I have a one room set-up with:

- Pioneer Plasma
- Tivo HD
- HTPC (MyMovies + Music server and eventually cablecard to replace Tivo once Ceton releases multistream solution)
- Receiver
- Vudu
- PS3

I love neatly organized and uncomplicated things - that is, I need a GOOD universal remote and I would also like to see/demo it before purchasing.

Objective:
1 remote to rule them all - upgradeable for lighting in the future (simple replacement of switches) - simple solution which does no require a rack mounted solution in a dedicated room for equipment (I live in a one bedroom, I like neat things but I do not need to overdo it either).

Want:
- 2 way communication for receiver (thinking of going with Pioneer SC-25, still shopping around) and HTPC (music with plasma off)
- IP control of Tivo, PC and Vudu (no ir direct sight problem) and even receiver if possible

I like remotes with mix of touchscreen and hard button and prefers function like pause/play/fast + 4 directions and confirm button as well as volume to be hard buttons - everything else can be soft/touchscreen

Currently looking/liking:
RTI T3-V ****
URC MX-5000 ****
Nevo S70 ***


Can anyone tell me which could be the best solution? Any other suggestion? I am also accepting quotes from dealers to set this up (I live in NYC).


Question about IP control: any of the remotes mentioned or an other remote capable of controlling Tivo + PC + Vudu+ receiver (brand?) via IP without a complicated set-up or does IP control always mean big expensive solutions which won't make any sense in a small apartment? PS: By IP I mean use Tivo/PC/Vudu and receiver IP capabilities NOT use a centralized IP extender with IR sensors.

Thank you in advance for input.

RTI T3-V

Completely rewrote the post and changed the subject...

Try one of the iPhone remote apps. someone was hawking it around here not too long ago. Handheld remotes don't have much buffering memory for web browsing, and because of that, the IP based controls of devices works slowly alot of the time.

Another word of advice, don't drop the Tivo in favor of the HTPC, that would be a big mistake.

Iphone is a great phone but definitely not a great remote (no hard button, does not control my TV...).

Is there any solution that would be able to control most equipment by IP without the need for a complicated system (like a remote with direct IP control or just a small extender?).

Thinking specifically of IP control for:
- Tivo
- HTPC
- Receiver (is this possible with SC-25 Pioneer)
and have only the TV controlled by IR.

I used to have a TSU9600 which was nicely integrated with my Escient (and worked with wifi extender) but I am not a big fan of the "feel" of the Pronto. I loved the Q50 hard buttons but the touchscreen was jsut ok, S70 does not have enough hard buttons for me...

The biggest problem you will find is something with IP control over a HTPC, that's a nightmare in of itself. There are just too many different software versions. Not only that, there's no quality control with the mfg's. The, let's say you have one and it works fine with your HTPC, then you get a virus and it stops working correctly, you don't realise it's a virus and call the remote mfg for tech support. None of the mfgs want to deal with that kind of tech support, even the computer mfgs don't want to deal with it.

Here are some of the remotes that are capable of IP interface:
URC's MX-6000
RTI's T3-V and T4
Nevo's Q50 and S70
and most all of the Prontos

"It ain't got no numbers"