Sima SUR-20 8-Device LCD Touch Screen Learning Universal Remote Control

by Sima

Product Details

Product Manual [1.90mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 7 x 3 x 1 inches ; 8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005NBQH
• Batteries: 4 AAA batteries required.
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 14, 2003

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Manage up to eight electronic entertainment components from a single, easy-to-use, handheld remote. A fast and simple interface even lets it "learn" from your existing remotes. Simply point, press, and select your component. Flash memory retains codes even when batteries are low or removed. Dimensions are 3 by 7 by 1 inches.

Product Description

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sima SUR-20 Universal Remote, November 27, 2001

By 

George Collins (Maplewood, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sima SUR-20 8-Device LCD Touch Screen Learning Universal Remote Control (Electronics)

As your home theater system grows, so will the number of remotes. While you will know how it all works, your wife, your kids and visitors will be confused. It was my wife who pressured me to get a single, easy to use remote that would make basic operation possible when I was travelling or otherwise not at home. The touch screen devices were the only real choice, because they provided the key pad layout that changes to an intuitive layout for each device. I had been looking at the reviews for these types of remotes for some time, but most to them were priced for the high end. The high end is really, really nice...I just can't afford it. I was prepared to buy the Sony RM-AV2100 for $179.99, when I first saw the new RCA touch screen remote for $99.99. I tried to find some information about the RCA device, but there was none in the stores and nothing on the Internet. I was in Circuit City with my wife and had the Sony remote in my hand ready to pay, when my wife said, "What about this one?". It was the Sima remote for $99.99 with a manufacturer mail-in rebate for $30.00! The salesperson had one out and demonstrated its operation which seemed functional and intuitive. I put the Sony down and bought the Sima.

Let me give you the bad news first. It had a very, very limited number of programmable preset codes. The touch keys have only about 2 to 4 preset icons that can be displayed. This is limiting when designating an individual key to perform a device specific function. There is no clock, and macro programming such as "all on/off" require the use of a device key on the keypad.

But here is the good news. In spite of having a limited number of preset device codes, the Sima remote has a very easy to use learning mode that allows each touch key to be programmed from the original device remote in a quick, sequential manner that essentially eliminated the need for device codes. The ease of use in the learning mode made it easy to reprogram the keys until I thought it was in the most intuitve layout for myself and my wife, choosing whatever icons were available. The use of a device key for a macro was quite easy to work around, but I would have rather had a separate set of macro touch keys. I really liked the room light sensing, and the "touch on" for the keypad back lighting...the Sony remote does not have that feature!

Overall, I can highly recommend the Sima SUR-20 as a solution to the universal remote problem. It is has intuitive layouts and is easily programmed. As it turned out, I had to tell my wife how to use it over the phone, and she had no trouble! I didn't have a chance to checkout the RCA remote, but at $99.99 with a $30.00 rebate, the Sima SUR-20 could have been my highest value audio/video purchase ever...right at the brake in the price-performance curve!!

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars All the functions you'll need BUT..., December 4, 2001

By 

gteach26 (Ft. Lauderdale) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sima SUR-20 8-Device LCD Touch Screen Learning Universal Remote Control (Electronics)

What I liked:
VERY easy to program this remote either through preset codes or through learning function.
The LCD screen layout can be customized for each function which allows for great flexibility.

BUT:

The more I used this remote the less I liked it. For example, how often have you (or someone in your family) accidentaly dropped the TV remote. With this LCD screen you'll probably only be lucky enough to drop this thing ONCE! Also, not having actual buttons to push makes it very hard to channel surf, change volume, get program info, etc. without having to look at the remote each time you press a "button". The LCD screen on this remote is a bit hard to see at times and the backlight doesn't help unless the room is very dark. I ended up returning this unit and purchasing the RCA RCU810 remote. Although not quite as flexible as this one, it has just about everything thing you would need in a moderate home theater setup -- and it doesn't look like it will break after someone accidentally drops it on the floor!

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great remote. Lacks advanced features., March 24, 2002

By 

PeoplePhobic - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sima SUR-20 8-Device LCD Touch Screen Learning Universal Remote Control (Electronics)

This remote is great however, it lacks buttons for advanced features on some dvd players (you know, the kind of features that you don't need and don't use when watching movies). It's too wide for me to hold with one hand and press buttons with your thumb. I also found that I had memorized where the buttons on my last remote were by touch. This will most likely be impossible with this one since all the buttons are on a flat screen. Still I had to give it 4 stars cause it's so easy to use. You don't have to wory about all those codes and stuff. Just teach it with another remote. It's really sweet. And if you've read some of the other reviews: I have dropped it twice on low pile carpet and it's still kicking. He's a tough little guy. If you've tried other universal remotes and had stuff that was incompatable you need this remote. Or at least another remote with a learn function.