Comments on: URC-R50 Remote Control Review

By: Xetairex

Xetairex — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:19:58 +0000

I bought this to replace my Logitech Harmony on which down arrow key stopped working. I did not like the slow response of my AT&T DVR (even with programmed delays) with my Harmony remote.

R50 however, is not as easy to program as many claim. I found the macro feature very cumbersome, and really, they need to do a much better job that this, to make the process easier. Specifically:

* you can’t ‘move’ icons around, you have to delete them and re-program! what kins of numb-nut way of doing things!

* macros like ‘watch-TV’ are very, very difficult to program initially. (once you get the hang of it, it becomes easier, but not like Harmony, which is way more easy to program).

* switching between macros, say ‘watch TV’ to ‘watch DVD’ means you have to perform ’switch-off-watch-TV devices-first’, then attempt to press ‘watch DVD’ macro button. What a fearful bore! (Harmony handled that part particularly well, remembering which devices were already on from previous activity.

* Remote is a bit too long, and farthest buttons are a little hard to operate with one hand.

* No dedicated ‘DVR’ button! again, an egragious oversight.

* overall, I rank this remote a 6/10. Harmony, for all it’s weaknesses, is far easier to program, and use.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 07:09:11 +0000

works greats price
Ideal for 3 units TV -DVD -CABLE BOX you can program it or have a professional do it.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:42:25 +0000

Needs a "re-do"
Nice idea. Very good looking! But it needs work. For one, it needs an owner's manual. Even though the concept of this remote is based upon a built in "wizard" programing system.
For my application it just wasn't that easy. After hours of programing it finally worked, sort of. I couldn't remove the malfunctioning "on, off" macro. So I called customer service and I was waited on promptly. Apparently, there's this neat little icon burried in the main menu, not in the programing function, that completely deletes any macro. I applied the delete function icon and reprogramed the "on and off". Now it works fine.
The keys are not as easy to find in a dimly lighted theater room as most of the other Universal Remotes. But after a while it becomes a little easier. It would have been a great remote if it had the MX-500 body with the color screen of the R50.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:30:37 +0000

Awesome Remote!
This remote rocks!!! Unlike the harmony remotes you don't need a computer to set it up. It's very easy to configure. Programming macros are a breeze.

Ignore J Kline! The reason that the manual is basic is because the remote literally walks you through the setup of devices and macros. There are on screen directions. You won't need the manual after you learn how to start the set up procedure (HOLD THE 'MAIN' BUTTON FOR 5 SEC). If you don't like where the commands on the lcd end up then re-label the command and teach it from your original remote. This is a learning remote control.

You can place macros on almost any button on the device. This includes anything you put on the main page and also inside the devices themselves. I'll give you a big tip with macros - when setting a macro up use the 'Pause' button as your 1st command. This inserts a .5 second delay. Push 'Pause' 2x and you get a 1 sec delay, get it? This also creates a dual purpose button. I put 'press & hold' macro on my dvr button on the main page. If I just depress the button the device brings up the dvr page but if i press and hold the button it will run the macro. This is brilliant! This means no accidental macro triggering like on the harmony remote.

My one and only caveat is this:
It's much easier to program macros if your devices have discrete on and off buttons. I only have one device that uses a power toggle so my setup is great but I can see someone having issues with this.

All in all a fantastic remote with great build quality, programming flexibilty, a powerful IR blaster, good support and most important of all a great price!

By: hart340

hart340 — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:26:54 +0000

5 remotes cut down to 1
We had 5 remotes stacked up on our coffee table for years. finally got fed up with it and bought the universal R50. Its amazing. very easy to use, and program. excellent learning capabilities. overall a great product for a good price. definitely worth it if you have as many remotes as we do.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 20:05:40 +0000

Great, simple Universal remote, couple small quirks.
I loved its predecessor, but it finally died after good years of use. This new one is so simple and sleek, I love it.The only little quirk is that some buttons are to close to each other, and you can accidentally hit the wrong button, but in a short time you get it figured out. Very good remote.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:06:53 +0000

Good Sturdy Remote
I purchased this remote to replace a Logitech Harmony remote. My Logitech lasted about 1 1/2 years which I feel was very short compared to the price that I payed for that remote. The buttons on it just wore out. So far, this remote seems to be built a lot more solid than the Logitechs. Which I think is pretty important on a remote that normally gets daily use. The buttons on this remote are made of rubber which seems to stand up better over time for me than the hard plastic that the Logitech uses. Programming for this remote is more difficult though. You have to be able to understand macro and how to set them up for this remote to function the way you’d want it too, but it is very versatile. I also like that it uses just plain old AA Batteries. The Logitech had a rechargeable which meant you always had to keep it on a charger when it wasn’t in use. So far I’m pretty happy with this remote.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:59:03 +0000

Well worth it
I’ve spent almost 10 years looking for a replacement to my trusty old Marantz RC2000 remote, and I finally found one in the URC R50 (especially @ this price). There isn’t anything this remote couldn’t handle: built-in codes, learned codes, combinations of the two. Easy to set-up and use, this is the first time I’ve ever used a “Favs” function on any electronics; it’s easy to bounce between the “Main” and “Favs” screens. The URC R50 is better than remotes costing 5x as much.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 08:23:01 +0000

Disappointing device.
The URC-R50 is a very disappointing device. It did not deliver on the claim “it has thousands of built-in control codes to assure full control of your components.” This claim lead me to believe it would have a database from which I could select my devices and I’d be done; not at all the case! You have to go through a crude trial and error process to find a program selection that responds correctly to four button presses; then save that setting and test it out… What a laborious process; and to make it worse, NONE OF THEM WORKED! Some of the buttons would work some of the time; and none of the buttons would work all the time. AND LETS BE CLEAR; none of the program selections even came close to providing “full control of my components”!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 05:35:05 +0000

Finally a truly universal remote!
This is a great remote. I replaced 8 other remotes with this one. Codes were already there. Easy to set up and use. The ONLY thing I found that I would like to have is a timer function on the macros so I could have my TV and stereo all turn on at specific times. Otherwise, this is a fantastic remote. I’m very pleased.