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...Continued from Page 4.
Learning your limitations.
Although the Kameleon is a cross between a touchscreen and a hard buttoned remote, from a programming standpoint UEI has decided to treat the 15-2133 as if it only has “real” buttons. For instance, it is impossible to learn to a button that has been “hidden” from normal view. Example: the DVD device has four buttons at the bottom that are not illuminated. Even though several of the labels on those unused buttons might be appropriate for my model DVD player – such as “return” and “fast advance” – it’s simply not possible to reactivate them. It is likewise impossible to remove an unused or unwanted key from view. The 15-2133 also doesn’t allow for even basic customization of button labels – in fact very few squares have more than one possible label, a label that’s chosen automatically by the device category.
Except on their “Nevo” and “Mosaic” lines of remote controls, UEI takes a far too modest approach to infrared code learning. Unlike most competing remotes, the 15-2133 has very limited memory and can only be taught up to 25 commands – basically the 4 “M” buttons for each of its 6 devices. Depending on the protocols used by your components, the number of teachable codes could even be lower.
UEI relies on the fact that their database is the most comprehensive available, but even it isn’t perfect. A number of major device categories aren’t covered, and similarly absent are codes for various high-end manufacturers. After a couple of years, even the most “originally up to date” remote will be missing new components. Adding enough memory so that every possible button can store a learned command would help make the remote even more future-proof.
There’s more than one way...
Still, UEI provides another solution for getting an entire missing device into 15-2133. By phoning a 1-800 number between 9AM and 5:30PM Eastern time, customer service representatives can help track down a possible upgraded code set and send that upgrade right to your remote control over the phone – simply hold the 15-2133 up to the speaker and it downloads. This is a valuable feature, particularly for users who may have lost their original remote, but in most cases simply increasing the learning memory could cut down on the need for phone support.
If a device configuration is mostly functional and only a couple of features are missing, there’s also the possibility of using an “advanced code” (setup code “9-9-4”) to obtain that command. Although not covered in the Radio Shack manual, this is a feature common to all current UEI remote controls. It allows the user to take a function available in the preprogrammed database, but not necessarily attached to one of the default keys, and assign it to any button. Interestingly, some users actually buy inexpensive UEI-branded remotes simply so that they can teach advanced codes to another, more expensive remote. Most common code lists are available on the internet, but others can be accessed through alternate sources such as phone and email support.
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