Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater remote controls

My wife does not like to use the home theater system because she doesn't like pressing all of the different buttons on the remote to get everything turned on. She'd rather just turn on the tv and use it's sound when she is watching something. I'd like her to get to enjoy the HT for sound since I spent all this money on it.

Does anyone have a good remote control recommendation that would make this process easier for her? I have the Onkyo SR600 remote now, which has two macros. I either need a bunch of macros, or something that does things the way she would prefer, meaning that when you turn on the TV the VCR should go on also(I have to run sound through the VCR for the receiver...tv doesn't have hookups) and the receiver should go on as well, and it should just "know" to play the sound through the tv, since that's what was turned on. If the DVD then gets turned on it should once again automatically switch to use the DVD as the sound source.

It sounds like a bunch of macros to me(in which case she might get frustrated remembering which macro does what) but maybe there is an easier way I don't know of with some fancier remotes.

Anyway, does anyone have a good remote recommendation. The only one I seem to hear mentioned is the pronto, but it looks like that remote is $400. Seems like a lot for a remote control.

Thanks for any input.

Zarak,
try these:
http://www.hometheatermaster.com/

i don't own one, but have heard good things about them

Home Theater Master MX-500......best remote for the money IMO.

Curtis,
I've got an MX-500 and am getting frustrated at getting it "programmed". can you advise me?

Bob

ZARAK,here is a site that sells pronto refurbs,they have one listed for 159.00 that says regular list price is 399.99.i dont own the pronto so i cant comment on it,it also looks like it comes with a charging base,kinda like a cordless phone,wich would save you money on batteries.the home theater master looks very similar to the marantz rc2000,that i used to own and that thing was sucking down 6 batteries a week,i tried rechargable ones but they didnt work very well.i own the sony tanes 9000 pre-amp and the remote has got to be the worst remote ever made,its full of great ideas,but it really sucks,if the pre-amp didnt sound so good ,i would have replaced it for that reason alone.....good luck....ron


http://www.pusa-store.com/audiovideobuys.asp?refCategory=video&ID=4QCSIPOPOct28A1

My vote is for the Universal sl-8000, very easy to use and program (even for the wife). Will turn on everything with just the push of a button...

Audiobob,

What kind of issues are you having? I have had no problems.

-curtis

Gotta second sid's remmendation for Home Theater Master line. I've had the MX-500 for a couple weeks now. Pretty sweet for $99. Completely replaced 5 remotes - really flexible. Does everything I need including power up and down sequences for various configurations of TV/Projector - DVD/Tivo viewing. A tad limited on macros compared to the MX-700 but there are creative work arounds and it's 1/3 the price.

First two questions to answer: How much do you want to spend? What type do you like (touch-screen or hard button). The LCD touch screen looks cool, but I'm a Tivo user and I don't want to find a button in the dark or look down every time I need to do something with the remote.

Probably the best remote I've used second only to Tivo.

as you can see, a lot of people like the hometheatre MX-500. I know that Costco had it for $99 for a while.

I opted to go w/ a Harmony Remote. Very powerful, but different take on remotes. Go to harmonyremote.com for details. It's activity based and programmable (via web). I have the 768 that I bought in ebay and if you have Tivo or a PVR, the new 659 looks even better.

See http://www.remotecentral.com for reviews and much more related to remotes.

I have a Philips TSU500 (Neo) which I bought for $80 refurb. I like its combination of hard buttons (easy to find in the dark) and LCD screen (better flexibility). It took me about 12 hours to program, however. That is something else to consider...how much time do you want to spend working on a remote. As I understand it, this model is now discontinued.

I have the Philips Pront TSU6000, which is probably a lot more remote than you'll be needing, But any of the Pronto line is a good buy, especially if you get it refurb.

Steve

Anyone have the new Harmony remote (659 whatever)? That's the one I'm looking at, but I'd like to know how well it works with TiVo. My wife also hates the multi remote thing and has started to use the little bitty Zone II remote for the H/K 525 instead of the big honking worst remote in the universe one. (see my other posts/rants)

Thanks everyone for your input. There was some progress tonight at least. I was out and when I got home she was watching a DVD and using the speakers for sound She still doesn't like pressing all the buttons to get it going, but at least she got it setup herself. (She is a smart woman by the way...reading back through some of this I realized she may not come off that way).

Anyway, in reply to some other people I don't really know if I want soft or hard buttons....I've never had a touch screen so it's hard to compare. I'd like to get something under $100. As far as other preferences, it's really whatever she likes....I'm sure if I find one she's happy with then I'll be fine with it too...I'm much more tolerant when it comes to pushing multiple buttons because I understand the function better and know why it is the way it is(plus the system is my baby )

Hey Zarak,
once again I'll have to plead ignorance on this one, but as far as cheap is concerned, I've heard some of the universal remotes @ Radio Shack are decent. The Chameleon comes to mind. But I don't own one either, so i can't speak from experience.

Another remote that offers a combination of hard and touch screen buttons is the Sima Sur-25. It can be picked up for around $40 on ebay. It can be set up in custom configurations with macros to control activites such as dvd watching. A related similar remote can be found here:http://www.surfremotecontrol.com/UCommand-525.html Basic set up is for different device screens but you can individually program buttons for any/multiple devices on any screen with the learning features.

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I have no problems with the MX500 I'm just trying to learn how to configure it. I've got a satelite system from Dish network and can't find a code in the SAT library for it. I have not tried the "scan" method to discover one yet as I thought I'd ask the store I bought it from first. I also discovered that another problem I had was not the MX500's fault. I was trying to find the code that shuts off my Sony CD player and could find none. Then I looked at the original Sony remote and discovered that it can't turn the player on/off either!

I also have DirecTivo and prefer hardbuttons. The Harmony 768 works well, though I'll admit I wish it had more hard buttons. However, it works well for other members of the family who don't like to deal w/ all of the "tweaks". The newer 659 appears to be much better for Tivo.

I also have the URC6131 (unmodified) from Circuit City for $15. It works VERY well for simple system usage, just not very well (or not at all) when you what to change things like surround sound modes. You can get a modified version that allows programming, but I was too lazy and the 768 is slightly easier to program w/ the web browswer. The advantage of the 6131 is that the kids can drop it/break it, and you can get another one for cheap...

Check out:
http://www.surfremotecontrol.com/OFA-6131M.html
http://www.surfremotecontrol.com/OFA-6131.html

I just wanted to say "thanks" to those of you who are so actively contributing your wisdom here. I'm not in the market for a remote *right now*, but am again impressed by these forums as a source for the information I need (or will soon need, or didn't know I needed).