PDA or Marantz 9200? £585 to spend

The question is which do people recommend as a universal remote control I have had in the past had a Marantz 5000i but that now needs to be replaced.

I am not sure as to either stick with dedicated hardware ie a pronto etc or move down PDA route?

If I choose a PDA I am not sure which one and what software I should choose.

I need software that will enable full customization, macros and total graphical development of screens created in Photoshop.

I assume that a PDA cannot learn remotes like the Philiips or Marantz do, so how are codes input into the devise?

All thoughts and recommendation greatly received in advance

Please email me your thoughts at [email protected]

regards
Robin

I'll probably be pilloried for heresy but...

You can probably buy two or three of the Dell Axim X3i for the price of the 9200. (Prices may be higher in the UK.) It's IR emitter is strong enough to give excellent range with no extender needed. (I designed one of the CF card IR extenders needed with earlier PDAs so you can probably trust my word on this.) It also has built-in 802.11B and I would expect two-way software to appear for it.

PDAwin's TV Remote software ($15) is not quite as customizable as the Pronto/Marantz software but it can use CCF files and learns IR as well as any remote does. You can ask about it in the PDA forum here.

i was concicering one of the compaq /HP but i assume that the dells are just as good and probably cheaper too thanks for the advice

I have got an iPAQ 5450. The newer 5550 does not have the consumer IR, therefore you will need a sleeve and cf IR card.

PDAWin TVRemote, makes an attempt at using ccf files, but does not support repeat codes sequences, and has not done so, and their support is zero, with no likelyhood of future releases supporting repeat sequence codes.

I used to have a Pronto Pro, but now have a 5450 and TVR, no where as usable, in fact close to unusable for some codes. You can learn them fine, but they will not reply.

To list all the probs i have had here with it would take forever.

For everyday heavy duty remote use, do not go the PDA route, at least not PPC, can't comment about Palm machines with a different OS.

There is no other software available that can use ccf files.

the iPAQ and TVR can learn codes directly as a Pronto would

Griffin's TotalRemote now offers software that uses CCF and supports internal IR.

NetRemote (free) uses CCF, supports WiFi and has beta support for internal IR.

PDAwin's TVR software allows you to assign codes to the navigation keys which repeat.

Buy both, buy 2, 3, or 4 of'em! Much more fun!

I looks like I may be out of touch, I thought with Total remote it does not use the built in IR transmitter, it uses audio that feeds to a plug in device into the audio jack, ok for some PDA's but no use on a 5450/5550> I would not use it on the basis that is another add-on/piece of kit to carry/plug in to the PDA. Will have to have another look at it. If it can use the ccf files I already have, it could be a better option than TVremote

Netremote, I have used in conjunction with Girder/JRiver Media centre, and an IR blaster. Works great with WiFi for my media server PC in the house. I knew they were talking about native IR support, but have not kept up to date with it, Will have to have another look at it. And yes it does use ccf files.

As for TVRemote, it can be very unreliable in learning codes. I tried to learn Grundig TV codes into it from an original remote, less than half the learned codes worked on first and subsequent attempts at learning. I learned codes into a blank ccf about 2 days ago from a Sky satellite remote. Most of the codes worked except for the odd numbers and the sky button. Had to manually edit all the non working codes. The lead out burst pair had learned too long on them, and replayed as a double tap. Look at another post of mine :

[Link: remotecentral.com]
About this problem and the problem codes, is this a TVR problem? or would a Pronto give the same results learning the Sky remote.


I did not know TVR could learn repeats on to hard buttons, how do you do it? I cannot get it to learn to hard buttons on an iPAQ 5450.

So although I agree that there are other progs out there, for reliable everyday use, a PDA is not the way to go. A marantz/Pronto etc, will learn the codes far more reliably and be easier to use.

This message was edited by npaisnel on 02/29/04 11:16.

Which, along with the fact that most responders here are likely to be biased towards the Pronto, is why I suggested the PDA forum, where most responders will be biased towards PDAs and more in touch, was a better place to pose specific PDA questions such as yours about how to program the Navigation buttons.

Also, the Marantz 9200 is previous generation technology. The current generation color model is the Philips 7000. Presumably there will be a Marantz 9400 to match it.

I only have and use a PDA now for remote use, used to use Pronto, and would go straight back to one if I could afford to spend nearly 4 weeks wages on one!!

I have a 9200i for sale, it has a box, remote extender/charger cradle and PSU.

Yours for £330

Craig

Still two weeks wages,....flying does not pay after 11th Sept!!