Digital TV Guides

Universal ‘all-in-one’ remote controls

Tuesday 01 November, 2011

By Anthony Hill

As home entertainment options expand, the typical family home now incorporates a wide selection of digital TV, audio and gaming equipment with each unit usually having its own remote control. This can lead to frustration when trying to establish which remote goes with which device - not to mention when one of them goes missing or runs out of battery power.

These are the kinds of problems a universal, or “all-in-one”, remote control can help to address. There are plenty on the market to choose from and they are usually quite straightforward to set up, but it is important to choose the right universal remote to suit your needs. Read our guide below to learn everything you need to know about setting up an all-in-one control.

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Do I need a universal remote control?

If you have lots of home entertainment equipment, the chances are you will have lots of remotes to go with them. The main benefit of owning a universal control is that the clutter of all those clickers is removed. But if switching between remotes doesn’t bother you, the short answer is probably no, you don’t really need one.

Universal remote controls have three main benefits:

• Convenience - Having one remote to control every device you own is definitely more convenient than juggling four or five separate units. You won’t need to worry about which goes with what and there’s less opportunity for remotes to go missing.
• Batteries - It’s worth remembering that separate remotes for each device mean lots more batteries need replacing as and when they run out of power. An all-in-one remote is more economical to keep charged, but of course there is the initial cost to consider.
• Appearance - The remotes supplied by manufacturers of electronic equipment can sometimes be quite ugly and having separate controllers scattered around the room can look untidy. Universal remotes bring everything together in one neat little package.

How do I set up a universal remote?

Unlike the remote controls supplied with home entertainment devices, an all-in-one unit will need to be programmed before it will actually work with your equipment. It is usually quite straightforward to configure a universal remote, but the method will vary depending on which one you buy.

There are three main ways to set up a universal remote:

• Codes - The most common method of configuring an all-in-one remote is by inputting four or five-digit codes for each device you want to control. Instructions will be laid out in the manual for your remote, as well as the specific codes you need to sync it up with each piece of equipment.
• Auto search - If you can’t find a code in the manual for a device you want to control, the universal remote may be able to “search” for it. This takes slightly longer but is still quite easy to do. Just follow the instructions in your manual if the remote you buy has a magic self-setup button.
• Learning - By far the most time-consuming and patience-testing method of setting up your universal remote is allowing it to “learn” from your old remotes what each button should do for each individual device, one button at a time. This will probably be a last resort for most people, such as when codes or a search function are unavailable. Not all universal remotes are capable of learning, but it can be a handy feature to have, as a device might otherwise be left incompatible with your all-in-one system.

What special features should I be looking for?

Firstly, bear in mind that the cheaper, more basic models are less likely to have many sophisticated features. If you want a flashier remote that can practically do the setting up itself, you will need a much bigger budget.

Below are some additional universal remote features you may find useful:

• Touchscreen - Unlike more basic universal remotes, a model which incorporates a touchscreen only displays the buttons you will need for the specific device you are actually controlling at the time. The main advantage is you have fewer buttons to look at which can help avoid confusion. A touchscreen is a premium feature you will generally pay extra for, but models which include one are gradually becoming more affordable.
• Updates - In order to “futureproof” their universal remotes, most manufacturers now release updates online, allowing more sophisticated models to download new codes from the internet to ensure compatibility with new devices not covered by the instruction manual. Of course, you will need internet access for this feature to be of any use. It’s worth remembering that if you buy a remote without the capacity for receiving updates, it could become redundant with future technology purchases.

Which one is best for me?

All universal remotes essentially have the same core function - they enable you to control several devices with a single set of buttons. Choosing an all-in-one product will depend mainly on how much money you want to spend.

For those on a tight budget, a One For All URC7557 5-in-1 remote can be programmed to control up to five pieces of equipment and normally costs less than £20. Basic models like this or the Philips Universal SRU3030 use codes for setup and lack the ability to “learn” from your old remotes.

Mid-range remotes are more likely to include the learning functionality, to help ensure compatibility, as well as having a nicer look and feel overall. These are likely to be priced around £30.

If you’re looking for advanced features, like a touchscreen and downloadable updates, the price can be anywhere upwards of £40. A Logitech Harmony 600 will cost roughly £50 but supports more than 5,000 brands and 225,000 devices, so compatibility should never be an issue.

Top end models, like the Logitech Harmony One, can carry price tags of more than £100 but have the potential to replace up to 15 remotes and look incredibly sophisticated, though they would not be recommended for the less tech-savvy among us.