Page 1 of 2
Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?
Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 9:07 pm
by R00k
My dog pretty well crunched up the universal remote that came with our cable box. Going to the local store to buy a new remote is pretty inconvenient here, and I've been thinking about getting a universal remote lately anyway.
Out of curiosity, are there any universal remotes that can actually control digital cable boxes?
I have Charter cable if it makes any difference, which originally came with a Charter-stamped Motorola remote for the box.
I've tried looking around, and talked to Charter's support as well, and haven't had much luck - it sounds like Motorola may intentionally make their systems hard to emulate or be compatible with, but I thought I'd post and see if anybody else has tried this.
Any suggestions?
Re: Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?
Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 9:10 pm
by Turbine
lol paying for cable
Re: Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?
Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 9:12 pm
by PhoeniX
Don't most universal remotes have a train feature where you just point your old remote at it and it learns the IR info?
Re: Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?
Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 9:21 pm
by R00k
But my old remote is in pieces in the trash.

Re: Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?
Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 9:37 pm
by Dr_Watson
get a harmony, the end.
Re: Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?
Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 9:43 pm
by R00k
Okay I will.
Which one? And how do you know it works with Charter digital receivers?
Re: Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?
Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 9:51 pm
by PhoeniX
R00k wrote:But my old remote is in pieces in the trash.

Couldn't you borrow one off your neighbours?

Re: Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?
Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 9:57 pm
by R00k
Yea, I was just thinking that myself actually.

Re: Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?
Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 10:06 pm
by Dr_Watson
R00k wrote:Okay I will.
Which one? And how do you know it works with Charter digital receivers?
whichever model fits your budget.
because they work with everything, especially something as common as a digital cable receiver. (i've used mine with time warner, cox, and DTV)
Re: Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?
Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 11:57 pm
by Turbine
You do realize you can get cable for free, by yourself?
Re: Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?
Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:17 am
by creep
If you don't want to be here you can just leave. You don't have to riddla your way out.
Re: Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?
Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 1:18 am
by FragaGeddon
I bought myself a Logitech 880 from NCIX for $200 Cdn. But you could go with the 550 which is cheaper. Get me the model number and make and I can tell you if it'll work.
Re: Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?
Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 3:53 am
by R00k
I had to do a little last minute christmas shopping tonight, and Best Buy had the 880 on sale for $150 bucks. They were out of stock, but luckily Circuit City still does price matching.
Just opening it up now, thanks for the advice guys, I can't wait to get this setup. We also have a remote/IR-controlled ceiling fan and light fixture in our living room, and I think I might be able to control those with this too. That would be awesome.

Re: Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?
Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 3:57 am
by FragaGeddon
Sweet man, You'll love the 880, I know I do. If the fan is not in the add devices, you should be able to learn from it by pointing the two devices together.
Edit: Spelleng mistakis.
Re: Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?
Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 5:10 am
by FragaGeddon
I'm thinking about picking up a Tivo soon.
So I can transfer any thing I record to my iPod.
Re: Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?
Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 5:30 am
by SOAPboy
You can set it up to your fans rook. Theres a manual programming thing.
Point to point or whatever its called.
Re: Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?
Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 5:41 am
by FragaGeddon
Isn't that what I said.
Re: Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?
Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 7:03 am
by R00k
I was mistaken about my fan - after I looked at it, it turned out to be RF, so I guess I won't be using the remote on it after all.
That's not what I bought it for anyway, just an extra I thought of on the way home.
I'm digging the remote, already programmed some custom commands in it for favorite channels and such. I can get used to this.

Re: Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?
Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:39 am
by Dr_Watson
another one joins the expensive remote dark side.

Re: Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?
Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 1:32 pm
by +JuggerNaut+
Turbine wrote:You do realize you can get cable for free, by yourself?
shut up.
Re: Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?
Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:03 pm
by YourGrandpa
Dr_Watson wrote:get a harmony, the end.
+1
Re: Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?
Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 4:57 am
by creep
Isn't there a version of harmony with RF... or did I dream it.
Re: Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?
Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 4:13 pm
by Giraffe }{unter
I've had the Harmony 520 for a while now and it's lovely. The help feature is great for the wife and kids. if something is not working it asks a short series of questions and gets it working for them. It should be compatible with almost anything since logitech updates the database often. If not there is always the learn feature.
Another thing to keep in mind is Logitech is very high with the command delay. I've tweaked mine with to get a faster responce with no issues.
Re: Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?
Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 4:28 pm
by R00k
Giraffe }{unter wrote:I've had the Harmony 520 for a while now and it's lovely. The help feature is great for the wife and kids. if something is not working it asks a short series of questions and gets it working for them. It should be compatible with almost anything since logitech updates the database often. If not there is always the learn feature.
Another thing to keep in mind is Logitech is very high with the command delay. I've tweaked mine with to get a faster responce with no issues.
Yea I've been thinking about doing that with mine. I've programmed sequences for a few favorite channels on the cable box (hit exit, then 0, 4, 1), and the delay is crazy. I need to play with a while to see what kind of delays will work. Do you remember what you set yours at?
creep wrote:Isn't there a version of harmony with RF... or did I dream it.
There probably is, but it's probably the $350 model that I won't be buying. Shame though, it would really be cool to use the remote for my fan/light in the living room. That's one less set of batteries I'd have to replace.
Re: Universal Remote that works with digital cable boxes?
Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 4:31 pm
by Giraffe }{unter
It's in the settings for each individual device, that's all I remember. It's been a while...