There's a recent review of the Philips PHDVR8L here (look over to the left), and when I first read it, it sounded like just what I want. Then I downloaded the manual, reread the review, and started to see some problems. So my question is going to be, can I find a remote that is similar to this Philips model -- has lots of buttons and no LCD or touch screen -- but doesn't have the problems I'm going to describe in a moment?

Before getting to the point, I'll note that the model "PHDVR8L" doesn't seem to exist. There are two models PHDVR8, one with electro-lit buttons with MSRP 34.99, but I can't find a model ending in "L".

So, anyhow, the worst problem for me is that there's no way to arrange a volume punch through to the audio device -- a receiver. According to the manual (and contrary to what the review says), volume punches through automatically to the TV device. For anyone with an AV receiver, this is a real misfeature. Since I route all sound through my receiver, naturally I want the remote's volume control always to affect the receiver volume. There's also a problem with the way VCR-type functions punch through automatically to the last VCR or DVR device you used. If I hit "rewind" in cable mode, I want this to go to my cable box (DVR), not my VCR or any other device.

A second problem with this Philips model is that you can't always get it to learn to send a command for a device when it's not in the mode for that device. For instance, after I've changed channels on my cable box, often I need to adjust the surround mode of my AV receiver. I don't want to have to change from cable mode to audio mode, change the surround mode, then change back from audio mode to cable mode. Too many button presses. This problem is noted in the review.

And lastly, as also noted in the review, you can't program the mode buttons to send commands to change the input mode of the TV or the receiver. A very inconvenient restriction.

So, do you have any suggestions about where I should turn?

sure, the one-for-all urc-6820, 8820, or 10820. Each can learn upto 100 commands. They allow a macro or single commands on device keys.

Any device can be used for VOL lock, and you can unlock certain devices if you wish, say to restore the tv vol just to the tv device.

No problems with transport keys remembering the last device.

These have the largest library of codes that any prepreogrammed remote has had.


the middle remote is the 10820, and the one on your right is 8820.

Re: the PHDVR8L, the "L" just means "backlight". The model I have is clearly marked PHDVR8L on the box, but if you can find a PHDVR8 with backlighting that would be the same thing (the remote itself has no model number markings).

Thanks a lot for the info. After reading through the manuals, the One-for-All models seem much more capable than the Philips I was looking at.

The manuals say that a customer service person can tell you over the phone how to add a code for a device recently added to their database. Can I do that by myself?

The only way to get offficial upgrades into those remotes is to send it by mail to OH.

But you can hack the remotes on your computer using JP1.2 cable.

A problem for me is that these OFA remotes don't have close fits for keys I use a lot with my cable DVR (SA8300HD): Page+/- and A, B, C. Would it be possible to get the guide button to go to a different device mode and when in that mode have the Channel+/- keys send Page+/- commands? Similarly, maybe whatever key I use for the "list" function could go to a device mode where the numeric keys 1, 2, 3 have the A, B, C functions?

I've been looking around for something else to do about the A, B, C functions, and all I've found so far are a couple of Harmony remotes that have A, B, but no C, and some non-learning cable remotes like the Millenium 4 and Atlas.