Hi,

I'm a long term OneForAll user who has two URC-10820's that need replacement. I've been very happy with the OFA units, but they all seem to have a finite lifetime with buttons that stop working after 3-4 years.

The OFA site shows a couple of newer options, the OARN08G and OARI06G introduced in Jan 2010. I've also found the OARN05G, which appears to be the same as the 8G except for the number of devices.

I'm wondering if anyone has experience with these or have other similarly priced ($20) suggestions.

The OARI06G can be used in device mode (like your 10820s) or in activity mode.  It has a JP1 connector which allows the community to know quite a bit about the remote, and of course you can augment the functions with an $8 USB to Serial cable.

The other two are less well understood (they don't have JP1 connectors).  I don't know if they will do keymoves, which are usually important to OFA users.
 

Since all three of the units share direct code entry, learning, and macros, I'm going to assume like all the similar OFA units I've used in the past, key moves can be done. I've never known of OFA deleting a single feature for newer generation units, but one never knows....

I'm just wondering if there is anything else in the marketplace that is comparable.

Many of the newer models coming out do not do keymoves. Even in the same model line, take the OARC05G does keymoves, where the 3 device version OARC03G doesn't.

Hey edmund! Nice to hear from you. You were a great help to me in the distant past and I've always appreciated it.

What you say makes sense, as the 3G doesn't have learning either. Do you know which of the units, the OARN08G/OARN05G and OARI06G, are the newest?

Although quite different ergonomically, they seem to have very similar features.

I got a OARN0G8. It's less than what I hoped, up to this point. For me, the ergonomics are poor. The case material is very slick; too smooth with no tactile surface for traction. The case material is so smooth that even before taken out of the packaging the bottom was scratched from the plastic. The number keys are at the top of the remote as opposed to the older units where the numbers are at the bottom, and many of the most used functions are on the 8 smallest buttons on the remote in a circle in the center of the unit. Functions info, menu, mute, exit and last are indistinguishable from PIP, swap and sleep. A couple of times I've grabbed it without looking with the wrong end facing the equipment. This never happened before to me with OFA remotes.

On the up side, the set up for an HDTV, cable box, a/v receiver, and BD player was relatively quick and easy, based on my previous OFA experience, and the backlighting is a new and welcome addition.

Maybe I'll get used to it. Or maybe I'll try a Sony RM-VLZ620. Or...

I learned the Smart Control has two different model numbers depending where it's distributed; the Smart Control OARI06G is for North America, while the Smart Control URC 7960 is distributed outside of the US, and there are three versions of this unit. The first is the basic model, a second adds motion control (flick the unit right, left, up, down for specific control functions instead of using buttons), and the last is specifically for the PS3 with a bluetooth-connected-to-PS3 remote IR pickup included. Smart Control Motion is URC 7962, and Smart Control PS3 is URC 7965.

And then I found the OARUSB04G, which I can't find on any of the One For All web sites, and seems to be the same feature set (learning, backlighting, etc.) as the OARN0G8/OARN05G but with a completely different 'figure 8' ergonomic design with rubber bumpers, controlling only 4 devices - [Link: bestbuy.com]
This one may be the next big thing for me, but it's not found for less than $30 at this time. The more I think about it, the more likely I'm going to try one of these.

Thanks for mentioning OARUSB04G. It has the same appearance as OFA URC-6440 for 'the rest of the world' and for which there is more information available. Have just submitted an image of the manual for 6440 to RC, with a list of the numbers 995 for macros etc. discovered so far. We got one recently in Uk and reckon it's a very nice remote, especially for quality, layout and button action. Commands can't be allocated to the device selection buttons, but for OARUSB04G the functions may differ.

As for button action, do they click when pushed? This was also a concern with the 8G, but I figured I'd get used to it. Maybe.

I just bought one today.  The buttons do click. But the case is easy to hold onto. It does do 994 keymoves, which the Sony RM-VLZ620 can't do.  BTW, it is labeled on the packaging and one place on the remote as OARUSB04G.  Internally, it is a also listed as a URC-6540, and appears to be the US version of the URC-6440 that tranx has.

6440 has the useful ability to finish a macro in any chosen device mode, which RM-VLZ620 can't do.

Although 6440's device selection buttons can't be programmed, each of the combi-control buttons 'setup' and 'copy', can be set with simpleset.com to a device... [edit:... with Tv for volume controls.] Like the other buttons, combi buttons, can also carry a learned command or macro.

Although there are less buttons, they are generally better shapes and sizes.

For everyday use the OARUSB04G looks like a good option.

I'm still trying to get used to the OARN0G8.

Edit 2/9/14
Another OARN0G8 issue is the use of discrete codes for power and device keys. I have a Sony TV & Pioneer receiver, and both have a power on command when the device key is hit. Thus, when doing a macro for all power on, both TV & receiver turn on then off. So now I have to consider using two macros, one for all power on & one for all power off, or figure out if a device key can learn the power toggle command. Oy.

JP1 now works with OARUSB04G and URC6440 [Link: hifi-remote.com]