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User reviews for the RCA RCU810 from RCA.
Ratings
Reviews
MSRP (USD)
Average: 3.95/5.00 Median: 4.33/5.00
97
$69
The RCU810 is a learning and preprogrammed remote control. It features control of 8 devices, 54 buttons with backlighting, an LCD screen, macro keys, plus a sleep timer & clock.
The reviewer has used this remote control for 1-3 months.
Review 34 made on Wednesday March 14, 2001 at 6:58 AM.
Strengths:
Well laid out keys, and plenty of them for home theatre pretty blue backlight ergonomic design is easy to hold
Weaknesses:
lcd display only comes on when you press a button plastic looks a bit cheap
Review:
After taking back the very stylish Philips 880 remote, I had all but given up hope of finding one that would do everything I wanted... so this in from the US was a bit of a risk, but a risk worth taking, as it turns out.
My first impression was it looks a bit cheap, but it seems very solid molded plastic - you could probably run it over and it would be ok!
So onto the programming... a quick flick through the manual's easy directions and I was able to set up my Pioneer DVD, Panasonic VCR, Sony TV and Harman/Kardon receiver with the built in settings (the H/K source selection buttons don't do quite what they should, but as the original remote has been lost, I guess I can live with that).
Despite a large number of cable box codes being included (despite what others below suggest) there wasn't a code for Amstrad so I had to manually teach it those ones, plus a few of the special buttons for the other remotes.
Basically I am very impressed with this remote - it learnt everything I threw at it with no problems (the Philips refused several of these codes). I have taught it around 25 codes and it hasn't run out of memory - at least not yet.
The reviewer has used this remote control for 1-3 months.
Review 33 made on Tuesday March 13, 2001 at 4:15 AM.
Strengths:
Very good preprogrammed code library, good button layout, nice backlite.
Weaknesses:
Remotes internal sleep mode is hard wired to the TV key only. Only allows for 25 total learned keys.
Review:
I've finally found a winner! After trying the disappointing One for All Cinema 7 learning remote and the One for All Home Producer 8 learning remote, the RCU810 is a breath of fresh air.
Unfortunately most remotes in this price range are no more than One For All clones. The Philips learning 6 in 1 remote at Best Buy, and Radio Shacks 6 in 1 remote are nothing but clones of the cinema 7 learning remote but with lower features to keep the Cinema 7 the King.
Unfortunately the Cinema 7's(RS and Philip clone also) code library is lacking and incomplete compared to the RCU810. Funny, the RCU810 library is also from UEI's code set library, but the RCU810 code number adds 17 to the Cinema 7's code number set, plus has more component codes.
Even with the lower learning capability of the RCU810, it's able to do more original functions than the Cinema 7. The reason is that the RCU810 offers a better code set as I mentioned earlier. This means less functions need to be learned. The biggest difference is that the key mapping is done correctly with the RCU810. The Cinema 7's key mapping is usually inaccurate, occupying incorrectly labeled buttons. Learning these functions to the correctly labeled buttons is needed, which uses more memory than needed. If only the cinema 7 offered key mapping or rearranging, which it doesn't on a consumer level.
Since the Cinema 7($28) and the RCU810($50) are really the only 2 remotes with enough buttons and learing capability to be usable, the others were not a consideration. The Sony learning remote($60) offered the most memory with learning for every button, but it offered very few buttons. Not nearly enough to even be used with my satellite receiver. To top off the limited button number, it didn't even have multiple labeling to reflect most functions from all the devices. The Home Producer 8 learning remote($50 at CC or $80 at BB) had fewer buttons than the Cinema 7 with many needing to be used with a shift key to do double duty. Besides that major limiting factor, they were missing labels for major functions that the Cinema 7 provided. Buttons must be accurately labeled to reflect the correct function. Without correct labeling, use is a guessing game with frustration, and unusable to guests. Again, the Cinema 7 and RCU810 really had no competition in the under $100 market.
Since the RCU810 offers real backliting for every button, unlike glow in the dark for only a few buttons, 8 device replacement, better key mapping, and improved code library, the RCU810 is worth twice as much as that Cinema 7. Cinema 7's larger learing capability is ineffective against the RCU810 due to it's limited code library, and inaccurate key mapping.
The only major problem with the RCU810 is the stupid internal sleep timer. It can only be used on the TV device button. I thought my first RCU810 was defective due to this, but found my second one to do the exact same thing. In the manual, it implies that the internal sleep function can be used with any of the devices, but that's untrue as it is only capable of being used on the TV device button(although any software device under the hardware TV device button).
The RCU810 is the best remote in the under $100 market. It's being used for my bedroom theater system, in which I do not need the remote to be able to copy EVERY SINGLE ORIGINAL FUNCTION. On my main theater system, the remote MUST learning every single original function and is why I use the Philips Pronto TSU2000 on that system. For basic functions, the RCU810 is the BEST!
In only a few minutes, I was able to get the RCA RU810 to adequately control everything I needed. Required learning only 5 keys although I may add a few if I notice some shortcomings in the future. The VCR/DVD function buttons are sort of awkward to use on the bottom of the remote but I can live with that. For this system, I like it better than my One-For-All Home Producer 8.
The reviewer has used this remote control for 1-3 months.
Review 31 made on Wednesday February 21, 2001 at 2:04 PM.
Strengths:
Good support for older devices, good backlighting, strong IR signal.
Weaknesses:
Limited memory, cheesy plastics, too many buttons, no built-in support for digital cable boxes built in the last 2 years, sleep timer clumsy.
Review:
I like this remote, paid a good price for it and have used it as my only remote ever since. With two daughters and a wife that are constantly misplacing remotes, I needed one I could call "mine." I tried several RCA remotes (I don't have any Thompson devices in the house), the top of the line 1-for-All and some from Sony, and this was the only one that would control my old, 1986 JVC TV out of the box and accept programming for my digital cable box (a Scientific Atlanta box that is appx 18 mos. old--more later). It also runs Sony VCRs on VTR 1, 2 and 3. Instead of their new scheme.
The cons; I didn't like having to program it for the cable box, it should just run it, including the features in the program guide. The sleep timer doesn't work on my TV although another RCA remote I have does. I still use the older one for that feature (the JVC has no sleep timer function built-in) and I would like to retire it. I agree with other reviews of this product, on the limited memory, too many buttons in too many clusters, and the flimsy plastics. It is usable and more inexpensive than say, Sony's top of the line (which is really a Home theatre remote) and I am prefectly satisfied at the time.
The reviewer has used this remote control for 1-3 months.
Review 30 made on Tuesday February 20, 2001 at 11:56 PM.
Strengths:
Cool lighting Strong IR signal Display assisted programming
Weaknesses:
VCR control placement
Review:
I'm the perfect candidate for this remote. I've got an RCA VCR, RCA DVD player, GE TV (Same as RCA) and a Replay recorder. All the RCA stuff is the default setting for this remote and it's one of the few remotes that is preprogrammed for the Replay. If all your equipment is RCA you really can't beat this remote. There are just a couple of design issues that kind of bug me. One is that the remote is too light, it feels kind of cheap. The more serious problem is the placement of the VCR controls at the bottom of the remote. When I move my hand down to use these buttons the remote becomes top heavy and wants to fall out of my hand. All in all though it's really a nice remote and does the job well, and the price is decent!
The reviewer has used this remote control for 1-3 months.
Review 29 made on Monday February 19, 2001 at 2:37 AM.
Strengths:
Backlight Informative LED Replay TV code
Weaknesses:
ONLY THREE MACRO BUTTONS Lack of memory (tired of hearing this one?) not versatile
Review:
I bought this remote at 11 am and returned it at 6 pm. My reason for purchasing was the replayTV code. My OFA cinema 7 could not handle learning the replayTV signals since I filled it up with my Raite DVD signals, sigh :(. After I bought the remote, I was initially impressed with the feel and the nice backlighting. I entered the replayTV code and think that the factory code was sub-par. As mentioned in the forum the factory code does not have an Instant replay, Quick Skip, or Channel guide. I easily learned these keys and then learned my most used DVD keys, around 15 in all. Once done with that I set out to fill in the gaps that the factory codes left in my receiver and other components. On my first learning attempt, I got the MEM FULL on the display.
I then attempted to see if I could program a macro with the learning memory full and to my surprise, J it could learn macros then to my dismay I learned that macros could only be used on the M1, M2, and M3 keys. Being used to my Cinema 7 this was unacceptable. In addition, the ability of the Cinema 7 to use advance codes makes the Cinema 7 better than the RCA RCU810 in my opinion.
In summary, if you don’t need macro, to change input or you don’t have a lot of inputs that need changing and you have less than 20 keys to learn this could be a great remote for you. I think that it could be a great remote for me if the macros could be learned on any key and the memory was 3 times bigger.
The reviewer has used this remote control for 1-3 months.
Review 28 made on Monday February 12, 2001 at 11:10 AM.
Strengths:
Price, Learning on most buttons, ease of use, backlighting
Weaknesses:
Limited Memory, Volume Control defaults to TV for all components not having their own volume control (would like to see an option to assign volume buttons for each component to either TV or Amplifier).
Review:
After reading the reviews, this seemed like the right remote for the price ($54 on-line). I decided to check out Clerkit City before buying and was pleasantly surprised to find it for $39 after rebate (and CC provided it as a direct $10 credit due to a computer error). After using the remote extensively for a weekend, I am EXTREMELY SATISFIED.
The remote controlled most of my components' functions with the general code sets (Toshiba 43HX70, Sony satellite receiver, GI digital cable box, Pioneer 302 DVD, and Magnavox VCR). The only exception was for my Denon 2800 receiver. I ended up using the Denon "amplifier" code, which gave me a few functions. I needed to learn most of the remaining Denon commands, along with a few from the other components. Fortunately, the remote is farily easy to program (both for general codes and learned buttons).
However, I can understand how people can get confused by the manual. The first time I programmed, I overwrote the (previously programmed) TV code with the Cable code. It is important to select the Mode button being programmed before holding in the Code Search button. If you fail to do so, you will be programming (or possibly re-progamming) whatever mode button was previously selected. Fortunately, I figured this out immediately after causing the problem.
I am extremely happy with my choice, especially for $39. I am now using one remote to replace six others, and will be able to control 99% of all functions. Thanks to everyone who wrote a review on this board!!
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