I want to buy a new fancy learning/universal remote control. Primarily to control my home theatre system which is a Rotel Audio system (and Sony DVD player) powered by a Rotal remote control and Sony remote with a jog dial. The problem is that my Rotel remote is dead. Is there anyway to program a new remote when the original remote is dead and can't teach the new remote? I'm sure that Rotel is so obscure that no Universal remote comes pre-programmed with it's codes. Can anyone advise me?

No, you can't program a universal remote from a dead original remote. But, Rotel is a well-known name and most, if not all, universal remotes will have codes for your Rotel equipment.

I know the MX-500 and MX-1000 by Home Theater Master do. Check out all the reviews on this site, and I'm sure you'll find a remote that will suit your needs.

If those are too expensive, the Sony VL-900 is very good, as is the Radio Shack RS-1994 (its only limitation is very small memory capacity for learning from other remotes.)

Hope this helps!

... Greg :-)

In fact, Rotel makes a pretty good remote themselves. Check out this link to see it, and Daniel's review of it, and it's sister remote, the UR-362.

Make sure you go to the beginning of the review, and read it all. It is probably going to do the job for you!