$20 universal replacement for PBO works

[Yankee6]

I found a radioshack 5 in 1 universal that works great for PBO.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3064079

I have one and tested it. I couldnt get it to work at first because for some strange reason when I tried to use the AUX to have it learn the PBO remote it wouldnt work. When I tried with the SAT function it worked perfectly. Im glad I had one lying around so now I have a backup incase my PBO remote dies.

[Patriot_Ben]

Awesome... thanks for sharing this! :D

[billcat]

Wow, that's a good price too. Does it have all the functions, Yankee6, like subtitle, repeat, etc. ?

[Yankee6]

you can program any of the buttons to do whatever you want, but it wont say subtitle. I used other buttons like page up and things you cant use anyway. If my orig remote dies I will just have to play around with the remote to figure out which does what no biggie.

[billcat]

Thanks, Yankee6 .. good to know there's a viable alternative to the rather pricey Harmony. Great first post! Welcome to the forums :)

[Yankee6]

your welcome, and thanks. Glad to contribute. Funny how this all came about. I took the PBO to moms to show off over the weekend and when I brought it back home I forgot the remote so it was useless to me. I thought about that universal remote I have laying around unused and thought that if I would have programmed it then I wouldnt have had to run back to Moms to get the remote lol. Its a time consuming to program each function, but well worth it if your orig remote dies.

[TDaddy]

Thought I would let you know, I went by the local Radio Shack and found this remote for $5.97 on clearance. I will be checking it out when I get home.

[jamaroney]

Radio Shack is clearing this item out. It's no longer available online, and sold in their stores for a reduced price. I just picked up a new one on eBay for $12.90, which included shipping.

[tourist]

If you have a PDA, you may try some freeware/shareware that turn it into a learning remote too. ;)
I did that years ago with my PalmIII. The newer PDA has stronger IR and should work better.

[jamaroney]

Got the Radio Shack Remote, and it seemed to work well with all my units until I attempted to program it for the PBO remote.

I suspect that the remote is defective - it seems to "max out" in terms of learned signals, as the first few I added for the PBO were fine, but then others wouldn't be accepted. But when I wiped out the first learned signals, then the remote would accept a new group (about 5-6) before refusing to accept any more new ones. I'll be returning the unit.

Has anybody else had any similar problems?

[tourist]

I have a china brand 10-in-1 learning remote that I got for ~$10. It looks kind of similar to this one. It does have a limited number of button learning memory. Basically, I can only program half of the buttons before it ran out of memory. Since I got the Harmony, I don't even remember where I put that learning remote. :D

I found a higher model of the same brand that I got. This one can store 224 learned keys and is only $18.50 shipped.http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.20004

[jamaroney]

I finally got the Radio Shack remote programmed just as I want. It has a limit to "learned" program keys, so one should choose their initial devices to minimize that. For example, for the PBO and my Roku box, I programmed the remote to think of them as them as my TV (in addition to my TV), that way the often used buttons on my TV that I would use with the PBO and Roku (e.g., Input Select and Screen Format) are already programmed and will not require "learned program" memory. (My goal was to not have to keep going back and forth between device buttons).

If a button is given a "learned" program key, then it retains that even if one changes the device for it (e.g., if I were to program the remote for a new TV, it still retains any old "learned" programs under "TV," unless you delete each "learned" program key). There are advantages to this, but a big disadvantage is that if you don't remember all the "learned" keys you programmed, then you may forget to disable some and tie up valuable "learned" program memory.

Fortunately, I found on the internet the code that will wipe out EVERYTHING and return the unit to its factory default (that info is not provided in the Radio Shack manual). Press "P" until it blinks twice, and then enter 981, after which it will blink four times. It's somewhat radical, but it allowed me to start over again with a clean slate, after figuring out the most efficient way to assign "learned" memory.

[shawnph]

I was able to program a Philip learning remote with all functions from the PBO remote. No memory issues. I do notice it takes longer for a learned command to register on the PBO when pushing a button. Slight lag. But it does work. I saw this remote at Lowes in the past. But I bought several of them years ago from Amazon to standardize stuff between my various tv's.

http://www.amazon.com/Philips-Magnavox-6-Device-Universal-Learning/dp/B000EW8ENY

[Branson]

Hello,

I purchased the 5 in 1 Remote Control from Radio Shack, only I can't get the correct code. Does anybode know the proper code to use with the PBO? Do I need to have the origianl remote in order to program the new 5 in 1 remote. I purchased the PBO only 4 monts ago and the original remote does work, Patroit sent me a replacement, which didn't work once. Has anybody had such difficulty with the remotes like I have.

[jamaroney]

There is no code for the PBO. You'll have to have the Radio Shack remote "learn" each button that you'll want to use.

[sam]

I went to the Radio Shack link and the 5-in-1 Remote is list for .97 cents in stores only. That is if someone can still find it in stores near them.

Sam