Well, let's start at the top of the thing.

1. 3 buttons on the top: On Off Mute. Why the Off button? Oh yeah, and the Off button does not function with other components. But the On button doesn't turn off the AVR. Whee!

2. Going down the remote, we find all of the source buttons. Cool. But when you press one of them, the remote automatically changes to control that component. Which would be fine if it didn't suck as a universal remote. It also changes the volume button to the component (you have to program it to patch back to the AVR. So after changing components, you must press the AVR button (also in the same grouping of buttons) to change it back to a useable state. There is NO OTHER WAY on the remote to change the source. I've taken to walking across the room to change the source on the receiver itself, just 'cause it's easier.

3. Crappy labels. The buttons are also all the same size. Some buttons do not appear to do anything!

4. Moving on down, past the joystick thingie (the circle with the enter button in the midde; not a joystick, but I don't know what else to call it), we eventually get to the number buttons. You'd think that in FM or AM mode, you could type in the numbers for the frequency. Nope! And those big arrow keys that have a subtext that says channel near the top of the remote, next to the volume controls? Those won't change the radio either. No, the radio frequency change buttons are two tiny arrow keys buried down near the number keys that serve no function whatsoever when the remote is in AVR mode.

5. At the very bottom of the remote, where it has narrowed to about an inch wide, about 6 inches from the weight of the batteries and the center of gravity of the remote, and about an 1 1/2 inches from the bottom of the remote, we find the carrier control buttons (play, rewind, etc) which are all absolutely dinky. (we're talking less than a 3/16 inch wide!) You try and hold the remote with one hand and use those buttons. These are the main reasons the remote stinks as a universal!

6. The codes don't work worth beans, so you have to use the learning function. All well and good, except you have to stand on your head, rub your tummy, whistle Dixie, hold down 4 buttons and aim the two remotes at one another while watching the lights change underneath the button that indicates which device you're programming! Then you'd better hope you remember what you programmed for what!

7. In addition, the video ins correspond to the codes that you program. When I first got the remote, I put the TiVo in Vid1 and the VCR in Vid2, since I hardly use the VCR. Well, you can't program in a VCR code for Vid2; that's for TV or Satellite (no TiVo codes at all). VCR has to be in Vid1. So I had to go behind the thing and replug everything, with a 70 lb reciever resting on my knees.

8. The Macros don't work. I cannot get it to power on the receiver, then the TV, press the TiVo button, and switch back to AVR mode. It won't even get to the second step of this!

9. My wife is unhappy with me since now she has to press 3 buttons more to watch TiVo, when I said that a new receiver would make life easier (S-video switching, don'tcherknow).

Needless to say, I hate the remote, but at the moment I'm unwilling to pay 1/3 to 1/2 of what I paid for the reciever to buy a remote that would actually function as advertised.

Note: this above rant was only related to the remote, not the receiver itself. Your mileage may vary. Tax, license and other fees not included. Not insured by FDIC. An equal opportunity employer.

I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!