I am not able to get my TWC provided remote (the URC UR5-8400) to work with my Arcam integrated amp. There is one code provided for Arcam (141) but it doesn't do anything other than volume + (I'd be happy with just power and volume +/-). If anyone has a suggestion on how to rectify the provided remote I'm all ears, but I think I'm SOL.

Too bad, because I've otherwise been pleased with this remote for quite a few years. It's spacious, has pretty good ergonomics, and has been fairly compatible with my other components up to this point. Replacing it is not easy because the software on the 8300 requires quite a few buttons to navigate the guide and execute functions. Along with arrows to navigate the guide one also needs the A, B, C buttons, page up and down, and +/- day(I'm running navigator. Plus, for PIP I need on/off, swap, move. And DVR playback requires buttons for jump back and jump live.

It is not easy to find a universal remote that has this many buttons. I have no experience with Harmony remotes, but they don't seem like a great fit because none of the models have enough hard buttons. I assume I'd have to program soft buttons to handle everything, but it strikes me as a great pain to not have all the buttons for a particular set of tasks grouped near each other on the remote. I.e. I don't want all the guide navigating buttons towards the button of the remote but the page up/down functions on the soft buttons at the top. If someone thinks I'm wrong -- that the Harmony would actually be a good solution -- please speak up.

I do have the Phillips PMDVR8 and it is adequate. It has enough buttons to get the job done, but they are jam packed on a small face so it's unpleasant to use. Plus the learning features on this remote are limited/funky.

Well, it might be a long shot, but the remote for the 8300HD has a method for searching through all of its codes to find one that works. You might find one that works better than the listed code. Check out the "To Search for Codes" section in the attached pdf.

http://www.oceanic.com/OceanicWebApps/HelpDesk/images/SA8400.pdf

Thanks. I actually have the UR5-8400:
http://www.universalremote.com/product_detail.php?model=76

But unfortunately the code search doesn't work.

Well, if you are searching for a new remote, there a quite a few options which will give you a far superior user experience than the universal remote from the cable company.

I've read the newest Logitech Remote, the Harmony One, is excellent. I think it lists for about $250 and has very user friendly set up software. It has most of the hard buttons that the TWC remote has, and then the other buttons you program into the touch screen.

I've got a Nevo Q50, which is a similar concept, but slightly more upscale and more flexible in terms of programming. That remote runs about twice as much, though, and takes some patience to program.