URC RFS200 PowerPak Bundle w/ MasterControl RF20 and PowerBlaster by Universal Remote Control, Inc.
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Digital camera reviews of URC RFS200 PowerPak Bundle w/ MasterControl RF20 and PowerBlaster
Digital camera Review: Evaluate carefully before buying
Summary: 3 Stars
I bought the RFS200 package when I installed my new HD TV, so that I could automate the operations. While the RF20 controller works, because of my specific equipment and the age of the RF20 design, I can't use it to do what I want.
My new Samsung TV has multiple input sources, so multiple components can be hooked to the TV and selected as desired. Unfortunately, the Samsung remote doesn't have a way to directly select an input source. Choose "input", and you get a circular list of sources that you can scroll through, with the number of up/down button pushes needed dependent on where you happen to start from.
There are codes to directly choose input sources, and URC has incorporated these into their later universal remotes. However, the RF20 doesn't have them, nor is there a way to add them, nor is the RF20 upgradable, and there is no trade-in option. I'm just out of luck, and out the money I spent.
If this controller will do what you want, it works as advertised. However, it is an older design that may not control newer equipment as well as one might hope. And as I have found, the "learn" mode is limited.
Also I found that the hand controller for my Dish satellite system transmits only UHF signals to the tuner. This means that the RF20 can't learn any commands from the Dish controller, since the RF20 can only receive and learn IR commands. URC says that Dish "might" be configurable to transmit both IR and UHF simultaneously. If not, the RF20 can't learn from that controller at all.
Two things to check before buying. First, will any of your existing remotes continue to work with the pointer end covered? If so, that's a UHF transmitter which the RF20 can't emulate. Second, can you make your system do exactly what you want through a series of button pushes, without choosing from a menu, on your existing combination of remotes? If you can't, you may have a problem programming the RF20.
Digital camera Review: Everything for a home theater control and more!
Summary: 5 Stars
So you want a home theater. Your wife says yes if you can hide that hideous stack of black boxes. Sounds simple. This remote makes it very simple. I shopped the competition's options from Monster to the massive home theater controllers. Since my budget was not $500-$1500, I had to avoid the big controllers. It was between Monster's and Universal's.
Most of my components were in the "code list" and worked perfectly with just the code. My TiVO/DirecTV was the exception. The TiVO code only made the TiVO work and the SAT code only made that part work. I used the learning capability on the remote and even though I had to program every button, it was fast and painless.
The RF features of the remote work perfectly also. I have my components in a cedar closet about 20 feet from my projector and couch. It goes through the walls fine. The Powerblaster that transmits the IR signal in the closet is not even facing the components and works due to the high IR signal it outputs.
The macros for turning everything on/changing the input on the projector are also easy to program and work very well. For the $100 I paid for this, it was a steal. There is no way the Monster counterpart gives enough additional functionality to warrant the high price.
Digital camera Review: Exactly what I was looking for
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased this remote to help my wife and kids operate the tv, cable box, dvd, and tuner with one remote and to access components that are behind closed cabinet doors. Overall this product succeeds to deliver on what I was looking for. The setup was fairly easy but did take me a few hours to complete. I really like the macros that allow me to be operating the cable box but increase the volume of the tuner rather than the cable box. Same goes for the power on and power off macros that allow me to turn on/off all my components with a single press of a button. The cable setting allows me most of the control of my cable box, including the cable guide. The only change i would like to see is dedicated buttons on the remote for page up/down for the cable guide.
The RF functionality works pretty well, although sometimes I have problems getting the volume to work with the doors shut but that could be user error. My wife hated that we had to have the cabinet doors open in order to watch TV so this is a really nice feature.
The remote is about the same size as my old cable remote. The display isn't anything special but is effective. This remove is much less expensive than some of the Harmony remotes and seems to perform all the needed functionality so I would recommend this remote to anyone!
Digital camera Review: Excellent Bargain
Summary: 5 Stars
Compared to the higher end models this is a great bargin. Setup took a little bit to understand, but once I got the hang of it I programmed my TV, computer, Playstation, surround, DVD, and projector. Better yet I can switch from watching a DVD to using the computer with a single button. Did everything I expected.Digital camera Review: Excellent RF Remote
Summary: 5 Stars
I just bought this remote, for I bought a new condo that had all Home Theater stuff moved into a closet away from the tv, so i needed RF capabilities. Previously I had a Sony Remote Commander. I am impressed with the RF & Infrared capabilities of the remote. For infrared, it actually works better than the packaged remote with my tv (better range). The programming is simple enough and if you still have your remotes for each component, it is super simple to teach this remote every capability that each remote had.
I completely recommend this as a cheap alternate to the Logitech Harmony remotes (if you have the means, go with them for they are more glamourous).