Hooray !! The Best Innovation For TV Remotes EVER → They Finally Made A Remote With A Battery Cover That Won't Get Lost → OH, And Its Small Too
Written: Mar 10 '07
Product Rating:
Pros: Works Perfectly. Controls Simple Functions Like Channel, Volume & Power.
Cons: Still Won't Open The Car Doors. HA!
The Bottom Line: All-in-all, with such good range you could play some fun mind games with your friends. Just don't try it during the SuperBowl at the bar.
shippo225's Full Review: Universal Remote Control Remote-n-Go R2-Mini Remot...
Don't Have Enough Money For Rent?
Why Not Blow What You Do Have On A Mini Remote…..
Hello World! One thing that bugs me when I go to someone's house, be it my father or cousin's place, is never having the TV remote when I'm a whopping ten feet away from it. Either no one knows where the stupid thing is or the battery cover is missing, along with the batteries. I know you can get a universal remote at the DG, but who wants to carry that around? So one day, while shelf browsing at Rite-Aid out of boredom, I came across this R2-mini Universal Remote Control. It was on a display by the register and who could possibly resist buying a universal TV remote the size of my car remote? So I figure, ain't got enough for rent, why not buy this fun gadget. I thought it would be nice to have a remote anywhere I go that would control almost any TV or box on the market from regular TVs, LCDs, plasmas, as well as cable and satellite boxes.
Upon the package was the claim of POWER, CHANNEL, MUTE and VOLUME control of most brands of Televisions. It also stated you could control your cable and satellite boxes as well. Oh yeah, it also states that you shouldn't play games with TVs that you do not have channel permission over, such as in classrooms or restaurants. Like that rule applies…….
Why A TV Remote Won't Unlock Your Car:
Perhaps the best aspect about this remote is that it’s the size of a standard car keyless entry remote. Without looking closely, you could easily mistake it for a car remote. It has a loop at the bottom to attach it to a keyring if you so desire, although I would not recommend it for tight pockets or if you tend to sit on them. I would give it a keyring of its own. The whole thing is only an inch wide by two inches long by about a quarter-inch thick. Shorter than my pinky finger. Yup, car remote status here. The underside is of a dark gray while the front is a cream or off-white color. It's even shiny and reflective. The remote is exactly the same as the one in the picture at the top of the review [keys to a new car, not included].
Hmmmmmmmmmmm….What does this button do? There is much personal debate over whether this remote has five buttons or seven. The R2-mini comes with all the necessary functions to controls a TV without ever having a real remote. As long as you don't need menu functions or whatnot. The top two buttons are TV & CBL/SAT. Both are translucent and have red LED lights under them that light up with each button press to show whether its control TV or the cable box. In the middle, under the two top buttons, is the mute button. This one stays defaulted to TV control so you can mute the tube when you are surfing the satellite at the same time. And last, we have the CH and VOL buttons. They are swivel buttons so one button controls channel up and down, same goes for volume. That’s why I'm not sure if there are five or seven buttons. Maybe five buttons with seven functions.
All of the buttons are that rubbery kinda material. They feel great after 1,136 continuous presses, which is usually when I decide that nothing is on to watch and get on the web instead. After a little getting used to, you really don't feel awkward holding a car remote-sized TV remote. It's quite comfy and feels natural.
Programming 101:
For anyone who has ever had one of those 3-in-1 universal remotes of sorts will probably be able to do this without trying. To program a remote simply means to tell it what codes to use for your particular TV. Each brand has its own set of IR codes to operate their devices. These universal remotes have most of these codes built in to control virtually anything. You just have to do a quick procedure to program it, usually involving continuously pressing a button until something happens on the TV. The R2-mini can be setup to control TVs and CABLE/SATELLITE boxes.
The programming of the R2-mini differs slightly from the usual. To set it up for TV controlling, you have to have it turned on beforehand. Hold the TV button for three seconds, until the button stays lit red. Then, pointing the remote at the given TV, you continuously press the CH. up button at one second intervals until something happens to the TV. Sometimes the TV turns off or some other act of mystery occurs, like the menu coming up. Then you press the TV button again to save the code. The remote may have multiple code sets that will work with your specific model. I can program my cousin's SANYO a few different ways so that the TV button acts as the power button, a useful feature. I can also set it so that it controls other functions, such as menu. But for most users, the simple channel, power and volume controls will be sufficient. If you can't turn the power on or off with the TV button, then you should try programming it again. For the record, it took only nine (9) presses of the CH button to set it for SANYO.
You can also control a cable box or satellite receiver with the R2-mini. The setup follows the same procedure as the TV control instructions above, except you would hold in the CBL/SAT button for three seconds and then at the end to save the code. If you have set up a cable box for the R2-mini, the remote automatically uses the channel controls for the CBL/SAT by default while using the TV controls for volume. This setup works great if you control channels from a box outside your TV, but use you TV speakers. You can change between CBL/SAT and TV channel control if you need to. To do this, press and hold the CBL/SAT button for three seconds until it lights up. Press VOL up once and then select either TV or CBL/SAT.
Testing It In The Range:
Like any other remote, an important factor is whether or not it can be used remotely enough. If the TV is 20' away from my lazy self, then this remote better work at a 20' range minimum. So I tested it at my cousin's house that, in my poor family, has the longest testable distance for this, which is about 20' - 25'. I started at a closer distance, like what I'd use during normal TV surfing. The results were desirable. I slowly walked backward into the kitchen, continuously tapping the channel button, until I could no longer maintain a line of site to the TV, about 25'. The R2-mini still functioned flawlessly at the distance. Now, I don't really have the means to test it at greater ranges, without lugging the 27" across the room and out the front door. But not too many people will have the need to use greater distances anyway. It's far enough to play with the tube from across the classroom, the TV presentation at that important meeting, or the plasma at the bar in Applebee's during the Super Bowl.
* Notice: I am not responsible for damages inflicted to anyone who uses this device maliciously, including detentions, suspensions, job termination, and muggings during halftime. USE AT OWN RISK!
Changing The Battery: Maybe You Could Lose The Battery Cover…
Perhaps the most daunting task concerning the R2-mini. This is probably the only time you have the chance to lose the battery cover. And if you lose the cover, then you may not be able to tape it because the battery clips into the lid. But anywho….. The R2-mini comes stock with an included CR2025 flat cell 'watch' battery. After a million clicks from the endless channel surfing, the original battery is still holding up for me. But it can't last forever….
Changing the battery is simple. You can use your fingernails, given you have some. If not, then find another way. The battery cover is round like most flat battery covers. There are two notches where you can put your fingernails and twist counter-clockwise to open it, going about ¼". It will pop up slightly from the spring under it. The CR2025 stays attached to the cover. Insert the new battery in its place with the shiny (+) side up. Put the cover back on and twist clockwise until it 'clicks'.
If You Haven't Caught My Drift Yet, Here's The Conclusion:
I do indeed recommend this mini remote. It really has come in handy when the original remote tends to get up and walk away, as it always seems to do. I can go to my dad's and use it there when I stay for a while, as well as at my other relative's places. Although I prefer to keep it separate from my keys, it is no bigger than the average car remote and is keyring capable. I have been able to program every TV I have tried so far, each being performed in less than thirty seconds. Some of the major brands I have used this on include RCA, SANYO, SYMPHONIC, etc. The cable box and TV setup was no problem either. The range is rather good, standing strong against real TV remotes. If you want one for yourself, then let me know and I will mail you one. [PayPal me $12]
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