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Universal remote for my Grandfather

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Atty

Atty

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Anyone ever found a good universal remote that works well for old people?

I need something that is large enough for him to be able to use, so huge buttons and clear text, but complex enough to change input so he can go back and forth between his DVD and VCR on his TV. With buttons able to move around the menu on the DVD.

Anyone ever come across one that worked? I've found some that seem to be viable but I'm wary they won't really work out.
 
on a related note, anyone found a good universal remote that works well for an older old person?

one that doesn't allow them to change the input? turns on the cable box and TV at the same time? allows for direct input of channel numbers..

i get phone calls all the time asking me to help her turn on her TV. generally speaking she either manages to move it off the HDMI-1 Input, or to turn the cable box off and the TV on (or visa versa)
 
I want to just buy him a WiFi enabled TV with a "remote" remote feature so I can just fix it for him from wherever I am. Too bad that is a ridiculously expensive idea...
 
Atty said:
Anyone ever found a good universal remote that works well for old people?
Click to expand...

Not possible. Anything that controls more than 2 or 3 functions is too complicated for old people let alone something that controls 2 or 3 devices. On/Off channels up/down and volume up/down is about the limit. If they need more that that cramming more buttons onto a single remote will only make things worse, not better. Let them stick with 3 things they CAN control rather than 100 things they can't.
 
GagHalfrunt said:
Not possible. Anything that controls more than 2 or 3 functions is too complicated for old people let alone something that controls 2 or 3 devices. On/Off channels up/down and volume up/down is about the limit. If they need more that that cramming more buttons onto a single remote will only make things worse, not better. Let them stick with 3 things they CAN control rather than 100 things they can't.
Click to expand...

The problem is crappy cable providers that require a cable box. I just can't hook in the cable to the TV directly, and let my great aunt (94 with macular degeneration) use a remote regularly. If you want to change the volume, you must hit the 'TV' button first, and if you want to change the channel you must hit the 'Cable' button first. This is very difficult for someone not reared on tech, nor able to see very well, on a 50+ button remote.

What I want, and have been looking for, for years, is a remote that changes the cable box's functions (channel up/down) and changes the TV's volume, without having to hit a 'TV' or 'Cable' button first. Also, it should not have any buttons allowing you to change inputs, or menus.

What I end up doing, is buying little plastic half circles with a sticky side on the bottom, and I place these on the TV, Cable, volume, and channel buttons, so my great aunt can feel what to press. Helps, but isn't a true solution.
 
get a cheap one without numbers, the foggies caint deal with more that forward and back buttons. i got a good sony one at target a few weeks ago for $10
 
http://www.bigbuttonremotes.com/remotes-tekpartner.htm

bigButt.jpg
 
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