Home Entertainment Remote Controls
Home entertainment systems have expanded out of all recognition in recent
years – LCD, and Plasma, television sets, DVD players, or recorders, AV
receivers, even video games consoles, now form part of everyday
entertainment, for many domestic consumers – and each component is
supplied, naturally enough, with its own remote control unit.
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However, this can also mean that an everyday activity, such as watching a
film on digital television, can involve using one remote control to switch
on a television set, and select its input source, another for a digital
television receiver, and yet another for, perhaps, digital surround sound
components. By programming the control codes for each device into a “Universal Remote Control”, or “URC”, all these operations can be
completed with a single push of a button.
Universal Remote Controls
Remote control units, of any type, operate by communicating with
electronic devices via infrared light. Pressing a key on a remote control
unit causes a sequence of infrared pulses, known as a “control code”, to
be transmitted from its infrared port, or “eye”, and received by a
detector on the corresponding piece of equipment. The detector, in turn,
translates the incoming control code into electrical signals, used to
perform some function of the device.
The good news is that there are only a finite number of control codes in
use, so by manual programming, or by “acquiring” control codes
automatically, from existing remote control units, Universal Remote
Controls can replicate the functionality of each, in a single remote
control unit.
| Example products include the One for All Kameleon 6-in-1 URC, which, as
the name suggests, is capable of supporting up to six individual devices,
and a touch screen which illuminates – by using a proximity sensor – when
fingers are nearby, and the Logitech Harmony 525, which also has “learning” capability, can support up to 12 individual devices, and be
connected, via USB, to a computer, for downloading software and upgrades
from the Internet. |
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Conclusion
Carefully chosen, a Universal Remote Control is likely to become quite a“personal” item; you are likely to use, and, perhaps, abuse, it on a daily
basis. You should make sure, therefore, that a URC fits comfortably into
your hand, with a layout, and style, of buttons that you like, and does
not feel flimsy – if it feels like it will fall apart very quickly, the
chances are it will. Make sure, too, that the user interface is clear,
easy to understand, and operate.
Where Can You Find More Universal Remote
Control Information?
For more details of the remote featured on this page, click here for the One for All Kameleon.
There are many excellent resources available on Google.com,
simply perform a search for "remote control units" or "universal remote control" and you will find plenty of useful information.
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