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Need a replacement remote

Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 6:37 am
by WinBear
Hi,

I'm an old-timer from the early Yahoo days and I'm a little out of touch now. I had a URC-7800 configured the way I wanted for 4 or 5 years. My new puppy recently discovered he likes chewing on the remote. He's chewed my primary and now my backup beyond the point of recovery. I'm going to have to start keeping the remote in a different place.

I have a jp1 cable and a recent version of the software as I've been handling equipment changes over the years.

Here are my requirements:
Must buy locally (I'm in Dallas, TX) as I'd like to get back in business ASAP.
Needs jp1 header pre-installed. I know my own limitations and my previous soldering efforts mangled an RCU-810.
Needs to support at least 6 devices, but would prefer 7.
I have a TiVo and I had to install additional protocols on the URC-7800 before, so that is not an obstacle.
Learning would be nice, but not a strict requirement. I should have real codes for almost everything. I think I had 2 learned codes before simply to avoid learning a device combiner for the receiver.

I thought there used to be a central list of which remotes had the jp1 header preinstalled. If I had that, I'd be happy to figure most everything else out.

Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 6:59 am
by gfb107
Check your local Walmarts for the URC-8810w. If those aren't available, check your local Radio Shacks for a 15-2116 or 15-2117. If you still haven't come up with anything, got to your local Best Buy and pick up the URC-8910.

Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:10 am
by WinBear
Thanks for the clarification. I was planning on hitting a couple of Radio Shacks and knew those numbers. I also saw there is a variant of the Wal-Mart remote that requires some hardware modification so I'm glad to know the correct number there. That URC-8910 seems a lot cheaper than the last time I looked at it, but, of course, the BB closest to me doesn't have one according their website.

Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:52 am
by The Robman
If you have a Tivo in your collection, I would strongly recommend the URC-6131 as this is by far and away the most popular JP1 remote among PVR users. The version available in B&M stores is not JP1 ready, so I would normally recommend that you buy it from one of the online vendors (and they all get the remotes from me, if trust is your problem with online stores).

If you're totally non-negotiable as far as online purchases are concerned, you could buy the URC-6131 at a B&M store, then send it into UEI for an upgrade. When you do this, they will discard the remote that you send in and replace it with a "service remote" which is JP1 ready out of the factory.

If that also is not an option, I would second the recommendation that you go with a URC-8811 (called URC-8810w at Walmart).

Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2005 9:41 am
by WinBear
Trust isn't the problem with online vendors. I purchased the jp1 cable from someone on here way back when after my clumsy homemade one failed. The "buy local" issue is about timing and pressure from the spouse to get everything operational again as soon as possible.

Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 6:56 am
by andyross
WalMart seems to have dropped the 8810w. Even the 6011/6012 is gone. They no longer appear to carry any JP1 enabled remotes. I ended up getting an 8811 (about $25 vs $18.50 at WalMart) at Fry's to replace one that was stepped on. I also bought an 8910 at BestBuy.

Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 7:38 am
by WinBear
andyross wrote:WalMart seems to have dropped the 8810w. Even the 6011/6012 is gone. They no longer appear to carry any JP1 enabled remotes. I ended up getting an 8811 (about $25 vs $18.50 at WalMart) at Fry's to replace one that was stepped on. I also bought an 8910 at BestBuy.
It seems I am finding that out. I went to 3 Wal-Marts yesterday and they were all the same re: jp1 remotes. One oddity I found was that the oldest Wal-Mart (DeSoto, Tx) had 4 very old TiVo Series 1 20 hour boxes on the shelf still marked $299.

Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 9:20 am
by The Robman
WinBear wrote:One oddity I found was that the oldest Wal-Mart (DeSoto, Tx) had 4 very old TiVo Series 1 20 hour boxes on the shelf still marked $299.
Oooo, you better grab those while you still can!!! :wink: