I have been trying several 3 digit "big button" remotes (last one was the Sony RM-EZ2) for my 89 year old mother-in-law to use. However, the Motorola cable box and Element LCD TVs apparently use 4 digit codes. Do I just have to find a 4 digit big buttin remote?

[Link: remotecentral.com]

I'm confused by your question. The sony is just a remote. I don't understand your reference to a 3 or 4 digit remote? You'll just have to hit 4 buttons to dial in a channel instead of 3 buttons. Or by digits, are you refering to the number of fingers you need to have to use the remote? ;)

I think the OP wants your phone # : )

When I read the manual for the remote, it tells me to enter a 3 digit number (169, 243, etc). The manual for the TV says to use a 4 digit number (i.e, 1176).

Right, codes in the manual of the universal remote, are only for the universal remote. The tv manual is for the oem remote that came with the tv and no other remote period.

No, the manual states that the 4 digit code is for use by universal remotes.

Last edited by edmund on July 31, 2011 02:58.

Any remote manual you have is for ONE model of remote, ONE brand of universal remote, thats it. Take sony universal remotes, older remotes take two digit codes(av2000), later 3 digit codes(vl900), and newest 4 digit codes(vl-600).

Here's news for you there isn't a remote made that has a preset code for Element tv's. Too new.

What edmund is telling you is that the setup codes, whatever the number of digits, are specific to universal remote manufacturer, or sometimes even specific to the model. This page from Element Electronics page indicates that for remotes made by UEI (that's who makes all those cable remotes listed on that page), the setup code is 0178. That's a fairly common one used by many TV manufacturers, but the setup code will be different for your Sony remote. Try a code listed in the Sony remote manual for an LG or Goldstar TV. I don't have Sony RM-EZ2, but looking at their list of code in the manual, I'm guessing it might be 003.

It may say to use code 0178, they all do, but it never works. The only Element tv code for UEI made remotes is TV 1687, not preset into any of UEI oem or universal remotes. Can be downloaded over the phoneto the one-for-all urc-8910.