In Search of the Best Programmable Universal Remote?

option8 asks: "Now that i have more components in my living room than I have room on the coffee table for their remotes, I'm looking into getting a programmable universal remote. I've looked at some of the spiffy touchscreen jobs, like the Philips Pronto and even some of the new color remotes, but it seems to me that spending more for my remote than I did on my DVD player is overdoing it somewhat. Also, all I've found are ones with windows support for building screens. Are there any out there that I can use with Linux?" There was a previous Ask Slashdot on this subject back in '99, anything new to report since then?

Comments

I'd say my wife..

[sporty]

I would say my wife if she could figure out my entertainment centre. Ah, the issues of being an audiophile ;) (j/k)

Sony RM-AV 2100

[WinDoze]

Here's a review of my choice. It's not fully programmable in that you can't add or remove buttons, but there are tons of available functions built in. The back-lit LCD is nice. And for $90, I can live with having to use a few mislabelled buttons.

Re:Sony RM-AV 2100

[wizarddc]

I have this, and I love it. You can add/remove buttons, but not make your own buttons. The LCD is split into a grid, and each grid box has about 4 different labels. You can set a button by basically pointing your real remote at this remote, and hitting the button you want to program on the universal remote, and then hitting the button you want to use on your real remote. Besides the number pad and the arrow keys, every other button is programable, even the volume buttons, such as I can set the volume buttons for the sattelite box to use the tv volume. Also, each piece of equipment can have 2 "pages" of buttons. So say you dvd remote has more buttons than the lcd screen has, there is a "secondary" button on the top left corner that swap back and forther for that device. I have my TV, Sattelite, DVD, VCR and Stereo hooked up to use this, and I'd be lost without it.

Re:Sony RM-AV 2100

[DaSyonic]

I have one of these. I have had it for about 9 months. Here's my opinion/review of it.

First the positives.

• Lots of buttons, Each is individually programmable. Also support for alot of devices.
• Backlit feature works
• Learning function works flawlessly (It's the only other remote that can operate my kenwood - tried many learning remotes, this is the one that would work.)
• Better than expected battery life - Still yet to have to change the batteries, with 9 months of daily use.
• Customizable. From beeps, to backlit strength, to auto shutoff time; it's more than just a generic remote.

But it also has some problems.

• The buttons are small
• Cant navigate by feel, You MUST look at the remote. I've gotten good at knowing where to press, but its easy to mess up, and often annoying.
• Not enough macros. You can use 3, maximum
• It's big. It doesn't fit in your hand very nicely.
• Expensive. I got mine at Sams for a good deal though

This is complementary to my existing remote, I still use the TiVo remote for just casual TV, but the Sony 'Remote Commander' is also by my side, and I can use it exclusively, whenever I choose. It's a good remote, and a good choice if you can live with the drawbacks.

Most universal remote

[91degrees]

I decided that all the remotes in my living room were totally useless. I threw them all out, and simply replaced them with a 10 foot pole.

Not only does it allow me to control all button controlled equipment, but it allows me to change DVD, push the cat out of the way, and take the phone off the hook if someone wants to interupt my viewing. About all I can't do isget a cup of coffee. I use a long handled shovel for that.

Re:Most universal remote

[Tetsujin28]

I decided that all the remotes in my living room were totally useless. I threw them all out, and simply replaced them with a 10 foot pole.

But there's a lot on TV that I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole.

OmniRemote/

[wayn3]

For those with a Palm Pilot, OmniRemote is an excellent universal remote application. It makes Palm IIs with the 2MB upgrade card useful again.

Re:OmniRemote/

[Milican]

And if you own a Handspring Visor you can get a springboard module for External IR. The External IR is much stronger than Internal IR, but hardly ever necessary. The only time I would recommend buying the module is for Visor Edge models. I have an Edge and it doesn't work reliably for much further than 5'. You can see Pacific Neotek's tests here.

So I'm kind if in the market for External IR, but I'll wait til the latest version of OmniRemote comes out first (in beta now.. and has been for an eternity).

JOhn

Palm

[BubbaFett]

I guess you could always use your Palm. It's about as programmable as it gets! Some Palm remote projects.

Re:Palm

[blazin]

I guess you could always use your Palm.

But I thought the whole point of a remote was not having to get up and go across the room to change the channel... Besides, I've found pressing the buttons with the tip of my finger works better than mashing the buttons my whole palm... :)

Small kids...

[MosesJones]

Are the answer, they love pushing buttons and while there are incidents of failure they seamlessly upgrade with the hardware. And they can open fridges and bring beer. They come with switchable covers, have a basic voice and language recognition system, and work off an inexhustable supply of energy. They are even turning things on before you get up, and after you've gone to bed.

Touchscreen bad

[Gary]

Personally I'd stay away from the touch screen remotes. I find that I rely on tactile feedback too much to use them. In other words I like to feel my way to the correct button rather than look down to find where I need to press. If you do go touch screen make sure you get one that's backlit. Without tactile feedback it's hard to find the right button and it's doubly hard when you have the lights out.

I don't have any specific recommendations but if I were going to buy a new universal remote I'd get a good ole push button type with learning capability and plenty of extra buttons. My biggest complaint with the cheaper universal remotes is that they always seem to leave off one or two buttons that I use frequently on the native remote. Get a good learning remote with plenty of programmable buttons and that'd alleviate that problem.

Do you really mean it?

[Pac]

You found a wife that besides being programmable is also remote??

Assuming you can override the remote part when need be, do you best to keep her, friend. You won't find another one easily (but also be aware of the universal part, it sounds a tad dangerous).

Lexicon

[cnkeller]

For those of you who are perhaps, more discriminating buyers, I offer the Lexicon 700t. I used to sell medium to high-end audio/video while in college and we couldn't keep enough of these (and their predecessors) in stock. Be prepared to pay though, they weren't cheap as I recall. Custom buttons with bitmaps...how cool.....

why not get a helper monkey?

[unformed]

1) You don't have to carry a remote around, you just tell it what to do.
2) You don't need to reprogram it when you buy new merchandise.
3) It works with non-electrical things, such as "Get me a beer, Abe"
4) Chicks dig helper monkeys.

Pronto

[JLester]

I thought the Pronto was expensive too, until I bought one after installing a full home theatre system. With the complete customization and programming ability, you can make your system do anything YOU want. I have programs set so that you press one button to switch receiver inputs, switch TV inputs, change audio settings, etc. when changing to a different source. Press "Watch a DVD" for example and the TV switches to the DVD input, the receiver switches to the DVD input, the receiver switches to Dolby Digital mode, the DVD player comes on (if it is off) and starts the movie. You could also have it dim the lights and do other things if you'd like. Awesome, and you do it all with one (virtual) button. Much easier for my wife and family to operate. Ecost.Com is the cheapest I have found for buying them.

Jason

Remote Central

[Keith Mickunas]

Remote Central has reviews, forums, and for those that can use them all sorts of custom files. Its the best source for any information relating to remotes.

Radio Shack 15-1994 with JP1: The Ultimate Remote

[Spire]

Get yourself a Radio Shack 15-1994 6-in-1 Smart A/V Remote, hack it with a JP1 Interface, and for under $50, you've bought yourself an infinitely customizable IR remote (with X10 capability!), and with all nice tactile hard buttons to boot!

Best Remote Ever!

[Helmholtz]

This has to be the best remote ever ... and you can get it for only $16.99! While supplies last!

http://shop.store.yahoo.com/spencergifts/612275.ht ml