If you need a replacement remote control, you now have a number of choices. The aim of this guide is to help you select the correct replacement remote control.
In an ideal world, you should just be able to call up the maker of your TV, DVD, VCR or FreeView receiver and order a new one. However, this is usually not the case. There are very few manufacturers who sell directly to the public, preffering to refer the customer to a third party distributor. Usually there is a hefty minimum order surcharge, and delivery charge to pay when ordering a small item such as a remote control.
Some manufacturers also seem to over-price their remote controls to prices that you just won't believe. For example, we know that the trade price on some genuine Philips and Sony remote controls is over £100 plus VAT ! These examples are luckily not that common, but even for a genuine basic TV remote, you can pay anything between £20 and £50.
With the price of consumer electronics in general falling, spending this sort of money on a remote control is sometimes unjustifiable.
You'll also notice a growing trend for supermarkets to stock brand names that you have never heard of before. A lot of this equipment is "badge engineered". This means it is made by someone else, and the name the customer sees is changed at the request of the retailer. Working out who really made that DVD or VCR is getting more and more difficult for us in the trade, never mind the poor old customer.
Did you know that Vestel, a large manufacturing company based in Turkey actually produce over 54% of the TV sets sold throughout Europe? Only a handful of them carry the Vestel name. The rest carry brand names that you are more likely to recognise, such as JVC, Sharp, Bush, Pacific, Goodmans, Hitachi etc. Not all the TV sets sold by these major manufacturers will be sourced from Vestel, but usually the bottom of the range (or entry level) product is made by Vestel.
If you looking for a genuine manufacturers remote control, the first place to start is with the manufacturer's own support centre. Usually a phone call will put you in the right direction. Alternately, try the manufacturers website - as some now feature an online accessories shop. You may be put off by the price, but if you are keen to keep your equipment original, then it's one you'll have to pay.
These are often sold as "the answer to all your problems" but in fairness - they are not ! All universal remote controls need programming. This can take the form of a code entry system, or a "scan" technique used to find the correct remote codes for your TV or VCR etc. Often the codes inside these products are well out of date, and the often don't support the latest makes and models.
We've had many customers tell us they purchased Universal remote controls only to find that although they will only operate the basic functions (such as volume or channel change).They wont allow access to the all important AV inputs or tuning / install menu etc.
One other negative side to a universal remote control is that when the batteries go flat, the universal remote control has a tendency to loose it's memory, meaning you'll have to program it all over again. If you do have one of these remotes, make sure you write down the codes you have used on a small adhesive label. Put this label on the inside of the battery cover. Next time you need to change the batteries, you'll see the sticker and be reminded of which codes you used. Hopefully this little tip alone could save you hours of programming time !
As manufacturers of remote controls have streamlined their design and production processes, they have now made it cost effective to produce smaller runs of remote controls that are suitable for a single model. There are about 3 major compatible remote control manufacturers based on the European mainland. Between them, they now produce a "button for button" compatible remote control for nearly every make and model of TV set ever sold. We estimate that these manufacturers now produce remote controls for somewhere between 30,000 and 60,000 different AV products (if you count individual model numbers).
" Button for button " compatible remote controls have several major advantages over Universal and even genuine remote controls.
1) The are always a lot cheaper.
2) They share a button layout that is as close as possible to the original handset. This is useful where an older person is concerned, as we've noticed some people get used to the position of the volume button etc, and therefore wont be confused with a compatible remote.
3) Most of the compatible remote controls are actually physically stronger than the original remote controls!
4) Every compatible remote control is tested by a pneumatic test device on the production line that simulates a finger pressing each button. Because of this intensive test procedure, the failure rate of compatible remote controls is extremely low.
5) They never need re-programming when you change the batteries.
Without a doubt, if you have lost your remote control, or it has stopped working for any reason, from purely a cost effective perspective, the compatible or brand specific replacement remote controls are the best choice these days. They are available for TV's , VCR's DVD players and Freeview receivers.
If you are still unable to source a remote control, and you have the faulty original remote, then you may find your local TV repair shop are able to rejuvenate the keypads using some special conductive paint. This paint is expensive, but if the remote control you need is no longer available, then this may be an option you have to consider.
Don't try repairing the remote control yourself, as just getting a remote control apart (without damaging it) is a black art ! Also, it may not be the keys that have stopped working, but another electrical component may have failed. Often the PCB (printed circuit board) may have a hairline crack in it - and therefore would be almost impossible to repair. Your local independent electrical retailer is best placed to advise you on these matters.
I hope this you find this guide to the humble remote control both interesting and useful !
If you need a genuine or compatible replacement remote control for any make or model, we can usually source it. We can only supply the UK and Europe at present.
Please send us an email, with the make and model of the product you require a remote control for, we'll reply rapidly with some prices for you. We can then send you a PayPal invoice for the correct amount, and you can pay by card etc.
Please contact us at the following address (remove the brackets from our address, which are only there to prevent spam):
