Guide to Universal Remotes

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Take Control with a Universal Remote

By Staff Writer

As your system grows, remote controls multiply. Soon the coffee table clutter grows irksome. Wouldn't it be great to have one remote that handles everything? The overall complexity of electronic products and their functions may mean that you'll never find one that makes you completely happy — but there should be several that'll make your life a lot easier.

What is a universal remote control?
A universal (or multibrand) remote control handles more than one product. It may be included with one product, such as an audio/video receiver, or may be purchased as a separate product in itself.

The simplest universal remotes aren't very universal — they just control additional products from the same brand. For instance, a VCR remote may include volume up/down buttons for that manufacturer's TV sets. The most useful universal remotes are the programmable ones, including the preprogrammed and learning types (see next question).

How is a learning remote different from a preprogrammed remote?
Both are programmable. The distinction lies in the origin of the control codes. A preprogrammed remote, the more common kind, has a built-in "library" of codes for the various components it controls. Depending on the model, this selection of codes may be updated to control future products.

A learning remote can receive codes from the original remotes that came with your TV, your CD player, etc. It literally "learns" them when you place the two remotes side by side. The codes come out of the original remote and go into the learning remote.

By definition, a learning remote is always updatable. If you have a lot of legacy equipment (old stuff), or plan to buy new equipment in the future, a learning remote will cover all bases.

In use, one type isn't necessarily more convenient than the other. With a preprogrammed remote, you'll have to look in the manual and punch in numeric codes that correspond to the component models you own. You may even to have to experiment to find the right codes, which can involve a lot of tedious button pushing.

A learning remote will always require you to transfer codes. You may have to transfer some codes more than once to get them right. But the task, though dull work, is easy to perform.

Some learning remotes also include a few preprogrammed codes, typically for products from the manufacturer that made the remote.

What are the limits of a good universal remote?
Universal remotes differ in the number of components they handle. A remote that handles only three devices — say, TV, VCR, and cable box — will not be adequate for a system that also includes an audio/video receiver and CD changer. Choose a remote that will cover the whole system. Otherwise you're right back in the multiple-remote world you're trying to escape!

Preprogrammed remotes will cover a fixed number of brands and models. Make sure any remote you buy covers the components you actually own. If your system includes gear from small high-end brands, or some (ahem) "classic" stuff, a learning remote would be the better choice.

What are the other elements of a good universal remote?
A good remote of any kind has a good feel in your hand. Rounder shapes feel better, though flatter ones allow you to lay the remote on a chair arm and punch buttons.

Button size is a tradeoff between versatility (more buttons) and simplicity (fewer buttons). The shape and color of buttons helps you tell them apart.

Control layout is also a major factor in ease of use. Are the volume up/down buttons where you expect to find them, perhaps under your thumb? Are oft-used functions placed too close to controls that stop the show? Are less-used functions placed under a lid, where they won't be activated accidentally?

In a dark room — such as a home theater — you may need additional help seeing controls. Some remotes have luminescent or phosphorescent (glow-in-the-dark) keys that absorb room light and hold it after the lights go out. Even better are remotes with backlit keys that have a light source beneath them. They glow when touched or when a backlighting key is pressed.

Better remotes have macro functions that will trigger a whole series of commands with the pressing of one or two buttons. This high-end feature has trickled down to more affordable remotes.

A fancier remote may have an LCD (liquid crystal display) to confirm status or functions. The LCD may have backlighting to make it more readable in the dark.

Just about all programmable remotes have a battery backup that may last anywhere from 90 seconds to 15 minutes — long enough to exchange spent power cells for fresh ones.

Is it possible to upgrade a universal remote?
A learning remote is inherently upgradable. Just put it together with the remote that came with a new component and transfer the codes.

A preprogrammed remote may or may not be upgradable. Occasionally a manufacturer will release a new model that's no different from the old one, so the old codes may work. Or you may buy a new product that happens to be among the codes listed in the manual (if the remote's not too old).

Some preprogrammed remotes may have to go back to the factory for upgrading. Certain PC-compatible remotes can download new codes from a Web site. With budget programmables, upgrading may not be possible at all.

The most expensive remotes may handle a lot of components but that's not what makes them special. Ease of use (at least after the initial setup) is what sets them apart and it may take any of several forms.

Some have an LCD touchscreen — not just a display, but a large liquid-crystal screen with "soft" buttons that react to the touch of your fingertips. That means you can add or remove buttons, move them around, or rename them to your heart's content. The remote becomes whatever you want it to be.

A few high-end remotes are PC compatible. That in turn allows you to upgrade codes via the Web or a CD-ROM. Make sure both your PC and remote can talk to one another through a serial port or USB (universal serial bus) connector.

From information provided by etown.com.

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