Hello,




My name's XANA and I have a very special setup that I'd like to use a universal remote with:

I have a:
Olevia 32" Television (The TV)
Scientific Atlanta Explorer 3100 (The Cable Box)
Joytech Control Center 540c (The AV Receiver)

I went through the Clicker Picker and I was wondering if there is anything more to do (I won't be getting the remote yet, it will come as a Christmas present)
I used the following settings:

1. How much should it cost:
[Not Sure] Preferably in the 100 - 200 dollar range

2.How many devices do you want to control?
[5 or less] Just 3 devices

3.How many functions per device do you require?
[Any number] Not sure how many, just a few

4.Are hard buttons important?
[Yes, I want alot] Yes, they are, as I am more used to those

5.Do you want an LCD touchscreen display?
[Yes, any style] Yes, that would be a nice feature as it would be easier to find and use

6.Are you missing any original equipment remotes?
[No] I have all of the remotes, but I hate having to have 3 remotes all the time

7.Do you want to be able to "learn" commands from your current remotes?
[Yes] Yes, that would make it much easier to program to control my devices

8.Would you like to automate commonly performed system activities via "macros"?
[Yes] Yes, it would make it easier to play games and watch tv as I would not need to switch to a new input myself

9.Should your new remote be computer programmable?
[Yes] If possible, but it would make it easier to program, because there are lots of places to find codes in files

Custom Images:[No] Whatever that is, don't need it

Surf Internet:[Yes] If possible

Backlighting:[Yes] Easier to find and use in the dark

Hold Time:[No] Whatever that is, but probably not needed

Rechargable:[Yes] It would save time changing batteries alot

High Frequency IR: [No] I will most likely not need this

RF Basestation:[No] I will not need this, all my devices are IR and very close
Variables: [No] Whatever that is, probably won't need it

Menu Joystick:[No] Don't know, won't need it most likely 

Share Setups:[No] I will need only one of these remotes

Timers:[No] I don't use any timers 

Uses Pronto Hex:[No] Whatever that is, will more than likely not need it ever

The remote I have for my Olevia TV has a button labeled "Source", that switches the input on the TV to something else, I wonder if it would be possible to have the same function on a Universal Remote (even though that would already have an input selector for the hardware devices, it should be able to control TV inputs too).

I was also wondering if there is anywhere that has codes for my Olevia TV and my Joytech Control Center, as I already know my cable box is supported, but I have been reading about people who have had no luck getting a universal remote to control those 2 devices.

I would also like some in finding my best fit from whatever results I find, and I don't understand what I'm getting from the Clicker Picker results.

Try a R50 from URC:

[Link: universalremote.com]
You won't get web browsing anywhere close to your price range.
Also, the backlight feature won't help you find the remote, it shuts off after about 20 seconds.

 Well that is okay about the web browsing (I do have a laptop on my desk where I watch TV), I just thought maybe that would be one of those 'wow, look at that' things. :)

I think backlighting would help to use it in the dark, too you know, not just finding the remote but using it in the dark (I stay up late on weekends and I don't like to have bright lights shining down on me the whole time I'm trying to use something).

An URC R50? It does meet practically all of my ideas of a perfect remote.
Is there anyway I can check a code base or listing for any of my devices that can be used with that remote?
I did give it a look through on Google, but most of the results were about how no one can find codes for what is also my TV and my AV receiver, and I thought I might have more luck if I was looking for codes for a specific remote like that one.
 
I know it supports my cable box as it is an old model and it is one of the namebrand type things were everybody supports it for convenience (and I saw a listing for it with about 39 codes), but I figure I will have trouble no doubt with my TV and AV Receiver (so I would be hoping it can do learning functions as well). 

Does this remote have a function to switch an input on a device like a TV (or does it only switch the input of a hardware device like the TV to a different hardware device like my AV Receiver), you know, something like the "source" button I was describing above on my first post here?

That would be great for setup of a marco to make it easier to play games (my TV remote makes me switch through all of the inputs if I happen to mess up and go to the wrong one-- There is no back button on my TV remote!

I would really not like to get something as a present and then find out that no one can use it to change channels and such. :)

 Okay, I found some new information on the back of my hardware:

My Olevia TV's model number is OLEVIA 232 S12.
Can anyone who already has the remote check for the code for this TV?

My Cable Box has three numbers on a white sticker:
Top Number
0001A63B003A

Bottom-Left Number
SABCVZVNSG

Bottom-Right Number
N0006372284

Do any of those numbers help to check for a code for the cable box (I'm not so sure it is already supported)?

My AV Receiver (A Joytech) is actually a Joytech Control Center 540c.
I wonder if any of this information will help to see if my hardware is on the R50.

I also intend to use the remote to control my laptop's Windows Media Center with the remote. My laptop and the accompanying remote are of HP brand.

Will I need to use the learning functions of the R50 to teach it about my HP laptop/remote?

The remote can learn the codes from your tv and AV receiver's remotes.

I also intend to use the remote to control my laptop's Windows Media Center with the remote. My laptop and the accompanying remote are of HP brand, with the laptop having an IR port on the front (ID-ed on the system as a CIR-- Consumer IR port).

Will I need to use the learning functions of the R50 to teach it about my HP laptop/remote?
 

Yes, I don't believe it will have the IR codes for it in the database, but I have had no problem learning them from my HP laptop's remote.

Xana, which remote did you end up using? Did you find one that met all your criteria?

I have chosen my remote and it will be the URC Digital R50.
It met all of my criteria, so far. :)

It's a good price and it will more than likely do everything I want it to (once I figure out how to set Marcos). It seems more than capable.

I haven't bought it yet since it will be a Christmas gift (I'll have one of my family members buy it since it is going to be a present for me).

(I know the point of Christmas is not knowing what you get until you open it, but I still won't know which present box it will be in :) ).

Though, the question I have now is, how will (or can) the remote change TV inputs on my Olevia (my Olevia remote has a button named Source that will do this)?

The way on my Olevia that the inputs are switched is in a circular cycle, like this:

[Tuner] + Pressing the Source button one time goes to [Composite]
[Tuner] + Pressing the Source buttton two times goes to [HDMI]
[Tuner] + Pressing the Source button three times goes to [Component]
...And so on, although I have more than 4 inputs.

so how did it go for you? :-)

After I got it, it worked perfectly (which wasn't what I was expecting).

I got it to recognize my TV and Cable Box out-of-the-box (I also wasn't expecting this).

I taught it how to control my AV Receiver pretty good, except it took a few tries to get it to learn some of the buttons.
Teaching it about my radio worked in the same way as the AV Receiver. 

Great to hear! I'm prolly getting the mx-980...

Much more of learning curve i suspect, & prolly overkill for my needs, but I've found a deal I can't pass up.