Universal Remote - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

hambone · 02-04-2005, 02:53 PM

Dumb question.

My remote for my TV has not worked for the longest time. I currently just run it all through the DVD player, but that remote will not allow me to turn on/off the tv or adjust volume. I was going to buy a universal remote.

Do these remotes work for all TVs, or do they have any compatibility issues? Also, is there a certain brand I should get? I was just going to get a cheap one since I don't use it that much anyway, but if there are some that are really crappy, I would like to avoid those.

Thanks.

grendel · 02-04-2005, 06:55 PM

most of them will work with most mainstream brand TVs... if you have an off brand like an Admiral (used to be Montgomery Wards' brand) or a TV/VCR combo, you might have a little more trouble. i have a radio shack universal (that will learn functions from other remotes) that i picked up for $25 and it's great. ones that won't learn and that are made only for 3 or so devices (a TV is always one of the devices the universal remotes will control) will likely run you somewhere around $8 and will probably do just about everything you want them to. lots of the universal remotes will have a list of brands that they control on the back of the package. if you look there and your TV is listed, you should be fine.

ratbastid · 02-05-2005, 07:02 AM

See the reviews at http://www.remotecentral.com/reviews.htm. Everything you'd ever want to know about darn near ANY universal remote on the market.

Of course, these guys are a little up-market. They really get excited about the PDA-style remotes with LCD touch-screens and stuff. Now, I loved my Philips Pronto (until I dropped it on its little head and it died), but the universal remote that came with my new DVR cable box does almost everything I'd want. It doesn't drive my DVD player or change inputs on my tuner when I switch to DVD, but I do that rarely enough I don't mind doing it by hand.

The cheap little remotes will come with codes in the user's manual to tell it which sort of TV and VCR and cable box you have, etc, etc. You put it in programming mode, try the codes for your make of device, and see which of the, say, Sony codes work on your particular Sony TV.

hambone · 02-05-2005, 11:26 AM

Thanks guys, this will really help

jstory · 02-05-2005, 07:04 PM

most of them work for just about any tv

zensheep · 02-05-2005, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grendel

if you have an off brand like an Admiral (used to be Montgomery Wards' brand) or a TV/VCR combo, you might have a little more trouble

I lost my remote to my Toshiba TV/VCR combo a while ago and I've tried one universal remote for it with no success. I'd be interested in picking up one that actually works with my TV/VCR combo, but not quite sure what I'd be looking for in brand names, type, etc. Any pointers would be great

.

grendel · 02-05-2005, 11:54 PM

yeah, that's why i specifically mentioned tv/vcr combos. i've had more than a few universal remotes and most won't work with it. i'm not sure whether my learning one will even work, because it seems like i have to have a base code that will talk to my particular brand/device and then the learning part of it is for it to store specific functions from the device's original remote. i haven't tried the learning remote on any of our tv/vcr combos, but i'll give it a go and let you know how it worked out.

grendel · 02-05-2005, 11:55 PM

btw, any chance of getting a new one from toshiba?

zensheep · 02-06-2005, 01:33 AM

The TV that I have nor the remote for it can be found on the Toshiba website. I suppose I could call them and see what I can do, but I'm thinking that if it's not on their site, there's probably not much they can do except recommend somewhere that may have it. Thanks for the help, it's very much appreciated

The model number is a Toshiba MV20FK3 just in case. Thanks again!

grendel · 02-06-2005, 01:49 AM

this may be of interest...

just did a little google search on your toshiba model:

http://www.vcrremotecontrols.com/Mfr...o/VC-FK20S.htm

(obviously, i have no affiliation with the above site and can make no promises about what they offer)

grendel · 02-06-2005, 01:55 AM

and another:

http://www.partsolver.com/Product.as...artMfg=Toshiba

zensheep · 02-06-2005, 12:41 PM

Thanks for the help

I'll definitely check these out.

dirtyrascal7 · 02-06-2005, 01:04 PM

i have a Sony RM-AV3000. you can find a review of it here: http://www.remotecentral.com/av3000/index.html

if you do a search, you can easily find one online for less than $80.

and i promise, it's the last remote you'll ever need. it has hundreds of presets and can "learn" from other remotes. it took me about a half hour to customize it and it's been flawless ever since. trust me, you'll be happy you spent a little extra money now rather than having to buy multiple replacements for cheaper universal remotes later on.

Flinn · 02-06-2005, 01:56 PM

Even if the TV or component isn't listed its usually pretty easy to program them to work, just takes a long time finding the right code... I have a cheapo one that works on an Xbox and everything else i've used that were all unlisted as being compatable.

Cycler · 02-12-2005, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirtyrascal7

i have a Sony RM-AV3000. you can find a review of it here: http://www.remotecentral.com/av3000/index.html

if you do a search, you can easily find one online for less than $80.

and i promise, it's the last remote you'll ever need. it has hundreds of presets and can "learn" from other remotes. it took me about a half hour to customize it and it's been flawless ever since. trust me, you'll be happy you spent a little extra money now rather than having to buy multiple replacements for cheaper universal remotes later on.

Another vote for this style of remote I have the earlier version the 1000, my Dad has the 2000, and I convinced my friend to buy the 3000. Works like a charm will learn anything from any remote fully programmable buttons. Highly recomended.

02-04-2005, 02:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
hambone Zeroed In Location: CA	Universal Remote Dumb question. My remote for my TV has not worked for the longest time. I currently just run it all through the DVD player, but that remote will not allow me to turn on/off the tv or adjust volume. I was going to buy a universal remote. Do these remotes work for all TVs, or do they have any compatibility issues? Also, is there a certain brand I should get? I was just going to get a cheap one since I don't use it that much anyway, but if there are some that are really crappy, I would like to avoid those. Thanks. __________________ "Like liquid white from fallen glass, Nothing to cry over"

02-05-2005, 11:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
hambone Zeroed In Location: CA	Thanks guys, this will really help __________________ "Like liquid white from fallen glass, Nothing to cry over"

02-04-2005, 06:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
grendel Psycho	most of them will work with most mainstream brand TVs... if you have an off brand like an Admiral (used to be Montgomery Wards' brand) or a TV/VCR combo, you might have a little more trouble. i have a radio shack universal (that will learn functions from other remotes) that i picked up for $25 and it's great. ones that won't learn and that are made only for 3 or so devices (a TV is always one of the devices the universal remotes will control) will likely run you somewhere around $8 and will probably do just about everything you want them to. lots of the universal remotes will have a list of brands that they control on the back of the package. if you look there and your TV is listed, you should be fine.

02-05-2005, 07:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	See the reviews at http://www.remotecentral.com/reviews.htm. Everything you'd ever want to know about darn near ANY universal remote on the market. Of course, these guys are a little up-market. They really get excited about the PDA-style remotes with LCD touch-screens and stuff. Now, I loved my Philips Pronto (until I dropped it on its little head and it died), but the universal remote that came with my new DVR cable box does almost everything I'd want. It doesn't drive my DVD player or change inputs on my tuner when I switch to DVD, but I do that rarely enough I don't mind doing it by hand. The cheap little remotes will come with codes in the user's manual to tell it which sort of TV and VCR and cable box you have, etc, etc. You put it in programming mode, try the codes for your make of device, and see which of the, say, Sony codes work on your particular Sony TV.

02-05-2005, 07:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
jstory Crazy	most of them work for just about any tv

02-05-2005, 11:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
grendel Psycho	yeah, that's why i specifically mentioned tv/vcr combos. i've had more than a few universal remotes and most won't work with it. i'm not sure whether my learning one will even work, because it seems like i have to have a base code that will talk to my particular brand/device and then the learning part of it is for it to store specific functions from the device's original remote. i haven't tried the learning remote on any of our tv/vcr combos, but i'll give it a go and let you know how it worked out.

02-05-2005, 11:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
grendel Psycho	btw, any chance of getting a new one from toshiba?

02-06-2005, 01:33 AM	#9 (permalink)
zensheep Crazy Location: Seattle	The TV that I have nor the remote for it can be found on the Toshiba website. I suppose I could call them and see what I can do, but I'm thinking that if it's not on their site, there's probably not much they can do except recommend somewhere that may have it. Thanks for the help, it's very much appreciated The model number is a Toshiba MV20FK3 just in case. Thanks again!

02-06-2005, 01:49 AM	#10 (permalink)
grendel Psycho	this may be of interest... just did a little google search on your toshiba model: http://www.vcrremotecontrols.com/Mfr...o/VC-FK20S.htm (obviously, i have no affiliation with the above site and can make no promises about what they offer)

02-06-2005, 01:55 AM	#11 (permalink)
grendel Psycho	and another: http://www.partsolver.com/Product.as...artMfg=Toshiba

02-06-2005, 12:41 PM	#12 (permalink)
zensheep Crazy Location: Seattle	Thanks for the help I'll definitely check these out.

02-06-2005, 01:04 PM	#13 (permalink)
dirtyrascal7 That's what she said	i have a Sony RM-AV3000. you can find a review of it here: http://www.remotecentral.com/av3000/index.html if you do a search, you can easily find one online for less than $80. and i promise, it's the last remote you'll ever need. it has hundreds of presets and can "learn" from other remotes. it took me about a half hour to customize it and it's been flawless ever since. trust me, you'll be happy you spent a little extra money now rather than having to buy multiple replacements for cheaper universal remotes later on.

02-06-2005, 01:56 PM	#14 (permalink)
Flinn Upright	Even if the TV or component isn't listed its usually pretty easy to program them to work, just takes a long time finding the right code... I have a cheapo one that works on an Xbox and everything else i've used that were all unlisted as being compatable.