Buying Guide: Shopping for the Best Universal Remote Control

What is a Remote Control?

Wikipedia defined remote control as a device component used along with another electronic device to operate the latter wireless, at least for a short line-of-sight distance. Each electronic device like TV, Home stereo system, DVD player, and other consumer electronics comes with a pair of remote control. Usually that remote control is not compatible with any other devices. That inconvenience has been seen and technology tries to address that need by introducing a Universal Remote Control.

Before I go any further in discussing the aspects of Universal Remote Control, allow me to trace back how the remote control came along. Tracing the reasons why remote control was invented will give us an over view of what requirements to set in shopping for a new remote control. Remote control’s history can be traced back more than a century ago when it was first used to control a boat, wireless. Such display of great invention has led to more remote control production. Another one was used in controlling a robot in 1903 and to control a boat again in 1906. As 1930s ushered, remote controls for consumer electronic product became a reality.

Today, as we assess the remote control technology, more discoveries has led into adding more features. The wireless concept used in controlling an electronic device for a short distance, paved the way to the introduction of the blue tooth, motion sensors, and the amazing voice control. The hassle of having to use a remote control for each device was also addressed by engineers.

Finally, a universal remote control that does it all came out in 1985 produced by Phillip and has been distributed to the consumer industry via the Magnavox brand. This model successfully emulates the remote control settings of almost all electronic device brands.

Since it can be programmed to operate multi-brand electronic devices, it provides extra convenience. The mess and the hassle of having to use several remote controls in the house are all gone. It does not only operate across multiple brands, but also includes other types of devices with a totally different composition and specification. It is hard to explain why a VCR remote works on a TV, but as long as it does more good, than bad, then a Universal Remote Control is a promising invention.  Way to go URC!

What good does Universal Remote Control Brings to the world? This is the most important question to answer before buying one. Furthermore, the question on what to look for in a Universal Remote Control should be laid out in detail.

If you have not tried a universal remote control yet, then give it a go today and discover its many features. But before you walk away, make sure to keep these buying guides handy.

• Buying guide #1 – It must have a friendly user-interface with numeric button and keypad for ease and convenience in operating several electronic devices at the same time. Both the aged and the kids should find it easy to operate.

• Buying guide #2 – Macro programming is one feature that you should look for. This feature allows the user to program commands sequences for easy use.

• Buying guide #3- An LCD to display connection status will be very helpful in confirming commands.

• Buying guide #4 – It must show an ability to connect with a computer for configuration purposes. A Bluetooth wireless technology to connect to the computer is an added feature that is too reasonable to pay for the costs.

• Buying guide#5 – Choose a Universal Remote control with a code set-up that can be updated every now and then to work on the newer models of electronic devices of the same brands it accepts today.

• Buying guide #6 – Always check for the device manual. By default, it is hard to operate a universal remote the first time, considering that the user has to enter series of codes for a certain brand, and all the brands that you plan to use the universal remote control with. In some cases, only the technically inclined people are successful in programming these codes, the non-technical users remain to be technically challenged. A manual and a setting-up page is advantageous for these kind of consumers.

 

I propose, You decide.
Sincerely,
Barbara