URC MasterControl RF30 Universal Learning Remote w/ RF Capability

Other products by Universal

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 2.2 x 1 inches ; 1.1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000FL5OJ6
• Item model number: MasterControl RF30
• Batteries: 4 AAA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 4, 2006

Product Description

From the Manufacturer
This is what the Mastercontrol RF30 is all about: the RF30 is designed to operate up to 15 different AV components and is pre-programmed to operate virtually all brands of TV, VCR, DVD and CD Players, cable set top boxes, satellite receivers, TiVo^® and other DVRs, audio components, tape decks, multimedia PCs, satellite radio, Ipod^®, X- Box^®, lighting controls and other custom installation products. It also offers an impressive lineup of special features designed to provide you with many time-saving conveniences and enhance your overall entertainment experience.

Pre-programmed Codes
The RF30 is guaranteed to control all your components because of the extensive library of thousands of AV component codes pre-programmed into the remote.

Learning Capability
The RF30 can actually "learn" commands from other remote controls (old or new), one button at a time, so it will always be up-to-date and never become obsolete. The RF30 is the last remote you’ll ever need.

MacroPower™ Single-button Control
MacroPower is a unique feature that enables you to turn all of your components ON or OFF at the same time, simply with the press of one button. What would normally take multiple remotes and button pushes, the RF30 can accomplish with the press of one button. In addition to the Power ON or OFF buttons, any of the Component buttons can be set to be "macro" buttons.

SimpleSound® Total Volume Control
SimpleSound is a dynamic feature that gives you total volume control over all the components in your system, even those without their own built-in volume control such as TiVo, DVD and VCR, thus saving you the hassle and inconvenience of constantly needing to switch between Component modes on the remote. With SimpleSound you can set the RF30’s volume control buttons to always control the sound in your system, even when you’re in VCR or DVD mode, without switching back to AUDIO or TV. Even more exciting, SimpleSound has what is called a ‘Punch Through’ feature and is not limited strictly to volume control.

Fully Backlit Keypad
This makes the RF30 easy to use in the dark or in dim lighting conditions. Simply press the LIGHT button, conveniently located on the side of the remote, to backlight all the keypad buttons and the LCD screen. To turn off the backlight press the LIGHT button again, or just wait 10 seconds (the backlight automatically shuts itself off).

Favorite Channels
This is one of RF30’s most desirable features. Once it’s set up, you can select up to 40 favorite channels with the press of a button – without the need to remember or type in a channel number.

Customizable LCD Screen
You can easily edit or change the name of any of the display buttons (including Favorite Channels) on the LCD screen.

"Barrier-free" RF (Radio Frequency) Capability
Of all the RF30 features, this is probably the most exciting. When used in combination with the optional PowerBlaster™ [sold seperately], the RF30 becomes an amazing remote control powerhouse that sends multi-directional RF (Radio Frequency) signals that pass through walls, doors and floors – both indoors and outdoors. This changes everything...it enables you to control components that are completely out-of-sight, up to 100’ away. The PowerBlaster picks up the RF30’s radio frequency signals from any direction, regardless of distance, so the RF30 doesn’t need to be pointed directly at any component. Just imagine – no more pointing! Now you can close your entertainment center doors, hide your components, and still control them with ease. Control outdoor speakers on your patio. Control your components anywhere!

DVD Programming Guide
The DVD Guide supplied with the RF30 will assist you in programming your remote and customizing it to satisfy your specific needs by guiding you through a simple, easy, and quick step-by-step process.

Package Contents

MasterControl RF30 Remote Control

DVD Programming Guide

User Instruction Manual

4 AAA batteries

Product Description
MasterControl RF30 is IR & RF capable. No more pointing - changing the way a remote works. Control up to 15 components. Includes DVD Guide for quick & easy setup. Preprogrammed and learning - guaranteed to work with all components. Fully backlit keypad. Customizable LCD Touchscreen. 40 Built-In Favorites channels. 647 macros. USE WITH OPTIONAL POWERBLASTER FOR RF CAPABILITY.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost Universal Control But Not Quite, November 15, 2007

By	B. Morgan "jungle dweller" (Costa Rica) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought the RF30 to replace a Harmony 880 which was to me a very disappointing product. I owned a Palm Z22 (using Novii Remote software) and a Pronto TSU 2000 before that so I'm familiar with programmable remotes. So far I'm very happy with the RF30 with some minor exceptions.

I do not agree with the 2 people who have already reviewed this product. One said he didn't find the universal remotes to be easier to use than using individual remotes for each component because he still had to push many buttons on the RF30 to perform various functions. I don't understand that because the RF30 has an excellent macro capability. I programmed macros to do the more complicated functions and it works great. I push one button on the RF30 and it turns on my audio receiver, turns the audio receiver to "Video3", turns on my LCD projector, turns on my motorized projector to drop down the screen, turns on my DVD player, and turns on my satellite TV box and sets it to channel 201. So I have to wonder if the previous reviewer is aware of how to set up the macro functions.

The second reviewer was unhappy because he said the RF30 is not really a RF remote but is advertised as so. I have read the advertisements, been to URC's website, and read the promo on the RF30 box and those all make it very clear that the RF Blaster provides a means to wirelessly transmit IR signals. I never got the impression from any of the documentation that it is designed, or that URC was trying to imply, that the RF30 is designed to operate RF controlled equipment.

There are a few things I would like to see changed in the RF30. I have sent an e-mail to URC to see if i missed something and if I did, I will update this review. But for now, here's what I think is lacking:

1. The macros work fine but they work in all the component modes. For instance, the macro I described above that turns on my entire system works when I press the hard button "On". The problem is that if I select say "Audio Receiver" so I can control only my receiver, the hard "On" button does not operate anything on the audio receiver. By default it still executes the macro. So no matter which component I select, if I press a hard button that has a macro programmed to it, it will execute the macro instead of a command for that component. I'm hoping there is a way around this because it doesn't make sense to me. When I select "Audio Receiver", I want the buttons to control the receiver, or at least let me program the buttons to control what I want.

2. The macros and the "Punch" functions do not work in Main mode. The Punch function is setup so that you can control the volume, change channels, etc., no matter what screen or component you have selected on the remote. Since my audio receiver controls the volume for everything in my system, this is a good feature. But I have to select a component before I can execute a macro or a Punch function because they don't work from the Main screen. This is a bit odd because to me it seems that the macro should work from the Main screen. That way I could pick up the remote, press one of the buttons that are programmed for a macro and that would be it. Instead, when I pick up the remote, I have to select a component or function on the LCD touchscreen and then I can execute a macro or Punch function. After I have turned on my system, if I go back to the Main screen and then want to execute another macro or Punch function, I again have to select a component or function from the LCD touchscreen first.

3. The Punch functions don't work when the remote is in "FAV" mode. FAV is the favorite channels so you can have those pre-programmed and then you press one button on the touchscreen for a particular channel. That's nice but when the remote is in the FAV mode, I can't change the volume or channels. During the setup of the Punch functions, I tried to select FAV as one of the devices that would allow the Punch functions to operate but the remote is programmed so that it doesn't allow this. That mean if I select the FAV mode so I can then select one of my pre-programmed favorite channels, if I subsequently want to change the volume, I have go back to Main and then select a component. Once I am in the component mode then the Punch functions work and I can adjust the volume. Call me silly but that's just doesn't pass the logic test.

Hopefully URC will have an answer and there is a fix to these issues. Even with these minor issues, I think this is a great remote.

An additional note is about URC's customer service. I had considered buying one of the other URC models that require programming via computer. But I had read in several forums that URC would not allow consumers to download the necessary software to program the remotes. Many customers were irate about this so I e-mailed URC. The first response I got was not helpful so I e-mailed again and voiced my displeasure and felt that since my question was not answered that the complaints I had been reading must be true. I got a response from URC within 24 hours explaining that the software is available and the e-mail provide me with the links and instructions on where to go and how to download the software. When I arrived home that night I also had a voicemail from URC explaining the process and asking me to call one of their representatives. I was very impressed by this level of customer service, especially since I live in Costa Rica and they were willing to call me on their dime. That made a believer out of me and convinced me to buy the RF30.

4 DECEMBER 2007 UPDATE:

OK, after using the remote for a few weeks I wanted to update and revise my review. I like the remote even better now. I e-mailed URC about the 3 issues I outlined above and got a reply the next day. As far as the first issue with the macros being programmed to work no matter what screen or component you select, that can't be changed. But, URC did provide an alternative means to do what I want to do and that works fine.

For the 2nd and 3rd issues concerning the volume and channel controls while in Main and FAV modes, that was an easy fix. URC provided the info on how to program the Punch functions so that they work in both Main and FAV modes. The problem is that this information is not on the intro DVD that comes with the remote nor is it in the owner's manual. But the fix was easy.

So the remote is doing everything I want or expected it to do now. It works great. My only complaint now is the LCD screen. When lighting is low, it is almost impossible to read. I played with the contrast to no avail. And the red backlight is virtually no help. It would be nice if it had a backlight like my old Pronto. That one lit up very clearly so you could see the screen even in total darkness. But this is a very minor complaint.

For me the bottom line is that this is a great remote, especially for the price. I really like the fact that it can be programmed without connecting to a website or computer. It's well thought out and for the most part, in my opinion, it's intuitive. The macros work great and the ability to program any hard button or item on the LCD screen is exactly what I wanted. And again, kudos to URC for responding quickly to my inquiries and giving me good information to correct the issues I raised. For the money, I don't think one can go wrong with this remote.

By the way, I tried to change my rating to 5 stars but the Amazon system will not let me. But if I could, I would change the rating because I think this remote deserves 5 stars.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One remote to rule them all! Works for me., April 24, 2008

By	K. HUANG (Austin, TX United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this to replace my logitech harmony 628 remote. I was surprisingly impressed on how well I was able to do it on a rf remote under $100 (or even $60). Plus in the future, I will rewire and split the satellite from the living room to the bedroom where the RF feature will come in handy.

The customizable 8 touch-screen buttons makes it possible for me to use this universal remote.

Being able to have 5 pages of the 8 touch screen buttons for each components, makes it possible to add those unique buttons that are not on each kind of remotes.

I only have 4 devices: a tv, dvd player, hddvd player, directv sat. I set each "first page" of the non-tv with a "tv source" and "tv power" button. Such that, I can turn on/off the tv without having to go back to the TV commands in the menu.

pros:
cost, highly-customizable
menus are very simple: main->components (8 buttons per component on each page with 2 pages)->sub-pages (8 customizable buttons one each page; up to 5 pages).

cons:
the light button is amber - red, I am more used to blue from my other remote

cannot increase or decrease the "Main" pages. I want to hide the second page of components because I only use 4 right now, however, it is no big deal. I would also like to be able to add another 8, 16, 24, etc devices--but seriously, I do not have more than 10 devices in any room.

I currently do not know if I can copy a component to a different slot. I have wanted to change the layout and rearrange the components on the Main page, and having to re-learn some remotes makes it time consuming.

there is a max of 5 characters for each custom button label. (not really a big deal, you generally can abbreviate what you need.)

I would have liked a computer interface like the logitech's or something so I can edit the menus a little easier. But, the edit menus in this one is easy to use.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars UNIVERSAL REMOTE, January 20, 2008

By	Jay R. Valla - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have owned 5 different universal remotes in the past. This is the best hands down, very easy to program,it is RF & IR so you can use it anywhere. The other remotes I have used were hard to program and they always ran out of memory. I have 5 amplifiers, DVD changer, XM and a dish satalite reciever all in the RF30 and it still has room for more.
BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK