Sony RM-VL600 8-Device Universal Learning Remote by Sony
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Our Price: $49.95 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Sony RM-VL600 8-Device Universal Learning Remote
Digital camera Review: Best $16 bucks I've spent in a while!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't review a lot of products but when I really like something I like to say so. The "Sony RM-VL600 8-Device Universal Learning Remote" is one of those products. This is the best $[...] I've spent in a while.
I am controlling my TV, cable box, CD player, XM satellite radio, and surround sound system with this remote. I was able to program it very easily by either using the codes or by having it "learn" from the other remotes.
The TV programmed using a code and it worked perfectly with the exception of a couple of buttons. I was able to have the VL600 learn from the tv remote and I programmed a picture format button (it's a plasma tv and the screen needs to be adjusted sometimes depending on what I'm watching.) I programmed the "." button to do this function, since I wasn't using it when I was in TV mode. I also had to program the "OK" and "tools" buttons to work like the one's on my TV remote. This took no effort at all!
The cable box also used a code but I used the learning feature to change the "digital/analog" button to a DVR button (I have DVR through my cable)and then I had to program the play, stop, rewind, fastforward, record and pause buttons by using the old remote. This took only a few minutes and now it works just like my cable remote. I could not have been any easier!! I did notice the there are no page up/page down buttons on the VL600 and others have complained about this. I just programmed the "." and "ent" buttons to perform those functions since I didn't need them for my cable controls.
(FYI..the "." button now has two different functions but that's ok..it does one thing when I'm in "tv" mode and another when I'm in "cable" mode.)
My CD player is a SONY and some of the functions already worked on the VL600 but I did need to add more features since I have a multiple CD storage/player but it was really easy and I could program everything I needed in minutes. The same is true for my surround. It's possible, if you have the old remote and the new VL600 to customize your buttons so it works for whatever you use it for.
As for as the XM satellite radio I have, there are no program codes for this kind of device but I was able to format the VL600 for the XM using the "learning" feature and the old remote control for the XM (I used the "VCR" button since I don't have a VCR) It took a few minutes since I had to do each control button individually but now I have a completely customized feature on the VL600.
The VL600 also has 4 macro buttons on the bottom that you can program multiple functions in one button. I programmed one so when I press it my TV, Cable and surround sound all turn ON and then they all turn OFF when I press it again.
I know that some others would find that the VL600 does not have enough buttons for all your features and I would suggest really looking at the picture of the product to see if you'll have enough. I was able to work with all the buttons to get all my features to work. I also used a label maker with small print to print labels for the buttons I changed so that I would know I what I did and others in the house can figure it out easily. Sony might consider a sheet of labels with future models.
I was not able to program my DVD player since we use my son's PS3 as our DVD player and the PS3 uses bluetooth for it's remotes so the IR would not work with it(which is a PS3 issue, not the VL600's fault). I have seen comments from others that the VL600 lacked buttons for all their DVD features but I didn't have this problem so that didn't affect my rating.
Overall, if you want an easy to program universal remote to control multiple devices at a great price, this is the one to get.
Digital camera Review: Best $18.31 I've spent!
Summary: 5 Stars
This thing is great. I have some really obscure non-brand-name components and none of the preprogrammed codes worked for me. Of course, that doesn't matter when you have a learning function like this remote does. I was able to program each function from each of my 5 remotes onto this Sony remote. I had been considering the Logitech Harmony remotes very seriously and for quite a while, and boy am I glad I didn't spend all the extra money for all the extra bells and whistles that you just don't really need.
You can have 4 macros assigned to the A, B, C & D buttons and each macro can have up to 16 functions. One thing that I did not see published anywhere except for in the instructions is that you can also assign additional 16-function macros to each of the 8 component select buttons at the top. You tap the component select button to select which component to use, but you hold down the component select button for 2 seconds and it runs the macro. This gives you a total of 12 macros you can use! Way more than I need. I use the A button to power everything on and watch satellite TV, and the D button to power everything off. Once everything is on, I use the component select button macros to switch between components (example when holding down the DVD button for 2 seconds - Change audio input on amplifier, change video input on video switcher, power off the satellite box, turn on my DVD player... all with the push of one button!)
The cons:
When teaching the remote to learn volume commands, it learns how long you hold the button down on your original remote. After programming, a tap on the volume up would increase my volume by 4 points and a volume down tap would decrease just one point. I had to reconfigure the button and make sure I pressed the volume up button for the same amount of time as the volume down button while teaching this remote the code. Also with the volume controls on this remote, it's not repeating. That means you can't hold the volume button down and increase the volume of your TV. You have to tap, tap, tap, tap until you get to the volume level you like.
One other con for this remote was that it has no "DVR" button. It seems that almost everyone has a DVR nowadays so I thought the lack of having this button on the remote made it seem ancient. I think I programmed the DVR function to the "Digital/Analog" button. It's cool that you can assign what ever you like to where ever you like. You can even assign power on/off to the channel button if you want. Once you memorize what function you assign to which button, then this won't be a problem.
I really didn't want to give this remote 5 stars because of these cons, but 4 stars would have been too little. Since I can't choose 4.5 stars, I'll round up and give this remote a full 5 stars!
Digital camera Review: Best $19 that I have ever spent!
Summary: 5 Stars
I Love this remote! I wish that I had purchased it sooner. My four other remotes are stored in a drawer now. Now I can push one button (at the bottom of this remote) and my TV, satelite DVR, and DVD player are all turned on/off.Digital camera Review: Best Remote Ever only $7
Summary: 5 Stars
Have only had this remote for three weeks, so far it is the best remote I have ever owned. Have been using the ONE for all URC 8910 and URC 8811 which are older and much heaver and use 4 AAA batteries. The SONY RM-VL600 has worked with all my old and new devices. Have an old Zenith VCR, RCA DVD, Kenwood VR616 AMP, TWC SA8300 HD/DVR and new Sharp AQUOS LC-46E77U HD TV. Have been able to learn any command I wanted to use from old remotes and the macros are also easy to setup. Grate remote. Bought it on AMAZON used from DAHMART only $7 looks new and came in a SONY box including the operating/programming instructions.Digital camera Review: Best Remote Ever!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the best remote ever made. It can learn any remote's functions. All you have to do is make sure you buy the remote before your other other one is lost or broken. I combined 4 remotes into 1 on this and don't think I lost any features. The thing has a million buttons that you can assign to actions by just pressing a couple of buttons on each remote when it is the "learning" stage. Buy it.....