Remote Controls fall into 3 categories;
Universal, Basic Programmable and Advanced Programmable:
Universal
Universal Remotes are those familiar units that
are included with most Satellite and Cable boxes; they have the ability to be
programmed to control the basic functions of multiple components, however the
function of each button is pre-determined, i.e. the button functions are not user-assignable.
Usually there are selector buttons towards the top of the remote that allow you to
choose which of your components you want to control, then you can use the
pre-defined buttons to operate that particular piece of equipment.
Because the buttons have pre-determined commands assigned to them you are limited in your ability to control
all the functions of your components, i.e., you will certainly be able to
control the volume and power, but your AV receiver may have a loudness function and your universal remote probably
won't have a button for it.
We don't sell Universal Remotes
Basic Programmable
Basic Programmable remotes differ from
Universal remotes in that the functions of many of the buttons are
user-assignable, i.e., you can program any specific commands to any of these programmable buttons; the functions are not
pre-defined as with Universals.
In addition to providing access to the full
gamut of commands for any device and being able to assign any command to any programmable
button, some of these remotes give you the ability to assign a sequence of commands
to a single button thus allowing for more complex functions; i.e., rather than
have to push a button for each command individually, you can create a function
containing a series of commands that will power-on
your TV, DVD player and Amplifier, switch the TV and Amplifier to the proper
channels, and start the movie, and assign the function to a single
button. This ability to use functions, or sequences of commands, is called
'Macro Capability'.
The drawback with Basic Programmable remotes is
the inability to use arbitrary alpha-numeric or graphical labels for the
user-assignable buttons; these remotes are provided with a number of pre-labeled
key-caps for covering over the buttons and this limits the user
friendliness of these devices.
Advanced Programmable
Functionally, Advanced Programmable remotes are
essentially the same as Basic Programmable ones but all of them have Macro
Capability and include an LCD screen ranging from basic monochrome to Full Color Touch.
Non-Touch Screen models have what are called 'Soft-Keys'
along the edges of the screen. Depending on the model, the screen may display an alpha-numeric
or graphical menu; a menu is simply a list of available functions. The buttons adjacent to each respective menu item will run
that function. Functions can include a single or multiple commands, or they can
open other menus.
With Touch-Screen models you simply need to touch the menu item to execute the
function. The more expensive the remote the larger the screen and the better its
picture quality.
To learn more about our Basic or Advanced
Programmable Remotes, please see our Price Lists by clicking the link at the top
of the page.
