Universal Remote Controls

With the wide range of electronic devices we have in our homes today, it’s not unusual to find four or five remote controls cluttering our lives. Keeping track of which remote controls which device and trying to remember the different ways of using them can become irritating, not to mention the chore of replacing batteries in them. Universal remote controls allow you to combine all the functions of up to five different remote controls into one handy device that controls everything.

Universal remote controls vary in price depending on how many devices you want to control with them, and how sophisticated you want them to be. There are several makes available, all with slightly different ways of working, but in essence they all do the same thing. Universal remote controls work with your TV, DVD player, VCR, Cable or Satellite system, Hi-Fi and home theatre system to give you control over all the audio and video elements in your home. They work with different brands of devices, so you do not need all your components to be the same brand in order for a universal remote to work with them.

Many universal remote controls now come with an LCD display that shows you which device you are controlling, and gives information on the programming sequence you have to follow when programming the device. Although it may sound complicated, programming a universal remote is quite easy, even for the technically challenged amongst us. With the more sophisticated – and more expensive – universal remotes, you can program a sequence of events so that you can for example, switch the TV, home theatre system and satellite system on with the touch of one button.

Recent innovations have led to the introduction of touchscreen universal remote controls. These are fully programmable, and your choices are clearly depicted on the screen. Many people find these easier use with the graphical display helping users to navigate around the controls. Some touchscreen remotes can be customised through your PC, allowing you to select screens, buttons and backgrounds as well as programming the remote control. Some universal remote controls can even be used to make phone calls!

When your existing remotes start showing the wear and tear of everyday use, such as when the buttons wear out or the kids spill juice all over them, don’t replace them one at a time. Universal remote controls allow you to control all your devices with one easy controller. If you do have children, this gives you the ability to take back control over what you watch on TV or the music you listen to – it’s easier to keep one remote control away from the kids than trying to keep track of four or five!