One For All URC7960 6 Function Universal Smartcontrol Remote

Ordered this remote as I have a 32" Sony LCD & Humax Freeview PVR. Because the Humax doesn't control my TV volume I was always having to use both remotes. So I started looking, good reviews for the Logitech Harmony remotes but at over £100 a little bit of overkill for me.

This remote is not listed as a top seller on Amazon, but it should be. Unpacked the remote, fitted 4 x AAA (not supplied) and away I went. Took about 2mins to setup to operate my TV, PVR and Audio system. To use the magic code is a simple process of three button presses, you only have to look for the manufacturers single digit code, then the remote does the rest. Very happy with the operation and I am only using half of the remotes available 6 control functions.

Overall a great universal remote control, good value, good build quality, easy to setup, perhaps the only slight negative is the layout of the numeric keys (could be a little higher up the remote), but a very slight fault when everything else is so good.

VERY GOOD **** - Highly recommended.

The item arrived promptly, thank you, Amazon. As well as a Panasonic TV and a Panasonic DVD/HDD recorder I have a Sony four piece hi fi stack with a separate remote for each piece, a total of SIX remotes cluttering up the coffee table. The URC7960 was quickly programmed to operate the Panasonic products as per the instruction book but I had to "teach" it each function on each of the four Sony remotes. However, this does not take very long and now it is done I can operate everything from one remote - bliss! I tried to get it to learn to operate my inset electric coal effect fire but whilst it would switch the fire on it didn't understand the commands to change the coal effect brightness or the heat setting. Shame about this but then that was not what I bought the remote for. Now I am beginning to remember which button to press to operate what I would not be without the remote and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone. Be aware that it won't always work with some equipment if you try to programme it the easy way but that is no reason to condemn it as less than useful. Just "teach" it each function from a chosen remote, it's not hard work

This remote is controlling my TV (Philips), amp (Logitech), pvr (Humax) and DVD player (Cyberhome) replacing an older "One for All" model with a dodgy button. Although this model is similar in price terms to the one I bought a few years ago, it's interesting to see how technology has improved - the new one supports 'macros' and also has a lot more space to record 'custom' settings for buttons (about 100 buttons can be custom programmed).

My summary point would be that this remote does pretty much what is reasonable to expect of it - the packaging includes a separate leaflet with 'product codes' for a huge range of tv/dvd/pvr/amp manufacturers - in my case it included all my equipment but if in doubt you should check on the OneforAll website under 'service and support' where the codes for the remote are listed. The remote is a lot better than my previous one because it permits a higher number of buttons to be recorded from your original remotes and this is the ideal long-stop if you just need some particular function from another remote for an odd piece of equipment.

The essentials are still there:
1. long list of manufacturer codes - most people will be satisfied here
2. the option to record about 100 key-presses from original remotes onto any mode/button on the Smartcontrol remote - worst case this means you can record the functions for your amp or dvd remote from scratch - in practice you only need the main things (e.g. vol up, vol down, or menu, pause, stop, eject etc maybe) and can keep the original remote for the unusual things like going into setup. Given the 100-button capacity, you can actually program the same button so it does the same thing (e.g. toggle the amp from stereo to 2xstereo) on each of the device 'mode' settings (i.e. tv, dvd, pvr) so you don't have to switch into 'amp' mode to do the change
3. as with my previous OneForAll, the Vol up/down signal can be set to override any device mode you are in, so vol up/down always controls (say) the TV, even though the remote is in 'dvd' mode. In my case this is set so the vol up/down always controls my amplifier.

This button record feature used to be found only on much more expensive remotes, and the Smartremote keeps ahead of the pack now by offering 'macros'. I personally believe these are less useful than they might be because the fundamental fact that lots of important signals count as 'toggles', particularly ON/OFF, so it's possible to end up out-of-sync after pressing a programmed macro button leaving some kit on and some off. This isn't a fault of the remote - just the industry is messed up.

So the good news is I think you should be able to get this remote functioning well pretty much regardless of which devices you have, if you accept the safety net of recording some buttons if necessary.

The not-so-good news:

* Switching the remote from tv -> pvr -> dvd -> amp is a single button that move a fairly weak LED highlight across device labels at the top of the remote, rather than having dedicated buttons for the device. I can absolutely guarantee this will be the first button to wear out. Even though you can toggle forwards and backwards, in practice I reckon most users will toggle in one direction as the devices are selected in a circle. And it's annoying. OneforAll would hope their clever programming means you don't have to toggle devices much but you probably will.

* The remote has an ok quality feel to it but it's more looks than engineering, and the looks are genuinely very good at this price. but the buttons are the same rubber-backed affair as most remotes and will wear out. My top-left button tends to stick (on a brand new remote) and luckily this is the 'programming' button so I'll very rarely use it. On my old remote it was the 'Select TV' button so that wearing out was a big issue.

* Oneforall have done a good job of not having hundreds of buttons for every possible purpose, and the most important buttons like Guide, Info, Menu are sensibly located. But... there really aren't any buttons 'spare' so programming niche functions is a bit of a compromise - the main trick is to use the 'colour' buttons on a device that doesn't need them (i.e. not on the tv or pvr...). My amp has separate inputs for sound from the pvr and the dvd, so I just have to remember pvr is 'red' and dvd is 'blue'... I suppose there aren't too many options for this but it's a bit clunky.

But the Smartremote is an improvement on the older Oneforall that I replaced and is absolutely fit-for-purpose in my house with my four devices.