"Learning" Remote Controls - Anyone Have Experience With?

[The Gorn]

Here's what I would like to do.

My oldest brother (who has diagnosed cognitive problems) just bought a new TV - a Haier brand 32" LED HDTV. (I got him a sweet deal from NewEgg - $196 for this - a pre-Black Friday special.)

The problem is this: he has a DVD player. I successfully got the TV to display the picture. However, to display the DVD, you have to select an input source - using an on-screen menu - which once you bring it up disappears after 3 seconds.

MUCH too fast to direct him how to move the cursor and select the new input source. (Bog Blast these frigging manufacturers with their *** Damned "screw anyone who isn't quickquickquick" design mentality!!!  )

By the time he looks down at the remote, the on screen menu has disappeared.

Anyway, it occurred to me that one of these learning remotes could be a solution. I could program in a macro - I think - that emits the key presses that change the input source to "Composite 2", the input source for the DVD.

Is this kind of thing what they are used for?

I'd like to find one cheap, under $30, as a Christmas present. I suspect that one of the $200+ Logitech and similar brand ones would definitely do this but I don't have $200 to spend on this for him.

Mainly, I want informed comments from real users of these devices on actual experiences with these devices.  There are a lot of different models of these remotes at all price ranges, but this field has its own jargon closed to outsiders, which is typical of geek consumer crap.

Thanks.

[datagirl]

Hi, Gorn.

My limited experience is more with the cheap universal remotes from the dollar store.  My mother was in a nursing home and her remote would disappear, get dropped/crushed, have liquids spilled on it, have the batteries disappear, etc on a semi-regular basis.  The main thing I discovered is that once you find a code that works for your device, write it down.  The remotes do occasionally "forget" their programming.  I don't know why or how, but they do.  I kept a stash of extra batteries and the manual with the list of codes written in it hidden in her night stand.

Oh, here's a link that looks promising: http://www.remotecentral.com/features/irtips.htm

Two other thoughts that may not apply.  One is that some TV's have a menu setting that allows you to change the display time for onscreen menus.  The other is that you might be able to "program" your brother to hit buttons in a particular order so many times: Input -> Down -> Down -> Down to use the DVD, them Input -> Up -> Up -> Up to go back to TV.   Just a thought.

Sorry I don't have the exact experience you are looking for, but I definitely relate to the situation.

Good luck,
-DG

[The Gorn]

I thought of creating an instruction sheet but I'd rather not because if he gets stuck the TV doesn't work.

I took a look at that web site - thanks. Apparently the feature that I want is "macros" or "activity control" and an application like this is exactly what the programmable remotes are intended for.

[Richardk]

I had a similar experience with my mother and at the time the programmable remotes were too expensive. There was no end of grief with other remotes since they often didn't have all the functions or the buttons were too small or some other design issue.

My advice is to find a 'replacement' remote for daily use and put the original remote somewhere 'safe'.

The one thing I hate with these new 'toys' is that too much emphasis and control is put into the remote with no options on the device itself. If the remote dies, disappears or the dog eats it then your TV is one step away from being junk.

We have a TV that uses the Input button to select the source and the remote has seen better days. Needless to say there is no Input button on the TV and many 'cheap' replacement remotes don't even have an Input button. For everyday use, it would have been better to use a cheap remote and save the original for when it was really needed.

Program what you can since I agree that an instruction sheet isn't your best option. Even if they can follow it, today's devices are far too impatient.

[TRexx]

I'm surprised no one has built a smartphone with an IR emitter.  Using an app to control your TV et al seems like a natural.     

[DarkHumour]

The one thing I hate with these new 'toys' is that too much emphasis and control is put into the remote with no options on the device itself. If the remote dies, disappears or the dog eats it then your TV is one step away from being junk.

Totally agree.  I was cursing trying to get the right combination of keys on the hdtv yesterday to simply advance through menus.  To my surprise the remote I already had for a Samsung SIR351 hd tuner box worked on this Samsung TV without any programming.

The WD media player had zero buttons on it. When the remote crapped out I couldn't do anything.  WD wouldn't replace just the remote I had to send in everything in order to get warranty repair done (which I eventually did). I could have gotten one of those all in one remotes but they cost 2-3x more than the player itself.  Moot now as I sold it last year.

DarkHumour