Nice idea but it just plain doesn't deliver.
Written: Dec 28 '02 (Updated Jan 01 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: It lights up. A few big buttons.
Cons: Gulps batteries! Poor range. Not many buttons are lit. Limited range.
The Bottom Line: Great idea with horrible execution. Poor design, inferior range and maddening battery consumption. Save your money and buy another one and a flashlight.
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| dhascall's Full Review: RCA RCU4GLW Remote Control |
It's 11:30 PM, you are watching the late show with your significant other in the dark when you decide to adjust the TV's volume. You fumble for the remote and then try to recall where the volume control is. Instead of changing the volume, you may end up turning to another station, turning it off or programing the VCR! Frustrated, you have to get up, turn the lights on, just to change the volume and fix what else that you've done.
RCA comes up with your savior: RCA developed the Niteglo Universal Remote, RCU4GLW. This is a universal remote (TV, VCR, Cable Box) with a twist. It lights up! As far as compatablity, it runs most of the devices in our house. The button layout is straightforward, with many tiny buttons and 4 large ones (Volume Up / Down and Channel Up / Down). Ironically, the "Power: button is small button, at the bottom of the unit. Bad location, I think. VCR control buttons are near the top. The unit is very long and you can either hold it from the bottom, to access the Volume and Channel controls or rest the remote in the middle of the palm, for easier access to the VCR portion. For what it's worth, I would have liked the VCR controls at the bottom.
Niteglo: The built in light is a nice feature but it only lights up a small portion of the buttons (the bottom ones). It also doesn't seem to stay on very long (say to press "Play" and adjust Volume, the light goes off after the first step). The light is very weak.
Range: Not very good! The unit's range seems to fizzle after about 12 feet. Fine for a bedroom but not good anywhere else! The original RCA remote that came with my 52" big screen, also had poor range.
Cost: I paid $13.
Batteries: This is by far the biggest downfall of the remote. It has a huge appetite for the four AAA batteries! I don't think that light uses *that* much power. Even without using the light, I had to replace batteries EVERY THREE WEEKS! That got expensive. This is just plain unacceptable! The RCA remote that came with the 52" TV also devoured batteries. In contrast, I have other remotes that are years old with the original batteries!
In Conclusion: Save your money. There are better choices! I did find another RCA universal (Systemlink3 RCU300D) for $7 that has good range and still has the original batteries. This unit has no light but I'd save enough in batteries to by a flashlight. The Niteglo bomb is in the trash.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
dhascall
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Reviews written: 51
Trusted by: 3 members
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