| Universal Remote Control URC-R50 Digital R50 Universal Remote Control |  | Brand: Universal
Category: CE
List Price: $169.99
Buy New: $79.25
as of 9/7/2010 21:20 EDT details
You Save: $90.74 (53%)
New (27)
Seller: drackonp
Rating:  88 reviews
Color: gloss black and silver
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Number Of Items: 1
Batteries: 4
Batteries Included: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 2.3 x 1.1 x 8.9
Warranty: 1 year warranty
MPN: URC-R50
Model: URC-R50
UPC: 656787305014
EAN: 0056787305012
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | On Screen set up Wizard | | • | Easy operation for the whole family | | • | 48 Color My Favorite Channels | | • | Learning and preprogrammed | | • | MacroPower ON/Off single button control |
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Product Description
The DIGITAL R50 makes it easy for your whole family to enjoy the Home Entertainment System, and controls up to 18 components. It features a large, color LCD and provides a Setup Wizard right on the LCD screen for quick & easy configuration (simply answer a few questions). And it has thousands of built-in control codes to assure full control of your components. The exciting R50 is Learning Capable, so it's able to learn functions and commands from other remotes. In addition it offers 48 My Favorite Channels, MacroPower buttons (for single-button press to turn ON/OFF all components, switching sources, and inputs) and SimpleSound, a dynamic feature for total volume control over all components in your system, even those without built-in volume control, such as TiVo, DVD and VCR. Powerful Ergonomics Learning Capabilities - up to 1,500 Buttons Standard frequencies (15kHz to 100kHz) Macro Capabilities - 1,500 macro buttons (up to 255 steps each) Memory - 32MB (Non-Volatile Flash Memory) Range - IR (infrared) 30 - 50 feet (approximate range will vary depending upon operational & environmental conditions) Power Supply - AA x 4 (included) Unit Dimensions - 2.3 W x 8.9 H x 1.1 D; Weight - 0.55 lbs (w/ batteries) Manufacturer's 1-year parts & labor warranty
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 88
Good, solid remote, easy to program once you learn August 30, 2010
Michael A. Fratto (Syracuse, Ny)
Since I bought a HD set-up, I wanted a universal remote. I tried a few of the Logitechs but wasn't happy with them. I landed on the URC-50 because I wanted something reliable and programmable and I didn't want to spend hundreds of dollars on an expensive remote. Once you get this remote set-up, it's easy to use. I have had it for several months and it has been solid.
I like this remote a lot. It's big(a tad too big, actually, which is the start knock-off) and solid. The plus with the size is that even in the dark, I can press buttons by feel pretty reliably. The downside is that I sometimes have to move my hand around to get to buttons. Not a big deal. The night light button is hard to reach too.
Programming. Plan on spending about an hour getting the remote configured and working with your gear. The on-screen instructions walk you through the device options. The remote contains a fixed database of products. Unlike other remote, you can't add more through your PC. If your device isn't listed, then you have to program it in. That's not difficult. Point the remotes at each other, follow the onscreen directions and you are all set. I had to add-in my Panasonic VIERA G10 Series HDTV, for example.
I particularly like the ability to copy keys from remote to another. Unlike Logitechs, you don't create activities like "Watch TV" or "Listen to music." Don't get me wrong, Logitech's programming is very easy for 90% of what people want to do and I wish the URC-R50 had something like it. Instead of activities, you create device profiles for all of your devices. When you want to control a device, you switch the remote to that device. If that was all there was to the URC-R50, then it wouldn't be useful.
To make things easier and stop you from switching from device to device, you can copy a limited set of keys like power, volume, and channel changing from one remote profile to another. For example, I have a Tivo that manages channels and the TV manages volume. I copied the volume keys from my TV device to the Tivo device and copied the channel and number keys from the Tivo device to the TV device. That way I can adjust the volume and channels regardless of the selected device. I also copied the TV's power control to the Tivo device since that is the one I am normally using. It's actually pretty easy to configure once you get going.
You can get more control with macros and these are a bit tricky to get running. The manual recommends using the remote for a few days to figure out how you use it before creating macros and I agree. After a few days, the only thing I wanted to do was have a button that would take me from watching a Blu-Ray on my Panasonic DMP-BD85K Blu-Ray to watching TV (My TV and Blu-Ray have a command channel to switch TV inputs automatically when the Blu-Ray is powered up). This site [...] has a great walk through of all the advanced features plus macros. With a Macro, you record key strokes on devices that you want played in order. I created a Macro that powers off the Blu-ray, brings up the input selection menu on the TV, selects the right input, then switches to Tivo mode. Once the macro is recorded, then I can re-play it. The gotcha with my set-up was that I copied the Tivo number keys to my TV setting so I could change channels while watching TV. That meant I couldn't use the remote to select the correct input on my TV. To fix this, I created a second TV remote profile and hid it on the last page of the remote. Then when I switched to the TV remote to select input, I selected my hidden remote instead. Works like a charm. Be sure to write down exactly what key presses on which device you need to program a macro. It's easy.
There are two things I wish it had. The first is light on shake. As it stands, the first key press gets eaten lighting the device. The second is the ability to enter discrete codes (code to turn on, code to turn off stuff, for example). I knew discrete code input was missing from the product when I bought it. When I switch from one input to another, I want the original input to turn "off." I know I can build a macro that to do that, but it assumes power conditions that aren't evident.
 Powerful, Versitile & Economical August 18, 2010
R. Wolfe (Philadelphia, PA)
This remote is fantastic. I'd feel like a sucker had I spent more for a Harmony or some other brand and then ran into this at my buddy's house.
For the price, apparently, nothing else could what I need a universal remote to do (and then some) but a remote from Universal Remote Control. I had read some great reviews for the remote from them that is actually a step beneath this one (the one that lacks a color screen), and that was what I would have been happy to come home with last week, but all I could actually put my hands on in a store was this model. I am glad I sprang for the next model up.
Here's the quick and dirty review:
Assignable, color LCD screen device buttons (for up to 18 devices); re-assignable and re-nameable LCD buttons (page after page if needed)--to be clear, this is not a touch-screen: the LCD puts a button with a label on the screen and you press a physical button next to it on the remote; simple, uncluttered design; light-up, soft rubber buttons (lights up red); rubberized body (has an almost velvety feel to it); learning function for all buttons and plenty of memory; color icons for your favorite TV stations appear on the LCD screen when you hit the "FAV" button (you can have 8 pages of 6 icons each to scroll through)--purely a luxury feature, but pretty darn cool; capable of complex macros (assignable to any LCD button and then some); battery life indicator on-screen; easy to program, with all instructions on-board and presented on the LCD screen as-you-go--you'll never have to dig out a manual or fire up the Internet months or years from now to install a new device because it's all right there and easy enough to follow with the on-screen instructions built into the remote itself.
For the price, this remote cannot be beat, and for a television universal remote priced at over $100, I felt like I got my money's worth. This thing is priced less here on Amazon at the moment, but I had read enough reviews of people talking about having to return a remote they didn't like or was defective to bite the bullet and buy one at a physical store locally. Was a great purchase.
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Here's the long review:
Several reviewers here have noted that these remotes are a bit challenging to program. I can say that if you only gave it 10 minutes or so, and were at least subconsciously hoping the thing would magically sort out your conglomeration of electronics on its own, then, yeah, you're going to be disappointed. If you are even a little bit psyched to sort out how to put the power of up to 18 remotes in the palm of your ONE hand, and you give this more like 15 or 20 minutes, you will be on your way (and in heaven).
You don't have to take this thing online (like a lot of the competitors need to have you do in order to program their remotes); it puts all the instructions up on the LCD screen as you go; it's all self-contained. Getting the remote programmed with the proper codes for the TV's, Blue-ray, VCR's, etc. WAS almost magical, though. Tell it you're hoping to program it for a TV, pick an icon for that TV, pick the manufacturer's name off a list, watch it turn off your device, and you're done. Out of 10 devices, 8 worked on the first try. The newer the device, the better it works. I have a maybe 10-year old Panasonic TV that I needed to walk back through a fair number of codes to hit the right one--but you don't have to enter the numbers by hand while reading them off a list in tiny print in a manual; just hit a button on the remote once more. Cake. One all-region Daewoo DVD player not sold in this country retail for some time (if ever) was not on the list at all, so I left that for later (I anticipated that I would need to have this new remote "learn" all those commands anyway). About a minute and a half after I had 9 devices programmed in, I had the volume controls for all devices overwritten with the volume controls for the appropriate sound system; there's a simple procedure built right into the remote to facilitate this quite easily. Beautiful. 10th device, which needed entirely to be learned from scratch, was not a problem--seriously took not much over 5 minutes to get that job done. No memory issues; has plenty of memory for learned commands and configuring things the way you want (I had my old Sony Remote Commander maxed out and couldn't have had it "learn" any more buttons than I had it holding--was always a little worried about that).
Now, macros at first were a bit slower to sort out, but I realized after my first attempt that I really needed to first understand how the thing controls just a TV or cable box before I could program it to manipulate several of them in a certain order, so I played with the thing for a few minutes, got the layout and how paging through the LCD-screen buttons works, how to go back and forth between devices, etc., and then went back at creating a macro after 5 or 6 minutes of that. It all came together, mostly because the on-screen display is basically idiot-proof once you are even minimally familiar with the device. It's really quite simple if you just watch for the prompts on the LCD screen and go with the flow--mind you, the script is small and you might need your reading glasses for the prompts that pop up across the top of the LCD screen, but they are there and they are extremely helpful.
To break it down by remotes from competitors I ran across at supposedly the same recommended retail price point (though you can get all of these for less than this if you look around or buy online like here at Amazon):
Harmony 700 = $150 (found one on sale for $100 same day I bought this thing), controls only 6 devices, has color LCD screen. Must be programmed online. Reviews on Amazon that indicate they may break easily had me wary of this line, but being limited to merely 6 devices make this one useless for my needs anyway.
(You need to get to the $250 price point (I'm sure you could find one somewhere for less, though) to get to 15 devices, but you might not necessarily get a color LCD for your money. Spent a week this summer with a Harmony 670 at a shore house--I was the only one in the house who could make it run the system (seems it was not programmed intuitively). I like this URC remote better than that one; that was the only Harmony I ever actually used, though. Even if you could find it for a similar price to the URC-R50, it can "only" control 15 devices and lacks a color LCD--less features for the same or more money.)
Acoustic Research ARRX15G = $150 (but I can't find one actual on a shelf for over $80--were all on clearance at Best Buy this week), controls 15 devices. Has a color LCD. Need to take it online to do "advanced programming." Held one in my hand in the store, and it just felt cheap, honestly. Was tempting, but the online thing seemed like a hassle. Reviews on Amazon were about 50/50 love/hate on this thing, which gave me pause.
(This company has another device that is supposedly at the $250 price point (but I couldn't find one for over $150) that does 18 devices and also does radio frequency devices, if you're interested in that. Again, have to take it online to program it completely.)
URC-R50 = $150 (got one for less on sale), controls 18 devices. Color LCD. Doesn't need to be programmed online (can't go online). Most features for the money. Nice feel (rubberized body, nice and solid, but not heavy in your hand). Company has a reputation for building highly functional remotes that are durable, well-designed, and moderately priced on technophile websites (and here on Amazon).
At this price point--whether you actually get any of these on sale for less or not, this remote is the king, and I can't see what paying way more would do for most consumers. The AR remote is not as well reviewed, and I am not into the online programming. Now, I am sure--from reading reviews only--that there are some features that certain Harmony remotes come with that this one doesn't have (I'm thinking "state of device memory" here), and maybe you really need or are used to them. Bite the bullet and pay the extra dough for the Harmony, then, I suppose. Perhaps you will be pigeon-holed into buying a more expensive remote if you want to use the same device to run radio frequency controlled devices or you really desire a re-chargable battery factory installed. But any of these other devices will apparently need a PC connected to the Internet in order to be programmed properly, which seems a bit much to me after experiencing the URC remote. You decide if the extra wad is worth these other features. The vast majority of consumers will feel quite pampered with this remote, though, and simply wouldn't pay several hundred dollars for a remote control anyway. (I felt a little silly paying over $100 for this one standing at the counter--but now that I have it, I have no regrets, and would buy it in a hot second again any day. If you're on the ball and/or willing to purchase online, you can get it for under $90--nothing at that price point is as well-reviewed or as functional.)
This was an easy decision between these available remotes in my shopping area. I am very happy with my purchase of the URC-R50 and feel like I made the smart move going with this product. Works as advertised, was not exorbitantly priced, and really was a dream to program.
Serviceable Remote but not for Everybody August 6, 2010
T. Blong
After 2+ years or good use, I was having issues with my Harmony Logitech 670 remote (it would quit working intermittently) so I decided to seek an alternative. After weeks of using my new URC-R50 remote, I now consider the URC-R50 an upgrade over the very good Harmony model.
I consider the URC-R50 better because you can program it exactly how you want it. The possibilities are endless as you can program each button on each screen to fit your system & needs. Nothing is stopping you from making the FF button the RR button if you so desired. The Harmony is not quite as robust in that department. Then the URC-R50 has the ability to invent "macros" or mini-programs that can be assigned to any button on any screen. For instance, the "on" button on the main screen can function as both the "turn on TV" button and "turn on TV, put TV on cable input, turn on DVD, turn on audio, put audio on surround sound mode" button. The first command is triggered with a normal simple press, the latter is a macro program triggered by holding the button down for 2 seconds.
However, programming the URC-R50 to be able to do all this is a bit of a challenge or has a "learning curve". Please note I am an IT geek with years of programming experience on large computer systems. It does not take a genius to program the URC-R50, just patience. But if you have never heard of the word "macro", or the word "programming" scares you, then you may want to stay clear. I would go with the Harmony that allows you to connect the remote to the web to set the programs. But if you want something that can be tuned to your desires, this is it.
The web is full of tips on the programming the URC-R50 such as [...]. If you put the time into the URC-R50, it will reward you. I just hope it holds up better than the Harmony. I liked the Harmony, it was easy to set-up, but it only lasted a bit over 2 years & was not very "customizable". Time will tell if the URC-R50 outlasts the Harmony, but the URC-R50 is quite a bit heavier than the Harmony and seems better built.
One negative on Amazon is this was sold as "new" but when I got the URC-R50, the package box was open and my "new" URC-R50 already had some programs in it. Obviously this was a returned unit by some frustrated non-program person. The unit seemed in very good shape with no damage. I was in no mood to return it as I needed a new remote, so I simply reset the unit to factory settings and was on my way to programming a very serviceable remote.
Review of URC R50 remote control August 2, 2010
Deckard7
The (URC)Universal Remote Control R50 is my 4th. URC remote. I previously had an MX500 followed by two MX650's. They were easy to program. I used to teach each button individually so that I had everything exactly where I wanted it. When I got the R50 I decided to try the built in codes just to see what would happen. I had my Sony TV and Samsung cablebox running off the remote in about ten minutes. The Sony codes I chose actually gave me functions that the original Sony remote did not have, Direct access to all the different inputs as opposed to having the open up the menu and scroll down to the inputs section and then scroll through the inputs to make your selection. This made trying to get a macro that would work everytime impossible. The new functions provided by the R50 has given me the ability to make macros that now work every time I want to watch a DVD or switch to one of my DVR's.
When you first start using the R50 the instructions are right on the screen, you have to go through a few pages of instructions everytime you wish to make a change. It only takes a few minutes to figure out how to do anything to set up the remote, once you are familiar with how it works you can turn off the instructions which makes doing changes go alot faster. Another nice thing about this remote is the fact that you can input two lines of seven characters each on each buttton. The old remotes only allowed five characters total which sometimes made naming them rather cryptic. I have always liked the URC remotes and the R50 to me is the best of the three different models I have used.
Universal Remote Control URC-R50 Digital R50 Universal Remote Control
Moment of clarity July 30, 2010
Imyourmomma (new york, USA)
I though this remote was the biggest piece of **** money could buy. I was all ready to send it back and then it hit me. The last page you are on when you hit the DONE button of a macro is the page the dang remote stays on. I must have missed that in the info pages of the remote.
When that was realized, everything started falling into place.
A few tricks that I use:
1. Always power off to a base state (TV at component 1, Stereo to TV/aux, etc.) that way you will always start at a common starting point. I used the most common setup for what gets done most, watch TV, prior to shutting it all down. It makes my wife much happier that she can just hit the "on" button on the main screen and everything turns on for the TV. All my "off" button macros return the remote to the main screen.
2. Discreet on/off codes are your friend with this remote, they will allow you to do almost anything. Unfortunately, my stereo doesn't have them.
3. Power up the longest powering up device first(in my case the TV) so you don't have to use the pause button so much.
4. I set up the remote with dummy activities, like a harmony. The first page has things like watch tv, play xbox, play CD, watch DVD. Use the Learn function to make dummy buttons on the main menu. Then put your macros on buttons inside of those dummy activities. I keep my component buttons on the third page.
Example: I have an activity that has PLAY XBOX. When I hit that, it opens the device and has only two buttons on the screen... XBOX ON, XBOX OFF. These are the macro buttons that turn things on and off. I have no macros assigned to any main menu button, only on the inside. I then assigned the volume, up, down etc. to the xbox and receiver.
Once you have the devices powering on the way you want them to, then start assigning keys like volume to the receiver from that page. Always end on the page you want to turn off/on from.
Guess that's it. Hope this helps.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 88
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