The 6131 is an excellent remote for working a Tivo, but without JP1 it has many limitations. For starters, like Edmund said, you can only program a POWER macro, you can't program any other macros, but with JP1 you can program macros to almost all of the buttons. Many JP1 users program macros to the shifted device buttons to fire up the system in each of the modes.

With JP1 you can program the remote to control any devices that it otherwise doesn't have codes for.

The version of the 6131 that you will find in the stores is not JP1 ready as it's missing a couple of essential parts. If you want to go the JP1 route, you should buy your 6131 from me as I have soldered in the missing parts for the remotes that I sell. I can also provide you with a JP1 cable.

Total price for a modified URC-6131 and cable (including shipping) is $42 (ie, $23 + $15 + $4), so it comes in under your $50 mark.