Sima SUR-25 LCD Touchscreen Remote Control
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- Type: Universal Learning
- Universal Remote Control Type: Learning
- Broadcasting Type: IR
- Devices Controlled: 10
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A Great Remote, But...
Pros
Powerful, easy to program and use
Cons
Big, heavy form factor, occasional inconvenient button assignment
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Powerful but not always the most practical. All in all, a high quality and easy to use remote.
I bought the Sima SUR-25 recently, and was initially quite happy with its functionality.
The unit is easy to use and easy to program. It handles a wide array of electronics with the simple entering of a 4-digit code which automatically sets codes for that device. The SUR-25 can also automatically search through its entire database of codes. You just point it at the device and hit the auto button while it cycles through them all. Even devices that aren't on the code list are easy to program, as long as you have the original remote. The SUR-25s learning functions are quite good.
I selected this unit over the SUR-20 model because of the combination of hard buttons with the LCD screen. That appears to have been a good idea, since the channel and volume up and down buttons, and the buttons for selecting a device are always available, which is convenient. Pressing one of the device buttons changes the layout and function of the LCD screen.
Customizing layouts and functions is fairly easy, though if you have complicated electronics, it may take some time. There are plenty of options for button names and positions, and there's plenty of room for all the buttons you could need, since each device can have up to two pages of buttons!
Having said all that, after using the remote for several weeks, there are some practical limitations that are worth mentioning--some that I would never have thought of before buying the remote.
--The SUR-25 is BIG and HEAVY. My girlfriend, who has small hands, can't comfortably hold and operate the remote with one hand without her hand getting sore after a while. She has to use two hands, which makes it a bit like using a computer. It's difficult for her to "surf."
--Buttons can have only one function for each device. Because we have digital cable, and we use a browser-like guide to surf through the names of programs instead of just flipping with the channel buttons, it's difficult to navigate the guide, select channels, and surf up and down without constantly looking at the screen. The buttons for all of these functions are spread out, and not in the convenient, intuitive pattern that they are in on the cable company's remote.
--Especially at night, I have tended to navigate my remote by feel, since it has shaped and raised keys. With the smooth, flat LCD screen, obviously, I can't do that. At night, I have to turn on the screen's backlight and then hit a button.
--The unit eats up batteries quickly, especially if you use the backlight a lot.
So, all in all, it's a very powerful remote that can control just about anything. It's easy to customize and use, especially if you have a lot of equipment. But some of its practical drawbacks make it challenging and frustating to use sometimes.
I found this remote on eBay for only about $30, which is a great deal, so it was worth it for me. We will likely use the SUR-25 to replace the remotes for the TV, VCR, DVD, Amp, and CD player, but keep the cable remote because of the problem with the guide feature. If you have a similar situation, and you can find the remote for a good price, I say go get it.
The unit is easy to use and easy to program. It handles a wide array of electronics with the simple entering of a 4-digit code which automatically sets codes for that device. The SUR-25 can also automatically search through its entire database of codes. You just point it at the device and hit the auto button while it cycles through them all. Even devices that aren't on the code list are easy to program, as long as you have the original remote. The SUR-25s learning functions are quite good.
I selected this unit over the SUR-20 model because of the combination of hard buttons with the LCD screen. That appears to have been a good idea, since the channel and volume up and down buttons, and the buttons for selecting a device are always available, which is convenient. Pressing one of the device buttons changes the layout and function of the LCD screen.
Customizing layouts and functions is fairly easy, though if you have complicated electronics, it may take some time. There are plenty of options for button names and positions, and there's plenty of room for all the buttons you could need, since each device can have up to two pages of buttons!
Having said all that, after using the remote for several weeks, there are some practical limitations that are worth mentioning--some that I would never have thought of before buying the remote.
--The SUR-25 is BIG and HEAVY. My girlfriend, who has small hands, can't comfortably hold and operate the remote with one hand without her hand getting sore after a while. She has to use two hands, which makes it a bit like using a computer. It's difficult for her to "surf."
--Buttons can have only one function for each device. Because we have digital cable, and we use a browser-like guide to surf through the names of programs instead of just flipping with the channel buttons, it's difficult to navigate the guide, select channels, and surf up and down without constantly looking at the screen. The buttons for all of these functions are spread out, and not in the convenient, intuitive pattern that they are in on the cable company's remote.
--Especially at night, I have tended to navigate my remote by feel, since it has shaped and raised keys. With the smooth, flat LCD screen, obviously, I can't do that. At night, I have to turn on the screen's backlight and then hit a button.
--The unit eats up batteries quickly, especially if you use the backlight a lot.
So, all in all, it's a very powerful remote that can control just about anything. It's easy to customize and use, especially if you have a lot of equipment. But some of its practical drawbacks make it challenging and frustating to use sometimes.
I found this remote on eBay for only about $30, which is a great deal, so it was worth it for me. We will likely use the SUR-25 to replace the remotes for the TV, VCR, DVD, Amp, and CD player, but keep the cable remote because of the problem with the guide feature. If you have a similar situation, and you can find the remote for a good price, I say go get it.
