I'm a new poster to the forum but have been lurking here for awhile. Here is my situation. We've just gone to the TIVO side at Christmas and I would like to have my own remote for this and my other devices. I'm an old URC 7200 Cinema 7 user. Best remote I have ever owned, esp. for $16 from WallyWorld. I've programmed codes through the yrs and it has never failed me. I would like to update and have user friendly (read spouse) Tivo functions. From what I've read and seen the 6131 will do most everything my old 7200 will + Tivo. The only thing that seems to be missing is the Macro buttons. Are they otherwise labeled or just not available? I use mine to fire up all the components of HT when I want to watch a DVD. I use the other one to turn it all off. Also the 6131 doesn't have all the components listed that I have (cd, tape) will it still control just under a diff. button.
I've also looked at the 8811, 8910, 8810. The equip. I have is as follows:

JVC tv
Yamaha recv, cd carousel, cass. deck
Toshiba dvd/vhs player
Tivo
Any and all advice and suggs. would be appreciated. I'm on a budget so I would like to keep it under $50, hence the models I've looked at. Don't really know what the J cable (?) is and how it is used but not sure I need it.

thanks
Jeff

The only macro on the 6131 is the Power macro. The 6131 does control CD players, but there are no tape codes. To control a CD player, just reassign another device as a second AUD device.

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.

Jeff, you should look at pictures of the 6131 and the 8811 and try to guess which button layout would make you more comfortable.

With a JP1 cable, either is a great remote. The 8811 costs a little less and may be more capable. But (with a JP1 cable) the 6131 can do the job and if you find its button labels more spouse-friendly than the 8811's that outweighs the 8811's advantages.

I used an 8811 with JP1 (from Rob) to set up my dad's home theater system. He has direct Tivo, Harman Kardon AVR300, Mitsu RPTV, and a combo Sylvania VCR, DVD. The VCR operates on code 0000 so all I did was learn some keys from the DVD to operate that.

M1 turns the system on and sets it to Home Theater, which really is the DTivo with receiver punch through. M@ switches it to VCR mode, and M3 switches it to DVD mode. M4 switches it back to DTivo mode. Sleep turns it all off. I used L1 L3 and L4 for some unique switching that the combo VCR DVD player has to do to operate as one or the other. Total time messing around and teaching Dad to use it, about three hours. That is mostly because I use JP1 and the programs once in a blue moon.

The way you could do this with a 6131 would be to put the M1 macro on shift/PVR, M@ on shift/VCR, M3 on shift/DVD and SLEEP on shif/POWER.

Hi all
Thanks for all the responses. I've decided against the 6131 because of the lack of learning. I've narrowed the field down to the 8811, 8910 or the RS 15-2116 and I've got a few questions.

What is the diff b/w the 2 OFA other than the led readout? Aren't they both programmable and learning? I like the arrow keys of the 8811 better than the doughnut of the 8910 and Wallyworld has it for $18. Looking at the code list from the OFA site they seem to have all the same ones.

If I decide I need the lcd window I like the looks and layout of the RS 15-2116. It seems easier to read and I like the black background w/ white lettering. Don't remote makers know this is far easier to read than wht. or blk on silver? Is the RS version the same as the 8910 and is it upgradable over the phone? Shouldn't it have all the same codes?
I think I can do all the things w/ my various components w/ the 8811 but just want to make sure and do it right the first time. Thanks for all the input. I've learned alot just researching this forum.

jeff

The biggest difference other then LCD is the 8910 will accept advanced codes for your tivo that the 8811 won't. The 8910 are now available without the donut ring.

The 15-2116 isn't phone upgradeable like the 8910. The 2116 does have TAPE codes, where the 8910 only has a single TAPE code, sony 0243. But you can load any tape code over the phone to the 8910. The setup codes aren't exactly the same. The tivo code in the 2116 accepts advanced coodes like the one in trhe 8910.

Details of which setup codes are included and which setup codes accept advanced codes (and whether you can upgrade over the phone) all matter ONLY if you're not going to get a JP1 cable.

If you get a JP1 cable you can do better upgrades yourself than OFA will give you over the phone, and you can use advanced codes even in setup codes that don't support them (or if you prefer upgrade to a setup code that does support them), all equally well among all three remotes. So any of these remotes are much better with a JP1 cable than any of them are without a JP1 cable.

The 8811 has minor programming flexibility advantages over the other two (with or without JP1). The other two have the LCD (which I think is worthless but many people disagree). The 2116 has a nice non-slip surface that is better than the other two. (I assume Edmund knows what he's talking about regarding their relative non-JP1 support for specific devices such as Tivo).

If you want an 8811 and a JP1 cable, the best deal is to order them from Rob. His 8811 price (before considering shipping vs. salestax) is better than Walmart's price, and once you throw a cable into the mix the shipping vs. salestax question should also work out better than Walmart.

Thanks for the input so far. I think I'm learning something but then I become as confused as ever. My system is not really complicated and my trusty 7200 has served me well except for this TIVO we now cannot live w/o. My only reason for upgrading is to be able to add this device into the mix. In reading some old posts it seems the robman has upgraded 7800's for sale w/ the JP1 connectivity. Since I love my 7200 should I just purchase one of these and a cable? I use the 2 macros on my 7200 to power everything up, switch the input on the tv, switch the input to dvd on my recv., and start playing the dvd. the other macro turns it all off. I was concerned when I read some posts that stated you could not assign the macros to a power key. Did I misunderstand somthing?
I hate to keep beating a dead horse here but I just want to make sure I get what I need and not somthing that has numerous features I wont use. You guys seem to like helping dummies like me and I really appreciate it.

jeff

If you really like your old URC-7200, getting a modified URC-7800 and JP1 cable is a very good idea. That way you can setup the 7800 in exactly the same manner as your 7200, then you can add the Tivo code. If you buy it from me, I'd be happy to pre-load the Tivo code for you, just be sure to mention it when you place your order.

As for the POWER macro issues, this is due to a feature that was added for the newer remotes, it's not an issue for older remotes like the URC-7800.

For those following my fascinating search for the perfect remote, see the following thread for the conclusion.

[Link: remotecentral.com]

jeff