# Universal Remotes Recommendations

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-remotes-recommendations/126612>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [September 1, 2002, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-remotes-recommendations/126612 "2002-09-01T21:45:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\
**Post date:** [September 1, 2002, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-remotes-recommendations/126612/1 "2002-09-01T21:45:08Z")

</div>

I’ve been taking care of a friends rabbit that managed to escape one night when I was at work and it promptly made short work of the buttons on most of my remotes. I have a universal remote, but it doesn’t really work. I can use it to do a few things with my DVD player, for example, but most of the features don’t work (or if they do, it’s by pressing a button labelled other than the one you’d expect it to be). Anyone got any suggestions?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2002, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-remotes-recommendations/126612/2 "2002-09-02T17:08:43Z")

</div>

Here’s where “an ounce of prevention” would have been a Great Idea.

I _always_ use universal remotes. I keep the originals safely stored away. (Only brind them out when I need to access setup menus, etc.)

In the case of Very Special Remotes, you can buy a “learning remote” and teach it the codes of your working original.

Remember, use the universal everyday. Keep the original away from kids, pets, etc.

Now, if you didn’t Think Ahead, and need a Very Special Remote and the original is trashed: There are programmable universal remotes (Radio Shack sells them) and web sites where people have lists of codes that can be punched in, etc. Note: these types of codes are like “0097” means “next disc”, etc. In addition to the single code for the device that sets up most standard ops.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2002, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-remotes-recommendations/126612/3 "2002-09-02T19:05:02Z")

</div>

Uh, yeah. I was kind of hoping for brand names, model suggestions? Since the universal remote that I do have sucks.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2002, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-remotes-recommendations/126612/4 "2002-09-02T19:22:19Z")

</div>

[http://www.remotecentral.com/index.html](http://www.remotecentral.com/index.html)

recommended for value

One for All urc-8811

Infrared learning + built in codes for 25 - 35

[http://shop.store.yahoo.com/avpronet/urc-8811.html](http://shop.store.yahoo.com/avpronet/urc-8811.html)

> [@](#):
>
> Operates TV, VCR, Cable, Satellite, DVD, CD, Receiver/Amp and Aux  
> Backlit keypad  
> Home theatre configure key  
> Custom macros and 10 favorite channels  
> Surround sound, P-I-P, menu, guide, info and exit functions  
> Previous channel, sleep and mute keys  
> 30 minute memory retention

If you want a more advanced model see

[http://www.oneforall-int.com/comfiles/index2.html](http://www.oneforall-int.com/comfiles/index2.html)