Choosing a Remote Control

Controlling all the components of your home entertainment system can be a real hassle. You use one remote to turn on your audio/video receiver and switch to a specific input, another remote to turn on your TV and switch to the appropriate input, then yet another remote to turn on and operate your DVD player. If you want to switch to your cable or satellite box, one more remote control enters the picture. It's a pain.

If you don't like juggling all those remotes, there's a solution -- you can use a single remote that can control multiple components.

Here you have four types of remotes to choose from:

Universal remote controls come preprogrammed with operating codes for lots of different components from different manufacturers.

Learning Remotes "dock" with your existing remotes and "learn" their operating codes.

Know that some remotes blend features from these different general types. For example, it's not unusual to find learning remotes that include universal codes, or programmable remotes that include both universal and learning functions.

Michael Miller is a writer and commentator on technology and digital lifestyle topics.