Category: Remote Controls

Reviews of remote controls.

red room with home cinema

Home Theater Trends: What’s New in 2019

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2019 is shaping up as a wonderful year to be on the couch. The explosion of streaming services and blockbuster television and movies has made the complete home theater system experience more essential than ever before, and manufacturers are responding with exciting new tech and enhancements.

Here’s what we’re looking forward to this coming year—and what’s set to make your entertainment experience out of this world.

Apps

The world reached saturation point with smartphones a few years ago, but it’s taken the big manufacturers a little while to catch up. Everyone is connected, and we predict that this year is the year that new model theater devices will take full advantage of it.

Using your phone to control your system and tweak every aspect will no longer be a fiddly and time-consuming rarity—2019 will see a number of apps streamline the process and let you be in control.

red room with home cinema

Streaming

Streaming videos, sound, and movies from around the internet has also become commonplace—not just from Netflix and other well-known streaming services, but also from sites like YouTube, SoundCloud, and Popcorn Time. The best home theater systems and TVs of 2019 are set to integrate these features and make them seamless, allowing for far greater convenience and a better user experience.

Bigger Is Back

A lot of content we view these days is on the very small screen, making many viewers reluctant to commit to expensive and enormous home theater setups. Yet, with prices dropping and a resurgence of interest in an authentic home cinema experience, this is set to change once again. Projectors and massive screens are coming back, and we’re ready to watch our blockbusters the way Hollywood intended.

Home Theaters Like You Dreamed They Would Be

Every aspect of a home theater is set to benefit from technological advancements in 2019, making the reality much more in line with what you would get from the cinema. The future is here, and it’s bringing true immersion and a world of features you only dreamed of—like:

  • Sound bars – Avoiding the need for complicated 7.1 speaker arrangements, sound bars utilize several speakers in the one unit, directing positional, full-3D sound to viewers at a lower Your home theater sound system will never be the same.

home theater for special event

  • Wireless components – Finally, we won’t have to trip over or mess around with the dozens of cables required in an average audio system. More and more devices will be going wireless next year, making set-up a whole lot easier for the enthusiast.
  • Voice activation and centralized control – Smart home controllers like Amazon Echo and Google Home are here to stay, and home theaters are next in line for a makeover. Expect most—if not all—aspects of your home theater system to join the ranks of the “smart” devices.

Be Ready with the Right Accessories

There’s a lot to look forward to in 2019—and a lot to prepare for. Make sure every part of your home theater system setup is ready for the future with parts and accessories from ReplacementRemotes. Check in with the experts and stock up on our website today!

desktop gaming computer setup

TVs Versus Monitors: Which Are Better for Gaming?

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Gamers face a dizzying array of options these days, with technology improving, morphing, and maturing all the time. Even when it comes to the humble screen, there’s a difficult choice to make: Do you stick with a monitor, or try using a TV?

The answer, as it turns out, depends on you. TVs are perfectly viable as a PC gaming option— it just depends on how you use it. Read on to find out why!

desktop gaming computer setup

The Basic Differences

First, we’ll need to explain the fundamental differences between computer monitors and TVs and how these will affect your gaming experience. These are:

  • Size – Although monitors are getting bigger, they are usually dwarfed by even the most basic of today’s televisions. This means you’ll have to sit farther away.
  • Input response – Due to pre-processing of the video component, many TVs have a delay between keys and mouse clicks and what appears onscreen.
  • Pixel response – This is the measure of how long it takes a pixel in the panel to turn off or on. It is usually higher on TVs, which can lead to blurring for fast-moving scenes.
  • Pixel density – Both monitors and TVs support 1080p and 4K resolutions, but, since TVs are usually much bigger, each pixel will be bigger for the same resolution.
  • Price – A highly competitive market and lower technology requirements mean TVs are normally cheaper than their similarly sized monitor equivalents unless you wait for a gaming monitor sale.

How Do You Game?

On the face of it, it seems that monitors are the obvious choice over TVs for gaming, but that’s not entirely correct. The fact of the matter is that monitors are better for some people and some games, and TVs are better for others. What it comes down to is one question: What kind of gamer are you?

The Competitor

You’re the one who dominates CS:GO and Dota 2 with your lightning-fast reflexes. You’re going to need a screen that can keep pace with you and your mouse, making a monitor the better choice.

The Omnivore

Some days it’s the computer, other days it’s the PS4, and some days you just settle back for eight hours of Netflix. If you’re a gamer who will play anything and everything, a TV will make it simpler to switch—and take up less room than multiple monitors.

The Strategist

Find yourself often hunched over a war game, CRPG, or roguelike? Then you probably need to be able to read the tiny stats and tooltips, making the pixel density and proximity of a monitor a no-brainer.

group of friends play video games together at home

The Party Animal

Why play alone when you can play with friends? Those of you with a fondness for split-screen gaming and a few controllers already in the drawer will find that TVs have much more room for fun than a monitor.

The Spectacle Lover

The only reason you game is for the jaw-dropping scenery, the epic battles, and all the things that loudly go boom. You want to sit back and be blown away, and a huge TV is perfect for that.

Whatever the Decision, You’re in Control

With different advantages and disadvantages to each, there’s no clear winner in the TV vs. gaming monitor fight. Whatever your ultimate choice, you’re in control with ReplacementRemotes. With remote controls and accessories for every screen, we’re your number-one store for making your gaming experience perfect. Take a look through replacementremotes.com today to find out why!

person using a remote to streaming netflix

How Does Your TV Remote Work?

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Your TV remote stops working. It’s not an uncommon problem; you can order a new one from ReplacementRemotes.com—but how do remote controls work, anyway?

In the old days, people would walk up to the TV and turn a knob. Now, you can change the channels and use other functions with the remote control. The technology actually isn’t that new; it’s been around since World War I.

person using a remote to streaming netflix

Basics of TV Remote Function

Television remote controllers use infrared (IR) light, which you can’t see. When you press a button, a light pulse is sent as binary code to a receiver. Both the light and the rate at which it flashes are invisible; the encoded light patterns repeat five times every second.

The signal corresponds to specific commands on the unit including power, volume, and channel changing. On the remote-controlled device, there is an IR receiver that decodes the light pulses, translating binary ones and zeros into commands read by the device’s microprocessor.

A TV controller has a few simple parts. On the outside, there are buttons and a casing. Its internal parts consist of button contacts, an integrated circuit, and a light-emitting diode. Some remotes use radio frequency (RF) signals, which travel over longer distances; they are more often used for car alarms and garage door openers. RF remotes operate on the same principle as their IR counterparts—transmitting binary codes to a device’s receiver.

Now that you know how a TV remote really works, it’s time to shop around for the best remotes out there. If you’re looking for a replacement to your remote, search our site, compare models, and place an order today!

simple living room decorating ideas

3 Amazing DIY Entertainment Center Hacks

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Want to make your home entertainment center that much more amazing? It’s easy to do; just check out our list of 3 easy ways to get the most out of every TV stand.

Go Nuts on Your Scratches and Dings

Wood is ideal for TV stands and media shelves, but when a TV stand is well-loved, little scratches and dings appear, which can be really annoying to look at.

However, you don’t have to put up with them for long; instead of trying to find ways to cover them up, you can make them disappear. How? Just remove a walnut from its shell, and then slowly rub the nut into the scratch; the walnut oil darkens the exposed wood, making your TV stand look like new. Really! Not only that, but the oil from a walnut will also help to moisturize and protect the scratch, making it less vulnerable to damage in the future.

simple living room decorating ideas

Add More Storage Space with These Easy Fixes

Large collections of DVDs, Blu-rays, and other kinds of physical media can pile up fast. If you’re like most media lovers, you’re probably constantly looking for ways to store these items so that they don’t eat up too much real estate in your living room.

Here’s a great tip: Don’t use your home theater shelves for your media, as they can get cluttered fast and be messy to remove. Instead, buy some small plastic tubs to put your media in, and then place these tubs on your shelves. That way, you can keep your media items together easily, while keeping them confined to a limited space.

Any tub with room left over can be used for your remotes and game controllers. The great thing about clear plastic is its transparency; in being able to see what’s inside, you won’t have to go digging through each bin to find what you’re looking for.

Have a lot of media? You can also repurpose an old dresser, using its deeper and wider drawers for media storage. If you’re the crafty type, paint or stain the dresser to match the color of your TV stand, or cover it with a colorful piece of fabric.

Get Control of Your Cords and Controllers

Have you looked behind your TV stand lately? If so, you probably noticed a veritable jungle of cords back there. While no one really knows how cords seem to multiply or tangle on their own, we do have some advice on how to tackle this problem. You can control your cords easily and affordably with zip ties. Just bundle your cords together and wrap a zip tie around them.

Another way to control your cords is to gather and then wrap them with a binder clip. To get them off the floor, simply install a screw on the back of your stand, and then hook one of the clip’s handles over it. For game and remote controllers that always seem to go missing, Velcro can be a great solution. Just attach one side of the strip to the backs of controllers, and the other to any open space in your theater stand. When done with them, simply stick them up.

If your remote control is looking old, turn to ReplacementRemotes.com. Contact us today at 877-671-7173.

restless woman

Does Watching TV Before Going to Bed Keep You Up

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For most people, keeping the TV on right until bedtime can affect how well we fall asleep and how much restful sleep we get. If you find you are having a difficult time putting down the TV remote control, you are not alone.

We tell ourselves we are going to watch just one more episode, and then stop for the night. Next thing we know, it is 4 a.m., and we just finished watching ten episodes back to back. Aside from binge-watching keeping us up at night, another reason we can have problems falling asleep is due to the type of blue light our TV and device screens emit.

This blue light slows down the production of melatonin, the hormone that helps us sleep. Rather, our bodies are tricked into believing it is still daytime. Have you ever been sleepy while watching TV, and then, the moment you shut it off, you are wide awake? This is caused by reduced melatonin levels.

restless woman

How to Get to Sleep Easier

One way to fall asleep easier is to shut off the TV and discontinue using ALL electronic devices at least one hour before bedtime. Doing so allows your mind and body to relax and melatonin levels to increase, which will make it easier to fall asleep.

To help you shut off the TV sooner, set the timer on your TV with your remote so it automatically turns off. During the hour or so before bed, read a paperback or hardcover book or engage your loved ones in conversation.

If you have misplaced your remote control and need a new one, please feel free to contact ReplacementRemotes at 1-855-5-REMOTE (1-855-573-6683) today!

Prevent Losing Your Remote

Where Is That Remote? Ways to Prevent Losing Your Remote

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Misplacing our remote controls is something that has happened to all of us at least once. We spend hours searching down the sides of couch and chair cushions, moving furniture around, looking in the refrigerator, checking the kids’ toy boxes, and rummaging through other areas of the home.

Most of the time, we find it and make a promise to ourselves to not let it happen again. Yet it does happen again, especially if we have kids and pets. If you are tired of spending part of your evenings searching high and low for your remote, here are some great tips and tricks you can use without having to chain it to your coffee table!

Prevent Losing Your Remote

  • Purchase the CBL02 Security Cable attachment. https://www.replacementremotes.com/anderic/buy-universal-remote-control-security-cable-cbl02
  • Velcro the remote to a specific area when not needed. A great spot is underneath the end table or coffee table. This keeps it out of sight of little ones and your pets.
  • Secure it to a larger object. Put your DIY or arts and crafts skills to use and make a “box” or some other decorative item that keeps the remote securely in place.
  • Put it away in the same spot. When you are done watching TV, get into the habit of placing the remote on a shelf or next to the TV.
  • Keep it in a furniture storage If your couch or ottoman has a storage compartment, you can put it in this location whenever you do not need it.

Should you misplace your remote and not be able to find it, you can get a new one from ReplacementRemotes. Please feel free to contact us at 1-855-5-REMOTE (1-855-573-6683) for ordering assistance.

Young couple choosing tv program on internet

A Guide to Universal Remotes on How to Choose the Best One

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Are you tired of having to use two, three, four, or more remotes to control all of your home entertainment devices? Do you get confused as to which remote does what? Have you tried using the so-called “compatibility” feature on some original remotes with little success or very limited functionality? If so, then a universal remote could be the perfect solution to these issues!

Selecting the right one depends on the number of devices you have and what functions you want to perform. There are several different types that function slightly differently. Three of the most popular ones include:

  • Learning Remotes: This type of remote requires you to program it using your existing remotes. It can “learn” functions for each of your devices. They will also work with a number of remote-controlled smart devices.

Young couple choosing tv program on internet

  • Pre-Programmed Remotes: This type of remote comes pre-programmed with codes to control anywhere from four to twelve devices. They are a good choice if you are technology-challenged, have older devices, or only have a basic home entertainment setup.
  • Touch Screen Remotes: These remotes can be either learning or pre-programmed remotes. Setting up the remote is easy, as most walk you through the steps on the touchscreen. Some models can also feature Wi-Fi connectivity and/or an app you can use on your smartphone.

For additional information about universal remotes and help in selecting the best one for controlling your devices, please feel free to contact ReplacementRemotes at 1-855-5-REMOTE (1-855-573-6683) for assistance today!

Couple in living room using remote control smiling

Four Common Issues Seniors Face When Using TV Remote Controls

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If you are a senior or have elderly parents, you want to make sure, as you age in place, you have access to technology and devices to make your life easier. One area where most seniors have issues is with their TV remote controls. Some of the more common issues seniors face include:

  1. The buttons on the remote are very small. Being able to push the right button can be difficult since they are crammed together and are so tiny. The best solution for this issue is a large button TV remote control for elderly
  2. The buttons on the remote are all the same color. It can be hard to distinguish between different devices’ power on/off, stop, start, volume up/down, channel up/down and other such functions. One solution is to get a universal remote for seniors that uses different colors for the different functions.

Couple in living room using remote control smiling

  1. The buttons on the remote have print too tiny to read. This issue is because the buttons on the remote are crammed together and made smaller. A large-button TV remote for seniors will also resolve this issue.
  1. There are too many buttons on the remote. Many seniors only have a few devices they need to control—the TV, Blu-ray player, and cable/satellite box. They do not need a remote with 20 gazillion buttons and functions for controlling every single component and “smart” device in the entire home. The easiest solution is to find a remote control that controls two to three devices and has fewer buttons.

As you can see, there are simple and effective ways for overcoming these common issues seniors face when using TV remote controls. For assistance in finding the best universal remote for seniors, please feel free to contact Replacement Remotes at 1-855-573-6683 to speak with a representative today!

man hand holds six remote control

The Easiest Way to Simplify Your TV Remote Control

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Does wanting to watch your favorite program require spending a good five to ten minutes or more using various remotes just to get everything set up? Do you have a hard time remembering which remote to use for various devices?

If this sounds familiar, you may want to consider simplifying your TV remote control and the devices it controls by upgrading to a universal remote control. There are all sorts of universal remotes on the market today that offer a wide range of features and options.

man hand holds six remote control

In addition, there are special universal remotes to provide assistance for those with visual impairments, arthritis, and other mobility and disability issues and conditions. For instance, a new advance is the voice-activated remote.

Instead of having to remember which button to push or which channel number, you simply speak into the remote what you want, and it automatically does it for you. Basically, your remote is your own personal digital entertainment assistant, and it functions similarly to Siri or Alexa.

There are also touchscreen universal remotes that allow you to program everything you need for specific operations. For instance, you press the “watch TV” button and the remote turns on the TV, changes to the right input, and turns on any other devices like the soundbar.

Thanks to these advancements, the days of having a stack of remotes piled up on the coffee table are no longer necessary. For assistance in finding the right universal remote to simplify your life, please feel free to contact Replacement Remotes at 1-855-REMOTE (1-855-573-6683) today!