How many remotes?

[Jacksmyname]

Main system:
TV, receiver, cable box, CD player, HD-DVD player, universal player, lights over the fireplace, and a VCR D)
Second system:
TV, receiver, cable box, CD player, HD-DVD player, and a VCR D)
Bedroom system:
Receiver, CD player.
Yep, got a few remotes here.
Was using harmony 880's for the main and second systems. I just got a Harmony One for the main. It's so good I'll be adding another for the second.
The bedroom system will get one of the 880's.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

You offering a free remote...yep...send it my way...

Why the heck do you have a red chicklet?

I have Processor remote, CD Remote, VCR Remote, DVD Remote, Pre amp Remote, Xbox Remote, Projector Remote, I have a Logitec Harmony 1000 but hate it, and a Sony AVS 3500 System remote I use alot. anybody want a Harmony 1000?, I think it sucks.

 

[Davemcc]

anybody want a Harmony 1000?, I think it sucks.

I had the 1000 for a while and I didn't like it either. Too much scrolling through pages of menu items to find anything. PITA.

I have a 659 now and it's much better. I still keep a couple of other remotes handy because my wife might be holding the 659 when I want to switch channels. I keep the Escient remote that's programmed with most TV/receiver functions and the sat. remote near my seat and she hogs the 659. I also keep the PS3 remote handy. I also keep the other remotes handy but out of sight in case I need a tweak that requires the manufacturers remote.

The bedroom system is whacked. I got another 659 on sale, only to find that my sat. box is primarily RF controlled, rendering the 659 useless on that device.

 

[Matt34]

Theater room- Harmony 880

Bedroom- 659

Living room- 520(don't care for this one and probably will be replaced with the Harmony One)

 

[ParadigmDawg]

The 659 seems like a simple and effective little remote, I like it.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

I think I'm one of the few that hates universal remotes. Especially macro-based ones. I have DVD, TV, cable, and pre-amp remotes.

A closed-loop Crestron setup would be nice one day, but, my system isn't big enough to need that just yet. And a lot of equipment doesn't have feedback capabilities yet.

You're not alone! I've had a few and never liked the universal remotes either. In my experience, there were always minor functions the univ remote wouldn't perform, and it bugged the crap out of me. I prefer to use the remote that came with the component.

I have my remote situation fairly streamlined and never use more than two at any one time. I use my TV remote to change TV inputs, to turn the TV & av-receiver on/off and to control the receiver volume. No audio runs to my TV, so the receiver handles 100% audio duty. If I'm watching a blu-ray, I use the remote that came with the player. The same goes for the remote that goes with my Direct-TV HD-DVR....

Nice and basic....and I can easily control anything I need in the dark by feel.

 

[Rico]

Only one now - Philips Prestigo 9600.
But I do keep all other ones (5) in range in case I need something 'special'.

 

[mustang_steve]

Philips Pronto....end-all-be-all of rmote controls. Get one, it's a force so strong it makes crackberrys look like pet rocks.

The more I work on the GUI, the more amazing it becomes. One buton power, one button mode selection (sets input on the tv, sets input on the reciever, even selects special settings on reciever and DVD player)...the list goes on and on.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

One remote for the stereo. Three for the HT, but it is only the one for the DVD player that I actually use 99.9% of the time.

 

[patnshan]

I use a harmony 670. I do like it, but keep all the others at hand when needed. Some of the more specific functions require scrolling through menus on the harmony, making it easier to grab the original remote in certain situations. Examples are to adjust the projector, control OSD on the receiver, etc. It is great for playback, turning everything on and off at once, volume control, basically most of the daily things you would do with it.

Pat

 

[patnshan]

Philips Pronto....end-all-be-all of rmote controls.

Not quite, unless it does bluetooth and can control the PS3

I do think those are very nice remotes, just catching your statement about end all be all

Pat

 

[Chuckie01]

home theatre - 4 remotes in there
bedroom - 4 remotes as well

maybe it is time to consolidate.

 

[MDS]

A lot of people are saying that they use the original remote for specific functions. To me that is totally unnecessary because I have every single function from every device, including setup functions, programmed into the universal.

It's true that I have to cycle through multiple pages to get to the lesser used functions but I try to arrange things so that the oft used functions are on the first page of the LCD screen. To me that is the point - the most used functions are easily accessible and the lesser used functions take a few presses of the 'page' button to get to the screen that has them. That is still easier than grabbing another physical remote. Naturallly I keep the original remotes but once the universal is programmed, they go in a drawer or shelf on the AV stand, never to be touched again.

 

[tomd51]

A lot of people are saying that they use the original remote for specific functions. To me that is totally unnecessary because I have every single function from every device, including setup functions, programmed into the universal.

It's true that I have to cycle through multiple pages to get to the lesser used functions but I try to arrange things so that the oft used functions are on the first page of the LCD screen. To me that is the point - the most used functions are easily accessible and the lesser used functions take a few presses of the 'page' button to get to the screen that has them. That is still easier than grabbing another physical remote. Naturallly I keep the original remotes but once the universal is programmed, they go in a drawer or shelf on the AV stand, never to be touched again.

Ditto. The whole idea behind the universal remote is simplification and reduction of remotes. I've got my main devices and macros set up on the first page (TV, Pre/Pro, DVD), then all other devices on lower level pages. If macros are configured correctly, you'll hardly ever need to access the secondary pages directly.

I will rarely need the original remotes anymore, but I do keep them available if need be... -TD

 

[Exit]

Do any of the remotes operate both IR and RF? My satelite is RF. I know the PS3 is bluetooth, but I have not bought that yet. Thanks for the information.

 

[tomd51]

Any of the URC RF series remotes (RF10, RF20, RF30) send RF signals. I believe the Harmony 890 does as well... -TD

 

[MDS]

Many remotes have RF capabilities but they cannot learn nor send RF to a device that natively expects commands over RF.

RF remotes work by sending the command to an RF basestation and the basestation retransmits the equivalent command using IR. If the sat dish expects commands over RF there is no universal remote that can talk to it.

 

[Exit]

Oh It is still cool to see that a lot of people have gotten down to one remote and others keep more. I might upgrade to an IR satelite box in the future.

 

[tomd51]

Are you referring to the Dish Network 811? If that's the case, it uses IR and UHF, not RF. Unfortunately, I'm not aware of any universal devices that can transmit via UHF.

Leave it to Dish to utilize UHF instead of something much more common like RF... -TD

 

[audioman00]

since I got the media center PC, I only have ONE !!!! YAY!!!