** Universally baffled about Remote **

hybernia

Thanks to a lot of great advice on this board from other MSErs, we have now said goodbye to Sky's satellite service. We only watch a few Sky channels anyway, so have paid £14.99 instead for a NOW TV stick with 3 months' "Entertainment pack".

It works just fine. The only problem is, the only problem is:

(1) Television is a 42" non-smart Sony widescreen circa 2010 = 1 remote control
(2) TV is connected to Humax 1800T Freeview HD PVR = 1 remote control
(3) Amazon Firestick HD is connected to TV = 1 remote control
(4) NOW TV stick is connected to TV = 1 remote control

Sony, Humax, FireStick and NOW stick all work perfectly, the latter three connected to the TV's x3 HDMI ports. But really; FOUR different remotes???

We replaced the Sky box with the Humax, thinking that as the Sky remote controlled both the Sky box and the TV, the 1800 T remote would do the same. It doesn't. We can't adjust the TV volume without using the Sony TV remote. There are no TV / PVR control buttons on the Humax remote.

We had thought ah well, we'll manage OK: Humax remote and Sony TV remote. A nuisance, one just to provide Freeview, the other just to provide volume. But now with the addition of the NOW and Amazon remotes, it's gotten silly.

I've done my best to research online for a "universal" remote but have had to give up. Different websites (including Amazon user reviews) ive conflicting answers, viz:

Will the Amazon Firestick work with a universal remote? Answer: absolutely yes. Answer: absolutely no. Amazon's answer: no answer at all -- it doesn't give any advice

Will the NOW TV stick work with a "universal remote"? Answer: absolutely yes. Answer: definitely no.

I've also read but sadly failed to understand various different manufacturers' descriptions of what their universal remotes will actually work with: they all seem to talk about controlling amplifiers, soundbars, DVD players, games consoles and even VCRs (!) None of that is relevant in my case.

Help, as ever, appreciated: thanks.

grumpycrab

CTricky80

I can't speak for the Now stick but I do have an Amazon firestick, which I've had for a few years so don't know if newer versions are different.

Anyway I can use my samsung remote to navigate the amazon firestick screen. However, the small issue is that I can't turn the amazon firestick screen on without the amazon remote. So I guess the answer is yes and no. Once it is on you can use a different remote, but to turn it on you need the original remote.

Sorry my answer isn't probably what you wanted to hear.

JJ_Egan

Last time i looked near £200 was to much to pay for a remote that may and only may cover all .


Phone with an IR blaster is an alternative way of control .


Might look at this one .
https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-All-Device-Remote-Control/dp/B015OSTOO0?!!!!!52619_iceleads-21&ascsub!!!!!s1552924713618md8ka52619

Gers

For the bedroom TV (Samsung) I have to turn on both the Humax and TV before being able to use the Humax remote for control. Most times the TV flips to HDMI 2 (Firestick) and I have to manually select HDMI 1 from the Samsung remote.

Haven't used the Firestick remote, don't know where it is, the Samsung remote works - mind you my TV came with TWO different remotes. Think one is voice controlled but only ever tried once, it didn't recognise my accent.

In the living room turning on the Humax also turns on the Sony TV but doesn't turn it off!

[Deleted User]

Is there any advantage to having both Firestick AND NowTV stick plugged in?

agrinnall

I just use 5 remotes for my set up: Panasonic TV, Virgin Media box, Denon hifi for audio feed, Samsung Blu-Ray, Firestick. I keep them all in a basket next to my TV viewing chair so that I know where they all are.

John_Gray

agrinnall wrote: »

I just use 5 remotes for my set up: Panasonic TV, Virgin Media box, Denon hifi for audio feed, Samsung Blu-Ray, Firestick. I keep them all in a basket next to my TV viewing chair so that I know where they all are.

Where do you keep the backup batteries,
and the backup remotes?!

nickcc

Four remotes for me, freesat, tv, sound bar and fire stick, what happened to those enormous remotes that did everything that you could buy from Woolies.

grumpycrab

Let's count... TV(*1), HUMAX box, Blu-ray player, Nowtv, Roku, Cambridge Soundbar/box. I think.
(*1) not normally needed but TV settings need tweaking

agrinnall

John_Gray wrote: »

Where do you keep the backup batteries,
and the backup remotes?!

I'm surprised by how infrequently the batteries need to be changed, some of the remotes have still got the originals in even after several years use, but I keep a supply of batteries in my home office anyway.



I have a few old remotes where I've not yet got round to disposing of the equipment they control (I think I have 3 Freesat boxes and 1 Virgin box, and a NOW TV that I no longer use) but most of them have gone to recycling over the years. I did have to get a replacement remote for the TV when the one it came with stopped working, but I just rang up John Lewis and they sent me a new one at no cost.