Sony RM-VL600 8-Device Universal Learning Remote
by Sony
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List Price: Our Price: $18.95 You Save: $6.04 (24%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Sony RM-VL600 8-Device Universal Learning Remote
Customer Review: Great Learning Remote
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this remote because I have a SONY TV and a SONY DVD/VCR combo. Being that it is also a SONY, I though that it would communicate seamlessly with both. It didn't. Having said that, I am glad I bough it.
The downs: It communicates seamlessly with my SONY TV (even the device button turns it on without having to press POWER) but the combo is another story. It seems that (and I checked this online) this "universal" remote (although from SONY) DOES NOT have their own combos in its memory! So no matter what you do, you can't find a code for any combo, even SONY.
The Ups: I forgot to mention - this remote CAN LEARN; and there are no limits to how many functions. To work your combo, all you have to do is (with the original OEM remote) teach this one all the needed functions. You can do this from the DVD as well as the VHS device function. Don't listen to people that say this cant be done! I did this and I couldn't be happier. When I buy a converter box and other stuff in the future, it will certainly come in handy.
P.S. There are also four special buttons that can be taught up to 16 functions (in a row) each! One of mine works for the TV menu (it does MENU, RIGHT, RIGHT, DOWN, RIGHT, DOWN, DOWN, MENU.)
Customer Review: TIVO code is SAT 3202
Summary: 5 Stars
After buying a different universal remote that could not handle Tivo, I got this one and it works.
The Tivo code is SAT 3202.
Unfortunately, the list of codes that comes with the remote omits Tivo, as does the list on the Sony web site.
The VCR buttons work great, as do volume up/down, channel up/down, and the numerical channel buttons. There are a few oddities:
The equivalent of the Tivo "TIVO" button is the Sony GUIDE button.
The equivalent of the Tivo Guide button is the Sony "Twin View" button (?).
The equivalent of the Tivo 4 direction buttons with SELECT in the middle is the Sony 4 direction buttons with OK in the middle.
BONUS - Sony devices are preprogrammed into the controller, so my Sony DVD player works with this remote right out of the box.
Once I found the code for my Insignia TV, it works well with this remote. The code was not in the Sony manual nor on the Sony web site. I found a code on the Insignia web site, but it did not work. Insignia provided a phone support number, and when I called she gave me a short list of equivalent brands whose codes I should try and sure enough, one of them worked.
Customer Review: Guaranteed to work with every device
Summary: 5 Stars
If you have tried to program a universal remote, you know that they sometimes lack functions available on the original remote. This was the dilemma I faced: my entertainment system consisted of an obsolete satellite receiver and a brand new digital TV converter box. I never thought I would find a universal remote that would recognize both of these devices. However, with this learning remote, it was very simple to teach the command of each button using the original remote of an unrecognized device. Simply enter learning mode, select the device and button you want the remote to learn, then hold the corresponding button on the original remote.
Just like any other universal remote, there are other options for programming a specific device as well. My TV and DVD player are made by Sony and both of these worked instantly. Using the traditional code entry, I was also able to program my CD player and audio receiver.
There is no reason to have more than one remote control in a single room. This one seems to be well made and is easy to use. For around $20, it is about the same cost as any other universal remote, but much cheaper than those with learning functionality. Highly recommended!
Customer Review: It Even Speaks B&O!
Summary: 5 Stars
I've owned a Radio Shack 6-in-1 Kameleon for a couple of years, and while I enjoyed the illuminated touchscreen and the excellent database of codes, I finally wearied of its excessive battery consumption and the cumbersome routine needed to change batteries.
I also wanted a remote control that could control not only components made by major manufacturers (JVC, RCA, Sony) but my Bang & Olufsen stereo receiver. I considered trying the Phillips NeoPronto or the even more expensive Pronto, but after my expeience with a touchscreen remote, I decided to go for radical simplicity. I wanted a simple, inexpensive remote with no illuminated screen or even a small LCD that would eat batteries. I read reviews of the Sony RM-VL900 and 1000 at remotecentral dot com. Both were suppposedly able to learn B&O's codes. I was set to buy the 900 when I discovered that the RM-VL600 had replaced it.
I purchased the RM-VL600 and am delighted by its performance. I easily programmed the codes for my video components. Then came the real challenge. Could it learn the codes for my 16-year-old B&O receiver? Yes, it could and did. At this price, the Sony RM-VL600 is an amazing value.
Customer Review: Great!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a very-well designed universal remote. It is very easy to program, compared to others I've tried.
I recommend photocopying pictures of each original remote and multiple photocopies of this one and use them in pairs to show mapping from old to new.
Sony is good about telling you which keys are programmed automatically so you don't have to guess.
I like this feature: when you press a key, it lights up the device key so you know that you're sending to the right device.
There are 4 keys at the bottom that can be used to do a number of keypresses. Nice!
Don't let the picture of the remote scare you off. It really looks much nicer in person.
I am using this with a Sony TV (set up by default to work great), a Bose sound system (can be programmed to work with any or all devices!), a DVR (a bit of a challenge because it's unknown to Sony), and a Microsoft remote receiver used for Windows Media Center. This is going to make things so much easier than trying to use 4 different remote controls (especially the huge Bose remote).
Highly recommended.