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Universal remote recommendations? Plus, mildly amusing home theater experience

A

AndrewR

Lifer
I'm still getting used to my receiver, which is good but a little bit of a pain in the ass to use. The remote SUCKS...HARD -- no way around it. The receiver is the Pioneer VSX-D409.

Anyone know of a good universal that costs less than $100?

Anyway, my wife and I sat down to watch The Patriot, and I made sure the player was set to 5.1, which it was. I started playing it, but it was playing analog instead of digital. My wife said it sounded fine, but it was playing through my bookshelf speakers, not my HT. I ran to the receiver, switched the speakers and switched the signal to digital. Now, the front HT speakers were playing, and again my wife said it sounded fine -- leave it alone. It STILL wasn't playing in surround. I ran back up to the receiver and hit the Dolby/DTS button -- viola! Sound starts pumping through the all 6 speakers, and my wife just had to nod when I asked if it really did sound better.

Damn, I love that system (well, except for the remote).
 
Sony RM-AV2100. For the price no other remote comes close. It can be programmed to control any device imaginable.

KingHam

[edit]Here is a link to it on Sony's website[/edit]
 
Good Lord! You guys are out of your forking minds! $180.00 for a friggen remote! I could buy a damn robot to push the buttons for that kinda loot!

I'm in the market too, and I'll be damned if I can't find better bang for the buck than that! My search starts now...

Edit: This blows my mind! He only paid about $225.00 for the stinken receiver and you're telling him to pay almost $200.00 for the friggen remote! Get a clue! :|

Edit II: Searching here now... ...$200 for a friggen remote! ...grumble... good God! ...grumble... ...WTF... ...some people! ...grumble...

Edit III: Here's a pile at all price points including a $129.00 price for the "$200.00" one...

Edit IV: The Sony RM-VL900 might be OK, but it's still $50.00. No backlit display either. Still hunting...
 
Ornery: They probably aren't married. 😀

I don't need too much functionality -- TV, maybe VCR (never use it), DVD player, receiver with backlit display. A learning function would be nice, too, for those less common buttons. Ostensibly, the Pioneer remote is great because it has everything but the backlit display, but the buttons are tiny and never work (it won't do the Signal Select from analog to digital with the remote button for some odd reason).

Checking out those links, thanks.
 
Ornery, AndrewR,

I was in the market a couple months ago, and I did WEEKS of research before I decided what to INVEST in as a remote. What I came up with was the RCA RCU810. It is beautiful, has all the RIGHT buttons, including many you won't find on any other uni remote, has a small LCD display to show the mode, time, etc..., has a BEAUTIFUL blue, very bright backlight that you can turn on and off (when on, it lights every time you push any button. When off, it only lights when you turn it on.), controls 8 devices right out of the box, but also (and this is VERY important) has learning capability. It allows you to change and re-assign buttons or devices, program macros, and of course has punch-through capabilites (so for instance the volume control will always control the volume on your receiver unless you are in TV mode, or however YOU want to set it up). Basically, this remote has the most feature-packed design and the best capabilities of any remote I have seen (and like I said, I saw them all), and I got it for a measly $35.00 shipped from Best Buy. To this day, I believe it is the best investment I have made in my home theater. I hope you get one yourself and try it out. I'm sure you will agree it's a wonderful remote. Also, for what it's worth, despite the huge amount of control and felxibility this remote offers, it can be set up in little time to be easily operated by the most IGNORANT casual TV-watcher. And, in case you are wondering what remote came in second in my research, the Radio Shack 1994 that someone mentioned earlier came in close second, but second nontheless. It lacks some features I can't do without.

Here's the remote itself
Of course, don't buy it direct from RCA. That price will kill you. Bestbuy.com doesn't seem to have it online anymore, but I saw one in a BB B&M only a couple of weels ago.

Ricky
DesignDawg
 
Also, I forgot to mention.... The range and power of the RCU810 is, to say the least, VERY impressive. Shoots through blankets with ease, even from across the room, and when it's out in the open, it can be pointed ANYWHERE. Even 180 degrees from your components, and still control them. It makes a big difference not having to aim.

User reviews of the RCU810, along with a MUCH better picture than what's on the RCA website.

Also, I forgot the mention, it seems that the only complaint anyone has with this remote is the low amount of memory for macros and learned remotes. After having programmed my remote QUITE extensively to make it idiot-proof (for my wife, who doesn't like to think about it when she's watching TV), I have come to the following conclusion:

Either:

A) These people smoke way too much crack, and are completely out of their minds
B) They are not teaching the remote correctly*** (refer to note at bottom)
C) These people are not using the codes AT ALL for their devices and instead have decided to program EVERY button.
D) They are merely following what other people said.

*** (NOTE: When teaching the remote IR signals, the manual says to hold down the button on the original remote for a couple of seconds, until the RCU810 actually tells you to stop. A common misconception is that the remote is RECORDING the data the remote is transmitting, and if you hold it down for a couple of seconds, it is recording way more than necessary, since the signal just repeats. In reality, the signal DOES repeat, and this is precisely why you are supposed to hold it down. What the RCU810 is ACTUALLY doing is watching the original remote's pattern. It listens for a couple of seconds to ensure that it has enough information on exactly WHERE the sequence repeats, and when it is sure it knows when it repeats, it stores only ONE CYCLE. If, however, you do as many people say, and for the sake of "conserving memory", you only TAP the button on the original remote, the RCU810 is not able to gain enough info, and thus has no choice but to store the ENTIRE string of repeating commands, instead of 1, as it would if you did it properly. This string can be several times larger than necessary, and will drain the memory fast.)

Ricky
DesignDawg
 
Hmmm... I didn't realize that you guys paid MSRP for everything. Anyway I got my AM-RV2100 for a little over $100, including shipping, when I bought off the internet. Funny but, I remember AndrewR stating that his budget was $100; so maybe it is you who needs to, as you so elegantly stated, "get a clue! :|".

KingHam
 
Well, actually, KingHam, while $100 was the absolute limit, I much prefer cheaper. 😀 I was hoping $50, but I thought that was being too optimistic though perhaps not. That Sony is probably very nice, but I think I'm heading for the $35. A functional remote and a happy wife are worth much more than a great remote and a disgruntled wife!!
 
You can still get a good remote for that amount. You will miss out on some of the bells and whistles but, it sounds like you aren't looking for anything more than basic functionality. I have used the RCU8100 and RM-VL900 and both are good basic remote controls. Either would fit your needs nicely and I would pick whichever felt better in your hand.

KingHam
 
Uh, yeah I pay full retail for everything, you bet!

Actually, I deciphered konichiwa's link to Outpost and found the $179.00 price. Very helpful! Heh, at least he took the time to put a link in! I don't see your $100.00 source yet...

Thanks again DesignDawg, that WAS TRULY helpful!
 
No prob Ornery and AndrewR. I must admit I first saw this post a couple of days ago, and I didn't post because I figured it would all work itself out. I have seen "Help me find a good uni remote" threads before, and almost invariably, there were many posts, and someone always pointed the person to remote central to choose for himself. Well, when I came back and noticed that the thread had kinda floundered, I figured I'd take a little time out of my day and spread the wealth. I hope you enjoy that remote. I know I do. I'm thinking about getting another in case this one ever breaks and they discontinue it. 🙂 And, no, Ornery, like I said, BB doesn't have it on their website anymore, but they have them in the stores still. One thing to note, though: Last time i saw one in Best Buy, they weren't with the rest of the universal remotes. For some reason, they were hanging on a wall in the TV section between two TV's. Weird. It was like they had their own little display, but it wasn't very prominent. ?? Anyway, LMK if you get one. I'd like to hear your personal review after you try it out.

Ricky
DesignDawg
 
Get the All For One Cinema 7 @ Sears for $24.95. This is one great remote which allows me to keep my other four remotes on the drawer while I use this one.
 
KingHam: You're right -- I don't need something like the Philips Commander that looks like a PDA and can control my lights and such. 🙂 That would be quite cool, but I really haven't the need especially in an apartment. My uncle and I had a pissing match a couple weeks back comparing how many remotes we each have, and I beat him -- 6 to 5. I don't actively use all of those, but it's silly. Now, though, I do actively use THREE remotes when playing a DVD (TV to switch to Video input, DVD to play/stop/etc, and receiver for volume and such -- ridiculous!).
 
my x-10 remote can control some of the x-10 lights in my house... wonder if I can program the RCU810 to do the same?
 
I own the AV2100 remote by Sony and I also paid $99 for it. The nice thing about this remote is, if you have another old device which you just HATE the remote for, the Sony can learn the commands simply by pointing the other device at it for that function and it learns it in about 3 seconds. Very nice feature. I also must mention, the backlighting on the Sony is excellent and it's really easy to use. Also you can program it so that it's always adjusting the volume of your home theatre receiver, no matter what device you have it on (TV, VCR, DVD) and for someone who has everything going into their receiver, this feature is awesome! Well worth the $99.

divinemartyr
 
I hope the "dickhead" comment wasn't directed at me, KingHam. If it was (even if it wasn't), you need to lighten up a little. Ok, at $99, I WILL check that one out because it does look rather impressive. I'm heading to BestBuy today and possibly Circuit City so I can compare these devices in person.

Got a quick question related to having the receiver control everything: Do your receivers have a provision for attaching cable? Mine doesn't, at least it doesn't have the "screw on" cable connector like my TV or VCR. Do you route the cable directly into the TV (assuming you have that) somehow? I wondered about that when I installed my receiver and am not sure if there's some sort of converter I can use.
 
Jensen SC-570

That's a pretty nice remote. I got it after recommendations here on OT. Ran me $20 at the local Target.

The only thing is that it won't control my Mitsubishi DVD player. Works with my Mitsu TV, Mitsu VCR, Onkyo Reciever, and RCA DSS. 🙂

amish
 
Holy canole! Nice price on that Sony!

I'd looked at that model before, but didn't want to shell out $150 for it (at CC). I just had to order one at that price...
 
Good for you Thorn, but I don't think I'll be able to obtain that RCA RCU810 for $30.00.

I went to BestBuy DesignDawg and they had one left with an "As Advertised Price" of $49.00. Hmmmm, I ain't ready to pay that either. I might eventually if that's the best deal, but not at the moment.

It's a pretty big puppy too! I saw some gripes about not enough memory. Right now, I just need it to run the WEGA, a Yamaha receiver and Pioneer DVD. If those are all preprogrammed, I won't need much memory, if any, right? I was going to grab it just to screw around with, but I knew I'd have to return it at that price. No chance of getting a price match in the near future that I can foresee.

I'll see what I can do with my dang Yamaha remote. It will do it all, but no backlight. Maybe I can rig a little flashlight on the side... 😛
 
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