I have a Radio Shack 15-2103 remote. Its labeled a "learning remote" but I dont think it really is. You can not prgram any remote to any button.

Who makes the lowest cost remote that is truly learning (any key can learn any kind of signal) For example I want to program the power, and volume keys from my Proton v-296 to the remote and have all the other keys prgrammed to my Hughes DSS remote.

My proton vt-296 seems to be the problem as most pre programed codes do not include the Proton.

I also tried X-10's remote. But same problem..you can not program any signal to any key. A lot of the keys did not allow for programming (like the most imporant one POWER on off!)



This message was edited by Diamond Dog on 07/07/03 12:57.

The lowest priced truly learning remotes are the $39 Sony vl-700 and $59 vl-900.

Edmund,

I've seen you make that statement several times. Just what is a "Truly Learning Remote"? Is this something that's "strictly" a learner, no preprogrammed anything, just learns from an oem or otherwise what you want a "button to do"? In which case, if you don't have the oem, or some other means to learn the signal from you're SOL?

Dog,

What the heck are you calling "programming". I don't call just learning a signal from one remote to another "programming", I call it teaching/learning. Programming I refer to use of a PC to define what each key does.
" You can not prgram any remote to any button." a reference to the 2133. Is this a slight mis-statement? I *think* you meant to say: You cannot "program" (your choice of words, substiutute "teach") JUST any remote to JUST any button.

Admittedly the 2133 won't learn RF signals, but then most remotes won't. You also can't LEARN to the device keys, "setup" and maybe a few others (Like the light button if it has one, for backlighting). Remotes with 2-way communication with a device may not be learnable either. It might be fairer to say the 2133 may not learn from all oem remotes (although it will certainly learn from MOST), nor can you learn to EVERY key on it.
Jim

James, a truly learning remote has enough memory for you to teach a command to every button, in every device. The two I mentioned have this ability, plus database of codes, not very big database, but who needs it if you have the original remote to learn from.

I will vouch for the Sony remotes as having BUCKETS of learning memory. They claim to have enough memory to learn 290 buttons. That's compared to the 24 buttons that most UEI remotes can learn. (The 15-2103 has HALF the normal learning memory, so it can hold about 12 buttons).

Having said that, my Sony VL900 sits in a drawer in the basement because I use my trusty 15-1994 to work my system (programmed with JP1, of course)

Rob
http://www.hifi-remote.com

A good number of these posts are from people who have 1. lost the oem remote, 2. oem remote "died", 3. Dog ate oem, 4. bought X_device from ebay or pawn shop, garage sale, etc with no oem remote.

Even WITH an oem, many functions are supported in the device's firmware, but aren't available on the oem remote (ie discrete on/off, discrete inputs, etc.). So what good is the capacity to learn 290 buttons for these people?

"small database"----lemme guess, support for sony devices isn't bad, but when it comes to "other" brands, it's piss-poor to non-existent.

Jim

Actually, even support for Sony devices is quite spotty in these remotes. Loads of people bought the Sony AV2100 expecting the "DSP" device mode to work the DSP functions on their Sony receivers, but it doesn't!

Rob

The question was asked by the original poster, so he does have his oem remotes, this thread isn't about other people who have lost their remotes, is it. James this thing you have against any remotes that aren't made by UEI, I can't understand,and since this forum is for non-UEI remotes, chill.

Jim, I must agree with edmund on this one, the question was not what remote has the best DB, but what remote has the best learning. And at that Sony has the most memory (especially out of the box).

On the other hand I don't think this is worth starting a holy war. every remote has it's strengths and weaknesses. Recommending remote A to person a and remote B to person b just makes sense.

BTW James, it has been a long time, how has it been

It's also NOT the Sony forum either. I didn't bring up any ueic remote except the 2133 that the original poster mentioned in his first thread. A quick survey of even the first 10 threads seem to have references to ueic remotes. Besides, Anthony chastised me for suggesting that someone's ueic remote question should have been in the OFA forum; saying that this forum is for "general" universal remotes, and that included OFA, and RS remotes.

I don't have much against straight learners, except that I know I'd have been SOL for many of my devices if I had one. I point out the drawbacks to them and you jump me (Or were ANY of those drawbacks a lie? Mis-statement? Distortion of the truth?)

This isn't an endorsement for the kameleon bunch either---personally I think they are all a POS; but I guess other's like them. Like Rob, I think they are more "Flash" than they're actually worth.

You several times mentioned "true learner", but never, that I saw defined that. I asked a legitimate question to find out just what you meant by that. Or isn't this forum allowed to be used for legitimate questions seeking "knowledge"?

Maybe you need to take your own advice---"chill".

What's hard to understand? Working with these givens, tell me a remote that will meet all my wants:

1. NO touchscreen or partial touchscreen: I don't want to spend more time fiddling and looking at the remote than watching the movie.

2. Will at least partially support almost any device I toss at it, RF devices excluded.

3. Possible to program without an oem remote(Even if the "database codes" have NO support).

4. Ability to "add" functions if either not in a predefined code, nor a "hidden" command NOT on the oem (Like many discrete on/off's, and discrete inputs) when the actual device will support them. Plus, the ability to fairly easily find those codes and then be able to program them in for regular use.

5. Not cost more than the cheapest device that it's to control (~65.00). (Let's leave out the option of stealing a remote and calling it free).

6. Ability to put all the functions I NEED on one device mode.

7. Ability to program at least some rudimentary macros.

Jim