Registered: Sep 2002
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I have a Tivo Series 2 DVR (the 60-hour model, since, unfortunately, I bought just before the 80-hour model came out). Does anyone know of a universal remote that will operate the Tivo as well as the rest of my home theater system, which consists of a TV, VCR, CD player, and DVD player by Sony, and a receiver by Onkyo? Thanks.

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Registered: Feb 2000
Location: Crown Point, IN USA
Posts: 3034

MX-500 baby! Its a one spicey meatball!

try www.remotecentral.com and look in the Home Theater Master section.

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Registered: Mar 2002
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 3145

Another vote for the MX-500 -- I now have one for upstairs and one for downstairs :-)

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Nashua, NH
Posts: 7476

Lots of choices out there. In addition to the MX-500 (which is popular, but not my cup of tea), there's the Philips Pronto family, Sony VL1000 and many others. A lot depends on your budget, whether you want PC programmability, whether you like lots of buttons or an LCD panel. etc. Also, as the number of devices you want to control goes up, fewer remotes are up to doing the task well.

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Steve

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Registered: Sep 2002
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Compatibility with future hardware is important to me. Therefore, I'm more likely to go with something that has an LCD screen rather than lots of hard buttons, and something that enables me to download codes from the Internet for future components. I'd like to spend less than $200. That said, any suggestions among the many options out there? Thanks a lot.

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Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Woonsocket, RI, USA
Posts: 796

To spend a lot less than $200, consider anything built by UEIC -- they're sold under the Radio Shack, One For All, and various other brand names for between $8 and $80, depending upon features. They're traditional "code entry" remotes, but they support features that aren't officially documented, but that are described here. The most powerful of the simple features is the ability to reassign key codes for individual functions. It's also possible to buy or build an interface cable and connect the remote to a computer for more sophisticated reprogramming (some models require soldering on a six-pin connector, though).

Personally, I like these remotes because they've got physical buttons and give the best "bang for the buck," but they do require you to learn more to take best advantage of them. If you like a touch-sensitive LCD screen rather than buttons, UEIC remotes won't do well for you, though.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Nashua, NH
Posts: 7476

Given your requirements, the Philips Pronto Neo seems to be a good choice. It is under $200 (I paid $150 for mine), has some hard buttons (including the important directional buttons) and a completely customizeable bitmap LCD for the rest. It can both learn and be customized from your PC, including entering "hex codes" for arbitrary commands. (Though this currently requires a separate program for entering.) There is a large database of prewritten device configurations which you can merge with your own.

The Neo isn't quite as programmer-friendly as the larger Prontos, but with a bit of time spent, it should do everything you want. If you are willing to spend a bit more, the Pronto TSU1000 or maybe the 2000 is available at just over $200 at some online stores. Fewer hard buttons, but easier to program.

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Steve

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Registered: Feb 2000
Location: Somewhere in the Colorado Mountains, USA
Posts: 66

MX-500 is way under $200 - $113 and avstreet.com

Unless you (and other members of your family) are willing to use a touch screen, the MX-500 or 700 is the best way to go - lots of hard buttons plus an LCD that labels 10 soft keys. It has won most polls here, and has a high WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor).

quote:

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Originally posted by Philosofy
MX-500 baby! Its a one spicey meatball!

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Registered: Sep 2002
Location:
Posts: 1274

For everything and anything related to remote controls, go to Remote Central
I've heard that the Pronto Neo doesn't work all that well, and given your budget and requirements, I think looking for a used Pronto would be your best bet.
I personally use the MX-500, and while it isn't 100% perfect for everything, it's the best remote for me by far. And, FWIW, the manufacturer, Home Theater Master, has about the best customer service out there - I can't recommend them highly enough.

Good luck in your search.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Nashua, NH
Posts: 7476

FWIW, my wife prefers the Pronto over remotes with lots of buttons. So your WAF may vary.

The Neo works ok, especially if you get the recent firmware update installed. I have had no problems with it. That said, I like the regular Prontos better (I have a TSU1000 for my main system.)

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Steve

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Registered: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta Georgia
Posts: 9

I was in youre boat about two months ago myself. I wanted to make sure i was getting the right thing for my money, so i checked, double checked, and triple checked every remote i could. it came down to the MX-500 and Sony RM-VL900. The MX-500 looks awesome, but the price for a remote was staggering (to me at least.) But the VL-900 was my choice, and i love it. its moderately priced (check www.buy.com for a good price on it.) It can learn ANY remote you want, and so you can configure the remote the way you like. I learned my TiVo remote within 20-25 minutes.

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Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Valencia, Ca
Posts: 221

Another vote for the MX-500. A tad pricey but so worth it!

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Georgia, USA
Posts: 2681

DEFINITELY MX-500.

I had the Pronto...My wife wouldn't touch it, and I didn't like the touchscreen......Could NEVER get FF to jump out at the right time, and no easy way to hit a button without looking at the screen.

The MX-500 is the ONLY remote in our living room now controlling the following:

TWO (2) Sony T60's
TV
DVD player
VCR
400 Disc CD changer
Surround Sound Receiver

And I have ALL the functions programmed into the MX-500....works great.

And as far as pricey....not really....

First, compared to the $400 I spent on my Pronto, it is MUCH cheaper at ~$115.
Second, what did you spend on your home entertainment center? Mine is over $8000 including TV, TiVos, Speakers, Receiver, DVD player, etc. The MX-500 is only 1.5% of what I put into the HEC.....pretty small price to be able to control everything easily with one remote. I spent more than that for all the cables and wiring I put in.

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Last edited by unixadm on 10-01-2002 at 03:04 AM

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Registered: Feb 2000
Location: Crown Point, IN USA
Posts: 3034

quote:

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Originally posted by mschwab
...


Phil, I thought you had an MX-700 like me!

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I do, but three things kept me from listing it:

1. I thought the price would be a bit high

2. With the new IR program coming out, the 500 is almost as good.

3. If everyone got one, we couldn't be elitist snobs about our remotes!

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Phil

The voices in my head are screaming.

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Registered: Feb 2000
Location: Somewhere in the Colorado Mountains, USA
Posts: 66

1. True

2. Well, that's supposed to cost $100, which almost doubles the price of the MX-500!

3. Of course, how silly of me to forget!

I thought your post sounded like you had an MX-500 too. I actually bought one of each, but only held the 500 in my hands briefly before selling it to an office mate. It would be impossible to have one of each, because the transport controls are moved around and would cause me massive confusion. I've already screwed up trying to us the old TiVo remote because I hit slow when I meant Play, and skip when I meant Pause!

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Registered: Feb 2000
Location: Crown Point, IN USA
Posts: 3034

I'd be interested in what you did with your 700 for the TiVo. Send me your file if you get the chance.

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Phil

The voices in my head are screaming.

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Registered: Jan 2002
Location: The NorthCoast of America, Cleveland Ohio
Posts: 158

Here's a universal learning remote from X10 , it's only $25.00 today. I've used another learning remote from X10. Works fine.

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Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 796

quote:

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Here's a universal learning remote from X10 , it's only $25.00 today. I've used another learning remote from X10. Works fine.

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Registered: Dec 2001
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Posts: 9

I had an X10 universal remote and the learning function wasn't that great. Its memory could fill up after teaching only a couple of modes, then no more learning.

I've had this remote for two years now: http://www.remotecentral.com/vl900/
I haven't had a single problem with it and it's the only remote I use 99.9% of the time. Not as fancy as some of the other options mentioned, but not as expensive either.

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Registered: Sep 2000
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Posts: 796

Aaron, you've swayed my opinion toward your direction. That looks like a sweet remote.

I'm seeing it at $53 here. I'd probably use it more in my room than on my main A/V setup, just to get rid of the clutter on my bedside table. Am I the only one that hates the size of RCA remotes?

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