![One For All Contour 8 Universal Remote Control – Operates 8 devices (TV Freeview Blu-ray Media streamer IR Game and Audio) -]({"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61uOLc6z9yL._AC_SS130_.jpg":[130,130],"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61uOLc6z9yL._AC_SS260_.jpg":[260,260],"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61uOLc6z9yL._AC_SS390_.jpg":[390,390]})
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I was getting away with 2 or 3 remotes on a daily basis but, when things needed fine tuned or updated - I was faced with 6 remotes and the nightmare of swapping batteries around them. There was no way I was going to pay over £100 to buy a universal remote - that wouldn't be Harmonious at all for me. I grew up by getting up to walk over and change one of our 2 channels on the TV and thought that the newly fangeled wired remote was space age in the 70's. I keep up with techy stuff so I know what's out there - even if I can't afford all of it.
I saw this OFA URC and decided to invest in it to appease my wife's annoyance at so many remotes.
I needed it to control;
Yamaha RX-V373 AV Receiver
Samsung HD TV
Samsung DVD
Philips CDR 775 Twin Tray Recorder
Virgin Tivo Box
Sony iPhone Dock
I just needed to input the correct codes so that it would turn everything on and off and also bring up the guides and perform the fast forwards and rewinds and tray openings and closings. I also wanted to programme it so that multiples would work together with one-button commands - ie, TV/VIRGIN TIVO/YAMAHA to all come on and go off together with one button. I wanted the same for TV/DVD/YAMAHA and for YAMAHA/Radio/tuner. I also needed the Yamahas' 4 Scene settings to each have an allocated button. Basically I wanted every function of every remote along with some handy combinations of commands. Not too much to ask - I thought in my blissful innocence.
My new remote arrived early so full marks to Amazon as always.
It was packaged well and was easy enough to open.
There were no batteries but, I was aware of that and had 4 AAA's cooking in the charger in anticipation.
A small rain forest must have been cleared for the instructions that came in every language I had ever heard of. The required English instructions were brief and scattered across several different folded map-type sheets. This was invaluable in helping to cause the maximum amount of frustration and confusion.
The TV was shockingly simple - 10 seconds!
The Tivo took even less effort and all functions worked!
I had a bit of mental wrestling to get all the DVD functions working but, I got there in the end - including tray door open and close!
The Philips Double CD Recorder was not so easy and it confused me to the point were I knocked some of the other settings off again. This then became a nightmare as one would switch on while the other would switch off at opposite times!
I went online and found a factory reset code and started again. Got lost a few more times due to trying to remember what was where on each button before inputting the next one.
Refused to give up and finally cracked it.
The Sony Dock was no problem.
On the home straight - The Yamaha!
I can't bring myself to speak of all the details yet.
OFA Customer Services were not Musketeers at all and said I was on my own with my Yamaha codes as they didn't have them on their database - they did say that if I had any luck that they would look forward to hearing how I got on so that they could add my solution codes to their database. I was so pleased about their interest in how I got on!
7 (Seven) hours later and just as my wife had buttoned her coat to take our little girl "To my mother's house to get away from you and your shouting and swearing"...... I won!
I had blisters on both thumbs and would need help to stand up again until the blood flowed back into my legs but. everything worked!
Another hour later and all the remotes and all their batteries were stored away. The huge instruction sheets were folded up (mostly) again and all signs of my obsession were gone. My little girl didn't look so afraid of me and my wife made me tea. I flicked through all the possible and different combinations and permutations on the OFA URC and after another hour of fine-tweaking like a techy version of Miley Cyrus - it was done - finito - complete - success!
I have to say it pickled my brain but, I got there.
If the One For All guys want to be true Musketeers then they are more than welcome to the fruits of my labours. A new TV and Media system to play with and re-code will be very welcome. All For One and One For All or Not At All.
Brendan
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Realy good remote, needs a few tweaks that are available in another model.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 May 2016
Having purchased a One For All URC 7140 and been suitably impressed I decided to return that and purchase this as the 7140 can only control 4 devices and I have 7 (yes this does just 6 of them, but that's enough) comparing the two remotes the URC 7140 has a much nicer feel and if the multiple device with one button feature is not important and you only need to control 4 devices I advise getting one of those.However looking at the URC 7960 it is a very capable remote and I love the one button multi device ability. The option to re-purpose device keys so you can make it control exactly what you want is excellent and the easy way you can get it to learn the odd button that's not automatically set-up is very good too. My criticisms are the button feedback is poor, especially around the circular rocker also only a very limited number of keys light up (blue) when keys are pressed which isn't good when viewing in the dark. However since buying this I have been given a One For All URC7962 and that answers all my issues with the 7960, good button feedback & all buttons light up (white) when any key pressed, its only issue is the 'Motion Control' is rubbish, but that's easily disabled.My recommendation, get the URC 7140 if you only need to control 4 devices and the URC 7962 unless this is significantly cheaper.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 May 2016
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