I work at a local university and am currently looking for a universal remote to run the equipment i have set up in our Videoconferencing Room. The idea is to have something that I could program, making it easy for faculty and other administrators to use essentially programming several steps into one button. One Example of the functionality I would like to create is a button (Ideally named Videoconference) that could turn on the display, DVR Recorder and set the input for the Polycom on the display and the DVR unit. This would make it easier for Non tech faculty to set the system up for a video conference. Another example would be to create a button (named Computer) to set the display up for the desired input to view the PC connected. Some of the Equipment we are hoping to control is a Panasonic 120gb DVR DVD Recorder, Samsung 56" DLP Display, Samsung Presenter/Document Camera and a Polycom Viewstation FX. Some of these items are not your typical home theatre items but after reading the product reviews of the pronto it looks as if it could learn the controls and might be the device that could do most of what I’m looking to do. Is there any other device out that can do this better or is more suited for what I’m looking for? Any suggestions and comments are appreciated

Personally, I would recommend a One For All URC-8811 ($19) and a JP1 cable ($15). With a JP1 cable, you could use the 8811s learning ability to capture the codes from your original remotes and build upgrades for them. You could then program macros to perform the tasks you describe, which you could program to the "macro" buttons on the 8811, and then maybe even use a label maker of some sort to create the custom labels that you desire.

You can save your programming on your PC, so if the remote ever gets lost or broken, you can get another and re-load your programming into it.

Hi knighthawk

At the company I used to work for I implemented the Pronto back in 99 for VC control in our first location to try it out. We then added it to all existing locations and made it part of the standard for new location (obviously as one model replaced the other we were using the newer model for new locations, but the original Pronto is still around). The nice thing about a touch screen remote is that you can use icons and make sure all names are correct, it makes it much easier to use. It also means that you can use presets and room layout so things are much easier to sue. We used it in conference rooms so on one page there was the table and chairs so at one click the camera would either take a shot of the room (table) or any individual person (click on his chair) we also added on the page all the different components (input) so one page controlled what we were sending.

In the touchscreen train of though you might want to also look at the HTM MX-3000. I have never used it, but it looks equally capable.

PS I also have posted in the database section all the codes for the Tandberg VC systems at the time (the ones pre 99 called vision and the one that came later - I think 2000, but never played with their line that came out this year, so I don't know what they can do or if the codes are the same)