No, the remote, while it can't directly sense the state of each component, does remember the last command(s)
it has sent. If, as in your example, you've been watching a tape, and you press 'watch a DVD', it will leave the TV alone, turn off the VCR, turn on the DVD, and switch whatever input is necessary to handle the chore.
If you ever get 'out of synch', such as using the remote to turn something on, but the power swicth to turn it off, just hit the "help" button, and it asks "is the TV on?", "is the VCR on?", etc. When you answer each question, it sends whatever signal it needs (if any) to to get back into synch.
Larry
www.fineelectricco.com
