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The following page was printed from RemoteCentral.com:
User reviews for the Radio Shack 15-2133 Kameleon from Radio Shack. |
| Ratings | Reviews | MSRP (USD) |
Average: 3.82/5.00 Median: 4.33/5.00 | 100 | $59 |
This sleek six-device remote features a brand new technology that only illuminates the commands available for the selected device on its colored touch-sensitive panel. Includes learning capabilities and basic macros.
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Navigation: [ < Previous|Next > ] Now viewing user reviews page 13 of 15 for the Radio Shack 15-2133 Kameleon remote.
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Written by Jon Rosen from Clifton, NJ. The reviewer has used this remote control for 1-3 months. |
Review 12 made on Wednesday January 1, 2003 at 5:52 PM. |
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Review: | What an interesting and capable remote control. The Kameleon is a new twist on an older interface concept. The remote displays only the buttons applicable to the device being controlled at a given moment. Several years ago, I purchased a Uniden remote that used a touch panel LCD display that allowed the user to configure a different display for each device. It was tedious to program, had a marginally readable display and went through batteries quickly. It now resides in an unknown carton. The Kameleon is a much more sophisticated and successful implementation of that concept. The display, when not in use, is simply blue, with no indication of its function. There is an internal vibration sensor that activates the remote when it is picked up or moved. I normally clutch a remote in my hand and that's not reasonable for the Kameleon since you would end up consuming a lot more power. It is possible to hold it without activating it, but that is a bit of an effort. Once activated, you are treated to a blue electroluminescent display of buttons that lasts for about 7 seconds after you are done using it. The plastic top has tactile feedback for the buttons. The feedback is useful, even though you still have to look at the remote in order to use it.
I bought this remote for a simple bedroom system consisting of a receiver, television and DVD player. The Kameleon controls up to 6 different devices: DVD, Audio, CD, VCR/Replay, TV, and Satellite/Cable. The instruction manual is clear and concise. I had no difficulty programming my devices, setting up volume punchthrough and creating a few macros. The Kameleon has 4 macro buttons. It also can "learn" keys from another remote. There are 2 display screens for each device, one for the main controls and another for menu options.
While programming the Kameleon wasn't difficult, I wish the designers found something more innovative than the typical Program Key plus sequences of numeric codes to program the device. Perhaps I'm spoiled by my Home Theater Master MX-500, which uses numeric codes only to identify a specific component.
Odds and Ends: The functions defined for each device are not user definable. However, keys can be redefined in learning mode. There are a couple of other interface niceties. The icon of the current device is animated, so you always know which component is being controlled. There is also an animated indicator to display when an IR signal is being displayed or received. There is a channel scan function. Beware, it will keep scanning until it is canceled (by pressing the "button" a second time). There should probably be a reasonable timeout for that feature. It has a slender profile, but is long. Sometimes 2 hands may be required to manipulate it. However, that is a reasonable tradeoff since the keys are large enough to be easy to read and to press. Some previous
Overall, the Kameleon is visually interesting, fun-to-use, and capable. At its suggested retail price of $59.95 at Radio Shack, it's a reasonable value. You can buy remotes that do as much, or more, at half the price, but none of them will give you the style and somewhat futuristic appearance of the Kameleon. |
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Written by Brian Fitzpatrick from Atlanta, GA. The reviewer has used this remote control for 1-3 months. |
Review 11 made on Sunday December 29, 2002 at 11:22 PM. |
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Review: | I wanted to submit this review as I picked up the Kameleon and the Radio Shack 15-2107 at the same time and kept the one I liked best. Consider this a "side-by-side" comparison from someone who has owned them both and looked at the pro's and con's of each.
The Kameleon had a nice, easy to read display. The tactile response to a button push was also a plus, but you can't actually feel a particular button without looking at the remote. So for me, all in all, this negated any real usable gain of that feature.
I was able to get it up and going with all my devices, including Tivo and X10 without a call in for an update. I found that after looking at the two remotes, the update option over the telephone is a nice sounding sales pitch, but in the end is almost useless (except to help you find a code which you probably could have found anyway with search). You should be able to circle through with a search to find a suitable code which are universal across remotes.
Also, as others have mentioned, there is a hum with the Kameleon which happens any time the display is on. It is noticable, and it did get annoying.
I ended up keeping the 2107 and returning the Kameleon because of the following reasons:
(1) The 2107 had hard buttons for basic functionality such as volume, channel, mute, and macros which you can find without looking at the remote.
(2) The hum.. sorry, but this was annoying, especially when put side-by-side with the absolutely quiet 2107.
(3) The 2107 worked with every device I had, including Tivo and X10. Also, it controls eight devices versus 6 with the Kameleon, plus, it offers 4 additional screens you can custom build with buttons from the other 8 (ie. keep your DVD on one button, but also have a master screen which might combine your DVD, Tivo, and X10. Also, the Kameleon doesn't offer a default screen for X10, whereas the 2017 does. (You can still do X10 with Kameleon though)
(4) The 2107 seemed to have more buttons on the screen, which is especially helpful when you may want to "learn" a missing feature.
(5) The 2107 was a little more friendly with programming.. for example, when you plug in a device number in the Kameleon, you don't see a read-out whereas with the 2107 you do. This may seem small, but apply it across the board for most of the remote's features.
(6) They were both the same price. The 2107 seems to do everything the Kameleon does, plus more, minus the hum.
The Kameleon was good.. the 2107 was better. |
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Navigation: [ < Previous|Next > ] Now viewing user reviews page 13 of 15 for the Radio Shack 15-2133 Kameleon remote.
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