One For All Cinema 7 IQ Remote Controls

One For All Cinema 7 IQ Remote Controls 

DESCRIPTION

7 device learning remote

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-10 of 15  
[Mar 14, 2002]
mkatyal
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

28 Learning keys and cool design.

Weakness:

Small volume and channel buttons, sometimes you press the wrong buttons as they are tiny.

I have been through remotes including Sony''s RM2100, RM2100 is cool but I could not stand the size. Cinema 7 is a great remote, I wanted to put my family room lights on the remote and this remote learned in minutes. All my devices worked after a phone call to technical support, they emailed me advanced codes and I got special buttons to work as well. If you purchase this remote make sure you get advanced codes from OneForAll.

Similar Products Used:

Sony RM-2100

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jan 14, 2000]
Howard Hong
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Controls every piece of a/v equipment I need it to.

Weakness:

Ugly. Manual mentions only a small bit of what the remote is actually capable of.

This is the best universal remote and the most fully satisfying piece of a/v equipment I have ever owned. With a combination of moving keys, macros, EFC's and learned keys, I have programed it to control every function that I need for every piece of equipment I have.

When I first got it, I was concerned that it wouldn't. I've tried other preprogramed remotes and they usually leave out certain functions for certain pieces of equipment. I thought the learning ability was the key to making it usable for my system, but that being able to learn only 28 functions (as advertised on the packaging) was not enough. Little did I know, that this remote has a lot more going for it than the manual lets on.

I discovered a website called remote central. There I learned that the Cinema 7 had a lot more versatility. With a combination of different codes not published in the manual, and the learning function, I've been able to program and reprogram well more than 28 keys and still have some memory left. I was originally considering the a/v producer 8 by the same company. I'm glad I got the Cinema 7, because for less than 1/3 the price I got a much more versitile remote. The Cinema 7 is free of certain limitations suffered by it's more expensive brother.

It takes a little time and research, but if your up to it, you can program this thing to program everything you want it to.

By the way, if you'd like a different layout and backlighting, I understand the radio shack 7-in-1 smart remote model "something something"-1994 is the same unit in a different outfit.

If you want more info on this product, go check out the one-for-all forum at www.remotecentral.com. There you'll find out what others think and the tricks they use to get this device to work for them.

The system that I control with this remote consists of the following.

Magnavox 32" television w/ pip
Sony STR-DE 435 receiver
Sony SDP-E800 DD processor
Technics 5 disc CD changer
Samsung Hifi VCR
Toshiba 2107 DVD player

Speakers consists of . . .
CSW Ensemble III mains
CSW Center III
CSW Powere Subwoofer II (Sucks!)
CSW Surround II's

How's that for low-end real world?

Similar Products Used:

Carver learning remote, Radio Shack Universal remote, bunch of oem universal remotes

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Nov 13, 2001]
Kevin Uncapher
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Very good learning capabilities, and controls. Great for the priced paired to other models and brands.

Weakness:

Maybe if it was illuminated but the glow in the dark keys are are good.

I would recommend this to anyone, and the price is excellent for all the things it can do. It can learn controls off your old remotes which is nice.

Similar Products Used:

Regular remotes that come with products.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[Nov 29, 2001]
Ron Bartyczak
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

It can actually replace 7 or more remotes. Virtually every key can be used to learn a function for each device. Key functions can be moved. LOW PRICE!!!

Weakness:

No backlighting for the keys. The glow in the dark keys don't glow very long. Can't operate my Kenwood receiver (see review).

For anyone who wants an absolutely incredible remote for only $25, this one is it. It is very easy to setup and use and easy to program. I considered touch screen remotes (and may actually get one some day) but they seemed to pricey and I like the "hard" keys.

Here is my story/review:

Over the last year, my wife let me get the home theater I have been wanting for 20 years. I purchased an RPTV, DTV tuner (STB), A/V receiver, DVD player and A/V cabinet. I also kept all the stuff I replaced and moved it to another room. Now my problem was I had more remotes than I knew what to do with. Some of the remotes that came with the equipment claimed to be universal and/or learning. They were very limited. Each would partially learn a couple of my devices. I thought I was going to have to go with something like the Pronto! (touch screen) remote to control all my devices.

I had been using the non-learning OFA Cinema 7 (URC-7200). I had been happy with it until I upgraded. It could control the basic functions of most of my equipment but I typically had to have three other remotes sitting out to do everything I needed to do. While I was looking at the Sony (touch screen) remote at Sears, I happened to see the OFA Cinema 7+ (URC-7800) with 4 learning keys. I thought that I might be able to get by with 4 learning keys per device.

When I found out the remote was only $25, I figured it was a good buy. When I got home, I programmed each of the learning keys with important functions from my original remotes. I was a pretty happy camper. I still had to "remember" some preprogrammed device functions which were on odd buttons on the remote and what was on the "learned" keys. But that was okay since I was able to get along with only one remote.

Then I ran across the websites that describe the almost limitless undocumented features of this remote! I was really excited. I have reprogrammed and moved many of the preprogrammed functions to the correct keys. My "enter" key now controls the "enter" function and my "PIP" keys now control my "picture out of picture" function on my TV. I am now thrilled.

When I purchased the A/V cabinet, I moved all my equipment from the top of my RPTV to the cabinet. Unfortunately, the cabinet had to be positioned at a right angle to my seating position. I thought I was going to have to buy a "remote control extender" to control my system. To my surprise and delight, I found that the remote's IR signal was powerful enough to bounce off the wall opposite the A/V equipment and control all of my equipment. This is one remote that I can truly live with (and don't want to live without)!

I recently purchased a second Cinema 7+ (URC-7801) labelled IQ for my secondary A/V system. The only device that I can't get it to control is my Kenwood RX-V990D receiver. It requires a higher frequency IR signal than standard univeral remotes use. But, since it my secondary A/V system, I guess I can live with using two remotes.

Very Highly Recommended Accessory.

Similar Products Used:

Zenith (7 device), One-For-All 4, One-For-All Cinema 7 (non-learning), remotes that came with A/V equipment

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Mar 01, 2000]
John Pierce
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Very flexible, manufacturer codes work well, good layout -- small and light.

Weakness:

Manual could be better - User's written FAQ at http://ampersand.hypermart.net/one_for_all_cinema_7_faq.htm is excellent

This product does everything the others have said below. It does take a little investment of time to get everything set just perfect, but I now have it running my Panasonic TV, Yamaha receiver, Sony DVD, General Instruments digital cable box and Mitsubishi VCR.

The Cinema 7 was 90% self-programming using the manufacturer codes from the manual. I had to go into each unit's functions and "tweak" a little with macros and learning keys to get it perfect, but now it is great!

1) I have it set up with a macro on the power switch to turn on *all* of my devices.

2) I programmed the TV/Video swap button to work regardless of device selected.

3) This remote does *every single function* the original 5 remotes would do.

Highly recommended!

Similar Products Used:

Onko, Sony learning remotes

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Aug 22, 1999]
Tim S.
an Audiophile

I recently upgraded my Yamaha RX-V995 remote. Yamaha sent me the new upgraded, more memory, remote. The total shipping and packing cost was $16.50. It varies in how you send it. Now the new remote has memory for every learnable button. I have every learnable button taught a new function. I still wanted to try the Cinema 7 IQ to see if it could improve on the new Yamaha remote. IT COULDN'T!
The new Cinema 7 IQ remote is much better than the old one, but the preset codes still don't work. They have had plenty of time to fix this problem. The new packaging still doesn't state what batteries are needed. I had to open the package and read the manual to find the needed batteries(4 AAA). It can have every button taught a new learned function including the macro and macro 2 keys. The device keys, SLEEP key, and setup key, can not be taught new functions however. For use in replacing my newly upgraded Yamaha RX-V995 remote, I had to teach every function except, sleep, volume, surround(effects on/off), power and mute. The receiver device memory spot had a lot of memory taken to teach nearly all my receiver remote functions. After that, I tried teaching my TV number keys. I got up to 4 button learned, and then the memory ran out. Completely out of memory. I gave up on the TV for now. I tried presets for my Echostar satellite receiver remote. The Cinema 7 did every funcion of the remote except page forward and reverse, very nice. I then tried the presets of my Pioneer DV-414. It was all screwy. The functions didn't match the labels on the buttons, plus many Vital function buttons to USE the DVD player didn't work. So, I could not even use this remote for my DVD player. It's going back, as it is still useless for my needs. Seeing how poorly it performed, it'll be useless for simple needs also. This remote is almost as bad as the original Cinema 7 for usefullness. The presets just DON'T WORK. If they do, they don't give you the vital functions to even operate the component. Very useless in my eyes. I just can't see how others rave how good it is, when it can't be used or used very limited. I'm not screwing around with sending it in or requesting codes that should have been in the manual and in the units memory. If I were to do so, my future components would not work on this remote also. That would require me to go through the unneeded hastle to get this remote to work as it should out of the box. Poorly designed in my opinion, as the original. This was their last chance with me. I will not waste time on TRYING to use their remotes on my equipment again, if they even last as a company. I can't see how, when their products don't work. I will give it a 2, as I was able to program my Yamaha remote into it, and it had my Echostar preset code that worked all functions except the page forward and reverse. The Cinema 7 IQ did learn 38 new functions on the existing keys plus the 4 new learning keys. That just isn't enough for replacing 7 remotes.

OVERALL
RATING
2
VALUE
RATING
[Feb 03, 2000]
Gerard Pinzone
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Can produce just about any IR command out there. Very inexpensive. Tons of features. Learning.

Weakness:

No backlight. Manual is grossly inadequate. Advanced codes are not readily available. Not many places sell this remote.

The Cinema 7 IQ, model URC-7800, is the name for a universal remote by a company called All For One. The remote is very inexpensive, but can perform many advanced functions that other more expensive universal remotes cannot.

Most of the so called "universal" remotes on the market are missing functions that may be critical to the operation of your components. The Cinema 7 gets around this problem by including the ability to manually program these missing features. You can also redefine the device keys on the remote to represent a completely different kind of device. For example, if you have two VCRs you can redefine the CD key to operate the second VCR. The Cinema 7 can "punch-through" the volume controls of your main audio source; this allows you to change the volume regardless of the device selected. There are even ways of extending this kind of programming for other remote control functions.

Unfortunately, many of the Cinema 7's advanced functions are not actively promoted or even supported by OFA. I went so far as to create an FAQ in order to help discover, document, and educate people about these powerful features. http://ampersand.hypermart.net/one_for_all_cinema_7_faq.htm

At a price of $24.99, you are not going to find a better remote for this price range.

Similar Products Used:

Radio Shack 15-1994 6-in-1 Remote

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Sep 14, 1999]
Tim S.
an Audiophile

Well I spent some more time on this remote and it turns out it's aweful at have functions for some component, but very good for others. I was frustrated by it's poor functionality with Yamaha receivers. I had to teach almost every button.
What I've found is that the 7 IQ had preprogrammed most of the functionality of my Echostar 4700 receiver. It had all the regular functions, plus the setup programming of my new Panasonic VCRs. It had all the basic functions of the Pioneer DV-414, but the most important function for the menu, ENTER. I ended up deleteing all the Yamaha's setup menus to fit this and a few other function in. This now made the DVD play functional for all basic functions. My Sony minidisc player had all the basic functions. I only had to program the continue key, so that if I accidentally hit program or shuffle, I had a way to cancel that without going to the component or pulling the original remote out. Almost all of my Sony television keys were preprogrammed. Almost all my Yamaha CD player keys were preprogrammed.

So what it came down to was teaching almost all my Yamaha receiver functions, teaching 2 functions for my DVD player, enter and audio. I taught my Sony mini disc the Continue function. Had to do without any menu setup function keys on my Yamaha receiver.

So while it was aweful at the receiver, it was pretty good at everything else. Without the learning capability, it would have been completely useless, as the original! I guess I was to quick to judge by the receiver functionality flaws. I'll give this a 5, because it really deserves a 4 overall for value. The average between my 2 reviews will be 3.5, only .5 below what I intended. That .5 loss could be for the complexity of teaching this. They don't even mention anywhere that "EVERY BUTTON" can be taught.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
[Dec 27, 1999]
Brian Heilman
Audio Enthusiast

This thing is cool. I bought my old $20 Sony Remote and
that was working semi-adequately with my system, till I
got my DVD. Then it had to go the way of 8 tracks.
I was looking at the Pronto/Sony/and upper OneForAlls
but picked this up to try, cuz hey its $25. Well This
thing is good enough I won't have to throw a few hundred
bucks out for a while. The presets worked great on my
dad's cheap Fischer Rack System, his RCA big Screen,
and JVC VCR.
Then when I got it home I really set it up, for my
Pioneer VSX-D608(had to learn a few things),my DV-525
(had to learn audio and select,which aint real hard),
my old Samsung VCR, my Pioneer Tape Deck, Pioneer CD,
and JVC TV. And then with a few Macros set up, it works
like a charm. Granted a couple of things arent in the
manual and for the DV-525 you would think code 0525 would be the right code(I guess, not really).
But I saw it summed up best by someone in another forum,
this thing was packaged for the ignorant masses that will
pick it up at Wal-Mart. But how cool is it to actually
get something that with a little research can do a heck
of a lot more than what's promised. You can reprogram/learn
any button, and can set up more than two macros. It rocks!!
Tough break for Yamaha Reciever Owners, if in fact there is no work around!! Cuz this thing is great for the price!!

Similar Products Used:

Sony RM-V701

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jun 13, 2001]
Harry
Casual Listener

Strength:

Flexibility, learning, macros, inexpensive, compact size.

Weakness:

Small buttons. More memory for learning will be nice.

If you just use this remote as documented in the manual that comes with it, it is just an average universal remote that controls "most" devices and is able to learn a few keys per device and program up to 2 macros. This remote really shines when you discover the undocumented features from the user-created FAQs. It turns out that every button can be learned into and re-assigned. When you use this remote to its full potential, it becomes a poor-man's Pronto. To do more, you will have spend much more than $30. I'm very happy that I'm able to put away five OEM remotes and stop juggling them.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
Showing 1-10 of 15  

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