History

• The first universal remote control appeared in 1985 by Philips through Magnavox. Software engineer William McIntyre and two colleagues employed by North American Philips Consumer Electronics developed the remote. The first programmable universal remote control was introduced in 1987 by the company CL9. The company was founded by Steve Wozniak, inventor of the Apple II.
  
  

Function

• Universal remote controls duplicate the functions of original or factory remote controls. All remote control devices work on unique numeric codes. Universal remotes identify and use these codes to operate TVs, VCRs and other electronic devices.
  
  

Features

• High-end Universal Remote Control
  
  Universal remote controls share many common features such as a power button, selection buttons for TV, VCR, DVD, and CBL/SAT, channel and volume selectors, numeric keypads and one or more d-pads for controlling other devices. All universal remotes come with a pre-programmed code list for activating devices. Higher-end universal remote controls may also feature macro programming, aliases, pc configuration, repeaters and code learning.
  
  

Benefits

• Universal remote controls can help reduce clutter by replacing several remotes with just one. Many universal remotes allow you to create activities or macros to simplify the setup and operation of a home theater or entertainment system. They allow convenient control of most electronic components in the home with one handheld device. They are also low-cost in comparison to ordering a factory replacement.
  
  

Warning

• Universal remote controls require more complex programming and not all system codes will work. Finding the correct codes for an unknown device can be time consuming. If the batteries die or are removed, the programmed codes could be lost. Many universal remote controls cannot perform advanced actions because the functionality keys from the factory remote are missing.