Need to replace my universal remote

Harmony - wife proof, kid proof, me proof!!!

You tell the harmony web site what you are controlling and how you want to
use the components, plug in the remote via a USB cable, wait a couple of
minute for it download and you are done.

"watch TV" turns on the TV (if it is off), turns on the receiver, sets
everything to the correct inputs. The volume button controls the receiver,
the channel button controls the TiVo. Press "listen to radio" the TV turns
off, the receiver is set to the right input, controls on the remote do the
right thing. "off:" turns off everything that is on. The remote remembers
the status, so it can get confused, but the "help" button solves most
problems.

Pricy ($120 on the web), but worth every cent.
"Nomen Nescio" ] wrote in message
...
X-MessageID:

What do you think is the best universal remote?

I have a Tivo from 2000, 14 hours but I'm still using it.

I've been using an RCA Universal Custom 8 remote, I think I bought
it in late '01.

Looks like 3 years of daily use has worn out the remote. Many of the
buttons on the bottom of it have worn out from all the commercial
zapping.

What I liked about this remote was it can control 8 devices. It can
learn a few keys, and it holds its memory over a battery change.

I don't like picking it up and not knowing which device it was last
set to. But since I watch TV and listen through a sound system it's
nice to have the volume locked to the receiver, and the macros to
turn everything on and off.

It has not been perfect, but it must be somewhat of a success, I mean,
it has been in my hand every day for nearly 3 years.

The remotes with the RCA brand, I have always liked, personally I think
they are well built.

Do I try to find another one just like this or is there something better?

On Thu, 30 Sep 2004 22:50:04 +0200, Nomen Nescio wrote:

X-MessageID:

What do you think is the best universal remote?

One For All. I use the cheap 8810 learning remote, about $19. Got 2 of
them now. I use it with Tivo S1, several TV's, VCR's, and even my just
aquired RCA DRS 7000N. Lot's of buttons and you can program almost all of
them. Also keeps the program during battery change. 8 devices and a 9th
Home entertainment button. Screw spending $100 for a remote that will wear
out just as fast and not do much if anything more.

--
Abit KT7-Raid (KT133) Tbred B core CPU @2400MHz (24x100FSB)
http://mysite.verizon.net/res0exft/cpu.htm

Best Buy carries a Philips (Magnavox) Universal Learning remote that is
pre-programed for Tivo.

It controls up to 8 devices. I think it goes on sale for about $30.

pstryjew at att dot net

Nomen Nescio wrote:
Wes Newell wrote:
: One For All. I use the cheap 8810 learning remote, about $19. Got 2 of
: them now. I use it with Tivo S1, several TV's, VCR's, and even my just
: aquired RCA DRS 7000N. Lot's of buttons and you can program almost all of
: them. Also keeps the program during battery change. 8 devices and a 9th
: Home entertainment button. Screw spending $100 for a remote that will wear
: out just as fast and not do much if anything more.


So you think that OFA's are better than RCA?

I paid about $60 for the RCA Universal Custom 8, and have used it for
almost 3 years.

I guess none of the remotes are perfect, but one of the things about the
RCA I didn't like is that it takes 2 hands to hold it. I have to pick up
the remote with my left hand, the press the buttons with my right hand.

The remote that came with my S1 Tivo, it can be worked with 1 hand. One
of the best ergonomic things I've seen. They actually gave consideration
to the user.

Every Tivo user knows the most used sequence is the FF 3 times till the
commercials end, then play. And maybe a hit or two on the button which
moves back 7.5 seconds.

The buttons on the RCA, it's good they lasted 3 years having been hit so
much. They've just worn out.

I thought of something, I could "learn" the channel buttons 7 and 9 to the
Tivo's FF and reverse. Hardly ever do I use the numbered keys. Might get
another few months of use out of this remote. Also, I could get another
benefit, if I hit one of the channel change buttons by mistake, the Tivo
dumps the 30-minute buffer. If these buttons no longer change channels
they won't cause this problem anymore.

"Nomen Nescio" ] wrote in message
...
Wes Newell wrote:
: One For All. I use the cheap 8810 learning remote, about $19. Got 2 of
: them now. I use it with Tivo S1, several TV's, VCR's, and even my just
: aquired RCA DRS 7000N. Lot's of buttons and you can program almost all
of
: them. Also keeps the program during battery change. 8 devices and a 9th
: Home entertainment button. Screw spending $100 for a remote that will
wear
: out just as fast and not do much if anything more.


So you think that OFA's are better than RCA?


Who said OFA's are better?

--
Les

On Fri, 01 Oct 2004 16:50:06 +0200, Nomen Nescio wrote:

Wes Newell wrote:
: One For All. I use the cheap 8810 learning remote, about $19. Got 2 of

So you think that OFA's are better than RCA?

Yes, without a doubt.

I paid about $60 for the RCA Universal Custom 8, and have used it for
almost 3 years.

I had the same one. Wore out in less than a year. I use all the recorder
buttons a lot. made it last almost 2 years by taking it apart and painting
the pads. That's still the only thing wrong with it. But I couldn't find a
replacement keypad for it.

I guess none of the remotes are perfect, but one of the things about the
RCA I didn't like is that it takes 2 hands to hold it. I have to pick
up the remote with my left hand, the press the buttons with my right
hand.

I just sat it down and punched it that way, but it is rather large. The
new one is not quite as large but has no display, but one of my old VCR's
has tons of special features and I needed a remote with a lot of
programable buttons.

The remote that came with my S1 Tivo, it can be worked with 1 hand. One
of the best ergonomic things I've seen. They actually gave
consideration to the user.

But you have to have multiple remotes for other devices. I don't like
that.

Every Tivo user knows the most used sequence is the FF 3 times till the
commercials end, then play. And maybe a hit or two on the button which
moves back 7.5 seconds.

I hit a single button once that I have programmed with 3 FF's on the 8810.

The buttons on the RCA, it's good they lasted 3 years having been hit so
much. They've just worn out.

I thought of something, I could "learn" the channel buttons 7 and 9 to
the Tivo's FF and reverse. Hardly ever do I use the numbered keys.
Might get another few months of use out of this remote. Also, I could
get another benefit, if I hit one of the channel change buttons by
mistake, the Tivo dumps the 30-minute buffer. If these buttons no
longer change channels they won't cause this problem anymore.

Yep, I reprogramed unused buttons til they were all wore out.:-)

--
Abit KT7-Raid (KT133) Tbred B core CPU @2400MHz (24x100FSB)
http://mysite.verizon.net/res0exft/cpu.htm

On Fri, 01 Oct 2004 15:29:57 -0500, Lester Crane wrote:

Who said OFA's are better?

Me. At least they are lasting a lot longer than the RCA remote I had,
which cost about 4 times as much as the OFA.

--
Abit KT7-Raid (KT133) Tbred B core CPU @2400MHz (24x100FSB)
http://mysite.verizon.net/res0exft/cpu.htm

I hit a single button once that I have programmed with 3 FF's on the 8810.

Where does one find the codes to do all these things? I have an OFA but some
of the keys (info, etc.) do not do what they are supposed to. I've been to
their website and though it has codes, it does not have all of them.

--

Jeff Williams
Email address deliberately false to avoid spam



"Wes Newell" wrote in message
news[email protected] .net...
On Fri, 01 Oct 2004 16:50:06 +0200, Nomen Nescio wrote:

Wes Newell wrote:
: One For All. I use the cheap 8810 learning remote, about $19. Got 2 of

So you think that OFA's are better than RCA?

Yes, without a doubt.

I paid about $60 for the RCA Universal Custom 8, and have used it for
almost 3 years.

I had the same one. Wore out in less than a year. I use all the recorder
buttons a lot. made it last almost 2 years by taking it apart and painting
the pads. That's still the only thing wrong with it. But I couldn't find a
replacement keypad for it.

I guess none of the remotes are perfect, but one of the things about the
RCA I didn't like is that it takes 2 hands to hold it. I have to pick
up the remote with my left hand, the press the buttons with my right
hand.

I just sat it down and punched it that way, but it is rather large. The
new one is not quite as large but has no display, but one of my old VCR's
has tons of special features and I needed a remote with a lot of
programable buttons.

The remote that came with my S1 Tivo, it can be worked with 1 hand. One
of the best ergonomic things I've seen. They actually gave
consideration to the user.

But you have to have multiple remotes for other devices. I don't like
that.

Every Tivo user knows the most used sequence is the FF 3 times till the
commercials end, then play. And maybe a hit or two on the button which
moves back 7.5 seconds.

I hit a single button once that I have programmed with 3 FF's on the 8810.

The buttons on the RCA, it's good they lasted 3 years having been hit so
much. They've just worn out.

I thought of something, I could "learn" the channel buttons 7 and 9 to
the Tivo's FF and reverse. Hardly ever do I use the numbered keys.
Might get another few months of use out of this remote. Also, I could
get another benefit, if I hit one of the channel change buttons by
mistake, the Tivo dumps the 30-minute buffer. If these buttons no
longer change channels they won't cause this problem anymore.

Yep, I reprogramed unused buttons til they were all wore out.:-)

--
Abit KT7-Raid (KT133) Tbred B core CPU @2400MHz (24x100FSB)
http://mysite.verizon.net/res0exft/cpu.htm

On Wed, 06 Oct 2004 18:30:20 -0400, Jeff wrote:

I hit a single button once that I have programmed with 3 FF's on the
8810.

Where does one find the codes to do all these things?

The instruction sheet that comes with it. Only exception is programming
the regular keys. The sheet says you can only program the 4 learning keys,
but you can actually program almost all the keys using the same procedure
as programming a learning key.

I have an OFA but some of the keys (info, etc.) do not do what they are
supposed to. I've been to their website and though it has codes, it does
not have all of them.

Device codes? It has one for Tivo. This assigns just the basic functions.
I just programmed all of the Tivo functions onto various other keys on the
remote. So I have a key on the remote for all Tivo keys. I've also
programmed all the TV functions I wanted in to this devce mode so I don't
have to switch to the Tv mode when watching Tivo. An I'm not using any of
the 4 learning keys that I recall, and only one of the macro keys for the
3FF's.

I assume you have one of the learning remotes. If not, then you can't do
this.

--
Abit KT7-Raid (KT133) Tbred B core CPU @2400MHz (24x100FSB)
http://mysite.verizon.net/res0exft/cpu.htm

I have a programmable remote, the 6131. I am not sure if it is one of the
"learning remotes", but I can program the keys individually. Could you send
me the codes (or tell me how I can find them) for individual TIVO functions
so I can program them individually into various keys? That is what I am
having trouble finding on their website. I can find the main key for TIVO,
but not the codes to program the individual keys for selected functions.

--

Jeff Williams
Email address deliberately false to avoid spam



"Wes Newell" wrote in message
news[email protected] net...
On Wed, 06 Oct 2004 18:30:20 -0400, Jeff wrote:

I hit a single button once that I have programmed with 3 FF's on the
8810.

Where does one find the codes to do all these things?

The instruction sheet that comes with it. Only exception is programming
the regular keys. The sheet says you can only program the 4 learning keys,
but you can actually program almost all the keys using the same procedure
as programming a learning key.

I have an OFA but some of the keys (info, etc.) do not do what they are
supposed to. I've been to their website and though it has codes, it does
not have all of them.

Device codes? It has one for Tivo. This assigns just the basic functions.
I just programmed all of the Tivo functions onto various other keys on the
remote. So I have a key on the remote for all Tivo keys. I've also
programmed all the TV functions I wanted in to this devce mode so I don't
have to switch to the Tv mode when watching Tivo. An I'm not using any of
the 4 learning keys that I recall, and only one of the macro keys for the
3FF's.

I assume you have one of the learning remotes. If not, then you can't do
this.

--
Abit KT7-Raid (KT133) Tbred B core CPU @2400MHz (24x100FSB)
http://mysite.verizon.net/res0exft/cpu.htm

On Thu, 07 Oct 2004 14:46:01 -0400, Jeff wrote:

I have a programmable remote, the 6131. I am not sure if it is one of the
"learning remotes", but I can program the keys individually. Could you send
me the codes (or tell me how I can find them) for individual TIVO functions
so I can program them individually into various keys? That is what I am
having trouble finding on their website. I can find the main key for TIVO,
but not the codes to program the individual keys for selected functions.

The 6131 is not a learning remote and one can only program device keys.
You can program the tivo code (see manual) onto a device key, but you
cannot program individual function keys afaik. If you all the functions of
a Tivo remote, you'll need a learning remote. You can pick these up
locally here for under $20. You must have the original remote for the
learning remote to learn the keys. you point the original remote at the
learning remot and press the original button so the learning remote learns
the key function codes. As I said, the 8810 does it fine.

--
Abit KT7-Raid (KT133) Tbred B core CPU @2400MHz (24x100FSB)
http://mysite.verizon.net/res0exft/cpu.htm