Universal Remote Control

For the past year, I've lived with having to use at LEAST 2 remote controls for my home entertainment stand. Actually, I have to use all 4 to access all of the functions I need for my Pioneer audio receiver, Samsung DVD/VCR player, Samsung HD DirecTV tuner, and Mitsubishi rear projection TV. Almost all of them "claim" to have universal remote functionality, but one or the other just doesn't work with some of the components. Worst of all, is that I run all my audio through my Pioneer 5.1 Dolby Digital receiver, and don't use the TV audio at all, so when I'm in DirecTV mode, (which my TV remote won't control, so the best remote I have is the Samsung DirecTV remote), it wants to punch through and use the TV volume control codes (and there is no way to change that, that I've been able to find).

Anyway, I finally just got fed up with it, and started looking online (especially after really hating the signal strength on my DirecTV universal remote, which can't even control its own unit from more than 15 feet). I was considering spending almost $150 on a Harmony Remote IR/RF learning remote (SST 659). But then, I came across One for All remotes, and picked the URC 6131 for its ability to reassign punch through keys in certain modes, and the ability to pick a master volume lock, all for only $19. Well, it is PERFECT, except for one thing. It won't control my Samsung DirecTV tuner (been through all the codes at least 4 times). They promise UPGRADABILITY, and if you have any problem with a component, they will get you an upgraded remote that contains the new codes, but I don't know how long that is going to take them. Hope they can get it for me soon. I love the remote. Even going up to the $45 URC 8910 would be great, but it has the same code for Samsung under Satellite, so I'm sure it won't work, either (and it only offers 4 learning buttons, so that isn't exactly going to work either).

- posted by Jeff @ 2:36 PM | 0 comments