The Affliction of Excessive Proliferation of Remote Controls
There is a serious affliction that sooner or later affects all of us in Home Theater Land - I have dubbed it "EPRC" short for "Excessive Proliferation of Remote Controls". Before I was cured I suffered from the 7 unit manifestation of this disorder - 2 for VCR’s; 1 for receiver (in my pre-DC-1 days); 1 for cable box; 1 for TV set; 1 for laserdisc player; and a rather nifty standalone Philips voice activated remote I bought in England, which made the move to the US with me.
Sufferers of EPRC who are married or living with significant others sometimes also have to deal with a related issue: "WAF" or "Wife Acceptance Factor" (alternatively "SOAF" for the politically correct). Sufferers of EPRC will be familiar with the symptoms - apparent inability to locate correct remote; consequent frustration and bad language; unnecessary operation of front panel controls and consequent muscle strain from the exercise; when present with WAF the symptoms become voices in the head ("Why is all this gear so hard to operate?"; "Do we really need all these remotes?"); banishment to the basement for making a mess on the carpet/coffee table/couch/arm chair; finally delirium and madness causing one to attach all remotes to the arms of the chair and challenge the Enterprise to battle in the Neutral Zone (the voice-activated remote really came in handy for that one).
A Cure for EPRC
My cure began when Marantz introduced the first RC2000 in 1996 (originally listed at $250). Supplies were short - I waited 3 months for one. Now I will be the first to admit that the original version, while a great performer, is not a complete cure -- while it deals with some symptoms, it gives rise other frustrations of varying magnitude - first, it has a voracious appetite for batteries -- even with the lighting options turned off I was only getting a maximum of 2 months from a set of EverReady lithiums (I think I read somewhere that this is to do with the light sensor still being active even though backlighting is switched off); second, adding to he frustration of the first, settings and learned codes etc were stored in volatile memory, so were lost if the batteries went really flat (but at least it warned you in advance); third, too little memory -- even after the early increase in the "blue dot" version, I did not have enough space for all the commands for all my gear; fourth, and one of the most bothersome, no dedicated channel up/down buttons. There are other little usability oddities, which didn’t really bother me but were seen by some as irritating -- 2 step macro execution (press macro button, then hit Play); no "multitasking" - if you had programmed the source input keys as intended, you could not carry out RC functions on any source other than the current one without changing the input selection on the receiver (I just covered the IR transmitter with my hand to get round this one). The layout of the original was also not very ergonomic -- transport keys to the bottom left, "number" keys in the middle; the keys around the LCD panel were a little small and some users complained that the panel itself was not easy to read.
A More Complete Cure
Well, fellow sufferers, a more complete cure is now available. I am pleased to say that the officially designated Mark II version deals with most of these shortcomings. In the USA it was first introduced by Marantz in the last quarter of 1997, but was supplied only with a couple of their top of the range receivers. Marantz finally made it separately available at the end of January 1998 (listed at $250, available for less). This time I had to wait only a few days for mine to be shipped to my dealer (I don’t think I could have taken the stress of another long wait!). At first glance (see picture) it does not look that different from the original (hereafter "Mark I").
Improved Functionality and Design
The Mark II version of the RC2000 has introduced several improvements that address the limitations of its predecessor. It now includes dedicated channel up/down keys, transport keys in a more ergonomic location, separately programmable volume controls for each source, and a more user-friendly layout. The LCD panel also has adjustable contrast, although it may be harder to read for some individuals. The memory capacity has been increased, allowing for more commands to be programmed.
Enhanced Macro Programming and Use
The Mark II remote control also offers improved macro programming and use. Macros can now be programmed with individual timing for each command, reducing execution times. Each macro key has a maximum limit of 20 commands, but additional commands can be assigned to the next numbered macro key for seamless execution. The activation process for macros has also been simplified, requiring just a single keystroke.
Ease of Programming
The Mark II remote control provides a user-friendly programming process. The remote can learn codes from other remotes by holding down the key until the RC2000 acknowledges the code. The memory usage is more efficient, allowing for more commands to be programmed. There is also the ability to rename direct command keys immediately after learning their codes, making it easier to remember the assigned functions.
A Highly Recommended Solution
In conclusion, the Mark II version of the RC2000 is a significant improvement over its predecessor. It offers enhanced functionality, improved design, and a user-friendly programming process. Whether you are a first-time buyer or an upgrade enthusiast, I wholeheartedly recommend the Mark II as the best value for money multipurpose remote control. Say goodbye to the Excessive Proliferation of Remote Controls and enjoy a more streamlined and enjoyable home theater experience.
Hotels and Home Theater
In the realm of hotels, the Excessive Proliferation of Remote Controls can also be a common issue for guests. With multiple devices in hotel rooms such as TVs, cable boxes, and streaming devices, navigating various remotes can be frustrating. Implementing a universal remote control solution, similar to the Mark II RC2000, can improve the guest experience and alleviate the complexities of operating multiple devices.