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SRC-600M REVIEW
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Quick Learning Demonstration Video on Youtube,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SENSAxSruMA
Sunwave Technology Corp. manufactures many different universal remote controls and markets them internationally with either their own name or under other brands. They were kind enough to send us some of their new remotes for review including the SRC-600M, the SRC-2200 Lite and the SRM-140 PC remote.
The first remote we'll look at is the SRC-600M which is very different in both function and design. It's not often that you can pick up a universal remote for less than $25 and say WOW! But that really is the first reaction to this model. The SRC-600M has no numeric keypad, no touchscreen, and only 17 total buttons. There's also no IR database, programming wizard or PC software. It's just a small (but solid) candy-bar style remote with powerful IR learning and the ability to control up to six devices.
We were very intrigued by the SRC-600M's simple design. The remote feels very nice in the hand. It's just about the size of an Apple iPhone yet the buttons are large and easy to reach. The top of the remote features 3 illuminated icons that show you what device mode you are in. There's a film reel, a TV and a musical note over a disc which are generic enough for most devices yet different enough for easy identification in your system. There is also a “GROUP2” light that lets you program up to 3 more devices for a total of six. In our opinion though, the second group should be reserved for devices that are not used often. You need to hold down the PAGE button and side backlight button together for a few seconds to put the remote in GROUP2 Mode. This won't be very obvious to someone not familiar with the remote.
Beneath the top display panel are four transport keys (|<< Rewind, [ ] STOP, > || Play/Pause, and >>| Fast Forward). The remaining hard buttons include POWER, Vol +/-, Channel +/-, D-pad with OK center select, Menu, Jump, Mute and THAT's ALL! This is where the radical design concept of the SRC-600M comes in. There are no number keys to jump directly to a channel. They offer a “trick” on their site where they suggest to program the 4 transport buttons under the screen as codes 1, 3, 5 and 7. That would allow you to change the channel to within just a few numbers of the channel you want and quickly hit channel +/- to finish the navigation. Obviously you need to accept this approach before considering this remote but it's really not as bad as you think. Most cable boxes and satellite receivers allow you to select a bank of favorite channels and channel surf only those favorites. This is similar to the SEEK feature of a car radio which only goes through your presets as opposed to the SCAN feature which searches all available radio stations. If you use the favorite channel feature of your set top box than the CH +/- navigation on the SRC-600M is all you need to channel surf through your “presets.”
Finally, the SRC-600M has an orange backlight that is activated by a button on the right side of the remote and illuminates all buttons except for the transport keys just below the top display. The button labels light up with a pleasant Orange glow and are all very clearly labeled. The Sunwave logo at the top of the remote also lights up whenever a button is pressed so you always get a visual confirmation of the command being transmitted.
If you're looking for a simple universal remote and with powerful learning capabilities and just a few buttons, then the SRC-600M may worth a look. In fact, you can get your first peek in the Remote Shoppe video that shows the quick programming from our cable remote!
> Jim
>
> (((o)))
> Jim Bask
> Remote Shoppe
> 1-877-487-0702
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