Hi all, I have a Sony STR-DB840 Receiver, Motorola Digital Cable Box, Sony DVD and Sony KP-57ws500 TV. Trying to decide which Universal remote to get. I think the Sony ones seem logical, but have a few important criteria. Love the joystick on the TV remote that allows me to toggle the 2 side by side PIP screens to make them bigger or smaller. I cannot imagine losing that function. Also, important is to control the input modes on the Receiver. Thirdly, the guide, info and exit buttons on the cable box remote would be great to have them labeled as such. Any help would be great !!!!! Neil--

Any good learning remote should fit your needs. On any universal remote, it
is always necessary to learn a lot of the commands from the original remotes
since no universal remote come preprogrammed with all the commands you will
need.

The choice will depend on your personal preferences. If you like a
traditionally shaped remote, the VL1000 would be good, for about $50, and
the AV3000 for about $120 if you like a larger lcd remote.

You can teach the commands you will need. The joystick is no problem, you
simply teach each command to a separate button. I have done this on my 3000
to the joystick-shaped keys at the bottom left corner. You can also learn
the toggle command for the receiver. When you get further into this, if you
want, there are discrete codes that you can use to send specific commands.

Check out this site for some good prices on remotes
http://www.surfremotecontrol.com/

thanks Ron. Do u know if the VL1000 joystick will work the same as my Sony's TV remote's joystick in terms of the split screen and making it bigger or smaller ????

Ron, a couple of other thoughts, what did u mean by "discrete codes" ? In order to program my Receiver to toggle between modes on one of these Universal ones, will I have to deal with this AV1/AV2 issue that I am reading about on this forum. I looked at that site sales of remotes and am thinking, why not just get a One for All model 8811 for $25 ?? That one even has the cable box Guide, Info, etc. buttons already labeled.

You will be able to reproduce the Sony’s joystick exactly on any universal remote by teaching each command of the joystick to a key on the remote. The 1000 has a joystick-type configuration, but the 8811 doesn’t, but you can assign keys to learn the commands to.

The 8811 should work just fine. You can also get them at Wal-Mart for about that price or less.

For discrete codes, go here, read up on it and then ask any questions which may arise
[Link: remotecentral.com]

I checked the manual on your receiver and it doesn’t appear to have the AV1/AV2 settings, so you won’t have to worry about that.

I assume with the One for all 8811 that I will have to make it learn the buttons for the receiver to switch inputs. The receiver's remote has a display that u toggle to highlite the input u want and then u press the toggle to select it. So I just make the all for one learn each individual step on different keys ??? Do u understand what I am asking ? Also read about the Discrete Codes and maybe I need to reread slower cause I have no idea what they mean lol. Thanks for all the help.

It took me a while to find all the info I needed to answer your question. I found that the remote has its own manual, so I had to look through the receiver manual to find the remote type. There are 2 remotes supplied with your receiver. If you have the RMPP404 then there are direct access buttons to the various inputs, but you must have the RLLP204, which has the toggles you describe.

These toggles are controlled by buttons on the remote, so, as you said, these buttons can be taught to your universal remote to give you the same control as you had on the original remote. Normally, any button on the original remote can be taught to the universal remote.

Discrete codes are 3 digit codes which will perform specific commands, such as volume off, or volume on, so you can put the command in a macro and if you operate the macro to turn on the component, etc, and the component is on already, it will not turn it off like a toggle (on/off) command would. You need a RS/OFA remote to use these codes. What you do is enter your device code into the RS/OFA remote, then press the setup or similar button, then press the 3 digit code. When you input the third digit, it will send the discrete command, which you can learn on your universal remote. Also, there are many discrete codes listed for commands which are not on the original remotes, so you can have more control of your equipment.

I just want to warn you that the sony receiver setup code in recent ofa/rs remotes don't accept advanced codes, or though there is a work around as seen in this thread here. It's best to get a remote with setup code 0158 installed. The radio shack 15-2103 still has it.

This message was edited by edmund on 09/05/03 13:49.

Guys thanks so much, this is great. Edmund, are u saying that if I get the All For One # 8811, it doesn;t have the code built in for my receiver unless I make it learn those functions ?????

No, I'm saying you're going to have to use the Sony tape code to get the advanced codes you need. If you buy the 8811. There is a code, its 1058, is should have alot commands mapped already, but it won't accept advanced codes, to add any more. you'll need to use the sony tape code for that.

thanks I think I got it. The only functions I want out of the 8811 and the Sony reciever is to do volume, power, mute and toggle between input modes. If I can just do that I am happy as hell !!!!!!!

Ron, Edmund or anyone else, looking for a close up picture of the All for One 8811, anyone have a link ? Also, anyone know what the 2 buttons are on this Sony VL900 just about the Volume + and Channel + keys ? Can't read it in this picture. On this Vl900, using the AMP button along with the blue number keys, is that how I would control a Sony Receiver input modes or I would have to make it learn.