Accept you ever lost the remote to your TV? Unless you're some kind of magician, the respond is probable a resounding "yes." Everyone misplaces remotes, and that's where universal remote controls come into play. These devices can be programmed to work with near any type of Television, DVD player, cable box, or other home theater and restore the convenience y'all lost.

They are specially helpful if you buy a CRT. If you lot're looking for suggestions for a universal remote, the Philips Universal Remote is one of the most affordable and easiest to employ. Don't panic at the thought of programming a universal remote, either – it but takes a few minutes to do and admittedly no technical skill.

How to Setup and Program a Universal Remote Control

At that place are multiple ways to program a universal remote, only the two most mutual are direct lawmaking entry and auto code search.

Before y'all begin, brand sure the remote has fresh batteries and that the TV is plugged in. The programming process can accept several minutes to consummate, merely yous want no interruptions during this time. If the signal between the Television and the remote is lost, you'll have to start from the start.

Something else to bear in mind is that not all universal remotes apply the same programming methods. While this guide is a generalized article for how to program a remote, refer to the specific instructions that come with your make of remote.

A Notation On Remote Types

Every brand of universal remote is different. Some will have a series of buttons for specific devices similar a DVR, while others will have more generalized buttons like Goggle box, STR, and AUD. A petty-known fact is that information technology doesn't matter which push button yous use – any device can be linked to whatsoever button.

If you desire to control a Blu-Ray thespian simply you don't accept the respective push button on your remote, just pick a device push. Write it down then y'all don't forget subsequently on.

How to Program a Universal Remote Through Direct Code Entry

Direct Code Entry is the most recommended method for programming a universal remote. It relies on an included Code List for specific devices, although this same list can exist institute online based on the make of your remote.

  1. If you have the included documentation for your universal remote, wait at the codes for your specific brand of Tv or device. If you don't accept the documentation, wait online for a code list.
  2. Press and concur the Setup push button on your remote until the red lite turns on.
  1. Printing the push button on your remote for the type of device you want to control, whether a Television receiver or a fix-acme box. The red light will turn on and remain on.
  1. Use the numbers on your remote to enter the first of the iv-digit codes listed on your code listing. The red light on your remote will turn off after yous've entered the final digit.
  1. After you've entered the terminal digit, betoken your remote at your device and test whether it controls the device similar you lot look. If it doesn't, echo steps two through four. After y'all observe a code that works for one device, echo all of the above steps as many times equally needed for each device yous want the remote to control.

Not every lawmaking in the lawmaking listing volition control every aspect of your device. For example, one code might turn a TV on and off and change the aqueduct, simply information technology won't control the volume. If you lot discover a code that only controls function of a device, keep testing codes until you lot discover 1 that works for every aspect – then write that code downwardly for safekeeping.

How to Program a Universal Remote Through Auto Lawmaking Search

Auto code search is probably the easiest programming method, equally it requires the least amount of input on your part. Information technology searches an internal database and tries lawmaking after lawmaking until it finds one that works. The previously-mentioned Philips Universal Remote uses machine code search, and programming information technology goes like this:

  1. Turn on the Tv set or device y'all want to sync the remote with.
  2. Press the Setup push until the red lite on the remote activates.
  1. Printing the button on the remote that corresponds to the device you're trying to program; for the sake of the example, we'll say TV. The red calorie-free will blink one time and remain on.
  1. Betoken the remote at your Television so printing and release the Power button on the remote. The red low-cal volition blink several times and and so remain on once it has finished transmitting codes.
  1. If your TV turned off, manually press the ability button on the TV itself. If not, repeat steps iv and 5.
  2. Point the remote at the Television and printing the Book Up button. This will resend the first ten codes from step 4. If the TV turns off, information technology means you've found a lawmaking that works for it. If not, press the Book Up button to test the other codes, allowing roughly three seconds between presses. Echo this until you find the right lawmaking.
  1. Press the Power button on the remote to turn your Telly dorsum on, and then exam the other buttons on the remote to make sure everything works as it should. If a button doesn't piece of work, get back to pace two.

Note that auto code search will only piece of work with a device that has an on/off button. If your TV doesn't have manual control features (or they are broken), then you'll need to utilize Direct Lawmaking Entry instead.

What Are the Most Common Universal Remotes?

If you begin to search for universal remotes, you'll shortly observe that every brand from Magnavox to Sanyo produces them. Go on in mind that you do not demand to friction match the make of your universal remote to your TV.

It doesn't matter if y'all take a Sylvania TV and an Orion remote – equally long equally the remote is a programmable universal device, information technology will work with almost anything. However, the virtually common types of universal remotes are from the brands RCA, Philips, and – if you want to invest in a more expensive option – Logitech.

RCA provides the Remote Code Finder website, a database that makes information technology easy to enter the revision model of your remote, the make name, and the device type, and easily observe a listing of codes.

If you want to control more modern TVs (and even streaming services like Apple tree Television set), consider the Logitech Harmony. This is a loftier-stop universal remote that tin control a vast number of devices.