One For All URC 4220 Big Easy 4-Device Universal Remote Control (Discontinued by Manufacturer)

If you're reading these reviews, you're probably looking for a universal remote for one of two reasons: to replace a broken/lost factory remote or to give the elderly a less complicated controller.At thirteen bucks a pop, the URC 4220 is cheap enough where I'd prefer to leave this out for guests to use or the dog to chew on over the factory remote. As a pre-emptive sacrificial replacement, the 4220 matches nearly all the buttons compared to the Samsung TV remote I'm mothballing. The 4220 lets me get into the TV setup menu and navigate around as I would with the original. Additionally, it's properly pulsing the signal to my Samsung whereas my DirecTV (programmable) remote only notches the volume up just once regardless of how long I hold down the button.Programming this remote was routine and typical, but could become tedious if there are half a dozen possible codes for your device. The chart printed in the manual listed five codes for my TV. This means reprogramming it five times to make sure I'm using the best code for my particular set. One For All's website isn't any more helpful. Their code finder rehashes the printed chart. Let me enter the specific model of my TV in return for a specific code and I would've been a happier customer. If you're patient enough to read the manual, you'll find some additional nifty features like the single Power button being capable of toggling all four devices... or the ability to re-task the PVR button to operate a second DVD player.I additionally programmed mine to operate a Samsung 1080P7 Upconverting DVD player and that's where the 4220 showed some limits. It's Menu button only worked for DVD content menus but not the player's setup menu to tweak video/audio settings. The remote is also lacking an Eject button. One For All's reasoning is probably that if you had to extract/load a DVD, you'd be standing near the player anyway. With the DTV transition nearly complete, HDTV power users will find this remote missing the "-" dash button for directly landing on certain digital channels (ie, 11-2, 11-3, etc)The big numerical buttons suggest that this remote is tailored for the elderly or those with diminished sight. The problem with the 4220 is that OTHER oft-used buttons aren't as distinct. The power button is the same size as the other buttons in that upper region. The labeling for the identically-shaped channel and volume rocker switches are far too tiny for grandma to see without pulling out her reading glasses. No one considered up/down shaped arrows for volume and plus/minus shaped buttons for the channel? There's room for improvement on their grouping ergonomics. Look at the product thumbnail above. The two buttons straddling the zero is counterproductive. If they truly want to target this remote for the tech-challenged end-user, improve the button ergonomics and maybe provide flatspots near certain buttons to accomodate flourescent-colored labels.This remote should be suitable for the larger majority of casual users who need access to an expanded set of controls beyond power, volume, and channel. The existence of a dedicated sleep, Closed Caption, (DTV) Info, and source input buttons should give most buyers the confidence to use this as a permanent replacement. Power users however, will want to look into the URC8820 while the elderly might be better matched to the URC1050 or URC3300.

I highly recommend this remote control to anyone who is looking for a simple remote at a very inexpensive price. I used this remote to program my TV, VCR and DVD player and had it operating all three devices within 5 to 10 minutes of taking it out of its packaging. The only feature I would like, which is doesn't have, is glow-in-the-dark buttons but for this price I cannot complain. I am very happy with this product and would certainly buy it again.

I have been using this remote since Christmas 2008. I purchased it for my mother who needs "large number buttons".The remote works as advertised, albeit with very few options and not enough buttons to truly represent any original device's remote you are replacing.My biggest gripe is that when we try to change channels on our cable box, turn up/down the volume, mute, etc., it often takes several tries to get the thing to do anything. You have to pretty much aim right at the cable box to make anything happen. We also use a Phillips 8-function learning remote which works no matter what angle you point it at in the room.

I bought it because we lost our remote (temporarily) and wanted to have something in the house for the "just in case" moments. It was easy to use, but since we bought it we suddenly stopped losing our regular remote, lol.

This works great and was easy to use. I only gave it 4 stars because I had to get online to find my codes. Several pages in my manual had no printing at all. Those pages were of course the pages I needed to find my devices codes. At the same time I purchased this remote I also bought a Philips, 6 device, remote that was a few dollars more but I like it better because it is smaller and slimmer.

Replacing a simple TV remote in the kitchen and this one fits the bill nicely. Very easy to program and I like its layout and ease of use.

Worked great until, like our previous remote controls, it wandered off. Where do they go?

this remote sets up easy. the remote has a sleep function on it, and it says you can set up a tv that has a dvd and or vcr built in the tv, a lot of remotes will not do that. i like this remote a lot.