Toshiba 42HM66 (DLP television)
XBOX 360
DirecTV HR21-100 (HD DVR)
Sony HT-CT100 (Sound Bar & Subwoofer)
Sony PS3


I have been going crazy the last couple days trying to get the amount of remotes I have to use down to 1. The DirecTV remote operates the TV and HD DVR, but I also have an XBOX 360 Media Remote (for Netflix streaming and Media Center Extender), the Sony HT-CT100's remote, and on top of all that I have my PS3 for DVD/Blu-Ray.

I've always been fascinated with Harmony's remotes, but until I got the PS3 and HT-CT100 last week I didn't need one very much. I would prefer one I could get through Amazon Prime. Free 2 day shipping FTW

BTW my wife says if I spend more than $100 on a remote control she will kill me, no matter how awesome it is.

For under $100 don't get your hopes up too high. If you are programming yourself I would go for the URC MX-350 and one of those PS3 gizmos that get advertised at the top of the page for IR control of a PS3.

Harmony has some remotes for that price, but I personally have always felt they are very limiting, it could probably get you through basic daily functions and some general macros.

IT really depends on how well you understand MACRO programming concept and your equipment.

Your first mistake was letting her know you were interested in getting a universal remote control. Let me explain how to do this.. for you.. and anyone else in your situation..

You start holding money back from wherever you can get it.

1.At the resturaunt.. when she gets up.. you grab the tip money that was meant for the server.

2.You offer to do the laundry and anything you find in her jeans belongs to you. Dont tell her you found it! If she asks.. say "hmm.. maybe it got washed.." and if she lets it go.. its yours.. if she doesnt let it go.. produce it later saying "i found it in the dryer".

3.Offering plate at church. If you dont go to church.. start going. Learn to remove money from the plate and make it look like your depositing money.

4.Street performing. Use your lunch breaks to fatten your wallet instead of your waste.

Ok.. so now you have the $ and she doesnt know you have it. (Careful now.. if she learns of your creative accounting a pair of shoes or a trip to the salon may come to pass.) By now you should know exactly which remote you want. You must go to a store. Online means shipping.. shipping means she could possibly learn of its arrival.

GO BUY IT! DONT LOOK BACK! YOU MADE IT MAN!

Now that your back in your car with the giant yellow and blue electronic store sign in your rear view mirror... get rid of all packaging. Store the receipt in your desk at work. Use an emery board to rough it up.

I KNOW I KNOW! "ROUGH IT UP? NO WAY" YES!!! ROUGH IT UP!!

Now that its roughed up.. wait until you have time at home a lone to program it. Get it all programmed and ready to go and place it on the table next to the other remotes. Dont!

DO NOT!

Put the other remotes away yet. Leave them all out on the table. Every time you 2 sit down to watch TV you have to spend 5 minutes pretending to read thru manuals and playing with the buttons. While your doing this you have to continue to say things like "im going to get this figured out if it kills me" or "ill be damned if im spending money on something i can do myself".

This will help put her mind at ease. She will begin to forget about her death threat and your spending more than $100 bucks on a remote. She will think she has won. This is good. Thats when you sit down one night and jump out of your chair and say "I DID IT!!! i got everything on this dingy old remote, im sure glad i didnt throw it out years ago".

Now you can put your other remotes away and enjoy life again. I know it seems crazy or a bit involved but trust me...

ITS THE ONLY WAY!!!

If you spend $100 on a remote she gets to spend $500 on whatever she wants. Thats how it works. I didnt make the rules. All i know is that for every dollar i 'invest' on my stuff she 'wastes' 5 on her stuff :).

Being single is not perfect, but y'all just reminded me why I never got married a second time.

Cheers, Jim.

"...Marriage is the triumph of the imagination over intelligence..."

For under a $100, you can't bet this deal:

[Link: mcmelectronics.com]

Wow, that's a great deal.

Yup, bought two myself. The RF10 is my remote of choice.