Sony RM-VL600 Remote Control
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- Type: Universal Learning
- Universal Remote Control Type: Learning
- Applicable Devices: TV, VCR, DVD Player, Cable\Satellite Receiver, CD Player
- Devices Controlled: 8
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It works, but then again...
Pros
price, range, strength.
Cons
set up, layout, quality, effectiveness.
Recommended it?
No
The Bottom Line:
Set up of this remote is a chore. Its code databse is extremely limited and will not work entirely with an Xbox 360.
It is unfair to fault this remote at the price that it sells for, but luckily that's what I am here for! I've been trying to replace my failing URC R5 for a while now and it looks like the search goes on.
The RM-VL600 is a quite large remote, it was thicker than I expected from the pictures and a bit heavier. It's farily well designed, but I have several problems with the layout:
1. The component select buttons are all the same size and shape. I am not sure if I got a deffective unit, but the component select buttons on mine light up randomly when pressed - some do, others don't, I can't find a logic or pattern.
2. The DVD/DVR controls lack dedicated chapter skip buttons, they use the channel up/down keys instead. I am not a fan of this set up, because the punch through control in TV mode lacks the skip function this way.
3. There is no eject button, but there are two input selection buttons!
4. The four buttons around the arrow keys are small and difficult to press.
5. The keys are neither back lit nor glow. To be fair the most of the buttons are fairly large, well spaced, and decently organized.
These are my gripes with the physical layout. Now a little bit about the set up.
This remote can control up to 8 components of pretty much any kind, as long as they accept IR control. Any type of component can be stored under any key, except the TV, which only accepts TV codes, but could be manually taught commands for anything really. There are three methods for control set up: code entry, code search, and learn. I have to be honest, I absolutely hated setting up this remote and here is why:
1. The list of preset codes is extremely short - my TV (Insignia) was not on it, there was only one code for my receiver (Philips) - it could only control power and volume, there are no codes for anything but the most common components - I didn't find a code for my projector, Xbox, or Playstation.
2. Even available codes provide few functions. For instance the (.) button for selection of digital sub-channels did not work on either my TV, or my DVD recorder; same with the input button; same with the menu button, and various other buttons. At best the most basic commands worked - power, volume, channel sellection.
3. Searching through codes for unknown devices is a chore - press the channel up or down button, then press power. Repeat till the device responds. Every other remote I've tried (save for another Sony!) only required one button push to search through codes.
4. Learning commands was easy, but teaching a command to a button with already stored command required manual delete of the existing command. This has to be done one button at a time - you cannot delete commands on multiple buttons consuquently; the procedure for deleting a command has to be restarted from the beginning after each button. This was truly painful.
5. There are four macro buttons on the bottom, which cannot be used for individual commands under separate components. This was extremely disappointing to me as I am not a fan of macros.
6. Speaking of macros - they can be stored on either those four buttons or the components buttons for a total of 12 available macros. The procedure was fairly simple, but I still thing that setting up the timing on macros is a bigger pain than it's worth. The odd thing is that the component buttons can perform both individual commands, by a brief press, and macros - by pressing and holding. This is why I don't understand why the 1-2-3-4 macros buttons cannot perform individual commands.
7. This remote simply could not learn certain commands - specifically for my Xbox. I was able to program pretty much everything else by teaching it, but many of the Xbox commands simply would not work. The Sony control indicated that the command from the original remote was accepted, but later when I tried controlling the Xbox some functions simply did not respond.
8. Punch through only works for the DVD button, if you have another component stored under a different button the punch through functions (play, pause, etc) will not work.
Now that I am done bashing and trashing this remote, let's quickly mention the few good thigns about it:
It seems to have a strong signal and decent range; the main buttons are easy to find by touch; and of course the price is hard to beat.
That's it. Now on a side note - there is a newer version the Sony RM-VL610, which I had tried before this one. The two are pretty much identical in their capabilities, set up, and operation. The difference is that the 610 has more, smaller, crowded, and difficult to find buttons.
I wouldn't recommend either of these remotes.
The RM-VL600 is a quite large remote, it was thicker than I expected from the pictures and a bit heavier. It's farily well designed, but I have several problems with the layout:
1. The component select buttons are all the same size and shape. I am not sure if I got a deffective unit, but the component select buttons on mine light up randomly when pressed - some do, others don't, I can't find a logic or pattern.
2. The DVD/DVR controls lack dedicated chapter skip buttons, they use the channel up/down keys instead. I am not a fan of this set up, because the punch through control in TV mode lacks the skip function this way.
3. There is no eject button, but there are two input selection buttons!
4. The four buttons around the arrow keys are small and difficult to press.
5. The keys are neither back lit nor glow. To be fair the most of the buttons are fairly large, well spaced, and decently organized.
These are my gripes with the physical layout. Now a little bit about the set up.
This remote can control up to 8 components of pretty much any kind, as long as they accept IR control. Any type of component can be stored under any key, except the TV, which only accepts TV codes, but could be manually taught commands for anything really. There are three methods for control set up: code entry, code search, and learn. I have to be honest, I absolutely hated setting up this remote and here is why:
1. The list of preset codes is extremely short - my TV (Insignia) was not on it, there was only one code for my receiver (Philips) - it could only control power and volume, there are no codes for anything but the most common components - I didn't find a code for my projector, Xbox, or Playstation.
2. Even available codes provide few functions. For instance the (.) button for selection of digital sub-channels did not work on either my TV, or my DVD recorder; same with the input button; same with the menu button, and various other buttons. At best the most basic commands worked - power, volume, channel sellection.
3. Searching through codes for unknown devices is a chore - press the channel up or down button, then press power. Repeat till the device responds. Every other remote I've tried (save for another Sony!) only required one button push to search through codes.
4. Learning commands was easy, but teaching a command to a button with already stored command required manual delete of the existing command. This has to be done one button at a time - you cannot delete commands on multiple buttons consuquently; the procedure for deleting a command has to be restarted from the beginning after each button. This was truly painful.
5. There are four macro buttons on the bottom, which cannot be used for individual commands under separate components. This was extremely disappointing to me as I am not a fan of macros.
6. Speaking of macros - they can be stored on either those four buttons or the components buttons for a total of 12 available macros. The procedure was fairly simple, but I still thing that setting up the timing on macros is a bigger pain than it's worth. The odd thing is that the component buttons can perform both individual commands, by a brief press, and macros - by pressing and holding. This is why I don't understand why the 1-2-3-4 macros buttons cannot perform individual commands.
7. This remote simply could not learn certain commands - specifically for my Xbox. I was able to program pretty much everything else by teaching it, but many of the Xbox commands simply would not work. The Sony control indicated that the command from the original remote was accepted, but later when I tried controlling the Xbox some functions simply did not respond.
8. Punch through only works for the DVD button, if you have another component stored under a different button the punch through functions (play, pause, etc) will not work.
Now that I am done bashing and trashing this remote, let's quickly mention the few good thigns about it:
It seems to have a strong signal and decent range; the main buttons are easy to find by touch; and of course the price is hard to beat.
That's it. Now on a side note - there is a newer version the Sony RM-VL610, which I had tried before this one. The two are pretty much identical in their capabilities, set up, and operation. The difference is that the 610 has more, smaller, crowded, and difficult to find buttons.
I wouldn't recommend either of these remotes.
