Universal Remote Controls

[Burnside]

Why not just use a (spare) phone/tablet?
I use mine to control everything, including the TV.

When I first got my harmony hub, I tried using an iPod Touch and the harmony app as a remote control to control my tv, cable box, AVR etc using linked activities but frankly it wasn’t as convenient nor a patch on using a harmony remote for the same functions.

 

[rccarguy]

Why not just use a (spare) phone/tablet?
I use mine to control everything, including the TV.

App control SUCKS.

It wouldn't be too bad if one app allowed you to control everything. I would need

BD player app
AV pre power app
TV app
Wiim streamer app (official and LMS)
Kodi app

Now I understand and fine with a single LMS app, as that offers far more than a remote and is interactive, and streamers are built on phone/app interface...but the others? Not a chance. You'd need to open one, quit that, then go to the other. What a nightmare!

 

[rccarguy]

I have just looked on Amazon UK for programmable remote controls, and don't see anything available that would convince me to give one another go.

The Sofabaton range look awful, and wouldn't offer me anything more than the Harmony 525 did all those years ago. I have No interest whatsoever in macros, or any other similar features. I would simply like to use it in device mode to operate a single device at a time, and for it to offer me access to all of the buttons, and features of the original remote control.

Can any of todays universal remote controls do just that in a simple way?

I'm open to suggestions for a remote control that is capable of doing what I want, the price is not important, but must be available to buy in the UK.

Pending any suitable suggestions, I may be persuaded to try another one, but I won't hold my breath.

Yes unfortunately learning remote controls are going the way of the do-do
Thankfully I have several of my URC remotes and I've recently bought replacement carbon pads to refurb the contacts. Old software, no longer updated, but as long as your device has IR blaster you can learn the commands and move things around as needed.

Since I'm used to programming the software is easy for me, you can set macros and punch through commands, open up specific activity pages, so one page can control source, TV, amp, and other things. ie in Watch BD it will control BD player for navigation and transport controls. Amp for volume and DSP mode, subwoofer adjust. And unused button for bias light. With the macro on the first button press switching on the TV and switching to the right input, switching the av pre to the correct input. If it had a discrete power on code I would add that also.

Also have a "all off" which switches everything I have with discrete power off codes to off.

 

[dtc]

Yes unfortunately learning remote controls are going the way of the do-do
Thankfully I have several of my URC remotes and I've recently bought replacement carbon pads to refurb the contacts. Old software, no longer updated, but as long as your device has IR blaster you can learn the commands and move things around as needed.

Since I'm used to programming the software is easy for me, you can set macros and punch through commands, open up specific activity pages, so one page can control source, TV, amp, and other things. ie in Watch BD it will control BD player for navigation and transport controls. Amp for volume and DSP mode, subwoofer adjust. And unused button for bias light. With the macro on the first button press switching on the TV and switching to the right input, switching the av pre to the correct input. If it had a discrete power on code I would add that also.

Also have a "all off" which switches everything I have with discrete power off codes to off.

Same here and it also controls the lights in the room. Used devices are readily available on eBay, so I keep a couple of spares around just in case. My biggest problem is that the usb connection to the PC does not always work on newer PCs. I keep one old Windows 7 system around just in case.

 

[rccarguy]

Same here and it also controls the lights in the room. Used devices are readily available on eBay, so I keep a couple of spares around just in case. My biggest problem is that the usb connection to the PC does not always work on newer PCs. I keep one old Windows 7 system around just in case.

Mine is serial port so needs a USB to RS232 adapter. Driver still works, although it's not official so Windows 11 sometimes updates it

A new USB to RS232 dongle should work, but until it stops working I'll leave it.