Tag Archive: rf


Monster MCC AVL300-S Home Theater and Lighting Controller with Omnilink – Genius

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August 16, 2012

Monster MCC AVL300-S Home Theater and Lighting Controller with Omnilink review by Steve Taylor

My Overall Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars
3.2 out of 5


Monster MCC AVL300-S Home Theater and Lighting Controller with Omnilink
Monster MCC AVL300-S Home Theater and Lighting Controller with Omnilink

This remote can be programmed for literally anything. It sends out both RF and IR signals, so it will work with any audio visual component that you have, whatever the make, model or product it controls. Most universal remotes cannot control absolutely anything, but this one can due to the clever technology that it uses. As well as controlling your audio visual equipment, this remote can control your lighting.

It takes a while to get your head around and setting it up is confusing, BUT when you do have it set up then it is a piece of cake to operate and incredibly clever. Rather than simply being a universal remote it is a command network. You may have a remote control upstairs in your bedroom that is linked to the device downstairs, you might have another family member who was downstairs watching the telly and they forgot to turn it off – well your remote control upstairs knows that the downstairs TV is still on and you can hit ‘system off’ and turn the TV off without going downstairs. The remote works through walls, cabinets, floors and ceilings. You don’t have to aim the remote control to operate it and the operating range is up to 130 feet.

The remote takes a lithium-ion battery, which can be charged on the table top charging station and you can still use it whilst it’s being charged, so you’ll never be without the remote or hunting for new batteries, when the power drains.

The layout of the buttons on this remote control are intuitive, the buttons are easy to read and feel firm to press. The remote has an ergonomic design and because of its illuminated backlit buttons it is easy to use in the dark.

What’s in the Box
Monster Home Theater Controller AVL300
Long lasting lithium ion battery
Tabletop charging system
Monster Central Omnilink
Control link extender set

If you want to buy one of these universal remotes they are currently on sale at Amazon through this link.

Here is what current buyers think of the Monster MCC AVL300-S Home Theater and Lighting Controller with Omnilink:

Appy,
This is the best remote that I have ever owned. I have tried many universal remotes/learning remotes, and this one blows them all away. It truly can perform any function the original remote can, plus it allows me to hide my components cause it goes through walls. It simplifies complicated functions. With the press of a single button it turns on DVD player, turns TV to right output, and turns AV Receiver to right output. Shipped on time and in great shape. I would buy from here again. Read Original Review

EdFrank,
The AVL300-S is a great remote. Was very easy to program my old remotes to the 300-S.
Replaced five remotes with plenty of storage for more.Would recomend highly. Read Original Review

Steve Taylor Steve Taylor

Steve is a professional technology reviewer and writer. He has been reviewing console accessories since 2004 and has reviewed over 100 products.
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Universal Remote Controls RFS200 Universal Remote – Intuitive

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April 12, 2012

Universal Remote Controls RFS200 Universal Remote RFS200 PowerPak Bund review by Steve Taylor

My Overall Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars
3.6 out of 5


Universal Remote Controls RFS200 Universal Remote RFS200 PowerPak Bund
Universal Remote Controls RFS200 Universal Remote RFS200 PowerPak Bund

I love this remote control, it works very well. All of our audio visual equipment from the DVD player, to the cable television box and the stereo sits in a whole-house system. I love the closet as it made the house look a lot less cluttered, everything is behind closed doors. The only problem was that my remotes wouldn’t work when the closet doors were closed! The signal wouldn’t go through the metal doors. So to watch tv or use any of the other devices we had to keep the closet doors open, which looked pretty silly really. With this remote control we can keep the doors of the housing unit shut, so that the room looks minimalistic, which was our whole intention! As well as being able to control equipment behind the cabinet doors, I’m also able to control equipment in different rooms of the house, through multiple walls!

Setting up the remote control was pretty easy. There are thousands of devices pre-programmed, so these took no effort at all. For the devices that weren’t in the code list I had to use the ‘Learn’ feature, to basically teach the remote how to function like the remote it was replacing. This is actually far easier than it sounds. All in all, complete set up is a breeze.

When it comes to using the remote, it couldn’t be easier! No one in our family has any problem with using it – it’s very straight forward. Being able to use this one remote for multiple different devices is just awesome. This remote can control up to ten different components, which makes it stand out from similar remotes on the market as most of the other ones I was comparing this remote with could only control up to 6.

Key Features
Macro Power – turn on or off all components
Simple Sound – total volume control for all components
DVD Guide Included for Quick & Easy set up
Control up to 10 components
Largest built-in code library
Controls up to 10 devices including TV, DVD, cable, satellite & A/V devices
Includes one MasterControl RF20 remote & 1 Powerblaster
Learning option available to teach commands from other remote controls

If you want to buy one of these universal remotes they are currently on sale at Amazon through this link.

Here is what current buyers think of the Universal Remote Controls RFS200 Universal Remote RFS200 PowerPak Bund:

T Lyle,
Very easy to set-up and program. The included DVD walks you through step by step how to program every aspect of the remote and set up the blaster. It took about one hour to get completely set up on my system (Onkyo, Viewsonic Projector, Elite, IO Cablevision DVR). I called tech support with one question and the rep took the time to research and answer my question completely. Pretty incredible customer service in this day and age. I highly recommend the product and the company. Read Original Review

T Sheridan,
I purchased this to control my Directv HD DVR and a DVD which I installed in a closet about 15 feet from my viewing area. The codes in the booklet worked perfectly for the DVR with only minor editing of the customized ‘text buttons’ and use of learn mode for the specialized buttons on my DVR remote. Some of the previous reviews may have been earlier versions as the booklet’s codes worked the first time for my equipment. I have used the remote for about a month and have not had reason to use the original remotes at all. Read Original Review

Steve Taylor Steve Taylor

Steve is a professional technology reviewer and writer. He has been reviewing console accessories since 2004 and has reviewed over 100 products.
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Boxee Box by D-Link – Watch ANYTHING you like hassle free

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February 20, 2012

Boxee Box by D-Link review by Steve Taylor

My Overall Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5 out of 5


Boxee Box by D-Link
Boxee Box by D-Link

This Boxee by D-Link is what it’s all about! It lets you access TV and music from the internet on your TV. It also lets you store movies, music and photos in the Box and connect to your home network too. It doesn’t matter that your video files are in different formats, it recognised all of mine automatically and played them back on my HD TV. Through the Boxee you can also log onto Facebook and Twitter, share what you’re watching and watch what your friends are sharing. This means that you can chose from thousands of television shows and tons of free movies and watch them directly on your TV.

You don’t need a keyboard or mouse to search through the Boxee. The remote control is excellent, it is an RF remote and it works brilliantly; it has a QWERTY keyboard on the back of the remote that is a great idea – it means searching through the huge library is a snap – although there is so much to choose from, it is well designed and doesn’t take long to find what you’re looking for. The box is small and very quiet – I can’t hear it when I’m across the room.

This is an excellent invention, that I’m suprised hasn’t been around for longer. I have been watching television programmes through TV websites and YouTube for a long time, but I had to either watch on my tiny laptop screen or fiddle around connecting the laptop to the TV. This Boxee works on its own and once connected to the TV sits there, small and inconspicuous out of the way, letting you access any television you want hassle free!

What’s In the Box
The Boxee Box by D-Link
1x HDMI Cable
1x AC Power Adapter
Remote Control with Full QWERTY keypad

If you want to buy one of these universal remotes they are currently on sale at Amazon through this link.

Here is what current buyers think of the Boxee Box by D-Link:

Jules,
The boxee box is an uncompromising media centre for an uncompromising home theatre.
I have 70+GB movies on my external HDD plugged into my boxee box and it plays it effortlessly without downgrading quality. It is outstanding.
I also find myself watching TED talks and Engadget HD on my big screen. The picture quality is far better than the PS3 and it can handle DTS-HD MA audio as well as DD True-HD. I can’t say enough about it. It’s easily worth every dollar for the hardware alone. Read Original Review

Donald Indermuehle,
I had been looking at the Apple TV as a replacement to my loud and obnoxious media PC, but found that it was too strict on file types. The boxee box is quiet and compact and provides me a great user interface to view all (just about any file type) of my video files. I used the free software on my media PC to try out the user interface before I bought the box. I can easily transfer new files across the network to the external hard drive hooked up to the boxee box. Additionally, it has applications such as Pandora. Love it! Read Original Review

Steve Taylor Steve Taylor

Steve is a professional technology reviewer and writer. He has been reviewing console accessories since 2004 and has reviewed over 100 products.
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The Jade Pointer Works Wonders

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December 28, 2011

SMK-Link RemotePoint Jade Green Laser Pointer and Presentation Remote (VP4910) review by Steve Taylor

My Overall Review: 4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5


SMK-Link RemotePoint Jade Green Laser Pointer and Presentation Remote (VP4910)
SMK-Link RemotePoint Jade Green Laser Pointer and Presentation Remote (VP4910)

The pointer works at ranges up to 150 feet away, so this gives me the freedom to walk up and down the lecture hall, even to the back of the room if I want to. This is nice because I had to be careful with my old pointer and I don’t want to be worrying about the connection when I’m teaching. The controller use an auto RF function, so it will automatically find an unused channel, so you don’t have to worry about it interfering with the science presentation in the room next door…

This Jade remote is way better than my old remote. The green laser is really bright and it shows up nicely, even in a brightly lit room. The pointer has four buttons that can be programmed to send different key combinations to the computer. It is a nice size, it is larger than most presentation remote controls and this makes it easy to operate and it’s comfortable to hold. The 360 degree mouse is a nice feature, it works very well.

I’d advice you to buy a case to hold your remote and the USB link together, to add some protection the connector and so that you won’t lose the connecter. Other than that, this is a great product and way better than the competition.

Key Features

  • 150 Foot wireless range.
  • Bright Green Laser.
  • FUll 360 degree mouse.
  • PowerPoint Slide Control
  • 4 Programmable Buttons
  • Auto RF Port

Pastor Jason,
“We use this presenter remote for Sunday morning worship service. It facilitates the use of EasyWorship.  Things I like about Jade are that it has a good weight to it and it feels great to hold. It is very easy to use and has easy to reach buttons. The software for programming the buttons is very straightforward and simple. The buttons are responsive – you know when you click as there is a subtle but distinct feel.”

If you want to buy one of these universal remotes they are currently on sale at Amazon through this link.

Here is what current buyers think of the SMK-Link RemotePoint Jade Green Laser Pointer and Presentation Remote (VP4910):

IQ Man,
This is a fantastic laser pointer at a great price. It does everything I would want it to do for teaching and presenting research seminars. Yes, it is a little bulky – but I can live with it. The green laser is excellent for students and audience that are color blind and cannot easily see the red laser.
Two thumbs way up! Two changes requested from the maker: provide a pouch for carrying it and perhaps give more than 4 buttons; I have already programmed all 4 buttons. Read Original Review

J Bayudan,
A great remote. I especially like the four programmable buttons. I use two different presentation programs that use two different keystrokes to advance slides. Now I can use the same remote to run both programs. The remote is a little big, but I like that it runs on AA batteries instead of the other smaller ones that I can never seem to find when I need them. The 360 mouse did take a little getting used to before I got the right amount of touch down, but I learned that within a few minutes.
If you’re looking for something small this isn’t for you. But if you want something with a little more power than just the standard next and previous this is great product. Read Original Review

Steve Taylor Steve Taylor

Steve is a professional technology reviewer and writer. He has been reviewing console accessories since 2004 and has reviewed over 100 products.

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URC Mastercontrol remote – 10 remotes in 1

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October 16, 2011

URC MasterControl RF20 Universal Learning Remote w/ RF Capability review by Steve Taylor

My Overall Review: 4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5


URC MasterControl RF20 Universal Learning Remote w/ RF Capability
URC MasterControl RF20 Universal Learning Remote w/ RF Capability

The URC Mastercontrol RF20 is a universal remote control that operates up to 10 different audio-visual components. I bought this remote because I had some many different remotes for various components, such as my television, digital television box, dvd player, ipod dock, Xbox and stereo and I was always losing different remotes – I could never find the remote I wanted at the time, and they really cluttered up the place. I’ve replaced all of those remotes with this one controller! I wish I’d done it sooner, because it’s so so much better.

This URC Mastercontrol remote uses amazing technology, you don’t have to point it at the component for it to work, and it works through doors, walls and ceilings and from the backyard too – so you can control components that are in different rooms. The remote will also turn all of your components on or off at the same time, by pressing just one button. You can set up the remote so that it controls the volume over all your components, so you don’t need to switch back and forth between TV and DVD on the remote.

The remote control is backlit, so it’s easy to use in the dark – ideal if you’re like me and turn the lights out to watch a movie in the dark, you can easily see where the buttons are if you need to pause the movie. The light isn’t on the whole time – so it doesn’t distract from the television or drain the battery. The button is on the side of the remote and is easy to find by touch in the dark – press the button and the backlight turns on – it then turns off after 10 seconds (or you can press it again to turn it off sooner).

If you want to buy one of these universal remotes they are currently on sale at Amazon through this link.

Here is what current buyers think of the URC MasterControl RF20 Universal Learning Remote w/ RF Capability:

Endre B Gastony,
It is solidly built and fits the hand well. The buttons are easy to press because there is plenty of space around them. Once I got going, it was not too difficult to program, though the DVD instructions did not play on my computer, but the printed brochure did the trick.
Using the macro feature of one button ON/OFF is very helpful and the macro CHANNEL selection also works okay for my setup. In contrast to my $10 universal remote, it is a major step up, both in ease and speed of operation. I can’t see how the expensive fancy-*** remotes would be more desirable for the average person, especially for the $50 I paid for it with free shipping. :) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for the average TV, cable box, VCR, DVD setup.
Read Original Review

Jermone A Ambrose,
My wife complained about all the remotes on her end tables. I bought this for her. I just finished programming it for her and she loves it. Considering how old some of my equipment is I really got a charge out of the learning ability of this remote. I kept my wife in the room so she could pick out which button on the remote did what she wanted. I took me about an hour but it was time well spent. I truly recommend this for the husband who is techno savvy with a wife that isn’t. Read Original Review

Steve Taylor Steve Taylor

Steve is a professional technology reviewer and writer. He has been reviewing console accessories since 2004 and has reviewed over 100 products.

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