You can't be

  • Touch-screen
    If you (and your wife) like touch-screens (and don't mind the lack of tactile feedback), the Pronto [remotecentral.com] is the only way to go. These have been the most flexibly programmable for a very long time (so the tools are very mature, including Tonto [giantlaser.com], a free, third-party java-based editor). The older models (TS-1000) are available on eBay for fairly cheap (under $100). The newer ones have a few more buttons and color screens.

    Pros: You can see what you're doing, incredibly flexible.
    Cons: You can't us

  • The Home Theater Master MX series.... (Score:3, Informative)

    by Malor ( 3658 ) * on Friday December 10, 2004 @09:11PM (#11057380) Journal
    I bought an MX800 for myself and was so impressed, I bought an MX700 for my mom for her birthday. She's happy as a clam with it!

    These are fantastic remotes. Every button is learnable, programmable, and macroable. There are 10 special buttons up on top, with LCD labels next to them which you can change.

    The default model is to have each of the 10 main buttons correspond to a 'device'; when you press that device's button, the remote changes context. The 10 buttons up on top now become entirely programmable to do whatever you want, and the rest of the hard buttons can take on any function you wish. The remote offers either 16 or 20 'devices', which gives you, in essence, 16 or 20 separate controllers.

    The easy/normal method is to specify all the devices you own; there's a large database of devices built into the programming software. You can also import learned codes from files that other users have created (www.remotecentral.com has many many files available), or even import Pronto .ccf files. If there are no codes for your device, you'll have to learn them into the remote. But you only have to do this once... unlike most remotes, the HTM will never forget what you load into it, even if you take the batteries out. Plus, you have a backup on your computer to boot, which will let you program as many remotes as you like with the same configuration. (if you're in a big house, say, and you want several remotes, any of which can control anything in your house.)

    Once you have specified your devices and learned the codes you need, you can then shortcut buttons to any of the other codes, even on other devices. The software lets you "punch-through" some buttons, like volume, channel controls, and play/stop buttons, so that pressing them will always send codes to a specific device. This built-in punch through is a nice timesaver, but I found that it didn't cover everything... I myself ended up manually linking a number of codes around. It's very easy to do. Punch-through is a convenience feature, but if it doesn't do things exactly how you like, you can just ignore it and set every button up in every context to do anything you want.

    The main difference between the 700 and the 800 is that the 800 offers an RF link to a slave RF/IR transcoder. You plug in the slave near your AV gear. It has connections for up to six little IR blasters on fairly long wires, which you attach to the IR sensors of your gear. The MX800 will then send RF commands to the slave unit, which will then echo them to the correct target device. You can have multiple slave units and set up routing of commands so that you can control multiple rooms/zones from one controller, anywhere in your house. The MX700 is IR-only, but is otherwise identical.

    Both units offer very, VERY powerful IR transmitters... they're so powerful that precise aim seems to be totally unnecessary. As long as you're in the same room, it doesn't even seem to be necessary to actually point the remote at your equipment.

    I do have a few quibbles with them, but nothing huge. The biggest thing is that I wish the LCD labels had one more letter; the LCD labels for your upper 10 buttons are only 7 characters. 8 would be easier, and 10 would be about ideal. it's hard to abbreviate properly in only 7 characters.

    You MUST program these units with a computer. If you have a laptop, that's easiest, as you can sit in the front room with your other remotes and program it, but you can walk back and forth from a PC in the other room if you need to. (you have to have the remotes on hand while connected to the computer to do memorization, as far as I can see.) They come with the serial cable you need... you will need a standard 9-pin serial port. If you're on a Mac, I think you're SOL... the cable is PC-standard, and the software is Windows-only. You might be able to get it running with a USB->serial interface and emulation software, but it'd be a PITA.

    Also note that you really want to go
    • Nothing inspires fresh thoughts like sealing the envelope. I forgot to mention that once you have selected the context for a device, you get four pages' worth of programmable LCD buttons for that device. (there's a Page key, non programmable). So you don't have just 10 buttons, you in essence have 40, 10 at a time, per device. If you have a very complex gizmo, you can assign it more contexts.

      There's also a special FAV button, which goes to a pseudo-context... you have four pages of LCD buttons, but t
    • I'll second the recommendation for the MX-700 (the IR version of the one parent used). After I bought a receiver, my wife was fed up with a different remote for the TV, cable box, and receiver, not to mention the VCR and DVD player.

      We had an All-In-One remote that handled multiple devices, but it was hard to program. The computer programming method of the MX-700 makes it much easier. As parent noted, you can assign every button to punch-through or activate a macro. What he didn't mention was exactly how eas

  • My pop has one of these. If you have family members who are not technologically sophisticated, forget about it. I'm gonna get them a Logitech Harmony for Christmas.
  • http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb [avsforum.com]

    There is even a sub-forum specifically for remotes...
    http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?s= &forumid=93 [avsforum.com]

    I have the MX-500. Worth every penny.
    http://www.remotecentral.com/mx500/ [remotecentral.com]

    Peace
  • I recently got the One For All Chameleon [amazon.com] URC 9960 remote. It's pretty good for $60.

    Pros:
    • Lighted Screen
    • real switches under membrane
    • learning
    • movable keys
    • customizable behavior
    • UHF support for Dish Network DVR's
    • macros
    • online demo [ofausa.com] and manual [ofausa.com]
    • sexy design

    Cons:

    • battery hog (rechargables, check)
    • vibration switch too sensitive (turn it off per manual)
    • have to hit scroll to access 'additional functions' for a device - a pain if you frequently use obscure functions
    • can't move buttons that are in the 'scroll' functions
  • So, what remotes are you all using? Why did you select the one you have? What should I look for in my search? What don't you like about it? What do you like? What else should I be asking?"

    I, too, have about 6 different things plugged into my home theatre. The most difficult one I have is my newly configured HTPC.
    I'm presently using a POS Radio Shack Universal Programmable Learning Remote with an RF->IR repeater. I pretty much bought it because it directly supported the TiVo and had the RF->IR ca
  • All of these new fancy schmantcy with LCDs and the like are swanky looking and all, but they all suffer from a serious flaw. No tactile feedback. I ad a very early LCD based remote years ago and I quickly grew tired of having to look down at the remote in order to do ANYthing at all with it. Nope, you truly need a remote with physical buttons on a remote control. And I have found the perfect remote control.

    Behold the Marantz RC2000. It is a learning remote (it comes prepped for Marantz and Philips equipmen
  • A JP1 remote (usually labeled as an RCA one-4-all or Radioshack brand remote) will let you do anything you want to it, and they're relatively cheap. The JP1 interface lets you reprogram ('upgrade') the remote from your computer to do anything (with a $10 cable). You can set all of your buttons however you see fit. Think being in one mode all the time, where your fast-forward/play control the dvd, channel buttons control your cable and volume your receiver without ever having to switch modes.
    I just picked u
    • I forgot to mention macros. Girlfriend loves being able to hit one button and watch TV. With my setup that's a sequence of like 10 normal button presses (counting mode switches, power ons and input selections). Somehow she couldn't get that all down, but was able to understand: "If something isn't working, turn everything off and press button x".

      (One PITA with macros is not all devices have discrete on/off codes, so the remote can't tell whether it's turning something on or off. Not good with a projector).
  • To see the most advanced remote control software on the market, check out the amazing new program from Novii. This update to the award-winning original is amazing: www.novii.tv/nrdeluxe
  • For less than the price of a high-end remote, you can get a Palm PDA and run NoviiRemote [palmone.com] or similar programs. Newer Palms have strong IR transmitters, and work at normal distances from the device being controlled. Odds are that you already have a PDA, so just buy the software and control everything for less than $30.

    As an extra bonus, you can backup your remote control when you hotsync. Have you ever lost the programming in your programmable remote control (dropped on the floor, batteries pop out)?

  • Harmony 676 - good experience (Score:3, Informative)

    by no_such_user ( 196771 ) <jd-slashdot-2007 ... ay.com minus bsd> on Saturday December 11, 2004 @02:43PM (#11061161)
    I recently acquired a Harmony 676 remote. So far so good. I've been searching for a decent universal remote for a while. I started years ago with a *huge* Memorex CP8 learning remote which had a timer and was macro programmable. It was too large and didn't have enough memory, but I still miss it.

    Ten years later, I ended up playing with JP1-based remotes [hifi-remote.com]. If you've got patience, it's not a terrible option if you're on a budget. Ultimately, the complicated setup procedure involving a complex Excel spreadsheet made me reluctant to play with it. I've got nothing but respect for the folks who've created and sustain this project -- it's a GREAT hack.

    I received a Sony remote for the holidays last year. Though I was excited to get a "real" universal remote, the form factor (square? what are they thinking?) and my system's lack of discrete codes made the decision to return it necessary.

    I gave up for a while and ended up using the uni remote which came with my Yamaha receiver. It wasn't horrible, but it was completely confusing to use for anyone but myself. It meant that watching a DVD was all but impossible unless I was there to set it up.

    I came across the Harmony 676 [logitech.com] at TECHXNY, where Logitech was selling them at a decent discount. I was skeptical, but so far it's the only remote which my wife has been able to use sucessfully. The bigger test: the father-in-law. Whenever he'd come over, he could barely figure out how to change the channel. Once when he was staying over, he left the whole thing on all night because he couldn't figure out how to turn it off! The Harmony remote solved that problem beautifully.

    The biggest feature of this remote is it's "intelligence". I press the DVD button, it turns on the dvd player, sets my TV for component in, and the receiver for digial input #2. Why is this unique? Because my TV doesn't have discrete codes, yet the Harmony remembers the system's last state. If the TV was on composite in, it knows to send the 'change input' code two times to get to the component in. And when I press the "TV" button, it knows to turn the dvd player off, send the TV input code three times to get to S-Video, and the receiver to VCR-in. But what happens if the remote gets out of sync with the state of the TV? There's a HELP button on the remote, which will resend the codes and ask you "is everything ok now?". If you press "no", it'll go step-by-step: Is the TV on? Is the DVD player on? Is the TV on the component input? and will send codes depending on your answers. This is *HUGE* - and something a macro just can't do.

    Other things I like about it: Programmable via your PC through USB. If your batteries die and it loses its program, just hook it back up and it'll redownload its config. It knows about every device I own, from the Tivo (including different tivo remote addresses) to the Audiotron to the LG air conditioner, and everything inbetween (and if it doesn't list your specific device, you can feed it a few IR commands from your exiting remote, and it'll auto-recognize the device). It feels good in the hand. Similar to my tivo 'peanut' remote.

    What I don't like: No true "macros" as far as I can tell. The web interface to program the remote is a little clunky. I'm having a problem with one of the remote's buttons.

    Ultimately, it was a good purchase. I'd buy it again.
  • My roommate bought it... I've never programmed it, but it works superb w/ our Samsung HDTV, Motorola DCT digital box w/ 2-tuner DVR, Denon receiver and Denon DVD player...

    Had 6 programmable buttons that display their current function on a small LCD...

    Has lots of "generic" keys that match up w/ current buttons on other remotes, so you're not always pressing random keys to get the functions you want
  • I like my Harmony (now Logitech) remote. They make several different models, I have the top one. The remote connects to the PC via USB, all the programming is done via their web site. It only took me 5 minutes to program all my gear. The remote has 40 or so normal buttons and an LCD. All non-button commands are via a scroll wheel. While you can program any button to do anything, I't be nice to see a few blank buttons, so programming any custom command doesn't use up a valid button. ie in DVD mode, the I'v
  • I have an RCA "Universal Custom 8" - goes for about $35. I use it to control my Tivo, Stereo, DVD, TV - etc. You can reprogram any key, and it supports three different macro keys (ie - turn on TV, turn on the stereo, and bring up the main Tivo menu). Works good. Alternate solution would be to purchase a human child off ebay to change the channel at your command. This might be more expensive - but would support voice recognition (although you might have to learn Thai).
  • I'm amazed that, these days, people still use remotes. Really, there just doesn't seem to be much need.

    The only things that need to be far away in the modern livingroom are speakers and televisions. In a typical home theater, televisions don't do very much but get turned on and off, and maybe have an input switched. Speakers don't have any adjustments to make, regularly.

    The rest of the gear, invariably, has a dizzying array of functional buttons and knobs and lights, and would have been markedly cheape
    • Try using a Tivo without a remote.

      There are no buttons on it.

      The DVD player in my XBox? Hmmm... you have to use a remote there too.

      Just because a solution works in your particular situation, doesn't mean that it applies to everyone.

      There are MANY valid reasons to use remote controls. You just don't seem to need one.

      Congratulations.
  • I like the Kameleon remotes and there is a UK / Europe version marketed by Oneforall company http://www.oneforall.com . They have a second generation of kameleons out this season which is a sleeker line than the first gen counterparts which came out 2 years back. A 10 in 1 is slated to come out shortly which I plan to buy. Last year I bought URC-8060 from http://www.avukltd.com/ [avukltd.com] .. they seem to be selling first and second generation Kameleons both this season.
  • I have a Tevion 8 device Universal Remote that is programmable. I got it for $20 AUD which is cheaper than most non-programmable models. I got it from Aldi (a bugdet supermarket chain). It's awesome considering the price. Slightly slower button response than my original remotes but it controls 3 devices at the moment (TV/VCR/PVR). The only thing it can't handle is the VCR timer recording (there's 10 buttons dedicated to this on the VCR remote). I could "waste" a "device" and learn those codes onto buttons o

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