Universal Remote Controls by Sony

Here are some remote controls manufactured by Sony which will help to control more than one component, such as your TV, DVR and others, making life easier by eliminating the need for lots of remotes

A universal remote control looks like a standard remote, particularly the budget models, and is convenient because it allows you to control more than one electronic component. By having one remote control you could turn on your stereo, program your VCR/DVD player, and turn on the TV. This easily gets rid of the infamous “remote-control carousel” to switch from one thing to the other.

The market for universal remotes is quite varied. There are budget units which look like a normal remote (with a similar amount of buttons), whilst expensive ones almost rival a jet-plane’s cockpit. When you buy one there is a list of supported components, so you can choose depending on what you have.

In this article we will concentrate on Sony Universal remotes and briefly look at some of the popular models. If you own a Sony TV, DVD player or other Sony component, you can purchase such a remote to easily control everything.

Sony Universal Remote Controls

RM-VL600 – The VL600 will set you back about $20 and is good value for money. With its slender design, it features infra-red learning technology which will memorise the function of any component. It can be used on analog/digital cable, DVD/CD players, Sat receivers and much more. The main downside is the lack for DVD player’s functions, such as chapter skipping or page up/down keys, but it's otherwise quite good at the price.

RM-VZ950T – This remote will cost you around $40, but this it is harder to find than the VZ900. You should have a look on eBay or similar sites for a possible bargain. It features a slick design with LCD display right in the middle, which tells you the device you are operating. With it you can control up to eight devices but don’t have the ability to program “macros,” such as turning on or off simultaneous devices with the push of a button.

RM-V202 – Good looking design, extremely easy to use and program: it will cost about $20 but it is likely to go for much less. It has a vast list of compatibility codes, although there have been complaints that it won't work with some products (such as Apex models). It is intuitive with clearly marked buttons and will control up to four devices.