URC RFS200 PowerPak Bundle w/ MasterControl RF20 and PowerBlaster

by Universal

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 13.5 x 5.8 x 1.8 inches ; 7.7 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000FL9E6U
• Item model number: RFS200
• Batteries: 4 AAA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (234 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,120 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 14, 2004

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

From the Manufacturer This is what the Mastercontrol RF20 is all about: the RF20 is designed to operate up to 10 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 RF20 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 RF20 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 RF20 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 RF20 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 RF20’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.

PowerBlaster Sets You Free

When used in combination with PowerBlaster™, a MasterControl™ RF series remote control (RF10, RF20, 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. It enables you to control components that are completely out-of-sight, up to 100’ away. The PowerBlaster picks up RF remote control radio frequency signals from any direction, regardless of distance, so the remote 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!

RF Remotes are Ready to Go
One of the best things about this is — nothing has to be done to the remotes themselves for this feature to work. Every time you press a button on one of the MasterControl RF series remotes, it sends both a standard IR (Infrared Command) AND an RF (Radio Frequency) signal. When you install the PowerBlaster kit, it will automatically receive radio signals from RF series remotes and translate them into the infrared commands that control your components.

Quick Setup DVD Guide Makes Installation Easy
The Quick Setup DVD Guide will assist you in setting up PowerBlaster to work with your RF series remotes by guiding you through an easy step-by-step process. This Owner’s Manual is designed as a companion reference source to the DVD Setup Guide, should you need to refer back to a particular section, or review certain instruction detail not covered in the DVD. However, if you are unable to watch the DVD Guide for some reason, everything you need to know about setting up PowerBlaster is contained in the included manual.

Product Description

PowerPak is a bundle that includes the MasterControl RF20 and PowerBlaster. MasterControl RF20 is IR & RF capable. No more pointing - changing the way a remote works. Control up to 10 components. Includes DVD Guide for quick & easy setup. Preprogrammed and learning - guaranteed to work with all components. Fully backlit keypad. Customizable LCD screen. 40 Built-In Favorites channels. 432 macros. WITH OPTIONAL POWERBLASTER FOR RF CAPABILITY. PowerBlaster is the RF power base used with all MasterControl RF remotes. Picks up RF signals through walls, doors, floors - indoors and outdoors. Hide your components in the entertainment center or a cabinet. Use your remote outdoors on the patio, deck or porch. Up to 100'.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

131 of 132 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Inexpensive RF Remote, January 11, 2008

By 

Ralph Taliercio "Ralphbway" (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: URC RFS200 PowerPak Bundle w/ MasterControl RF20 and PowerBlaster (Electronics)

For the price (reduced to $80) this is a very decent remote if you need a remote with RF features.

Again, it's value is VERY relative to its price.

Its shortcommings are:

The RF function is based on an open frequency, NOT programable between the Remote Control unit & the RF Receiver unit. This is important because if a next door neighbor is using a RF based remote he might start changing your channels and turning your Tv on & off. There is nothing that can be done to fix this or modify the Universal Remote. The only recourse is to buy the Universal Remote & Receiver that cost $300+, which is NOT a good value for the price. For apx. $350 you can buy the new Harmony model (replacing the 890), which is far more powerful, and easier to program & use.


The LCD screen is smallish and can list 5 items per screen. You scroll through the screens to access components to control or to get to the functions for each component.

Free up a LOT of time to program the unit. Programming the unit for macros seems a little confusing at first and takes some getting use to.

Please note that I found nothing major or even moderately wrong with the remote, but it does have a few problems that I think affect how functional & easy to use it is.

Major Positives are:

Customer Service was reasonably easy to contact. The CS Rep I got was very friendly, knowledgable, and helpful.


The button layout on the Remote is very good. Buttons are grouped together intelligently, especially for people using the remote for DVR cable boxes.

All in all a decent unit for the price for someone needing RF functions on a limited budget.

Hope this was helpful.

65 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything for a home theater control and more!, March 19, 2007

By 

orr333 "Lyle" (Minnesota!) - See all my reviews

This review is from: URC RFS200 PowerPak Bundle w/ MasterControl RF20 and PowerBlaster (Electronics)

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.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Works great and EASY to set up!, February 29, 2008

By 

Jenn "Kristen's Mom" (Cary, NC) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: URC RFS200 PowerPak Bundle w/ MasterControl RF20 and PowerBlaster (Electronics)

Our TV sits in a built-in shelving unit with cabinets below. The doors had to be left open for the old remotes to work.
I looked into the Niles Audio repeaters-they were over $200 and seemed complicated to install (I'm a moron). The Niles product also required you to use the little IR stickies.
I bought the URC bundle on a whim, figuring that if it didn't work out I could return it.
Here's my installation experience-
I installed the remote's batteries, glanced at the manual, and linked it to the TV, Cable DVR box, and DVD recorder. I also set up the "macros" (getting the power on/off buttons to work all three components and the volume to always control the TV). 5 MINUTES. They include a DVD to help you set things up-mine is still in the package. Did I mention that I'M A MORON and I breezed thru the setup?
I then plugged the blaster in and placed it on the bottom shelf of the cabinet. I closed the doors and that was it. It worked just like I hoped it would.
I'm not an A/V geek. I just wanted my stuff to be out of sight. That's what I got, with zero hassle or head scratching. I'm thrilled.

Tom (Kristen's Dad)