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...Continued from Page 5.
Things not set in stone.
Changing a soft key’s label is easy – after entering “Layout” mode pick a device, then tap the square to modify. Each time it’s pressed the square will rotate to the next possible label: hidden, outline only, and then through all possible options. Choices include audio levels, decoding formats, a numeric keypad, menu cursor, transport controls, screen modes, PIP controls and so forth.
With so many labels and so few keys to put them on, Sunwave wisely decided to add a second LCD-based page of controls for each device, accessed via the [Page] hard button. This allows buttons to serve double duty – for instance the “TV” device has numeric keypad and PIP controls on the first page, and menu controls on the second. The “DVD” device puts menu, transport and feature controls on the first page, and a keypad on the second. The “Amp” device has speaker levels, sound formats and inputs on the first screen, more speaker levels and menu controls on the second.
By adding that second screen of controls, Sunwave has enlarged the number of possible commands for each device from 27 to a more generous 48 – that’s nearly 75% more than the SRC-8000!
A present in presets.
After devices have been added and screens arranged, it’s time to populate those still functionless keys with commands. All universal remote controls on the market today are either preprogrammed, infrared learning, or both. Previous Sunwave remotes have been learning only, so you needed to have every one of your equipment’s original remotes handy to capture their commands. If a remote was lost or broken, there was nothing you could do to replicate its functions.
The SRC-3810 is the first Sunwave branded model we’ve seen to come with both infrared learning and a full code database, so owners are presented with the best of both worlds.
To find a preprogrammed code, enter the “Code” setup menu, choose “Pre-Code”, and then pick a device. The top of the screen will display both the device’s name and the currently entered code number. Enter a new number on the keypad, then press [Power] to test. Invalid codes will flash “Error” at this point or, if the command works, save the change by pressing the [O] hard button on the top right.
Don’t feel up to looking at all that tiny type in the code booklet? Manual code searching can be accomplished with the [Rewind] and [Fast Forward] keys – each press increments or decrements the code number and sends a sample [Power] command. And for those with no time for repeated button pushing whatsoever, just press the [Auto] key once and the remote will automatically go though the entire database at the rate of approximately two codes every three seconds. When one works, press [Auto] or [Power] to stop. Nothing could be simpler!
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