i'm looking to purchase a universal home theatre remote, and the pronto seems to be the one everyone's raving about...are there any other remotes out there that can compare...i'm willing to spend a little more cash then the pronto if the features are there...

and someone told me that if you turn on your tv without the pronto, it'll screw up your entire program in the remote? any truth to that?

thanks!

If you are comfortable drawing up screens, downloading other people's files, and teaching the remote, the Pronto is the one. If you want something a little more simple and easy to program and learn, then maybe the Sony remote might be pretty good, and at a much better price. All in what you are willing to spend and how much time you are willing to work with the programming.

As to the other issue, the program does not get screwed up on the remote, but if you design your screens such that powering up the system sends you to another screen that expects the TV and other equip to be on, but somebody manually turns off the devices, then your design might create some confusion when you power things off (and some things being off already go back on) because you use the power commands from the original remotes.

If your components support discrete codes (not toggle codes, but codes that tell a unit to turn on or just turn off, unlike a power button), then you are fine. Just search for discrete or look at the FAQ and Files area for discrete codes that exist.

Better review posts to this forum on Pronto re-booting and serial port access by ProntoEdit before you make your decision.

At this time there is not a remote that will do more than the Pronto.
As Carey said though you must be willing and able to design and tweak the Pronto to make it what it can be.
This process takes you to a personally designed remote that has all the features you desire in a remote and is definately worth the effort.

Jazzbo, Don't get me wrong, I love my Pronto, but it doesn't have ALL the features I desire in a remote. I would love to see two way communication. My 10 year old B&O 6500 remote control would tell me what radio station, volume, CD track, etc, etc from another room!! Now if I could combine that with the Pronto, (and maybe a color display) maybe, just maybe, it would have all the features I desire.

Loran, I agree but what I said is there is not a remote out there that will do more (at this time).
two-way would be a marvelous feature as would color.

Dan,
Did you look at the RTI TheaterTouch forum? Its more than "a little more cash" but does provide some additional features. It can address the TV power scenario you described. Good luck with your decision!
Doug

I read the review of the TheaterTouch and I did not see anything that helps with lack of discrete codes.

What did you see?

In terms of system automation, you'd need the IRF-6 module and a few sensors to cope with the lack of discrete codes. Otherwise, without that, the T2 is the same as the Pronto. Granted you can trick out your macros with more features -- but that doesn't help with discrete codes.