Entered CNET Catalog: 03/23/2004
SKU: URC-200
Manufacturer: Universal Remote Control, Inc.
Manufacturer description
The Automator (URC-200) universal and learning remote control can replace up to 10 remote controls and operate an entire A/V home entertainment system. The LCD screen device and function labels can be customized. Comfortable navigation via a combination of wear-resistant buttons and 5-way thumbpad for operation of menu-driven devices. The URC-200 has over 1,000 built-in codes for easy programming of products from all major brands. Because the URC-200 sends both IR and RF signals, consumers can take advantage of "whole-house" (through walls, cabinets and floors) operation by utilizing the optional MRF-100 RF receiver base station.Product summary
The good: Controls up to 10 components; excellent integration of hard buttons and customizable LCD screen; extensive macro capabilities; hundreds of preprogrammed device codes; includes instructional DVD.
The bad: No dedicated macro hard keys; RF capability costs extra.
The bottom line: Universal Remote's URC-200 Automator combines the best attributes of hard buttons and an LCD screen.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 05/19/2004
The URC-200 Automator is the middle child of three similarly featured models from Universal Remote. Available for $150, the Automator controls up to 10 devices--five fewer than its more expensive sibling, the URC-300 Customizer; however, the URC-300 is more full-featured than the step-down URC-100 Unifier.
The Automator's dimensions (8.5 inches long by 2.5 inches wide by 1 inch deep), weight (8 ounces), and power requirements (four AAA batteries) are identical to those of the Customizer. In fact, the only notable physical difference between the two are their LCD screens: the URC-200's is smaller than the URC-300's. And instead of the four-line, two-column touch screen, the URC-200 has five hard buttons that correspond to adjacent soft-key labels on the five-line screen. That may sound like a drawback, but by eliminating the touch screen, the URC-200 is actually easier to use than its big brother because you get tactile affirmation that you've activated a function. There's also less of a chance that you'll accidentally touch and activate an adjacent command when using a hard key.
Both the LCD and hard-button keypad offer backlighting, a necessity for watching movies in a darkened home theater. Almost all of the frequently used commands you'll need are on the well-apportioned keypad, while the rest are soft keys on multiple-screen "pages" on the LCD (accessible through page-up and page-down keys). But with three fewer soft-key functions per page compared to the URC-300, you'll find yourself scrolling through more pages to get to more device-specific commands, especially for A/V receiver functions, such as simply changing source devices.
The URC-200 is preprogrammed with the codes of more than 2,000 makes and models of varying components (you enter the codes after locating them in the instruction manual). You can also use the Automator's learning function to clone more than 700 separate commands from other remotes. Additionally, the URC-200 can be programmed to run more than 400 macros of up to 190 steps each. That means you can automate scripts that carry out specific commands in a predetermined order, such as switching to the correct A/V input on your TV and A/V receiver when you power up your DVD player. Like most current remote controls, the URC-200 offers punch-through capability, so key functions such as volume or channel control will work the same way no matter which device you've selected.
Clear, plain English text and plenty of illustrations make using the manual a dream. Better yet, there's an instructional DVD included that makes programming even easier. With the DVD and the manual, you should be able to completely program the URC-200--the basic functions and even some macros--in less than an hour. The only thing lacking is an option to program the remote via PC. If that appeals to you, check out the similarly priced Harmony H688.
The IR blaster supplies a generous dispersal, which is a comfort when running macros on widely spaced gear. Best of all, the URC-200 also transmits radio frequency (RF) commands, although you'll need to buy the optional MRF-100 Expander ($75) to take advantage of this feature. The URC-300's RF transmissions are turned into IR signals that the MRF-100 base station blasts at your A/V rack. This enables you to control all your devices from up to 100 feet away, regardless of line-of-sight obstructions such as walls or floors--great for multiroom music systems, for instance. If you have more than six pieces of gear, you can hook up a second MRF-100.
What didn't we like? The Automator shares some problems with the Customizer. The Fav button displays 40 broadcast and cable channel labels (NBC, HBO, CNN, and so on) across eight LCD screen pages but requires a laborious mapping process to work. Also, there are no dedicated hard macro keys, so you're forced to use LCD soft keys instead.
But our minor quibbles are easy to overcome or ignore. While the very similar URC-300 controls more devices and has macro capabilities that approach overkill, we found the URC-200's lack of a touch screen to be more attractive. The URC-200 Automator hits the sweet spot of design, features, and ergonomics. It's an excellent remote available at an affordable price.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15out of 15 user reviews
Good, but not without its flaws
Pros: allows for a high degree of customization, great macro support, powerful IR emitter
Cons: no built in codes, must learn everything which can be dificult, not DVR-friendly
First, there really isn't any built in codes. I pretty much had to teach everything to this remote. That was not easy, because some remotes were really tough. I found that I had to do this in daylight and at a certain angle in order to get the commands to transfer. Very frustrating. And, in order to get discrete codes to this remote, I had to use a cheap One-for-All, set up the discrete codes on that remote, then use that to teach the URC-200. Very awkward. Finally, and this proved the big deal-breaker for me, this remote did not have enough "transport" keys. While it has the standard play, pause, record, it only has fast-forward and rewind, not the chapter skip ahead/skip back buttons. These are really important for DVR users who have grown accustom to the 30 second skip ahead, 10 second skip back button. Sure, you can set up "soft buttons" on the LCD, but that doesn't work well.
In the end, while I liked this remote, I needed something more. The Harmony 670 addresses each and every short-coming of the URC-200.
out of 15 user reviews
Great learning remote for the price
Pros: powerful; customizable; inexpensive
Cons: LCD is on all the time; no web-based programming
The URC-200, with its customizable labels, changed all this. I got this remote control from Amazon for $50 and the RF station for $30 shipped. As Cnet said, this remote combines the best features of both LCD and hard button in one package. It can learn all the funtions of my old remotes and each function can be labeled on the LCD with a five-character word or abbreviation. This makes everything much easier to remember and use. With the RF station I can control all my devices anywhere in the house through walls and all.
No remote is perfect, and there are somethings I don't like about this remote. The LCD just stays on all the time. That means it wastes batteries justing sitting there. There is no internet code database. If you need this remote to learn something but don't have the original remote, you are out of luck. Despite these flaws, it is a great remote control for the price. It's hard to imagine you can get this much remote power for just $80.
out of 15 user reviews
good solid remote
Pros: rf a big plus at this price
Cons: rf needs a reciever
out of 15 user reviews
Great remote for the price
Pros: Well laid out buttons. Functions well with preprogrammed codes.
Cons: No dedicated macro buttons, took hours to setup exactly as I wanted.
out of 15 user reviews
A steal for the price paid
Pros: Can do everything but surf the web!!!
Cons: No dedicated Macro buttons (Very small con)
out of 15 user reviews
I love this remote!
Pros: layout; sturdy feel; quality; intuitive button placement
Cons: used it for 4 months, haven't found any
out of 15 user reviews
Excellent! Perfect layout and you can operate it with one hand. (much better than sony)
Pros: Can hold in one hand. Buttons logically laid out Easy to set up. Beautiful and simplistic design
Cons:
out of 15 user reviews
Excellent universal remote that offers complete customization options.
Pros: Labels on small LCD portion of screen can be custimized. It takses a bit of work but combined with the learning capabilities this is a powerfull feature at this price point. Keyboard layout, while not perfect, is much better than the competition. DVR cont
Cons: No PC connectivity like the equivalent Harmony remotes. As such, the pre-programmed codes will eventually be out of date. The learning capabilites will still work so this problem is somewhat offset. Pre-programmed codes are hit and miss. The custimazation
out of 15 user reviews
Best yet owned
Pros: Great remote in all regards except those listed below...
Cons: No dedicated macro buttons (this is more inconvenient than I thought it would be). It feels solidly built, but didn't survive the first fall from the lap onto the hardwood floor. After $120 and 6 days, I'm already in the market for a new universal remote
out of 15 user reviews
Great remote for the money!
Pros: Easy to use once programmed; backlit; lots of macro capability; buttons well placed; fits in hand nice. Also bought the RF extender - works great without the additional need for flashers.......
Cons: Programming macros could be better documented - it was too cursory and confusing in the printed manual. I found that watching the instructional dvd was better (although the chapters are not titled on dvd and the dvd covers 3 different remotes)
out of 15 user reviews
best universal
Pros: I had a Pronto and found it to be cumbersome, I bought the URC-200 and found it easy to use and very programable. It also is very ergonomic, much more confortable than any other Universal I have tried.
Cons: All programming must be done on the remote, there is no pc software for editing.....
out of 15 user reviews
Make it same form factor as SONY
Pros: I like the web based programming and ease of setup. Also the Macros.
Cons: Hate layout. Need to make like a Sony AV remote (2500 or 3100). Then it would be great!
out of 15 user reviews
Does everything I expected, and more.
Pros: Solid unit. Learns codes from OEM remotes, even for Sony AV units. Also has extensive library built in. Simple to program and customize menu screens. Well worth the price!
Cons: Slightly heavier than OEM remotes.
out of 15 user reviews
The best multi-room unit out there
Pros: Great button layout Very strong IR blasting MRF-100 RF/IR works great Good LCD Learns codes well Very classy and non-intimidating look-and-feel
Cons: Weak database (minor issue since you "learn" it everything) Labels must be reprogrammed to match buttons if you change device types on a button.
out of 15 user reviews
MX-800 on a budget!
Pros: Best button layout available; Customizable LCD buttons and pages; Learns codes (RC5) that other remotes won't; Affordable - $130 at GoodGuys; Better macro features than MX500/MX600 and Harmony 659; Smaller size -- not massive like MX-600 and MX-700 remote
Cons: Bad remote for TIVO and DVR - no buttons for skip and replay No computer software for customization; Feel of FFW/REW buttons inferior to MX-500 and MX-700; Only five LCD buttons; Macros only supported on LCD buttons and on/off buttons;
