Advice on universal remotes

[GomiGirl]

I am wanting to get the boy a universal remote for christmas but as a girl I am clueless on all such home AV stuff.

So any suggestions?

Need it to work the TV, DVD, Stereo, cable TV (cable over fibre set-top box) as now we have 5 remotes on the coffee table. I know I can probably set up my iphone to do it but I am wanting just one remote for him as he doesn't have an iphone yet.

I have looked around in the shops but it is all too hard for me so suggestions from people who have them would be great.

[GuyJean]

.. Need it to work the TV, DVD, Stereo, cable TV (cable over fibre set-top box) as now we have 5 remotes on the coffee table....

Hhhmm.. I haven't bought one in awhile, so I don't know what's out there now. I think the cable TV would be the toughest to find one for, so you might narrow it down by looking for one that controls that first..

I'd write down the brand/models of all your equipment, then see if the BIC dude is up to the task.

How is your system setup? Does the cable box go into a HDD deck, or through the stereo? Or, is it the basic cable box into TV. DVD into TV. Stereo to stereo speakers, etc..

My friend made his own 'universal remote' in university with a small wood block and duct tape. ]http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/images/vbimghost/18493913ff618de.jpg[/img]

GJ

[GuyJean]

This Sony seems to be good:

RM-PLZ510D - Sony site



http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/news-16201-RM-PLZ510D%3A+A+Stylish+Universal+Remote+Control+from+Sony.html

I got me one of these on the weekend.
It is fantastic! It can run anything that has a remote control. It can actually run up to 8 devices. And it has a learning function so you can "train" it with your other remotes. It is doing my TV, DVD, Tuner, 5.1 amp, Airconditioner and Media Center. Best buy! It only costs 4,000yen too!

If it has the ability to 'learn', it might be possible to use on the cable box.. But I'd confirm this before purchasing..

GJ

[GomiGirl]

Thanks GJ

DVD and cable box line into TV - sound for all out of stereo. We have the TV sound turned off. No HDD. TV is old CRT style. DVD is a 2 year old Buffalo Link theatre type. Stereo is just stereo. Nothing is too fancy smancy tech wise.

If there is one out there that makes me a cup of tea as well I would be interested.

[Kuang_Grade]

When shopping for one, be sure that the buttons that hardware unit buttons on the remote that make the remote to be X remote for X device (ie, DVD, SAT, TV, ect) are accessible...Alot of universal remotes seem to make these buttons tiny or put them in hard to reach places and you'll likely use them more than you think...ie, hit the TV button to turn on the TV, then Sat to be able to switch SAT channels, ect... Some buttons may likely remain the same regards of what device is selected, such as the Vol controls, while others are dependent on what the current device setting. Ideally, try to find one with a TV input select button that remains the same regardless of what device it tuned to...the lack of one may mean the remote is alot less universal, since you might still have to use your TV remote to switch inputs when you want to watch a DVD, or switch between broadcast and sat TV (if you have that need).

If price is not a object, you might want to give a look at some of the logitech/logicool harmony remotes

http://www.logicool.co.jp/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/&cl=jp,ja

here is the US page...the models are different but the US 550 looks pretty similar to the J 522
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/&cl=us,en

While quite pricey, you can teach these devices to work with your equipment by actually hooking up to your computer via USB and telling it what hardware you have and it will figure out the correct settings without much effort (no punching in things like 99947 into the remote to teach it to be your brand of DVD player and hoping it works if not then enter 99948, ect) and as you add or subtract items, you just plug it in and add or subtract it from the remote. And you can even program macros for them, so the remote will do several things with just one button push (ie, turn on TV, switch TV to DVD input, Turn on DVD, open tray on DVD). And since it has customizable buttons, you can always make sure that one button that you really need off your original remote can be placed on the harmony, even if it is one of the more ridiculous buttons like changing the scene angle on a DVD...no word on the tea making however.

[FG Lurker]

The 882 looks like a seriously kickass remote! The price is rather steep though, 28,000yen or so. Still, when I eventually get around to reworking the home theater here I will definitely check these out. Thanks for posting that!

[IkemenTommy]

[Adhesive]

I am wanting to get the boy a universal remote

Isn't that what you're for?

[GomiGirl]

I think I am going to buy the Logicool one. For a few reasons - it has English buttons and English support and the USB connection to teach it what to look for.

Setting it up for the first time kinda worried me as there were codes from a book etc that looked really complicated.

[tegi]

I am a bit behind the curve when it comes to electronic things. So before this wonderful website goes away, thought I might ask for some advice on a universal remote too.

The remote on our Aquos tv has stopped working. We have Hikari cable and a Wii.

Would a Logitech Harmony (or other universal remote brand) purchased in the US work here ok?