Any good universal remotes?

[swordfish1]

Hi,

I am looking for some convenient to use and convenient to program universal remote control. It must be usable with one hand, not too big hand. It also must be computer programable, in other words, once I set the codes via the IR, I want to make the menus with some convenient software on a PC. It doesn't need to support pretty pictures, nor need to have a colour screen, but I must be able to customize the text and the layout of the menus and it must be perfectly usable in dark. It must be able to control 10+ devices and learn makros. Probably touch screen will be better.

Ok, if I can find all this for under R2000, it will be great, but if you know any good one even above that price, please let me know

I have read some reviews on the remote central, but looking at the shapes of most of the remotes, they all seem to me far too inconvenient to operate with one hand. I wonder if that is just my perception from the pictures, or that is actually the case.

thanks

 

[werner]

but I must be able to customize the text and the layout of the menus

if you didnt have that criteria then any of the logitech harmony range of remotes wouldve sufficed. They have "activities"...so on your pc you would pre-program an activity, which might go as follows
activity1: watch tv:
switch tv on, set to av channel, set dstv decoder to channel 20 (or whatever), dim lights to 50%, set av amp volume to 30% and avreceiver to selection 2

or whatever your set up is.

then, another activity, say watch dvd...set sources up etc...all very nice, and with motion sensors so they light up when you pick them up,,,easily useable in the dark.

 

[swordfish1]

if you didnt have that criteria then any of the logitech harmony range of remotes wouldve sufficed. They have "activities"...so on your pc you would pre-program an activity, which might go as follows
activity1: watch tv:
switch tv on, set to av channel, set dstv decoder to channel 20 (or whatever), dim lights to 50%, set av amp volume to 30% and avreceiver to selection 2

or whatever your set up is.

then, another activity, say watch dvd...set sources up etc...all very nice, and with motion sensors so they light up when you pick them up,,,easily useable in the dark.

ok, so I have like a receiver with gazillion setup options etc. how am I going to implement this options on that remote? Like channel delay, channel distance etc. I want to be able to have menu options to select those stuff. Without having option to customize the text in the menus how would you do that?

Also what about the aircon? Temperature, mode etc. ... I want sensible display saying what is what. Can you do that?

 

[werner]

have you perhaps looked at the philips pronto range? a bit pricier, but they can do the custom menus you desire.

 

[swordfish1]

yeah I looked at them, they look reasonable

wonder if I can find here the TSU3000 and for how much

I know digital planet is the cheapest, but their search returns only completely irrelevant results no matter what you search for and their browsing sucks as well so I can't find it there .. I wonder when SA retailers will learn how to make a proper shopping portals!

 

[swordfish1]

anyone seen the philips pronto TS-U3000 selling somewhere in SA?

thanks

 

[bwana]

if you didnt have that criteria then any of the logitech harmony range of remotes wouldve sufficed.

Just bought one the other day - really nice - and affordable too. The only thing I need to sort out now is to be able to control my dual-view decoder's TV2 (as well as the normal TV1) for picture in picture.

 

[fb1]

I just use my hp rx3715 pda. The nevo home control software on it is excellent

 

[swordfish1]

Just bought one the other day - really nice - and affordable too. The only thing I need to sort out now is to be able to control my dual-view decoder's TV2 (as well as the normal TV1) for picture in picture.

well, maybe I should have phrased my question better

"anyone seen the philips pronto TS-U3000 selling somewhere in SA, and if so were?"

 

[swordfish1]

Just bought one the other day - really nice - and affordable too. The only thing I need to sort out now is to be able to control my dual-view decoder's TV2 (as well as the normal TV1) for picture in picture.

do you get the codes as a file from somewhere or you need to teach it? My biggest problem is that most remote controls although claim they support almost all brands, most of them support only very basic functionality for each device by defaul. For example let say my receiver has 100 functions, most remote will support just the source selection and the volume control, but none of the setup functionality, so you still need the original remote around or you need to go through the painful learning process. Is the pronto like that or you can get complete set of codes from somewhere and just modify the layout if necessary?

also is it convenient to use with not to big hands? Can you operate it with one hand? Can you see the display well in direct sunlight?

 

[bwana]

do you get the codes as a file from somewhere or you need to teach it? My biggest problem is that most remote controls although claim they support almost all brands, most of them support only very basic functionality for each device by defaul. For example let say my receiver has 100 functions, most remote will support just the source selection and the volume control, but none of the setup functionality, so you still need the original remote around or you need to go through the painful learning process. Is the pronto like that or you can get complete set of codes from somewhere and just modify the layout if necessary?

also is it convenient to use with not to big hands? Can you operate it with one hand? Can you see the display well in direct sunlight?

You configure the Harmony remote via a website and then upload a file to your remote.

I guess the level of functionality would depend on the individual device and the amount of info they supplied logitech with but so far all the functions seem to be available - any missing ones could be learnt manually.

I particularly enjoy the activity functions as described by werner.

 

[swordfish1]

You configure the Harmony remote via a website and then upload a file to your remote.

I guess the level of functionality would depend on the individual device and the amount of info they supplied logitech with but so far all the functions seem to be available - any missing ones could be learnt manually.

I particularly enjoy the activity functions as described by werner.

ok, now I am

are you talking about Logitech Harmony or Philips Pronto? Because my last question was if one can get the pronto around here

 

[Afrikane]

anyone seen the philips pronto TS-U3000 selling somewhere in SA?

thanks

These guys have the TSU7000, have2have.co.za
I think these guys are the agents for the Pronto range in SA, hfxsystems.com

 

[bwana]

ok, now I am

are you talking about Logitech Harmony or Philips Pronto? Because my last question was if one can get the pronto around here

Been talking about the harmony since my response to werner's comment. You did ask how I configured it.