Customer Reviews:
 Good concept but frustrating setup March 3, 2007
11 out of 21 found this review helpful
I purchased this unit to control my various electronic devices.
Conceptually, this controller can turn on the TV, DVD player, press play for the DVD and allow for control of all of the TV / DVD players with one setting. Practically speaking, it is not a smooth operation and frequently, you have to switch to the TV setting to adjust the volume (even though you programmed it to work under the DVD profile).
Additionally, setup is through a USB interface which logs onto the internet to download the profile. It frequently hangs up requiring restarting of the program. When learning the IR button for programming it frequently freezes up. In this day and age of interfaces such as these, it should not have that many bugs in the operation.
I do not recommend this remote to anyone who isn't willing to 'work a lot' to get it set up correctly. I have worked with other remote controls at a fraction of the cost (under $25) of this model that sets up quickly and easily.
 Great Remote! March 1, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I don't know what the reviewers are thinking when they give this remote a bad review. The set up does take a while to get perfect, but after you get it, it IS perfect. My main concern was being able to keep all the functions of my HD DVR remote. After a few tweaks, It is perfect. Every thing from PIP to my recorded list is there. It is easy to add another button to your setup. It controls all of my components in the activities sections perfectly. If you can't set up this remote then you need to reconsider having anything technological. Go watch your 13inch black and white TV in the basement!
 Fair value March 1, 2007
I bought this to set up so I wouldn't have to explain how to turn on my system to visitors (and my wife.) In that regard, it worked fine.
Set up takes about two hours. It worked with some minor tweaks for my system (Panasonic TH50PX600U, older Onkyo receiver, Sony DVD and Comcast DVR/Cable box). I haven't yet figured out how to fully control the DVR with it yet, but it appears able to do it.
Pluses:
1. IMO, easy to program, set up. If you can install software and understand how your system works, you should be able to set up this remote with some patience.
2. Database of devices is extensive.
3. Very sleek look/blue glow.
Some things that could be better:
1. Buttons on it for volume and channel changing are difficult to actuate since they aren't raised above the surface of the remote.
2. The remote isn't comfortable in your hand (a problem if you channel flip a lot).
3. Many device functions require you to scroll through many pages of menu items (the TV had 23 pages on this thing!). Thats not practical, but luckily most common functions are on the face of the remote.
I don't know if this is programmed into it or not, but it seems to know when someone is in the area and starts glowing when you approach it. May just be my imagination, but I swear I've seen it happen.
Overall, I'd buy it again, as the price is very competitive with the remotes that Big Box stores and others are selling (its also available there, but at a much higher price).
 Wonderful device February 27, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I purchased this unit along with a remote control extender to control home theater components inside the house from my pool deck to power up outdoor speakers and tv. The setup is software driven and mostly intuitive. From a remote location, the one button macro is very convenient to start up dvds or the satellite television and works almost every time. Despite some occasional glitches this device is a bargain considering its programming power and the convenience it lends to controlling audio and video devices.
Mixed blessing February 25, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The remote looks good, and it feels good in your hand, too. I didn't find the setup process per se daunting, you do it online and download the resulting file, however, the software itself appears to be flawed. A command such as 'watch DVD' requires the remote to turn on several devices simultaneously while turning off others, and it rarely happens that all the necessary devices are switched on instantly. For example, while it will turn on correctly the AV receiver, DVD player, and TV, It will invariably miss to switch to the correct TV input. This requires me to press the 'help button' and will guide me through a menu with questions like 'is the TV on, is the blabla on, until it hits 'is the correct input selected' question and only then will you be able to enter 'no' and the remote will switch to the correct input and I can watch a DVD. The problem persists despite re-configuring the whole thing several times. Also, to stay with the DVD watching example, if you don't point the remote directly at the devices (and this takes several seconds) it won't activate them correctly and you may end up with the TV on but the receiver and DVD off etc. The problem here is you can't just press again 'watch DVD' because the remote thinks the entire DVD watching macro is on, and what happens is that it will switch OFF the TV and ON the DVD and AV receiver. You may then have to either (again) go through the help menu, or, which totally contradicts the purpose of a remote control, get up and switch on/off the devices manually.
Other macros work just fine. WAF is moderate b/c of the software flaws. Overall, I still use it because I prefer one remote on my table rather than the previous 5 or 6. BTW it will not control all of my AV receiver settings, and I have to keep the receiver remote handy for finetuning the system (eg to listen to stereo music).
Fix the software and it's a five star product.
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