I recently purchased an RCA home theater in a box system. (No snickering please). While I've been very happy with the sound of this system I've been very disappointed with the functionality of the 'universal remote' that came with it.

Getting past the fact that the codes for my JVC TV only work the up/down, and channel numbers and nothing else, the main gripe I have is that I can't change the volume, while hearing the volume in the TV mode. I have to switch to the DVD mode, go up or down with the volume buttons and hope that's loud or soft enough when I go back to the TV mode. When I hit the volume buttons in the TV mode it just changes the volume in the TV's builtin speakers and does nothing for the home theater ones.

I called RCA's help desk and quickly determined that everyone there was about as smart as a sack full of hammers.

I started looking at universal remotes and was contemplating several Radio Shack models, or even the RCA's RCU810 (I know, fool me once RCA...) but I'm not sure if this will fix my problem. Some of the postings I've read under the reviews indicate that you might not be able to change the volume if you're in anything but the TV mode, even though my volume is coming through my home theater system.

There's GOT to be a remote out there that will let me change channels and change the volume on my home theater speakers without changing modes. (oh yeah, and for around $50 or $60 would be nice too.)

I'm not looking for much other functionality than this, although being able to power up both the TV and the home theater system with one button would be nice.

Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Mike,

I'd recommend a learning remote (I'm assuming your current universal remote doesn't have this ability). All you'd need would be to identify a couple of available buttons for "the other" volume controls and you would have access to both sets.

A possible inexpensive alternative is to use the "Volume Punch Through" function on a remote such as the One For All Cinema 7 or the Radio Shack 15-1994. This would allows you to use the HT controls on the TV device, but overrides the TV internal controls in the process. Either remote costs around $20 and should do everything you want (inclduing the power up macro, I believe). Check with the folks on the OFA forum to get more details - they can help you decide if this method will suit your needs.

Hope this helps. -Bruce

This message was edited by Bruce Burson on 12/02/02 04:33.58.