A simple universal remote with full TiVo support?

[buscuitboy]

I have a Series 2 DT 80hr TiVO unit and am looking for a simple universal remote that has full TiVO support. Something that controls maybe 4 or 5 components (including TiVo). Any suggestions?

[windracer]

Before I had my Harmony 676 I used to have two of these and was very happy with it for controlling the TiVo and other components.

http://www.amazon.com/Philips-PMDVR8-8-Device-Specialty-Universal/dp/B0000ALPB9/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1250645937&sr=1-1

[steve614]

My suggestion is look into the Harmony remotes. They can be programed to turn on all components and select the proper inputs for different ''activities'' such as watch Tivo, watch a DVD, etc. with the push of one button.
AFAIK, they have all the functions of a Tivo remote. If not, there are extra buttons that can be programmed to work (e.g. the "dash" button for OTA sub-channel tuning).

[Rick313]

I agree with windracer. I own a Philips PMDVR8 and am very happy with it. However, if I were buying a new remote, I would go with the Philips SRU4208 (http://www.consumer.philips.com/consumer/en/us/consumer/cc/_productid_SRU4208WM_17_US_CONSUMER/Universal-remote-control+SRU4208WM-17). It's has the same functionality as the PMDVR8, but it's a little nicer looking and has backlighting. It's available at Walmart for about $20.

[911medic]

Harmony. All you need to know.

[classicsat]

If you can find one , a OneForAll URC6131. An alternative to it, which I believe to be available is the One For All URC 8820, which I have and with minor programming fully works the TiVo. and my other things.

[Mikeyis4dcats]

I have a 676 and love it aside from the fact that after just under 2 years, some of the buttons have all but quit working.

[DancnDude]

I've played around with various inexpensive universal remotes for TiVo before. They worked fine, but I couldn't get past their "feel". The TiVo peanut remote always made me go back to it. Not to mention some things taking a bit to program and some features that you couldn't really get programmed to good places. Until I got the Harmony One.

That was the first remote I actually was able to put away ALL my remotes and I have not once pulled them back out. I initially thought spending that much money on a remote may be a waste, but it is well worth the money. Best remote ever. :up:

[NYHeel]

I have a 676 and love it aside from the fact that after just under 2 years, some of the buttons have all but quit working.
THat's the problem with HArmony remotes. They're really good while they work. However, their build quality is really bad. My 30second skip button on my 676 went dead after a little over a year. Now some buttons on my 880 ar going bad after about 1.5 years. They work well when their working but for such expensive remotes it should ast alot more than 2 years.

[CraigK]

I use URC 6131N remotes. They have have a PVR button and work with TiVos.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41mpkn5HksL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

[samo]

If you can find one , a OneForAll URC6131. An alternative to it, which I believe to be available is the One For All URC 8820, which I have and with minor programming fully works the TiVo. and my other things.

Make sure that you get URC 6131N (http://http://www.diguniverse.com/UNIVERSAL-REMOTES/REMOTE-CONTROLS-AND-EXTENDERS/ONEURC6131N.html) , not URC 6131. URC6131N is specifically designed for PVR use and is simplest and cheapest 6-device universal control that works with TiVo. It even has "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" buttons. There are still available and work very well with S2 and DirecTivos. I never used one with S3 or HD, so I can not tell.

[rainwater]

Make sure that you get URC 6131N (http://http://www.diguniverse.com/UNIVERSAL-REMOTES/REMOTE-CONTROLS-AND-EXTENDERS/ONEURC6131N.html) , not URC 6131. URC6131N is specifically designed for PVR use and is simplest and cheapest 6-device universal control that works with TiVo. It even has "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" buttons. There are still available and work very well with S2 and DirecTivos. I never used one with S3 or HD, so I can not tell.

The original 6131 is much more similar to a TiVo peanut remote than the N version. In fact, besides a harmony remote, I can't imagine there is a better TiVo remote than the original 6131 in terms of usability. Unfortunately they are discontinued so support for newer televisions is hard to come by unless you deal with JP1 programming.

[classicsat]

The 6131 and 6131n are electronically the same.
The N version uses a narrower case,as the one pictured above.

The 8820 uses the same case as the 6131n, but a slightly different button layout, and does not have thumbs buttons, but they can be programmed in. I have it and the 8910 programmed for a very usable layout.

The remotes I use are the 8820 and 8910 from OneForAll, programmed with JP1/JP1.2.

[SNJpage1]

I just bought a sony rm-vl610 remote that was only $16. has everything I needed. Comes programed with codes, can learn codes and has 4 macro buttons. Controls 8 devices.

[chakk]

Radio Shack is currently selling the URC-6131n remote at their website for $10, through August 31, 2009

[Nightingale]

I see Harmony and the URC-6131n are popular. The prices of these two remotes are vastly different. What would the Harmony One, for example, offer me that the URC-6131n does not?

I don't mind investing in an expensive remote if the features warrant the cost. Thanks for your suggestions!

[dallastx]

I've played around with various inexpensive universal remotes for TiVo before. They worked fine, but I couldn't get past their "feel". The TiVo peanut remote always made me go back to it. Not to mention some things taking a bit to program and some features that you couldn't really get programmed to good places. Until I got the Harmony One.

That was the first remote I actually was able to put away ALL my remotes and I have not once pulled them back out. I initially thought spending that much money on a remote may be a waste, but it is well worth the money. Best remote ever. :up:

I agree 100%. I fell in love with the TiVo remote back in 1999. Although I needed a universal remote to cut through my system's complexity, I kept going back to the TiVo remote. I got a Harmony One a couple of years ago and haven't needed another remote or the TiVo remote since. The key thing for me is that, like the TiVo remote, the buttons can be identfied by feel. Most other Harmony remotes have same size buttons arrayed in rows.

[SNJpage1]

I bought a Harmony 880 a few years ago and never liked it. The buttons were too small for my fingers. I think the older models were better as far as button size.

[Keen]

I bought a Harmony 880 a few years ago and never liked it. The buttons were too small for my fingers. I think the older models were better as far as button size.
The thing with Harmony remotes is that you should start by picking one that has the button layout you want. Since all the remotes have access to the same database of remote codes, you want to focus on making the remote be one that's comfortable for you. I've got one of the Xbox360 Harmony remotes, and it's fantastic for my Tivo and all my A/V components.

[classicsat]

AFAIK, the Harmony remotes are activity based, rather than device based as most other remotes are.

As for code databases, I would find it incorrect to say all universal remotes use the same database, since there are dozens of separate companies that make universal remotes, and that have different code databases. Not to mention that remotes on the store shelves may have a database as old as a year or two, although that is not an issue for the Harmony and other remotes whose database is online, or OneForAll remotes which can be sent in for upgrades , or upgraded with JP1 (which has a siginificant user submitted database online).

[CuriousMark]

AFAIK, the Harmony remotes are activity based, rather than device based as most other remotes are.
My harmony lets me press a button and select a device and then operates in device mode for that device until I put it back in activity mode by pressing the activity button again.

As for code databases, I would find it incorrect to say all universal remotes use the same database, since there are dozens of separate companies that make universal remotes, and that have different code databases. Not to mention that remotes on the store shelves may have a database as old as a year or two, although that is not an issue for the Harmony and other remotes whose database is online, or OneForAll remotes which can be sent in for upgrades , or upgraded with JP1 (which has a siginificant user submitted database online).

I think he was saying that all Harmony remotes use the same online database, not all remotes in general, but your point is well made. The advantage of the shared online code database means any remote Harmony sells, even ones ostensibly for game consoles, still have full access to the codes for use with TiVo DVRs.