I’ve been tempted to buy one of those expensive universal remotes that purport to run every device; let the user define macros to do complex multi-unit operations.
But I don’t know anyone who owns one, and I have a questions for which I can’t find on satisfactory answer on the manufacturer websites.
For instance, I see there is supposed to be the ability to command all devices to shut down. But I was under the impression that most devices use the same “command” to turn on/shut off; in effect a toggle. So with my set-up I have a receiver, DVD player, VCR, TV, and cable box. Not all devices are on all the time; when I watch a DVD movie I only have the player, TV and receiver on. If I issue the “shut down” macro with my touch-screen super remote, will the VCR and cable box get turned on as the other devices shut off?
Am I wrong in my understanding on how devices turn on/off? If I command a device to shut off and it’s already off, will it tuen on. Are the commands separate or not?
I have the Pronto Neo. You can set up Macros on it so that only what is ‘on’ when you watch TV or DVD will turn off. It is easy to do with the included computer program. I would also add that my Pronto freezes a few times a week and I have to remove the batteries to reset it. Luckly the memory remains without the batteries.
I love it. It only has 3 Macros, but that’s all I use. There is no ‘Shutdown all’ preset, but I guess I could program a Macro to do that.
I highly recommend it. It’s great on batteries, tough enough to be dropped a few times, and works like a charm. It can also search for the right signal to control devices if you don’t know them, or you can ‘teach’ it a signal to use for odd remoted (like an air conditioner, for example).
The only problem with mine was that the finish has chipped a bit around the volume buttons; but that may be specific to mine and not a problem with the model, I don’t know.
Interesting, but I still want to know what happens if you caommand a device that is already off, to turn off. Is it smart enough to do nothing, or will the device turn on.
This complexity is necessary for me because I do not want all devices on at all times; and I jump between different configurations; watching DVD, watching VCR, watching plain TV while recording a show off of premium (scrambled) cable channel, etc.
Ideally, say if I wanted to watch a DVD movie, I’d want the following commands to be fulfilled, regardless of current device state:
receiver on, set to DVD
DVD player on
TV on, set to SVid input
cable descrambler box off
VCR off
So if everything was already off, I’d only want the first 3 commands to be necessary.
I’ve owned the Sony Commander RM-AV3000 for a little over a year. This is the next model version of DakotaDog’s. If you design a macro that shuts off/turns on everything, it’ll do exactly what you describe, turn on those that are off and turn off those that are on. They work by simply sending a series of “button” pushes. The solution is to have multiple macros for each possible configuration. It supports up to 33 marcos (3 with hard button, the rest on the touch screen) so this shouldn’t be a problem.
Advantages
Easy to set up although there is no software like the pronto
The Learning feature works like a charm (you might have to do it in the dark to prevent interference)
Very cool touch screen with easy to see blue back light (the screen is a grid say 16 x16 where each button can have up to 4 different labels assigned to it. The row on the button can have custom labels. I leave my wife little love message on it, she loves it.)
Great on batteries (as DakotaDog stated).
Nearly indestructable.
Big Disadvantage
-Size. The thing is too bulky and square. It’s uncomfortable to hold or have rest on your body. In fact when I recently purchased a TiVo, I abandoned the Sony remote. However, in it’s defense the Tivo remote does rock. I still use it when using the DVD player and VCR.
If I had to do it again, I’d probably go with one of the Pronto’s. They have a nicer shape and feel and I quickly learned that’s seriously important.
I will add to my post that my stock TV remote has only one power button, but my Pronto has an on and off button for the TV. The On only turns the TV on and the Off only turns the TV off. My DVD player is the same way. On the other hand, the VCR does not understand off being just off and on being just on. Is that clear as mud?
I bought my brother the Kameleon - very cool remote. He loves it - says it handles everything, he really likes how it handles the volume for all the devices.
Pretty sure he can shut everything off - would have to ask.
Although all remotes that come with a particular device do use an on/off toggle, most electronic equipment can also use what are called discrete codes. These are usually undocumented by the manufacturer but allow the reception of an IR signal which will only, for example, turn the equipment off. If the device is already off, there will be change in the its state. It has been a while since I programed my Pronto, but a good resource to start with would be RemoteCentral.com where you can find reviews of different remotes and a list of which manufacturers support which discrete codes.
I’ll second remotecentral.com as the quintessential resource for all things remote. Search for your equipment there to find the discrete codes, if they exist.
All my sony stuff has discrete codes for on/off as well as input (like tuner 1, tuner 2, aux 1, aux 2). I had a JVC vcr that did not, and it’s now relegated to the bedroom.
