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Your Home Theater Remote Control -
Bringing the Magic to Your Home Theater
Bringing the Magic to Your Home Theater
For many people, their remote control is their system. It's how they interact with it every
time they use it. A well programmed, easy to use remote will let anyone use the home
theater or media room, no matter how complex it may be, with little or no training.
Conversely, a poorly programmed remote will leave anyone frustrated, no matter their
level of technical expertise.
Remotes come in several different configurations. For our purposes we're going to
assume (although you know what happens when you assume) that you'll be using a
multi-function, or "smart" remote. These will allow you to control several different pieces
of equipment using the same remote. No matter the configuration, there are three ways
your smart remote will be set up to control the different pieces of equipment in your
home theater.
Some smart remotes will draw from a preprogrammed library of remote control code
sets. The appropriate code set for your particular piece of equipment is selected by
going into a program mode and then using the remote's numeric keypad to enter a
three or four digit code. This process is repeated for each piece of equipment to be
controlled.
Some remote controls will learn remote commands from the equipment's original
remote. With this type of system, the multi function remote is put into some sort of
learning mode. Second, you'll point the original remote at a sensor on the new remote.
Next, the button that you would like to teach a command to is either pressed or held
down, depending upon the particular smart remote you are setting up. Forth, the button
you are learning the command from on the original remote is pressed until the smart
remote confirms it has learned the new code. It is very important to make sure your
batteries are good in both remotes before beginning this procedure. It's best to use
new batteries just to be sure.
The third method remotes use to get their code information is through the Internet.
Some remotes, notably the Logitech Harmony unit, allow you to configure the remote
using the Internet to easily select the desired control information. All the different
components you'd like to control are chosen using a simple web interface and then the
proper commands are downloaded to the remote from your computer using a cable.
The remote control codes come from Harmony's online database.
Many of the smart remotes come with configuration software that will allow you to use a
computer to perform the setup. The desired code information will either be learned into
the remote using the procedure described above, or obtained from the remotes
configuration software. The advantage of setting up the remote using a computer is
that you can easily set the remote to perform complex command sequences, or
"macros". In addition, your configuration is stored on your computer, so in the event
your remote is lost, damaged, or loses it's programming, it can be easily reprogrammed
by simply downloading the saved program.
Smart Remote Control Configurations -
Standard Button Configuration -
This type of remote looks and functions just like a traditional remote control. You press
a button to initiate a command. Typically, at the top of the remote will be a row or two of
function buttons that will allow you to determine what piece of equipment you'll be
controlling. As an example, to control your TV, you'd first press the "TV" button. Now,
until a different function button is pressed, the remote will control the TV.
Some remotes have a "Punch Through" function that allows certain buttons to always
control a particular piece of equipment, no matter what the remote is set to control. This
is useful if, for example, you always want to use your A/V receiver to control the volume.
With the punch through feature, the volume is set to send the receiver's volume
command, no matter what the remote is set to control. Another popular use of this
feature is setting the channel up/down buttons to always control the satellite receiver or
cable box.
Some button style remotes have a display that shows additional information. This can
be used to show what piece of equipment the remote is set to control. A display also
allows individual buttons to be labeled in the display. The label can then automatically
change depending upon what function the button is performing. It makes it much easier
to keep track of the unit's function.
Touch Screen Configuration -
A touch screen remote uses a pressure sensitive screen to show different icons that
can be pressed to initiate a command or sequence. The advantage of a touch screen
remote, outside of the fact that they look super cool, is that the screen can change to
display only the appropriate buttons for the device you're controlling. That way fewer
buttons can be displayed at a time, and the remote can be very easy to use and
understand. In addition, the icons can be descriptive pictures that make use of the
remote very intuitive. Touch screen remotes are available in color, monochrome or
grey scale. As you can imagine, the color units are the most expensive.
Many touch screens have standard "hard" buttons as well to give the user a tactile
sensation and allow the remote to be easy to use in the dark. The most common hard
buttons are for channel up/dn, volume, and cursor functions.
Popular touch screen remote controls include: The Philips Pronto, RTI's T-2 and T-3,
Universal's MX-3000, and at the top end, various configurations from Crestron and AMX.
Remotes will communicate over IR or using RF. Some use WiFi. The advantage of
using RF is that the remote need not be pointed at the equipment or an IR remote
repeater sensor. RF can be fickle however, and is subject to interference. When setting
up an RF system, it is sometimes necessary to reorient or relocate the RF receiver
several times in order to get reliable operation. Most remotes use 418 or 433 MHz to
avoid interference from WiFi networks, cordless telephones and microwaves.
One exception to this is upper end remotes made by such companies as Crestron. One
reason for such remote controls high cost is that they use digital spread spectrum
technology to transmit (and in some cases receive) control signals. Widely used today
for cordless phones, this technology was originally developed for military
communications and is extremely secure and reliable.
time they use it. A well programmed, easy to use remote will let anyone use the home
theater or media room, no matter how complex it may be, with little or no training.
Conversely, a poorly programmed remote will leave anyone frustrated, no matter their
level of technical expertise.
Remotes come in several different configurations. For our purposes we're going to
assume (although you know what happens when you assume) that you'll be using a
multi-function, or "smart" remote. These will allow you to control several different pieces
of equipment using the same remote. No matter the configuration, there are three ways
your smart remote will be set up to control the different pieces of equipment in your
home theater.
Some smart remotes will draw from a preprogrammed library of remote control code
sets. The appropriate code set for your particular piece of equipment is selected by
going into a program mode and then using the remote's numeric keypad to enter a
three or four digit code. This process is repeated for each piece of equipment to be
controlled.
Some remote controls will learn remote commands from the equipment's original
remote. With this type of system, the multi function remote is put into some sort of
learning mode. Second, you'll point the original remote at a sensor on the new remote.
Next, the button that you would like to teach a command to is either pressed or held
down, depending upon the particular smart remote you are setting up. Forth, the button
you are learning the command from on the original remote is pressed until the smart
remote confirms it has learned the new code. It is very important to make sure your
batteries are good in both remotes before beginning this procedure. It's best to use
new batteries just to be sure.
The third method remotes use to get their code information is through the Internet.
Some remotes, notably the Logitech Harmony unit, allow you to configure the remote
using the Internet to easily select the desired control information. All the different
components you'd like to control are chosen using a simple web interface and then the
proper commands are downloaded to the remote from your computer using a cable.
The remote control codes come from Harmony's online database.
Many of the smart remotes come with configuration software that will allow you to use a
computer to perform the setup. The desired code information will either be learned into
the remote using the procedure described above, or obtained from the remotes
configuration software. The advantage of setting up the remote using a computer is
that you can easily set the remote to perform complex command sequences, or
"macros". In addition, your configuration is stored on your computer, so in the event
your remote is lost, damaged, or loses it's programming, it can be easily reprogrammed
by simply downloading the saved program.
Smart Remote Control Configurations -
Standard Button Configuration -
This type of remote looks and functions just like a traditional remote control. You press
a button to initiate a command. Typically, at the top of the remote will be a row or two of
function buttons that will allow you to determine what piece of equipment you'll be
controlling. As an example, to control your TV, you'd first press the "TV" button. Now,
until a different function button is pressed, the remote will control the TV.
Some remotes have a "Punch Through" function that allows certain buttons to always
control a particular piece of equipment, no matter what the remote is set to control. This
is useful if, for example, you always want to use your A/V receiver to control the volume.
With the punch through feature, the volume is set to send the receiver's volume
command, no matter what the remote is set to control. Another popular use of this
feature is setting the channel up/down buttons to always control the satellite receiver or
cable box.
Some button style remotes have a display that shows additional information. This can
be used to show what piece of equipment the remote is set to control. A display also
allows individual buttons to be labeled in the display. The label can then automatically
change depending upon what function the button is performing. It makes it much easier
to keep track of the unit's function.
Touch Screen Configuration -
A touch screen remote uses a pressure sensitive screen to show different icons that
can be pressed to initiate a command or sequence. The advantage of a touch screen
remote, outside of the fact that they look super cool, is that the screen can change to
display only the appropriate buttons for the device you're controlling. That way fewer
buttons can be displayed at a time, and the remote can be very easy to use and
understand. In addition, the icons can be descriptive pictures that make use of the
remote very intuitive. Touch screen remotes are available in color, monochrome or
grey scale. As you can imagine, the color units are the most expensive.
Many touch screens have standard "hard" buttons as well to give the user a tactile
sensation and allow the remote to be easy to use in the dark. The most common hard
buttons are for channel up/dn, volume, and cursor functions.
Popular touch screen remote controls include: The Philips Pronto, RTI's T-2 and T-3,
Universal's MX-3000, and at the top end, various configurations from Crestron and AMX.
Remotes will communicate over IR or using RF. Some use WiFi. The advantage of
using RF is that the remote need not be pointed at the equipment or an IR remote
repeater sensor. RF can be fickle however, and is subject to interference. When setting
up an RF system, it is sometimes necessary to reorient or relocate the RF receiver
several times in order to get reliable operation. Most remotes use 418 or 433 MHz to
avoid interference from WiFi networks, cordless telephones and microwaves.
One exception to this is upper end remotes made by such companies as Crestron. One
reason for such remote controls high cost is that they use digital spread spectrum
technology to transmit (and in some cases receive) control signals. Widely used today
for cordless phones, this technology was originally developed for military
communications and is extremely secure and reliable.
Copyright 2004-7 1 touch movie.com
Home theater and Automation Guide
All rights reserved.
Home theater and Automation Guide
All rights reserved.
Home Theater Remote Controls
1 Touch Movie.com
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