Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
 Almost Universal Control But Not Quite November 15, 2007
16 out of 16 found this review helpful
I bought the RF30 to replace a Harmony 880 which was to me a very disappointing product. I owned a Palm Z22 (using Novii Remote software) and a Pronto TSU 2000 before that so I'm familiar with programmable remotes. So far I'm very happy with the RF30 with some minor exceptions.
I do not agree with the 2 people who have already reviewed this product. One said he didn't find the universal remotes to be easier to use than using individual remotes for each component because he still had to push many buttons on the RF30 to perform various functions. I don't understand that because the RF30 has an excellent macro capability. I programmed macros to do the more complicated functions and it works great. I push one button on the RF30 and it turns on my audio receiver, turns the audio receiver to "Video3", turns on my LCD projector, turns on my motorized projector to drop down the screen, turns on my DVD player, and turns on my satellite TV box and sets it to channel 201. So I have to wonder if the previous reviewer is aware of how to set up the macro functions.
The second reviewer was unhappy because he said the RF30 is not really a RF remote but is advertised as so. I have read the advertisements, been to URC's website, and read the promo on the RF30 box and those all make it very clear that the RF Blaster provides a means to wirelessly transmit IR signals. I never got the impression from any of the documentation that it is designed, or that URC was trying to imply, that the RF30 is designed to operate RF controlled equipment.
There are a few things I would like to see changed in the RF30. I have sent an e-mail to URC to see if i missed something and if I did, I will update this review. But for now, here's what I think is lacking:
1. The macros work fine but they work in all the component modes. For instance, the macro I described above that turns on my entire system works when I press the hard button "On". The problem is that if I select say "Audio Receiver" so I can control only my receiver, the hard "On" button does not operate anything on the audio receiver. By default it still executes the macro. So no matter which component I select, if I press a hard button that has a macro programmed to it, it will execute the macro instead of a command for that component. I'm hoping there is a way around this because it doesn't make sense to me. When I select "Audio Receiver", I want the buttons to control the receiver, or at least let me program the buttons to control what I want.
2. The macros and the "Punch" functions do not work in Main mode. The Punch function is setup so that you can control the volume, change channels, etc., no matter what screen or component you have selected on the remote. Since my audio receiver controls the volume for everything in my system, this is a good feature. But I have to select a component before I can execute a macro or a Punch function because they don't work from the Main screen. This is a bit odd because to me it seems that the macro should work from the Main screen. That way I could pick up the remote, press one of the buttons that are programmed for a macro and that would be it. Instead, when I pick up the remote, I have to select a component or function on the LCD touchscreen and then I can execute a macro or Punch function. After I have turned on my system, if I go back to the Main screen and then want to execute another macro or Punch function, I again have to select a component or function from the LCD touchscreen first.
3. The Punch functions don't work when the remote is in "FAV" mode. FAV is the favorite channels so you can have those pre-programmed and then you press one button on the touchscreen for a particular channel. That's nice but when the remote is in the FAV mode, I can't change the volume or channels. During the setup of the Punch functions, I tried to select FAV as one of the devices that would allow the Punch functions to operate but the remote is programmed so that it doesn't allow this. That mean if I select the FAV mode so I can then select one of my pre-programmed favorite channels, if I subsequently want to change the volume, I have go back to Main and then select a component. Once I am in the component mode then the Punch functions work and I can adjust the volume. Call me silly but that's just doesn't pass the logic test.
Hopefully URC will have an answer and there is a fix to these issues. Even with these minor issues, I think this is a great remote.
An additional note is about URC's customer service. I had considered buying one of the other URC models that require programming via computer. But I had read in several forums that URC would not allow consumers to download the necessary software to program the remotes. Many customers were irate about this so I e-mailed URC. The first response I got was not helpful so I e-mailed again and voiced my displeasure and felt that since my question was not answered that the complaints I had been reading must be true. I got a response from URC within 24 hours explaining that the software is available and the e-mail provide me with the links and instructions on where to go and how to download the software. When I arrived home that night I also had a voicemail from URC explaining the process and asking me to call one of their representatives. I was very impressed by this level of customer service, especially since I live in Costa Rica and they were willing to call me on their dime. That made a believer out of me and convinced me to buy the RF30.
4 DECEMBER 2007 UPDATE:
OK, after using the remote for a few weeks I wanted to update and revise my review. I like the remote even better now. I e-mailed URC about the 3 issues I outlined above and got a reply the next day. As far as the first issue with the macros being programmed to work no matter what screen or component you select, that can't be changed. But, URC did provide an alternative means to do what I want to do and that works fine.
For the 2nd and 3rd issues concerning the volume and channel controls while in Main and FAV modes, that was an easy fix. URC provided the info on how to program the Punch functions so that they work in both Main and FAV modes. The problem is that this information is not on the intro DVD that comes with the remote nor is it in the owner's manual. But the fix was easy.
So the remote is doing everything I want or expected it to do now. It works great. My only complaint now is the LCD screen. When lighting is low, it is almost impossible to read. I played with the contrast to no avail. And the red backlight is virtually no help. It would be nice if it had a backlight like my old Pronto. That one lit up very clearly so you could see the screen even in total darkness. But this is a very minor complaint.
For me the bottom line is that this is a great remote, especially for the price. I really like the fact that it can be programmed without connecting to a website or computer. It's well thought out and for the most part, in my opinion, it's intuitive. The macros work great and the ability to program any hard button or item on the LCD screen is exactly what I wanted. And again, kudos to URC for responding quickly to my inquiries and giving me good information to correct the issues I raised. For the money, I don't think one can go wrong with this remote.
By the way, I tried to change my rating to 5 stars but the Amazon system will not let me. But if I could, I would change the rating because I think this remote deserves 5 stars.
 It works as advertised, but I didn't like it December 23, 2006
7 out of 12 found this review helpful
If you are looking for a reasonably priced universal remote, the F30 does a fine job. It is easy to program (although I wouldn't let Grandma do it) and behaves as advertised. That alone makes it worth five stars. Why did I rate it a 3? It is not the F30's fault but the issue of universal remotes in general. I found that after many hours of programming using the F30 (and presumably any universal remote) was more onerous than using the multiplicity of remotes lying on the table beside my listening chair. Where once I picked up a remote and pressed one button then picked up a second remote and pressed one button, I now was picking up one remote and pressing seven or eight buttons searching through menus in search of the desired operations. For basic VCR and DVD control a universal may be fine, but given that many are dedicated to operating complex equipment, universality is not a panacea. Fortunately I was able to return the unit for a complete refund. You may like owning a universal remote, but I found its inherent use more trouble than it was worth. You should also note that Universal will not honor any guarantee if the unit is not purchased from an authorized dealer, which Amazon is not.
A bit misleading January 3, 2007
5 out of 8 found this review helpful
The RF-30 remote is advertised as an IR/UHF remote. It is but it isn't! Actually it's an IR remote. It only sends a UHF signal to the optional Power Blaster which receives the signal and converts it to an IR signal and sends it to the component via a cable attached "flasher". I bought the remote to operate all the normal equipment but also wanted to control a Motorola RG2200C cable box. I wanted a UHF remote for the task. This remote only sends an IR signal. I did manage to program the remote to control the cabel box via IR using the Learn mode on the remote. The remote was fairly easy to program (if I can do it anybody can!). It came with a CD which tells you everything the manual does. I would have given the remote a rating of 4 except for the misconception of the unit being able to control UHF devices (directly).
 Constantly running diag tests January 2, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Worked for about a week then after that during use it would shutoff and start back up into diagnostics. Even put new batteries in and does the same exact thing. Needless to say i'm glad i purchased the replacement plan.
Great Remote February 26, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Sturdy, good layout, well lit, very flexible. Takes a little while to program. RF works very well
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