5 comments about SMK-Link VP4810 RemotePoint RF Remote Control.

1. As a new user I'm finding this a very comfortable remote to use. My husband's used it at work for several months now and loves it. We ordered ous from amazon and just got it hooked up on our computer at home today and I'm having no problems getting used to it. Overall, a very good product so far.



2. I purchased the Interlink Electronics VP4810 on August 22, 2007 and have been using it through the USB connection to a computer using Windows XP as the OS. I had used this product for a number of years at one institution that supplied the units but moved to another institution that did not. I was not happy at all with the wireless mouse the institution supplied and which was the only tool I could use to advance slides when away from the computer desk, so I purchased my own VP4810 and use it as a portable unit. I have had absolutely no trouble with it (I downloaded the software from Interlink's website rather than use the disc that came with the unit so I could, hopefully, get the most recent software version). I admit I use it only as a two-button mouse and do not, as yet, use all the other features that come with the software. I appreciate the freedom the unit gives me in making presentations and the laser pointer feature is also very handy.



3. I support a school where we use these remotes in 60 classrooms and I am now taking over another school that does not use this remote. I will be replacing all the remotes at the new school over the next year with these. They work well, allow for easy programming to minimize interference. The extra software isn't needed if all you do is use it for a mouse, works on WinXP right out of the box.
   
   The remote is larger than others I have used, but the durability out does everything in its price range. In the last 3 months I have had 6 cheaper remotes fail due to being dropped or failing to connect. I will not buy cheap remotes when this one is only $20 more and lasts twice as long.
   
   If you need a basic remote mouse for a classroom, you won't find anything better for the price.
   
   Range is excellent, function consistent, durability to last.
   
   Later



4. I use this remote mouse everyday in my classroom, and it works great. I've never had a problem with it. There are smaller ones that cost around $69 but the other teachers at our school do not like them as well because the thumb pad (for moving the mouse pointer) is harder to use. This one by Interlink is much easier. I've used it for four or five years and can't remember changing the batteries. The keyboard option is nice but I found that I don't use it as much as I thought I would. It also has the mouse controlers on the top corners, which is helpful. The only issue we've had with the mouse is when two teachers next door have this same mouse. The mouse has such a long range it tries to control the computers in both rooms. I'm sure there is a way to change the channel so we're looking into that.



5. We have one of these in a Training Room and it has worked so well we bought another to pack with a laptop and portable projector. The software shipped with the remote allows you to customize the buttons and provides several clever as well as practical effects. Though I've not had much experience with other remotes, this one does everything we need it to plus more.

No comments about 3-DEVICE Universal Remote Control with Big Buttons.

No comments about At&t Remote Control for Motorola Digital Cable Box-4 IN 1 UNIVERSAL REMOTE.

5 comments about RCA RCU800B Value Pack Remote Controls (RCU800 and RCU403).

1. This thing always loses the codes I set for it. It seems that it only holds a code for a day then it loses its programming. I put new batteries in and it still has the same problem. I feel like throwing this thing into the floor! Never again RCA.



2. I bought this remote because I needed to replace a broken TV remote that had the Guide Plus control buttons. The RCU800 remote was preprogrammed to work well with the RCA TV and Guide Plus, I was able to program it for my Admiral VCR......but nothing else! Not my Panasonic dvd player, not my RCA stereo, NOTHING! The codes for these components in the manual did not work and code search was useless. I don't recommend this product to anyone.



3. This thing is dumb, it never keeps a code and now I am researching for the code and none of them work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Very frustrating. What a stupid remote and no, its not the user its definately the remote. Not recommended.



4. I think there are better universal remotes out there, we only got this one because we've used it before.



5. Two remotes, one full-featured. Fairly easy to understand. I got them because we have an RCA tv, so setup was easy. No real bells or whistles, but a pretty solid performer so far. I wasn't looking for much more than channel and volume control, but my wife programs DVR and watches quite a few DVDs and she likes it.

5 comments about Sony RM-AV3000 Universal Remote Control with Touch-key LCD Screen.

1. What a piece of junk! I love Sony products and have for over 20 years, but this remote is useless. The manual is impossible to comprehend,it took over 3 hours to program and it still wasn't right and Sony tech support is totally worthless. Thee remote is difficult to set up and use. As for battery life HUH! forget it I have to change them once a month or you can't read the screen. Also unless the remote is aimed directly and I mean directly at your equipment nothing works. Save your money, save your frustration buy te Logitech Harmony 880 now it's worth the money



2. Well Let me just say that I was EXTREMELY happy at first with my remote and am now REALLY upset.
   
   I thought the remote was easy to program and I loved the MACRO Functions.
   
   My problem came 1 year into the remote's life when the buttons started going dead!!! My channel up button stopped working. I have to hold it for about 10 seconds before it goes up. The same with my System Control button #1.
   
   I called Sony support and they said the control is only covered for 90 days.
   
   So if you want to spend $200 for a remote that will last you 1 year, THEN THIS IS THE REMOTE FOR YOU.....
   
   P.S. They offered to repair the remote for just $77 + $9 shipping!



3. Love this product...it does everything i need a remote to do. It is not hard to learn how to use...not hard to program.



4. If you are like me and have every possible piece of audio/video components you can get your hands on, you know that those components each come with their own remotes too. It became quite a pain to have 10 different remotes on the coffee table. Granted, it kept others from being able to play with my stuff (successfully at least), but they're also an eyesore.
   
   I purchased this remote as a solution to my too-many-remotes problem. It learned all of the functions of my original remotes seamlessly, allowed me to program my own buttons, and create simple macros that make operation my entertainment center simple as the push of a button. It turned out to be a perfect solution for me.
   
   I have never once had the unit freeze on me as others compain about, nor have I had any problems with it at all. The only complaint I have is that the light doesn't come on with a tap of the touchscreen, but I can live without that.
   
   All in all, this unit is a very effective replacement of all of your remotes, without dropping the big bucks you would on other high-end universal remotes.



5. When I got this remote a few years ago, I spent almost a whole day setting it up to run the macros to control my average-sized system (TV, Amp, DVD, ReplayTV, VCR). Sony's manual was terrible, but thanks to a 25 year programming career, and strong will to succeed, I was able to eventually figure it out.
   
   Last year the batteries died & it lost the programming. Again, I sat down & worked out how to program it. Again, it took almost a day. Wish I had made detailed notes!
   
   A month ago, batteries died again & wiped programming again. Knowing how difficult it was, we juggled 3 remotes until I found time to fool with it again. Just finished a frustrating 4 hour battle in which I gave up screwing with it due to its monumentally bad interface. Won't go into the details, but if you make a mistake programming a macro, it appears the only recourse it to erase -everything you have done- & start over. My time is worth more to me than that. Erasing the macro button (press & hold STB button to turn on the whole system & select the ReplayTV source, in this case) does not seem to be possible without erasing the custom ReplayTV setup (which needs some extra buttons not on the Sony display, which can be added in .only. 15-20 minutes...)
   
   I'm cursing Sony for sucking me in with a superficially good product burdened with a horrible user interface. I'm cursing myself for wasting so many hours on such a poorly implemented product.
   
   Save yourself the grief, and look for a product made by programmers with a modicum of skill in user interface design. The designers of this remote haven't a clue.
   
   I've bought a lot of Sony stuff over the years, including several laptops, which are generally good (let's not talk about the user interface of the software they add in...) The keyboard letter paint comes off with my finger sweat, and my screen has a few bad pixels, and my second-to-last system had "relaxing hinges" for the display, and my last system camera went bad, but I love the compact form factor and built-in camera.
   
   I'm going to avoid Sony products that allow a Sony user interface designer to screw up their usability. A less-arrogant company that cared about its customers would do some usability studies, and actually improve the product based on them. Let's not hold our breath.
   
   Update 12/25/07: bought a Logitech Harmony 670 and LOVE IT! Works great!

1 comments about Startech.com Wireless Infrared Remote Extender (IREXT).

1. I really enjoy the flexability this ir extender provides. As long as you aim the remote control correctly, it works great. If you are a channel changer of great frequency, then be patient; you have to aim the remote carefully.

4 comments about Universal Remote Complete Control MX-3000 IR RF Color Touch Screen Remote Control.

1. The best remote on the market. I don't think there is anything better than this. A definate must for all home automation. You can put your family's photo on the screen and all you do is click your face on the screen to pull up your personal favorites.



2. I've been through a lot of remotes in the past and currently have been using this item for over a year. In short not a problem to date. The best remote I've ever had. Best functions are the RF capability which allow you to do anything from virtually anywhere when using the MRF300. Only challenge would be the programing of this. If you don't know what you're doing you're going to need to have technician program it for you. The included software is mid line user friendly and you do have to have some knowledge of moving things around and programing. I had no problem but have a good technical background.
   
   The software is not compatable with Vista but only XP. Seems they stopped supporting the software as well since the updates are no longer available. You can however go online and download all kinds of programs for it though. Some are even free but the cool ones do cost. If you are knowledgable enough you can even create your own. I chose the latter.
   
   Again in short. Top Notch Remote. I wont move to another one. This one controls my 1000 sq ft theater including screen and many RF light controls. Just can't keep the kids out. That's what the biometric door lock is for. Thumb print entry. Gotta love it. Both of them!!!!



3. We splurged on a $20K home theatre bonanza, all of which is pretty awesome except the mx-3000 universal remote. There is a constantly fluctuating variation in the sensitivity and latency of the touch pad. I feel like the biggest sucker in the world sitting here on the sofa having to make 10 attempts at pressing channel "500." After 3 seconds it takes whatever you've been able to successfully press .. so, a few times is is only "5", then "50", then "500", then "800" (oops, you dropped your finger too close to the 8!). I promise you, it is the most frustrating, annoying thing you will ever pay $1000 for. We are very close to throwing it away and fishing out all the remotes our installers left somewhere in the theatre cabinet.



4. I have the MX3000 and it is a great remote. i saw they just came out with a black model which looks pritty cool. but the remote is great. like they said u do need some programing background in order to make this remote fit your needs. but when you do it is so cool. but this is not a remote u can just buy you really need to do the research and must get the software before you buy it to better understand the remote. after that its all good.

1 comments about IR Repeater System - Hidden IR Control System.

1. Not great. The interference from my TV was so severe as to completely disable this system unless you were standing 1 foot away from the receiver. Had to return.

5 comments about Acoustic Research ARRU449 Universal Smart Remote Control.

1. I decided to buck the trend and skip the Harmony remotes for this one. All my friends have Harmony remotes, and they're fairly awesome. This one was $50 cheaper, and I was really enticed by the wifi aspect.
   
   I've been sorely disappointed so far.
   
   Setting up my TV took way more effort than it needed to be. Whereas the Harmony remotes are configured on the web, where they have a nice database of model numbers and pictures you can check with, the AR remote simply does what every other universal remote does -- it has a catalog of "codes", and you have to pick the one that appears to work. On the up side, these codes are automatically available on the remote, you don't have to keep entering codes, you just arrow left and right through the list, and then try out the buttons for each one. You also get to see what buttons are supported natively, so you when you're programming your cable remote, you can skip the versions that don't have the PVR functions your cable box has.
   
   Unfortunately, there isn't any good explanation for what the buttons actually map to. I have a hi-def TV with five inputs, plus two antennas. The only button that showed on list was "input", and that button on the remote only switched between the two antennas. It was only after I gave up that I found out it could properly switch to the other inputs, but only as "soft buttons" (using the menu on the screen to choose those functions). Once I figured that out, it worked fine. But then I moved on to my cable box.
   
   The cable box is a Motorola, from Comcast. There were only three options for "Comcast" cable boxes, and only one appeared to have the features matching mine. There are 13 Motorola matches, and a handful matched. Somehow, I don't know how, but the channel up/channel down buttons now skip channels 2 at a time. I can't channel up from channel 3 to channel 4, it goes from 3 to 5.
   
   Of course, I only found that problem after I spent a boatload of time trying to figure out how to tell the remote *not* to scroll through the channel listings on its screen, but just let me try to channel up and channel down on my own (I'm a pro TV surfer). I never did figure out how to do that -- I "solved" it by simply telling the remote that I have no guide data.
   
   I've also been stymied by the fact that there are no page up/page down buttons. For a modern universal remote, it seems crazy that there are no page up/page down buttons -- they exist on my regular cable remote, and I use them constantly. I could train the buttons, but I still have no physical buttons to map them to.
   
   And I still haven't been able to get it to turn my XBox 360 on and off, even after supposedly "training" the power button. Since I use that as my DVD player, that's almost a deal killer right there.
   
   Keep in mind, I'm a software engineer. I'm used to monkeying with devices like this, and I'm used to archaic user interfaces and such, so if I say I can't figure out how to get around the guide and simply channel up/down on the cable box, it means it's definitely not obvious.
   
   I'm fairly disappointed. The wifi aspect is pretty cool, because being able to check out sports scores and such on the remote while I'm watching a movie. If I lived with someone, I could easily see the benefit of being able to surf the channel listings without interfering with someone else watching TV (or watching a movie, playing a game, etc).
   
   But when it comes down to being able to really use the remote as an adequate substitute for my existing remotes, it's really falling flat. The lack of page up/down buttons is a serious oversight these days, and the automatic downloading and switching of "codes" is helpful, but it's just not the innovation offered by Harmony.
   
   I'm going to play with it some more, see if I can't get it to work with the devices I have. I'd probably be considered a "power user", though, so my disappointment may be that it doesn't satisfy my niche uses. But for $200, I'd expect something much more akin to the Harmony remotes.



2. This is a good remote. Because of the wireless feature you can see the channel guide on it's screen. Easy to set up. Only flaw is that this is a rechargeable remote and if it dies you have to reset the thing. Not a big hassle but something you have to be aware of.



3. Awesome,awesome and then some. Was a Harmony guy after hunting and hunting for the right one, thought I found it till I stumbled on this remote. I don't see Logitech going wifi and wifi really puts this over the top as far as I'm concerned. Weather,messaging,games geez it's beyond a smart remote it's more like a smart phone for your electronic devices.
   Get it ,it's worth it.



4. Very disappointing. Out of the box, the control could not handle 1) my cable box, 2) my audio processor, 3) my Blue Ray Disk player. Honestly, a complete waste of money for me.



5. This product is great as long as you have a Linksys router to create a wireless internet network in your home so your remote can connect to the internet.
   
   Only problem with this remote is you constantly have to recharge it too much. I guess sometimes I didn't have my charger plugged in correctly so it might just seem that way to me because it didn't recharge well enough, but the remote takes alot of power to run and ends up needing to be recharged every night or maybe once every 2 days.

2 comments about Dynatron Miracle Remote for JVC TVs - MR140.

1. Wow, what a great replacement for the original JVC remote. My set is almost 16 years old and my dog decided to pull off all the buttons (over time) on the remote! After searching the JVC site and not seeing anything available due to the age of the set (which works great), I checked on the Amazon site and found exactly what I needed.
   
   Very easy to use with all the same functions. Mistake proof!



2. I had been through hell trying to program a different universal remote - it never worked. This remote made my day at first - it worked immediately. The up/down arrow keys on this "Miracle" remote only got me a few channels (skipped a bunch), so I have to punch in the channel numbers manually, but I could deal with that. Well the buttons got harder and harder to push and now I can only watch channels with the numbers 3,6,9 and sometimes 5s if I'm really lucky. I thought I'd be able to exchange it, but the company's policy is only 90 days I think and I'm just past that of course.
   
   Bottom line - this cheesy piece of plastic turns into landfill material and will sit around on this planet for way too long compared to its actual lifespan! Not worth the aggravation either.