Laurie
join:2007-07-08
Middle Village, NY
| [Equipment] Question about remote
I know this all seems kind of petty, so please, no flaming. If you think it's silly of me to ask/care etc., just ignore me. Thanks. 
But does anyone know if other remotes work with RCN, or am I stuck with issued remote, which seems generic?
I can't stand it. The buttons are in inconvenient places... Last Channel is grouped with channel buttons, not separated from numbers at all, so I end up mistakenly hitting "9" all the time. The A-B-C-D buttons are not only teeny-tiny and too close together, but they're all the way at the bottom--where you're *holding* the remote. Guide button should be more accessible/prominent. Page up/down are nowhere near the functions they correspond to; also too small and close together. And VOD controls shouldn't be combined with directional/navigational buttons... NO ONE thinks of a downward arrow as "stop" and upward arrow as "play."
In trying to make the remote small, they've made it less intuitive and functional. So are there any other remote options, or am I doomed to keep shouting and cursing at this one?
Thanks to all... |
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srr2
join:2001-12-20
Bethlehem, PA | Sure. My Logitech 880 works just fine. They have all those Moto STBs in their database, and probably have RCN's others too. The Logitech will let you program all the buttons to suit your personal preferences too. |
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rcbrcb
Premium
join:2007-02-21
Chicago, IL
 ·DIRECTV
 ·RCN CABLE
 ·T-Mobile VoIP
 ·AT&T U-Verse
 ·T-Mobile US
| said by srr2  :Sure. My Logitech 880 works just fine. 2nd for the Logitech Harmony 880...I have several and they all work great with varing setups..... |
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Laurie
join:2007-07-08
Middle Village, NY | reply to Laurie
Oh my goodness, looked that one up on Amazon and it's $123!! If that's the price range of switching out remotes, I guess I'm doomed to this one.
Thanks for your help, though. |
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srr2
join:2001-12-20
Bethlehem, PA | Keep your eyes peeled for Hot Deals. You can find the 880 for as little as $70 if you're really lucky. And patient. It's worth it. It's built like a tank. And you feel soooo smug programming YOUR buttons! Hahahah! |
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Laurie
join:2007-07-08
Middle Village, NY | OK, I'm a little turned on now... hahahaha  |
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TitusTroy
join:2009-06-18
New York, NY | reply to Laurie
is the Logitech Harmony 880 difficult to program?...I've heard a lot of good things about it but don't want to get frustrated trying to program it...I want something simple |
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srr2
join:2001-12-20
Bethlehem, PA
·RCN CABLE
| They've improved the programming. It's fairly straightforward now. They prompt you though each step. If you have a complex system you could spend the better part of an hour setting it up. The configuration is stored on their server in your account, so when you need to make changes you'll need only to enter the new information. Before you start, you'd benefit from making a block diagram of your system that shows exactly what's connected to what with the inputs all named or numbered.
Laurie - Amazon has a special TODAY on the 890. It's basically the same as the 880 only it uses RF in addition to IR so it can operate devices that are hidden from view. It's a refurb (chances are it's new in an open box) that they're selling for $100
»www.amazon.com/gp/goldbox?ref_=p···13519710 |
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quattrog
join:2009-03-20
Northampton, PA
| reply to Laurie
Don't forget that there are other models of Harmony remotes that cost much less. You'll have to look and see what fits your needs. Just google for Harmony remote. I follow sites like deals2buy.com and techbargins.com daily. Many times you'll see harmony remotes pop up on those sites (mostly refurbs) at very reasonable prices. I picked up the 880 refurb for $70.00. |
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machpost
join:2002-01-11
Washington, DC
| reply to Laurie
I've been a big fan of the Comcast programmable remotes for a long time. They're durable, highly-customizable/programmable, the buttons are all in the right place, and can be bought brand new for just a few bucks on ebay. It seems to me that I had to re-program one or two of the a-b-c buttons to get them to work properly with the Aptiv guide, but after that, it has worked flawlessly...
 |
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tigrzeye
Control4 Certified Installer
join:2007-07-18
LHV, PA
| reply to Laurie
I previously have used (moved my a/v control to a home automation system) both the Harmony 670 and 520 universal remotes. I found them both to work great. They are a bit older models and you can find them reasonably on eBay. They are very easy to set up as the Harmony setup program asks all the questions and guides you through the set up process. They have an extensive/massive library of equipment drivers so there is not much on the a/v side it can't control. If you like you can program special functions as well.
--
If you don't know ask. I ask a lot, know a little. |
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Laurie
join:2007-07-08
Middle Village, NY | reply to Laurie
You guys are awesome. All this information is making my head spin. Looking forward to freeing myself from The Crappy Generic WTF Remote From Bizarro World... thank you SO much! |
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DanD
Premium
join:2009-07-17
Needham, MA
| quote:
The Crappy Generic WTF Remote From Bizarro World... thank you SO much!
What remote do you have? I've been quite happy with the Synergy-V compared to other remotes that I've had from RCN |
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srr2
join:2001-12-20
Bethlehem, PA
·RCN CABLE
| I had one of those "Synergy" remotes. What a POS. It wore out in a matter of months of what I regard as only light usage. Volume and channel keys gradually got harder and harder to activate until eventually they were essentially inoperative. Junk. Just junk. Not worth the cost of batteries.
Not only that, but it could learn the Volume IR commands for the Sony receiver I have, but it refused to learn the Mute.
Then there was always the annoying problem of device mode switching and unintended device on/off.
Switching over to the Harmony was such a relief, even with this very simple AV setup here. |
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Laurie
join:2007-07-08
Middle Village, NY
| reply to DanD
Wow! Fancy! Mine is a small, black remote (6/12' x 2"). It's like the little remote you get with a cheap VCR or TV.
Ha, I've had it for 2 months and only now did I notice an RCN logo on it... I had to look at it under a light to see it, as it's a blue logo on a black remote. Under that it says "RT-M1000+T/V-11"
I hate it. |
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DanD
Premium
join:2009-07-17
Needham, MA | Drop into your local customer care office with it & say that you want to exchange it for a different style. The last time I went to a payment center to swap out one of my boxes, I saw a giant box filled with various style remotes... |
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Laurie
join:2007-07-08
Middle Village, NY
| Thanks for the tip! I'll check it out. I was wondering too if maybe I got Crappy Generic Remote because I only have standard boxes, and not DVR.
But yeah, I'd happily take even an older remote if it was a real, functional remote like the Time Warner ones (I didn't have DVR w/them either). I can't think of anything else I miss about Time Warner. heh
Thanks so much everyone for the convo. I kind of expected to be slammed, but you guys were really cool about it. |
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DanD
Premium
join:2009-07-17
Needham, MA
| I have several of the Synergy-V remotes, and I have mostly the DCT-700 boxes (the small black boxes).
I heard that the Harmony remotes are nice -- but if you can get a new remote from RCN that you'll be more satisfied with, perhaps you should go that route first, and save yourself a few bucks... |
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