Universal Remote for Under One-Fiddy?

Looking for suggestions for a universal remote to replace my Marantz RC-3200 touch screen. Important stuff in this order: 1)Ease of use for the family 2)Ease of set up 3)Needs to support Outlaw 990, Panny PT-AE4000, xBox 360, and Oppo BDP-83, and Scientific Atlanta cable/DVR; preferably natively, but I can skimp on that one if needed.

I'd been looking some of the Logitech offerings, but thought I'd post up here to see what you all have had success with.

Opinions welcome and appreciated..

Thanks in advance,
Scott

The Logitech Harmony remotes are probably the place to start. I think you could find a couple of Universal Remote (URC) offerings in your price range ( this one would probably be $200 if you called Surf), but a lot of their stuff is priced higher than $150 and the computer programming interface on most of their remotes trades "easy" for "very flexible" - it gives you more of a direct access to building macros, while the Harmony interface automates the process a lot more. Both manufacturers should have the components in question in their databases. I have the 990, BDP-83, and Scientific Atlanta HD DVR in both URC MX-700 and MX-900 setups, so I could give you files for those if you went with a URC remote.

Thanks Gonk. I figured the Harmony's and the URC offerings were going to be my best bet. I'll poke around some and if I go the route of URC I'll be sure to let you know. Thanks very much for the offer!

BTW: What factor steered you towards URC over the Harmony?

Thanks again,
Scott

I don't have any experience with the URC remotes but I can say the Harmony One certainly meets your first criteria; easeof use for the familly. Everyone in my household thinks the remote was the best addition to the system. It is commonly available for about $175 so it is just a little over your price target but I think it would be worth it. Programming the Harmony is a little clunky but once I got used to Logitech's sequence of "helpful" menus it was fine. I have several Activities (BluRay movie, DVD movie, CD playback, SACD playback) that incorporate the OPPO BDP-83/990 and all work without a hitch. I've had no problems using the Harmony with any of my other devices. I'd expect Harmony to have the AE4000 in their database by now. Enjoy your search!

The first URC remote I got was an MX-500, back in 2003. It didn't support computer programming, but it offered the features I needed (mix of hard buttons and buttons I could label) at a good price. It held up extremely well, so when I set out to upgrade to a remote that could handle more devices and more macros I looked at the same brand. I also like the degree of control I have over the programming.

I agree with AvFan. I have the Harmony One and it is very easy to use. The programming is very automated and I have 9 different activities in its brain for my HT and another 5 for my second system.. You can use it to control all of your equipment no matter which room it is in as long as it has IR. I just drag it into the other room with me when I want to use it. I used it to automate the utility setup for my HT system so with one button everything comes on and the display goes to the right place for the outlaw 990 which won't output it menu over DVI.

The family loves it since they are all technologically challenged. If something doesn't turn on correctly a menu on the screen will allow you to sequentially start equipment by asking you what is on and what is off. This may be its best point. I haven't received any panic calls at work since I got it. I got it through Amazon last year for $189 and it literally took me 15 minutes to program it the first time.

I have been a URC fan for years. I did get a Harmony at one time but did not like the button layout plus the buttons were too small for my big mitts.

As gonk said the URC is a bit more flexible as you set up the macro's your self.