$120 for a remote control???

[Mskanga]

This is what Hitachi wants me to pay for a new remote, otherwise I can't get to the menu on my TV with a universal remote control. What is this remote control made of? I can almost get a new TV for that price!

 

[doxdogy]

Wow, that is quite a chunk of change for a remote. It is odd that they aren't providing you one free of charge. When our german shepherd destroyed the remote to the vcr years ago, the company replaced it for no charge. Their policy was one free replacement per household.

 

[RitaZ.]

If you decide to replace it, also buy a universal remote for everyday use or maybe you already have one. Keep the expensive one in a safe place for those times when you have to access the menu and just use the universal one the rest of the time.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I bought my sony tv, which is from 1995 I think, at an outlet store. It didn't come with a remote. We bought a universal that's good for most functions. The original remote costs $95.

 

[Mskanga]

My problem here is that any universal remote control works for the volume, channels up and down and the power. It doesn't work for the menu button why? because Hitachi does not allow them to make them compatible! it stinks!!!

 

[jfulcer]

I have the Radio Shack Universal remote control for all of my devices. I had used other ones, but none was as reboust as this one was. I too had trouble with the menu button for my DVD player, but was able to use a special feature on the remote called 'code hunting' or something like that. It allowed me to figure out the proper code that was being sent to the device and program it into the remote.

They also have remotes that can 'capture' the signals from your existing remote, but having lost yours, I would not be sure what you could do. You could bring your learning universal remote into the local TV store and have it learn the codes from their remote.

Radio Shack sells their learning remote for $49.
Click here Of course it's still $49 but it should control everything you have...

(oops, that's the RF controller. Check here for the Infrared version - it's only $29)

Good luck!

 

[debster812]

Jeff beat me to the punch on this one. What you need is a learning remote, not just a Universal. And then you have to be able to get your hands on another Hitachi remote so that you can 'learn' the coding. But...it should work for you. And, Kanga, you would pass out if you saw the price of one of the super super high end remote that my company sells. It can control virutally everything in your home (hifi, tv, surround sound, vcr, dvd, computer, lights, etc) But it is upwards of $450!!!

 

[jfulcer]

Originally posted by debster812
And, Kanga, you would pass out if you saw the price of one of the super super high end remote that my company sells. It can control virutally everything in your home (hifi, tv, surround sound, vcr, dvd, computer, lights, etc) But it is upwards of $450!!!

My $29 Radio Shack remote does all that too.

 

[debster812]

So does mine Jeff, but the people who buy the $450 one are the ones keeping me gainfully employed.

 

[GeorgeG]

For $120 it should come with someone to push the buttons for you.

 

[ToyStory Fan]

Kanga,

if your remote doesn't work at all a learning remote won't help yu unless you have access to someone else's remote. Learning remotes are great, but be careful of some of the pitfalls on the less expensive models...such as loss of memory when you change the batteries. One other thing I'd suggest is to check on Ebay and try to get a Marantz RC2000 MKII (not the original MKI, as it was a battery hog and didn't have a good set of channel up/down buttons). The Marantz is a bit older, but it DOES NOT have a memory loss issue when you remove the batteries and you may be able to find one for about $75 or so...it is a GREAT remote. If you won't have access to an original Hitachi remote to "teach" a learning remote unfortunately I think you are stuck with the $120 from Hitachi, or check Ebay for that too.

Originally posted by debster812
.... But...it should work for you. And, Kanga, you would pass out if you saw the price of one of the super super high end remote that my company sells. It can control virutally everything in your home (hifi, tv, surround sound, vcr, dvd, computer, lights, etc) But it is upwards of $450!!!

debster,

do you work for Philips/Marantz??? I'm thinking about that new color touch screen one myself.


George,

actually for that price some of them come close..you can set up a macro to turn things on in sequence...mine for example will turn on all of my equipment for "theater mode", change the menu settings on the tv to switch the TV speakers off and turn the main surround speakers on, and even dim the lights.

 

[jfulcer]

Originally posted by debster812
So does mine Jeff, but the people who buy the $450 one are the ones keeping me gainfully employed.

true dat.

Of course, if my employer hadn't decided to buy our competitor, I'd be gainfully employed also. All I can hope for now is hoping to find other employment before the ax falls.

 

[Cindy B]

You can also buy remotes on Ebay.. Our Directv remote died when we moved, so we ordered one off Ebay, and it was great, newer, and less cost than from Directv

 

[eeyoreforever]

We had the same problem with the tv in our bedroom. Couldn't set the time or access the menu without that special remote. After about a year of suffering without it, my dh found the remote we needed at an estate sale. Paid $1. Like someone else suggested, I would check ebay.