Remote Controls

It seems as if I have more remote controls than sands in an hour glass.  I have had a small obsession with these things for 40 years.  My first was a heath Kit remote I built to go with a Heath Kit TV, back when you could buy a kit and build such things. I have always been looking for the perfect remote.  Lately I have settled on "Universal Remote Control inc" (URC) MX-850. These are not sold in retail stores, I found mine on ebay.com.
       The URC MX-850 looks like this:
Before you go out and buy one of these be aware they require software from URC.  At one time you could find this on the web mine was called simply "MX850_SETUP.EXE".  A cable is also required.  I got my cable from one of the units I purchased on ebay.  It is a serial cable with a db9 connector on one end and a 1/8 inch phono plug on the other.  My computers don't have DB9 serial ports on them any more so I am using a USB to DB9 adapter which works fine. 1 caveat I have to plug the USB adapter in before I start the software or it will never see the serial port.
   This remote is completely programmable.  The software has a very large database of A/V unit codes that is updateable from URC.  Couple that with the ability to learn any obscure codes that they may not have and to do macros with delays and you have the perfect remote control.
   I have programed the unit to turn on my TV, Stereo Receiver, DVD Player and to go to the menu and controls for the DVD player with "punch through" controls for volume and mute to the Receiver. I have put timers in the macro that wait for the Receiver "boot" to the point it can accept ir commands.  Like wise with the rest of the electronics.  I have a projector that takes 95 seconds to accept ir commands.  This unit if flexible enough to work with all of my electronics.
    There are different philosophies when it comes to remote controls.  The MX850 is a unit centric remote, in other words, I select a unit, DVD, CD, Radio, or Tivo and the 850 will send out the codes required to watch that device.  Another remote that is highly recommended by some AV enthusiast  is the Logitech Harmony series of remotes.

   The Harmony H659 remote looks like this:
  I purchased one for my mother many years back, because she kept getting the TV out of sync with the Satellite receiver, or the DVD on the wrong input or some combination of off and on with the various units. The GREAT advantage for her with this remote is it's help screen.  It would step through a series of questions in order to get the units all on and with the correct input selected.  She used it for years and loved it.  The Harmony units also have a cable but this is a simple mini USB connector for the remote to a USB for the computer.  There is some software that comes with the unit but it just connects with the Logitech website which steps you through a series of questions of what units you have and their model numbers.  It also asks which input ports you are using, for each unit. The website takes this information, then downloads the setup information to the Harmony software which passes it on to the harmony remote control via the USB connection.  I find this to be a rather smooth operation.  It was easy for me to set up, 20 minutes initially, and  5 minutes a year later when mom went from satellite to cable.  The one I have heard about most is the model 880, another is the Harmony 1, (a higher end version) and a 900 series.  Any of these remotes will work well for you for many years well built and easy to maintain.

   The reason I like the MX850 so much is that I have finally found a remote that my wife enjoys using, and I can set it to work exactly like I want it to. For a reference point the URC MX850 series are designed and built for the Custom Home Theater Installer.  They are the ones who do the programming for the client, and the client just uses them.  If you have more that one AV setup like I do, Family room and Theater area, then these can be programmed to work exactly the same (buttons) for both rooms.  The down side is the time it takes (you) to "program" it.  If you don't want to take the time, or don't like that kind of stuff, then the Harmony series is the one for you.