kingjerky's Full Review: Universal Remote Control SL-9000 LCD Remote Contro...
I purchased this remote because I grew tired of having 4 remotes to control my equipment.
I didn't want to shell out $200 for the savvy Sony Remote Commander only to have my little one drop it on the floor and break it. That got me looking for a fully functional learning remote that is durable (can be dropped) yet has all of the features required to control a lot of equipment.
I must say that I'm very happy with my selection in the MX-500. It is a well made "normal" looking remote with easy to use and well-placed buttons. This remote has all of the expensive features found on the $200 remotes at an economical price.
Easy to Use: I was amazed at how easy this remote was to program. Most of the programming is done using the LCD screen and the standard CODE list found in the manual. Everything was so intuitive I found that I used the manual mainly for reference and not a step by step tutorial.
Fun Features: Can we say MACROS? You can string a long list of commands together and assign it to a button. I use this to power on and off my system. Previously I had to power down the TV, DVD, Receiver, Satellite with different remotes. Now I can hit one button and it turns them all off/on for me. The only CON to the macro functions is that there are only 3 Macro Buttons.
Another fun feature is the learning ability of the remote. If the pre-programmed codes do not control the component -or- you want to control your RF Ceiling Fan (try finding a code for that!) you can easily teach this remote to handle it. I really used the learning function heavily for my Dish Network PVR501 as none of the pre-programmed codes for EchoStar controlled my Satellite. This is likely due to the fact that I have an RF remote for my dish and it requires you to setup a Controller ID. Something that those with a standard IR remote won't have an issue with. The good news is that I was able to teach every command to the MX-500 without any trouble.
The BLUE light is a nice feature that you can turn on/off as needed. It illuminates the keys as well as the LCD panel so that you can see what you're doing in the dark.
The last FUN feature I'd like to comment on is FAVORITES. You can program Favorite channels to a hot button accessed within the LCD menus via a single button. This list can be customized as needed. The Labels for your favorites come pre-programmed (Disney, ESPN, CBS, NBC, Fox, etc), but you have to assign the correct channel to each label. This is easy to do and you no longer have to remember the channel #! Ever have your cable company reassign your channels? It is a nightmare that you can avoid with this remote. Just reprogram the channels to their new # and you could care less. The labels can be changed as well if you'd rather have History Channel in place of the preprogrammed Disney channel spot.
Expandability: This remote can control 10 devices. I have fairly standard items (VCR, Receiver, Satellite, DVD, CD Changer, TV) and this remote sailed through setup. You'd have to have a FULL media cabinet to require a 10 device remote, but this remote CAN do it.
Price: I paid $120 at Buy.com during a special rebate offer. The retail for this remote is actually $200, but you can easily find it cheaper online via pricegrabber.com or another shopping engine.
Batteries: Battery installation was easy. I've read that they last up to a year, but I've only had my remote a month so I can't really comment on that. The good news is that there is an internal backup battery so when you replace them, the remote doesn't lose what you've programmed.
Size: The remote size is slightly larger than your standard Cable or Satellite remote. It isn't heavy or cumbersome and it is well balanced your hand. The beauty of the design is that it can be sat on, dropped, etc w/o a great deal of concern (I wouldn't encourage this, but hey it happens).
Controls up to ten devices Preprogrammed for over 1,000 audio/video components Learns up to 530 commands via infrared from device remotes Send out mul...More at Amazon Marketplace
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