Hello, I am new to the universal remote scene and li'm ooking into getting one I am using the "suggested criteria info" that vbova suggested.

- Budget
I would like to spend no more then 100$

- Brief detail of system (type of components)
I would be using this to basically control a Vizio Gallevia TV (2 years old), a Kenwood Sovereign vr-5900 receiver. I have a playstation3 and xbox 360, but i have no problem using the controllers as remotes. Now here is where it gets tricky. My receiver is old and only has component inputs. The xbox and playstation are hooked via hdmi directly to the TV, and then i have ran separate toslink optical audio cable from each one into the receiver ( lets say aux 1 and aux2 for arguments sake) I will need a remote that would allow me to push 1 button to say turn the tv on, turn the amp on, set the tv to the proper hdmi input and change the receiver to the correct input as well (aux1 or aux2)
It was also need to control a Comcast DVR/Cable box

- Include multi-room control if needed (not after the fact)
NA just one room, no need for RF

- zones, rooms, size of house
NA again

- Touchscreen preference
No touchscreen

- Hard button preference
No preference

- Location of equipment as it relates to the usage area
All components about 7-8 ft away

- control type your looking for (RS232, two way control vs. RF vs IR only)
IR i believe ??

- Current or previous remote control
Comcast basic remote

- Level of expertise in home theater as it relates to your project
1-10 i would say 5

- Desire to program/install system yourself or consider installer?
I would program this myself, im fairly "tech savvy"

- Who will be controlling this system (Children, seniors, people in house)
Wife and I.

- Eyesight issues
None

- Any complicated goals you wish to reach (streaming, PC based, etc)
nope

- How you see your system growing in the next 3-5 years
I will probably be buying a receiver that is HDMI capable so that i dont have to use the optical cables. I will also be switching to FiOS soon as well

What do you think?

Pretty much any learning remote that will give you some macros would work since you are only looking for IR control.

If I understand what you want correctly, you'd like to be able to push one of three buttons to get Xbox, PS, or TV/cable respectively powered up with the correct TV and receiver inputs set.

You probably already own a remote that can do this job. The Comcast remote has the necessary setup codes, if you're willing to enter in a few numbers to assign particular buttons.

The more important question, in my mind, is does the TV have discrete inputs?  And do both the TV and receiver have discrete power on/off commands?

Here's how to test, assuming you have a Comcast remote with a red OK/Select button. Or you could use the Vizio remote for this testing, but it can't control your cable box.

Make sure the TV device is setup to code 11178. [If Comcast has grey button, use 0178.]

To test, press TV, then:

1) Press setup briefly
2) Enter in a 5 digit EFC
the component should respond when the 5th digit is pressed.

For the Vizio start by checking volume to make sure the procedure is correct.
Function EFC
Vol+ 00183
Power On 00087  (should leave power on if it is already on)
power Off 00216
HDMI1 00193
HDMI2 00191
AV1 00225
AV2 00223

You can also check the Kenwood using setup code 31313, 31570, or 31027:

Vol+ 60899
On 61115
Off 60987
Video 1 60755
VIdeo 2 60794

If these work, we can tell you more codes, and how to assign the code to buttons, and how to make a macro that will carry out the sequence of button pushes that your want.

Thanks for the replies. Actually the comcast remote does not seem to allow me to change the Kenwood through the inputs i need. I have my xbox plugged into dvd right now, this is going to change next week. What i really need are the codes to input to basically let me choose Video 3, video 4 and dvd (like i said, i may move this to one of the other inputs if need be). Right now, if i want to play xbox or ps3, i have to change the input on the actual reciever.

I can't tell from your reply whether you tried the codes and they didn't work or if you need different functions.

Make sure that setup code 31313, 31570, or 31027 is assigned to AUX, and that the remote blinked twice indicating that it accepted the setup code.

Discrete Input - Tape       60819
Discrete Input - Video 1   60755
Discrete Input - DVD       62267
Discrete Input - Tuner     60851
Discrete Input - CD/DVD 60787
Discrete Input - Video 3   62338
Discrete Input - Phono     60723
Discrete Input - Video 2   60794
Discrete Input - AUX        60915

If you like any of these, you can assign the code to a button by:
press AUX
1) Press Setup until 2 blinks
2) Enter 994 (2 blinks)
3) Press Setup briefly
4) Enter the EFC (e.g. 62338 for Video 3)
5) Press the button you want the function assigned to.

If you precede step 5) by a brief press of Setup, that makes a shifted button. Then during normal operation press setup followed by the button to send that signal.

Worked like a champ! Well, for the Kenwood anyway, cant get the HDMI to work for the tv. Also, do you have the code for video 4?

62274 may be video 4.

Unless I made a mistake, if the Vizio codes don't work, it means the TV doesn't do those functions. Here's the thread that tells the Vizio discrete codes (need to be converted to EFC format for you to use) www.remotecentral.com/cgi-bin/mboard/rc-discrete/thread.cgi  and some of models which work or don't work.

Ok guys,
Sorry to be a pain, but could someone give me the instructions on how to do this for a verizon FiOS remote. I just had it installed and cant figure it out. Is it possible to program individual keys on the FiOS remote? THanks in advance.

thanks for the codes , everything work perfectly an codes to change the stations on the tuner.