Customer Reviews

Universal Remote URC300 15 Device Universal Remote Control (Silver & Black)

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This remote is a solid performer. However, there are some cons that would make this remote a hands-down 5 star winner.

1) No PC interface. It would be nice to setup / edit remote settings via a PC interface which would also allow real-time access to the latest device codes.

2) No ability to edit macros. Macros can be very powerful and can contain up to 190 lines (commands). However, there is no way to edit your existing macro. The options are erase and rerecord (start over). A PC interface could fix this issue.

3) No way to turn off the remote. It continues to display data on the screen 7 x 24. Would be a nice battery saving feature.

4) No way to set a device as a default. As a result, you must select the device (TV or Cable) every time to operate your preferred device (e.g. TV).

5) Documentation could provide more details and examples. The website does not provide any additional help and the FAQ page on the site is still under construction. No user forum available either.

I bought the URC300 to replace the learning remote that came with my Kenwood A/V receiver mostly for its customizability. It does not disappoint there, with editable soft-button labels, complex macros and the "punch through" feature. All well and good.

Where it disappoints - drives one damn near crazy - is its ability to learn from other remotes. Not its capacity to do so, which it indeed possesses, but the process itself. As others have noted in posts on various remote control Web sites, it is a very particular beast. I found myself contorting my hands to find just the right angle to get a button learned. And it takes two attempts to succeed (or fail, as is far more often the case). This, according to the manual, is by design. More intrepid reviewers have noted a possible design flaw.

An even bigger concern, and the reason I can't rate this unit higher (in fact, the less generous of you out there would probably give it 3.5 or 3 stars) is that at least one remote (Philips DVP-5900) could not be learned. After 15 minutes (enough time for any decent learning remote to learn all six I was trying to teach it) I gave up on trying the original and switched to the already-programmed Kenwood remote. For whatever reason, the URC300 liked that one, so it served as the perfect foil to its finicky replacement; so perfect that I often resorted to using it when other originals proved troublesome.

I should qualify this by stating that I intentionally erased ALL stored commands using the "AUX 155" trick. Since the URC300 claims to be the "Customizer" I thought I'd put it to the test. I did look at the pre-programmed settings for the Philips DVD player, but didn't like the layout. Less picky folk could probably live with it and other pre-programmed device settings (which can be altered by first erasing a button's function - another nice feature - and then teaching that button from the original).

So, great patience is required for those intent on teaching the URC300, esp. if starting from a blank slate. Without my old learning remote, I'd have been sunk.

Once all the buttons are as you want them, the URC300 is a fantastic device. Very sturdy construction and more than enough flexibility make it a very good (almost great) buy for the price. I've read, but cannot verify, that a newer (and so, more expensive) model (the MasterControl RF-30, I believe) does not have the learning issues of the URC300.

After being terribly dissappointed with the performance of my Sony remote commander av-3000, I took a chance with this one after reading all the reviews submitted by other buyers. This truly is the nicest remote I've bought to date!

The set-up is very easy either with the manual or the dvd. I programmed my Sony big screen, vcr, receiver, and dvd player in 10 minutes with the simple code entering program. I also was able to program my JVC karaoke player(which is very complicated) in about 15 minutes with the learn function. The instructions are very simple to understand in the manual.

Some of the nicer features are the touch screen display, the punch thru macro, and the ability to rename and reprogram the buttons even with already having programmed the remote with other codes. You can rename and reprogram as much as you want! The remote has a nice feel to it. Not too heavy or awkward at all. Very easy to use with one hand. Also, the backlight button is the best! It not only lights up the display screen, but also ALL the buttons on the remote(very handy in the dark!)

The only drawbacks that I see are the fact that you cannot turn the remote completely off (but since the display is a regular black lcd, it shouldn't take too much juice from the batteries) and I noticed a similiar complaint that the backlight only works best completely in the dark, not in a semi lit room (but there are backlight adjustments built into the unit so I think you could work something out)

Overall, I'm very happy with this remote.

Does everything it's meant to. Macros are easy to setup. Overall setup was simple.

I also have the RF base station, and can flawlessly control my amplifier/roku soundbridge from my rooftop deck (two floors up).

Extraordinarly good device, with wide-ranging functions and features to meet almost all demands. Touch screen is solid and reliable. Only limitation so far found is always having to page to a device from the main screen before you can operate it - the MX-500 allows simpler selection for device operation.

The review titled "Misleading Capabilities" is dead wrong. All Dish Network receivers that use RF remotes also operate on Infrared. Thousands and thousands of people successfully use URC/Home Theater Master remotes via their infrared signals. This person did not take the time to read his manual to discover that he has to use his Dish receiver to teach his URC remote, because the Dish UHF remote does not output Dish receiver codes in infrared, only UHF. However, the receiver has a built-in function for exactly the purpose of teaching universal remotes the proper infrared codes.

People should do their research before putting misleading information in reviews.

I purchased this to replace several remotes after upgrading to HDTV. Had Panasonic, Sony, JVC devices. It was able to handle the job. I did need to use the Cable Device input and available code for the Sony HGDHDD250. If you watch the video DVD and follow the instructions in the manual you can make it perform as a super single solution. Check prices as they have been coming down. Macros worked on all the devices with a little work on programming.

As long as you are willing to spend a couple hours configuring this remote, then this is an excellent product at its price-point. I wanted a programmable, "activity like" universal remote to control several components with a single button push (using macros). For example, power-on the DVD player, turn-on the stereo, and configure it for surround-sound. But, I wanted to pay much less than $100. I am happy I purchased this less expensive remote.

It's a bit bulky and is not as sleek as other more expensive remotes, but it is not too heavy, its LCD and buttons are backlit, and its casing and buttons have a durable, quality look and feel.

The remote's LCD is a menu-based touchscreen, and using the remote's macro, learn, and "punch-thru" capabilities, I edited and reprogrammed a couple of the LCD touchscreen "device buttons" (e.g. VCR, LD, PHONO) to perform "activity" based functions (e.g. "MOVIE") for controlling my DVD player, TV and stereo as single device. Granted, to get an "activity" based setup, I had to spend the time to program this remote by hand, including teaching it I/R commands learned from my other remotes.

I found the capability of supporting 15 total devices quite ample, and I as I indicated, I edited and reprogrammed some of the device buttons and sub-menus to perform activity-based functions.

In response to one or two reviewer complaints that the TV cannot be controlled from the "Main" menu page, I found (it's in the manual) that any device can also be punched through to the "Main" page. So, even though the MAIN menu is displayed, I can still control the TV volume, TV power, and TV menu buttons, (but oddly not the numeric buttons).

Positive Points
- Cost (well under $100)
- Programmability and Customization of tactile buttons
- Programmability and Customization of LCD Main Menu and Sub-Menus
- 15 Devices total, allowing one to customize unused device menus for "activity" based operation
- The Manual and included tutorial DVD explain its features and setup well
- LCD contrast and backlight work well and are configurable
- The volume button may be configured to "punch-thru" to control either the TV volume or audio volume while the DVD page is active.
- Likewise, the tactile "play" buttons (play stop pause fwd rev) can be "punched-thru" to control either the DVD or VCR while TV page is active.
- Like the volume and play buttons, a limited set of other tactile buttons (Power, Menu, Select, etc.) may be "punched" from any one device to another.

Negative Aspects
- It takes time to setup this remote.
- While most presets worked well (volume, channel, etc.), I ended up adding-to or modifying several of the LCD device sub-menu buttons, learning them from my other remotes (e.g. buttons like Input, Format, Video, Cancel, Info, and surround sound specific). Some of the remote's preset LCD sub-menu buttons did not apply to my A/V components, so I ended up editing-out those buttons from the LCD.
- Pressing a button does not automatically activate the backlight, you have to press the light button on the side of the remote
- I had trouble programming macros to call other macros
- The "FAV" (Favorite Channels) menu button on the Main Page cannot be customized (but the list of favorite channels is customizable).
- The remote's looks are as dated as its "PHONO" and "LD" device menus are.
- The remote can only be programmed by hand (no PC tool) or have its complete settings "copied" from another URC300 remote via I/R
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I own five URC-300 remotes and use them throughout my house. One of the great things about this remote is that it can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it. I am a gadget guy who likes to tinker with electronics, and my wife is just the opposite - she simply wants things to work. The URC-300 has kept both of us happy.

These remotes are becoming harder to find these days, even on eBay. But if you can get your hands on one, grab it. They are a pleasure to use and even to program. I had never programmed a universal remote before I got my first URC-300 and I found it to be rather fun to set up.

The only negative thing that I can say about it is that it can at times be rather finicky about learning the codes from certain remotes (I have a Magnavox DVD/VHS player that, for whatever reason, gives the URC-300 fits.) But overall, if you are looking for reliability and ease of use, this is an outstanding remote.

I have the URC200 model and liked it so I purchased this one (URC300). The ergonomics of this remote are perfect for my DirecTivo satellite units. These remotes cost 1/3 of the Harmony models and probably provide 90 - 95% of the functionality - so they are a bargain.

Overall, these remotes are very easy to customize with a few exceptions: 1) The learning function works great sometimes and other times it takes many repeated tries to have success. 2) You cannot easily copy/move a device preset from page 2 to page 1 on the remote - this means you have to manually edit a device on page 1 to be the equivalent of a device on page 2 (an example was the DVR function that I needed to be on page 1). Luckily this process is pretty straight forward and intuitive, so it's not a deal breaker, just a temporary inconvenience.

Once the remote was setup it's great! The macro functionality is easy to setup and works great (i.e. When I press the DVD button for one second, it changes the input on the TV, power's on the audio receiver, and power's on the DVD). The volume punch through feature is great, so that the remote controls the audio source you want (TV, Audio Receiver, etc).

Now my wife can easily watch DVDs with this remote (she refused to learn the old 3 remote method), so I don't have to be called to do it every time! I would recommend this product to anyone wanting to simplify their remote situation at home, and not spend too much.