Help me pick an appropriate remote please!

914 Views 15 Replies 10 Participants Last post by AnthonyP, Feb 27, 2005

smurph98gt

Discussion Starter · Feb 25, 2005

Ok, this is all pretty new to me, so please bear with me if I ask retarded questions. Let me give you a run down of my setup, and then you all can tell me what you think.

Video:

TV: Zenith EDTV Plasma with coax directly into it for SD viewing.

HD Cable STB: Runs to the TV via component cable.

DVD Player: S-video to TV

XBox: Runs to TV via Component.

PS2: Runs to TV via standard RCAs

Audio:

My DVD player is my reciever. I have 3 different settings for sound, Digital, Auxilary, and TV. Those are basically just the 3 inputs. Digital comes from the STB and is used for HD Cable. Auxilary is the A/V from the Xbox. TV is the setting that is used when I watch SD or play PS2.

Now. The problem that this has created is I have 3 remotes. 1 for the Cable box, one for the TV, and one for the DVD/Reciever. Volume up/down using the DVD/Receiver remote, as well as changing audio inputs. TV Channel up/down as well as changing video input is done via the TV Remote. And then of course the cable channels are changed using the cable remote. Its one giant Cluster eff.

Anyone have any recommendations for this sorry soul? And I'm really trying to stay on the cheaper path here, I just blew my load (lol) on my TV and cables and furniture and so on.

Thanks everyone!

-Ronald

See less See more

Status: Not open for further replies.

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

iqwertyi

· #2 · Feb 25, 2005

How do you define "cheap"?

There are some products from HTM (MX-500) and Harmony (H659) that are around $100.

Anything less, you can probably fine OneForAll remotes that will do the trick.

smurph98gt

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 25, 2005

I don't know cheap... I just didn't want recommendations for those super awesome 500 dollar remotes is all.. they'd be neat to have.. but not quite what I'm looking for. I'm looking on eBay as well, so I might be able to pick up a good deal on something. That's my hope anyway.

Let me ask this since these are programmable, is it possible to say, have a button set up that will switch the TV to the right mode, the reciever to the right mode, and then figure out which device should use the channel up/down? The audio should always be on the reciever, I don't think that will be too hard, but the other stuff is what I'm more concerned with..

Thanks again.

-Ronald

iqwertyi

· #4 · Feb 25, 2005

What you are looking for are called discrete codes vs. toggle codes. Notice how a typical remote will have a "power" button that toggles between on and off. Hit it once the TV goes on, hit it again the TV turns off. Discrete codes on the other hand send a specific command. An "On" command is only an "On" command, no matter how many times you hit that button.

Now, depeding on the actual brand and model of your equipment, they may or may not have any discrete codes available.

IMO, they Harmony remote may be a better remote for you since even though you may not have discrete codes available, it will use the toggle commands and if something goes wacky, it asks you questions to resolve the problem. Such as is the TV On? before sending the power command out.

AnthonyP

· #5 · Feb 25, 2005

Quote:

is it possible to say, have a button set up that will switch the TV to the right mode, the reciever to the right mode,

yes, that is called a macro

I recommend you look at the Harmony, the OFA, and HTM can also do this, but the Harmony is much easier to set-up, it will ask you simple questions like "what do you use to change channels a) TV, b) cable box.... "

qkslvr

· #6 · Feb 25, 2005

I recently got the harmony 676. It is activity based so it will switch on all equipment necessary for an activity and insure ithe equipment is on the correct setting. try harmony's test drive on their website. There is a 25% rebate offer on select products purchased from any retailer.

avam

· #7 · Feb 25, 2005

Ronald,

Get a Harmony. It absolutely will do what you need and you will wonder why you waited so long to get one. I'm another very satified customer.

Gojhawks

· #8 · Feb 26, 2005

I bought a Harmony 659 last week and love it. The activities are great. I press "watch TV" and the TV, cable box and receiver all turn on and are set to right input. I press "watch movie" and the TV and receiver change inputs, the cable box turns off and the DVD player turns on. It couldn't be simpler. Programming it through the website is very easy. I am very pleased I took the plunge.

dlep

· #9 · Feb 26, 2005

The Harmony remotes will do what you need for around $100. The One for All 8810W or 8811 will also do everything as well for $18. I would guess the Harmony is easier to program but my OFA was very easy to set up and with a little searching I found tons of discrete codes for my equipment.

StuJac

· #10 · Feb 26, 2005

As God is my witness, get the MX500. You won't be sorry. You'll pay less than 100 at many sites-you'll get "favorite channels" which, imho makes it far better than anything from Harmony. It's not programmable through the internet but that's the lazy man's excuse for not getting it. You can spend more and get the MX800 or 1000 which is internet programmable but I enjoy the challenge of setting it up the way I want on my own.

I've had one for 2 years and there isn't a month that goes by without some minor tweak I give it that makes it better.

Harmony is the sexy new girl in town but she'll let you down. MX500 is the girl next door, only really HOT!

smurph98gt

Discussion Starter · #11 · Feb 26, 2005

LoL.. well, after doing some searching around on line.. I ended up buying a Harmony 676 online... after that hot 25% off rebate floating around, my cost comes out to 68 bucks.

That makes me extremely happy in the pants.

It should be shipping here soon.. I wish I could've bought in store, but the price savings to order online were just awesome, so I did it.

I'm sure I'll have approximately 13425 questions about it once I finally get it.

thanks again everyone.

AnthonyP

· #12 · Feb 26, 2005

Quote:

I'm sure I'll have approximately 13425 questions about it once I finally get it.

I would not be sure of that, the box has basically a paper that tells you to connect it to your PC and after that 99% of the stuff are self explanatory

Toddo97

· #13 · Feb 27, 2005

Quote:

LoL.. well, after doing some searching around on line.. I ended up buying a Harmony 676 online... after that hot 25% off rebate floating around, my cost comes out to 68 bucks.

Where were you able to find it for so cheap???

flabingo

· #14 · Feb 27, 2005

I just returned from the Electronic Home Show and I suggest that you wait until April when Harmony, now owned by Logitech, will have their new model which will have a color screen and a lithium battery and recharge unit and USB port. They have virtually every other device in their data base and you don't have to switch back to main as you do with the Universal remote, which I currently have. There is no comparison between the two units. I would not suggest the Universal Unit if it was free when compared to the Harmony unit. David

flabingo

· #15 · Feb 27, 2005

I just returned from the Electronic Home Show and I suggest that you wait until April when Harmony, now owned by Logitech, will have their new model which will have a color screen and a lithium battery and recharge unit and USB port. They have virtually every other device in their data base and you don't have to switch back to main as you do with the Universal remote, which I currently have. There is no comparison between the two units. I would not suggest the Universal Unit if it was free when compared to the Harmony unit. David

AnthonyP

· #16 · Feb 27, 2005

there is a thread onthe 880 (the new colour Harmony) but we are gratefull to any information you can add

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

Status: Not open for further replies.