Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I recently purchased the Universal Remote TX-1000 to replace my broken Sony RM-AV3100. I had two of the Sony remotes and started devloping similar problems of them getting stuck on a command and not stopping as if the button was held down. So I swore to not buy another sony remote again since they seem to fall apart after about 3-4 years. When I was researching remotes a lot had changed, now the remotes are being programmed via computer. I had narrowed it down to the Logitech Harmony 890, Universal MX-950, or the Universal TX-1000. I enjoyed using the Sony remote and wanted something similar so I opted for the TX-1000. Based on conversation with retailers and reading threads on the internet it seemed that the Logitech tended to be a hit or miss and would eventually fall apart and that the Universal Remotes were "professional" quality remotes.
Pros and Cons:
- You have a lot of flexibilit with this remote. You can set the delay down to each button and choose the desired interval.
- When the software is updated, this remote can pretty much pickup any gear that you own and has the ability to learn the remote (as long as you have the original) in case it doesn't have it within the software. My Sony remote couldn't even support all of the buttons on my Sony TV! The other amazing thing is that the satellite box that I have does not have a shut off button. You have to go through menus to turn it off which is difficult to do using macros. This remote was able to provide a single button to turn off the box. The remote that the box came with didn't even have this button.
- It is fairly big and hefty
- Uses AA batteries which is a pro for me since I don't want to worry about some proprietary lithium ion battery needing to be replaced over time. I purchased rechargeable AA batteries instead.
- My Sony remote had the ability to have single buttons to be able to do two different functions. Example, when the SAT button was pressed slightly the remote would show the buttons on the screen for the Satellite. But if you held the button down for about two seconds the remote was able to perform a macro function. This is a very useful function that I will miss, which is the only real con against this remote.
- You can label the buttons however way you prefer (limited to 6 characters).
- I wish there was an off button for the screen to minimize battery drain. The screen stays on but not the light.
- I wish it had a sensor like the MX-950 where it senses your hand and the backlight would turn on or have glow in the dark buttons to be able to find the remote (it would make sense if the light button was glow in the dark).
- I wish it had the ability to control wall light switches using RF like the Harmony 890 or other high end remotes.
- This was the first time I had ever used software to program a remote so I can't compare this to the Logitech or other ones. If you are not computer savy or do not really understand how a high end remote works maybe you should buy the Logitech since I hear that their software is more user friendly. I had absolutely no problems understanding the software. A manual is provided with the remote but it's a joke. The software has help menus so if you're stuck it might help. Fortunately I never needed to use it. I can see how the software might be difficult but I think it's laid out pretty well. There is a learning curver and it took trial and error before I figured it out. If you have a notebook computer use it, you'll save trips going back and forth. The only problem with the software is that it takes a long time to set the remote up since it has so much flexibility. And if you are detail oriented such as myself it will take you even longer.
- Universal's customer support is a joke. You have to deal through one of their retailers. It seems like they don't really have tech support which I was concerned with since I wasn't sure if I would have questions.
- It was no problem for my wife to understand how the remote works.
- It has the most important buttons as hard buttons instead of entirely being touchscreen which is a plus.
Conclusions:
I think I made a good decision with this remote and plan on replacing my downstairs remote with another TX-1000. I'm sure that there are better remotes than this one and would have to wait 4 years to tell you if it is built better than my old Sony. But the remote is capable of doing everything that I need it to do and truly replaces all my other remotes to make life easy.
Click Here to see more reviews about: URC Complete Control TX-1000 Medius - Universal remote control - infrared/radio
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