Kameleon One-For-All 8RF Universal Remote Control Reviewed

[Suhit Gupta]

<img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/kameleonwrf.jpg" /><br /><br /><b>Product Category:</b> Remote Control<br /><b>Manufacturer:</b> <a href="http://www.ofausa.com/">One For All Universal Remote</a><br /><b>Where to Buy:</b> <a href="http://thoughtsmedia.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php?masterid=1146376&search=URC+9960+Kameleon+8">Pricegrabber</a><br /><b>Price:</b> $46 to $59 USD<br /><b>System Requirements:</b> Up to eight devices that you need to control<br /><b>Specifications:</b> 8 device remote control, RF module<br /><br /><b>Pros:</b><li>Electro-luminescent Touch Display Technology;<br /><li>Reveals Hidden Screens for Active Devices only;<br /><li>Home Theater Mode.<b>Cons:</b><li>Flat touchpad, so no tactile feedback;<br /><li>RF module hard to set up;<br /><li>No extra keys.<b>Summary:</b><br />I went for this product thinking that this could be the perfect remote - a great combination of features plus a very stylish design. Did it meet up to my expectations?<br /><br />Read on for the full review!<!><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>The Kameleon</b></span><br />So when I first saw this remote, I was totally amazed. Not only was it really good looking, (I guess I am a sucker for shiny and blinky things :-) ) but I also found it to be an extremely full-featured device. The company, One For All, describes the remote as "The Easiest Remote You'll Ever Use... ONE FOR ALL Kameleon is a revolutionary 8-device universal remote control with an Electro-luminescent touch display panel featuring dynamic screens and icons that illuminate only the keys for the device in use." It not only has the ability to control a whole host of devices -- Audio Amplifiers, Audio Receivers, CD, Cable, Cable PVR Combo, Cassette Player, DVD, DVD DVR Combo, DVD PVR Combo, DVR, HDTV, Home Automation, Home Theater Amp, Home Theater in a Box, Mini Disk Player, PVR, PVR DVR Combo, Satellite, Satellite PVR Combo, TV, TV DVD Combo, TV VCR Combo, TV VCR DVD Combo, VCR, VCR DVD Combo, Video Accessories -- but can also operate 8 of these devices. Plus, you can operate a whole combination of these devices in home theatre mode. Setup for any of these devices is extremely easy. The features are incredible too:<li>Electro-luminescent Touch Display Technology<br /><li>Reveals Hidden Screens for Active Devices only;<br /><li>Brightness Control;<br /><li>Easy Interactive Set-up;<br /><li>Key Animation;<br /><li>Home Theater Mode;<br /><li>Power Macro;<br /><li>User Defined Macro Keys;<br /><li>Learning Capabilities;<br /><li>UPGRADEABLE via Modem;<br /><li>Favorite Channel Scan;<br /><li>FULL DVD Controls;<br /><li>Digital Ready Menu Keys for Satellite/Cable;<br /><li>Advanced Functions for Audio/Video Devices.For a little more money (approx. $20), you can get the same remote with an RF receiver that acts as a nice extender for range. The RF receiver will sit near your devices and the remote, that transmits both IR and RF, can then communicate through walls and large distances. A cool feature also worth mentioning is that the backlight for the device goes off after the remote is idle for 10 seconds. This not only saves battery power but also saves from distraction when the room is dark.<br /><br /><span><b>Pros and Cons</b></span><br />So I decided to approach this review in a slightly different way. I generally liked this remote a lot. So I figured I should point out the one/two extremely cool pros and then follow it with the cons and you can judge for yourself if the remote is for you or not.<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/kameleonsideways.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 1: The Kameleon in all its glory.</i><br /><br />The biggest pro for me is the home theatre mode. The next pro was that this remote has the ability to control various PVRs and cable box/PVR combos. The remote looks awesome, with what looks like an illuminated high resolution LCD pad. I have yet to see one that is better looking. The device also has great range even without the RF receiver. One of the coolest features is that the remote has a built in modem and RJ-11 line. This way, the firmware can be upgraded online.<br /><br />The cons are few but ones that are critical for me. The fact that the Kameleon has a flat surface, while very cool in terms of looks, provides for no tactile feedback. So I am forced to look at the remote when operating it. While this may just be my laziness, I find it to be slightly annoying. A second con is that there are no extra keys to map to special keys from the dedicated remotes, and you cannot use the special macro keys for anything but macros. The remote does allow you to re-map keys, but I didn't feel that I should given that I wanted all the keys already provided. The RF setup was a bit frustrating because I had to spend quite some time before it started working. Finally, the remote needs 4 batteries, a bit much IMHO.<br /><br /><span><b>Conclusions</b></span><br />I like the remote. I haven't started using it as my dedicated remote because if doesn't have 4 keys that my Time Warner PVR remote offers, and ones that I need. If those keys were available, or free keys that could be re-mapped, I think I would switch to this remote in a second. However, until then, I use it as a spare (a REALLY NICE spare). :)

[ctmagnus]

One thing that I've been looking for in a multiremote for a very long time is the ability to control the kind of stereo that has aux, cd, am/fm and cassette. We have our TV hooked up to the aux in on one of these as the stereo sounds much better than the TV's speakers and any multiremote I've seen to date only controls TVs or stereos, not both at the same time, ie most functions mapped to the TV but volume mapped to the stereo.

[Jason Eaton]

Cool looking device and spot on review. Having tried Sonys flat screen approach there really is something to say to real buttons.

If I might make a suggestion to readers looking for a multifunction remote try the Harmony Line of Remotes from Logitech.

Newegg Link to Harmony 676 remote. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16880100711)

They are a bit pricey but work like a charm. Once you connect the remote through USB (and connect to their website) you enter your devices manufactures serial numbers and it creates all the buttons in profile for that device. Sounds more complicated then it is.

The second step is to walk through a quick wizard that asks how your use your devices based on task. So if you selected watch tv, the website asks which tv (if you have more then one) what channel it needs to be on, do you use a cable/tivo/dvr/sat for channels, do you listen to sound from a seperate recieve or the tv's speakers.

Once done it creates a 'macro' type button without needing special button presses. In this example it turns on my tv, turns on my cable box, turns on my reciever, and then sets everything to the right channels and functions. Same for 'watch a movie(dvd), listen to radio, and so on.

My wife loves it, no longer does she have to fiddle with the remote or call me in. Just press a button and presto does everything for her.

The 6 buttons on the top are dynamic based on the action so you have the 'a', 'b', 'c' buttons for DVR etc. You can have more then 6 by having additional 'pages'.

All in all the tacticle buttons, the ease of recoginizing devices, and the activiety steps make it a great addition.

[Jason Dunn]

If I might make a suggestion to readers looking for a multifunction remote try the Harmony Line of Remotes from Logitech.

I've got a Harmony remote - the 688 to be exact - and while it's a step in the right direction I still find it very hard to program. For instance, even though it's programmed to controll all my devices, the input selection switch for my TV is the LAST option of about 50 - so it takes 10+ clicks on "Next" just to get to the input switcher...and I haven't found a way to get it moved up (even though tech support told me it was possible). I need to spend more time figuring it out, but it's definitely not as easy as they could make it. 8O

[Jason Eaton]

For instance, even though it's programmed to controll all my devices, the input selection switch for my TV is the LAST option of about 50 - so it takes 10+ clicks on "Next" just to get to the input switcher...and I haven't found a way to get it moved up (even though tech support told me it was possible).

Very true, would list that as a con. I don't have an answer for you about moving things up in the list as the web interface would have you take over one of the first ones then move everything down.So instead I did something different. :D

When your on the function (watch tv ect) there are three tabs. The default is the one your probably familar with that has like 50+ functions (essentially everything the other remotes could do combined).

The other two are 'sound' and 'picture'. What I did is delete all the duplicate garbage and only used the ones that I need most often. This would be function for the 'sound' and input for the 'picture'.

So instead of fliping fifty odd screens I click picture then have a small subset related to just the tv and click input. Your mileage may vary but it really helps if things get out of 'sync'.

Maybe that helps?

--edited for bad spelling and additional comments --

I also deleted a lot of stuff I never use. I know I am not everyone but there are a lot of duplicates that really aren't needed. My TV listed a number of input options (input-sequential, input next, input previous, input s-video, input antenna, input rca... you get the picture) just be ruthless and delete them all but input sequential as most tvs have auto detect for which input is reciving signal and will skip to that one.

I still have the original remotes if I need to do 'complicated' tasks but 90 percent or more of my usage it is 'play, rewind, fast forward' all on regular buttons and only a few like chapter select, dvd menu, and DVR specific commands. So I have about two pages at most of common needs. Any more and my wife would take away the remote if I did camera angles and such while the movie is playing. I really haven't missed them :lol:

[Jason Dunn]

Thanks for the input John, I'll give it another go - I didn't even know you could delete items in the list. ;-)

[psyfactor]

I have this remote and I'm amazed by what it could do for that price tag. FYI, if you would like to do more than just customizing the remote using the manufacturer's instruction, you could do it by using an unofficial interface cable connected to the JP1 connector on the remote and a freeware configuration tool for PC. The JP1 interface allow user to have a complete control over the remote functionality ex: backup/restore the remote config, adding new device/IR code (functionnality) not found in the remote database, etc. For more information about this interface/software:

http://www.hifi-remote.com/files/help/The%20WHAT%20and%20WHY%20of%20JP1.htm
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jp1/
http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/