Add an electronic device to your house, and you add another remote control too. You find that your table has become too cluttered with remote controls of your TV, DVD player, CD player and cable set top box, the result of which you’ve been spending considerable time juggling them. There are too many remotes, and it's a pain operating so many of them. Could this change? Is it possible that your relationship with remotes become slightly better?
The answer to both questions is a thumping yes. The solution to reducing the clutter of sundry remote controls is quite simple: buy a universal remote control.
Introduction
A universal remote control handles more than one product, and reduces, if not eliminates, the need of having separate remote control for every electronic device; in other words, it reduces, if not eliminates the need for having a separate remote for every cog of your electronic-system-wheel. Before we go on to discuss different types of universal remotes and what features you ought to look for while buying one, it should be noted that the term ‘universal’ is used in a very loose sense. A universal remote doesn’t necessarily control every electronic piece- something that the name suggests.
Types of universal remote controls
The most basic of universal remote controls control the different products of the same brand: like a company X’s universal remote that controls only X’s DVD player, TV and music system. As we move towards the advance side of the scale, the features go up. The universal remotes could be broadly classified under:
Device based universal remotes
Device based universal remote is the most common type of universal remote control. The remote comes with a slew of buttons for various devices. All you have to do is to choose which buttons will operate which device. For instance, there will be a button for TV, press the button, and the universal remote becomes a TV remote till you press button of some other device, say your DVD player, after which it will become a DVD remote. So and so forth…the device is very simple to use, and shuffling from one device to another is a breeze.
Activity based universal remotes
Activity based universal remotes are designed to perform activities. An example shall make it clear: an activity based universal remote will require you to choose which activity you want to perform. Say, if you want to watch a movie, you will have to press its corresponding button. Say, if you want to watch a video, you will have to press its corresponding button; it will then send out signal to your DVD player and turn it on, turn on the TV, and start playing the video.
Learning based universal remotes
Learning based universal remotes, as the name suggests, are capable of learning and performing new activities and controlling new devices. They learn the codes from other remotes. To accomplish this, the two remotes- the standard remote of the device and the learning based universal remote- are placed head to head. You press a button to activate an operation on the standard remote and then press the button you want to use for that operation on the learning remote. While using learning remote can be time consuming, it’s very useful if you have a lot of old remotes and are planning to buy new products, because it is updateable. Within learning universal remotes, some learning remotes can be programmed by computer. For certain models, you can go to the manufacturer's website, and enter some basic information about your components. The necessary programming to operate the said model is then downloaded to your remote from your computer via a USB cable.
Buying a universal remote control
If you have bought a electronic system or home-theatre system very recently, there’s a good chance that you already own a universal remote: most home-theatre systems come equipped with a universal remote that can operate and control some devices. See how good it is. If you want more functionality, want your remote to perform even some obscure functions or want your remote to operate more devices, then you’ll have to buy a universal remote; in order to make a smart choice, bear in mind the following points:
A basic universal remote operates your TV and components such as a DVD player, VCR, set top box. It performs basic tasks like volume adjustments, power on/off, changing tracks, etc. More advanced universal remotes can control additional components such as home theatre receivers, DVRs, etc.
Features to look out for
Number of devices that it operates:
Do check out how many products does the universal remote control support. If you can find one that controls all the electronic devices you own, there’s not a better deal you’d get.
Infrared versus Radio Frequency:
Universal remotes, like normal remotes, either could be infrared based or Radio Frequency (RF) based. Infrared requires you to point the remote at the device to be operated, whereas RF does not. With RF, you could be seating in your bathroom and still be turning on the music system, since RF, unlike infrared, can penetrate objects such as people and walls to send the signal.
Macro-controls:
Many learning remotes feature macros- buttons that you can program to perform an extensive series of commands. If, for example, say, you have to turn on your TV, DVD and amplifier, instead of having to perform these activities separately, you can combine all of those separate steps into one macro. This lets you turn on all three components with a single button push.
Features to look out for (contd...)
Shape and weight:
Try out holding the universal remote in your hands and asking yourself how it feels, before you decide to buy it. Since, you will be using it so frequently and since it’s the primary interface between you and your devices, it’s important that you like the buttons, the way they look, and the casing. And yes, it shouldn’t be too heavy.
Battery:
The risk with the budget universal remotes is that after you replace your battery, you have to reprogram your remote all over again. Make sure you buy a universal remote that has a rechargeable battery or ensure that the remote you buy stores the data in flash memory so that even if battery is dead and replaced, the stored programs remain in memory, intact.
Brands/Models:
Now that you’ve seen some of the most important features to look for, you’d be in a good position to decide which model you should go for. The brand and model that you will buy will depend on your budget and your needs, obviously. The price range for a universal remote ranges from Rs 590 to Rs 27,995. Here are a few models, in no particular order, worth looking at:
