How to set up a universal remote control for your TV (codes)

Equipment manufacturers try to provide each of their devices with a remote control so that the user can conveniently use their products. You don’t need to get up to turn off the lights, adjust the air conditioner, fan, or turn on/off the TV; you can do everything while sitting on the couch. This is, of course, convenient, but over time, coffee tables become cluttered with different remote controls, which creates a certain amount of confusion and irritation.

If you don’t yet know that there is a universal remote control that can be configured to control several devices at once, then in this article we will tell you about all its capabilities and provide instructions on how to use it and how to configure it correctly.

What is a universal remote control

If you have become a happy user of digital television, then a new device with a remote control has appeared in your apartment - a set-top box-receiver. And in order not to add another remote control to your everyday life, let's figure out how to use a universal remote control.

Despite all the breakthroughs in technology, remote control devices have not changed at all. They may have different shapes, but the design of any remote control still consists of a housing, an electronic circuit, buttons, LEDs, and an autonomous power supply.

The universal remote control has an identical internal structure, only it can be configured to control several devices at once. For example, having purchased such a device, you can put the television, set-top box and multimedia remote control in the closet, and register all their functions in a universal remote control.

Can any remote control be universal? No. Although they are similar in appearance, their internal electronic circuitry is different. Only devices designed for this purpose can be configured to control multiple devices.

What does a universal remote control look like and what the buttons do?

Universal control panels are produced by many manufacturers. Some of the most popular are products manufactured by Philips. The set of buttons on different devices has approximately the same composition. As an example, the following will be discussed about the 2008B/86 model. It has the following buttons:

There is an LED indicator at the top. Its lighting allows the user to see the result of the operations he performs.
A button for switching the inputs of the equipment for which configuration is being carried out.
Next there is a set of buttons, each of which corresponds to one of the types of equipment with which the universal remote control can work. Their purpose is specified in the operating instructions for the remote control.
This block contains menu cursors and buttons for operation: MENU, GUID, INFO and
This block contains keys for adjusting the volume, as well as those designed for switching channels.
This part contains keys for controlling teletext viewing and working with digital recording and playback.
Buttons “*TXT” and “#HELP”, which are used when working with teletext. The latter can also be used when entering the number of the channel the user needs.
Using the number pad keys, you can select the channel number to watch or the track number to play when operating the player.
This key is used to turn the remote control on or off.

Remote control buttons and their purpose
The user has a choice between a specialized and universal remote control. If the one you used previously has become unusable, then you need to think about which one is better to purchase.

It depends on whether there are other devices besides the TV that need to be controlled. If you only need the remote control for watching TV, then you need to take into account the differences that exist between these options.

A universal device needs to be configured, while the original remote control will work out of the box.
When the remote control is replaced, most likely the setup procedure in the universal remote control will have to be repeated. There is no need for a specialized device.
The universal remote control can be configured to work with various television receivers. Their native remote controls may have a different configuration. Therefore, the key markings may differ from the original ones.
It must be remembered that the universal remote control allows you to perform the most important operations, but not all. At the same time, specialized allows you to use maximum capabilities.
Connection is provided to the vast majority of models, but not to all. In some cases, connecting a universal remote control will not work.

If the user has worked with several devices, then perhaps using a universal device would be a good option for him, otherwise he needs to consider purchasing a specialized one.

The difference between the original and universal remote control

A TV remote control, for example, a Tricolor TV, is a useless device in itself; it can only be used in conjunction with another device - a television receiver, for which it was created.

The operating principle of the remote control is based on three actions:

When you press a button on a device, you mechanically activate a microcircuit that creates a specific sequence of electrical impulses;
The LED element of the remote control converts the received command into infrared radiation with a wavelength of 0.75-1.4 microns, and sends the signal to the associated device;
The TV has a phototransistor that detects this IR signal and converts it into its own electrical impulse, transmits it to its control unit, due to which the command you have given is executed.

The communication method used in remote controls is called PCM, or Pulse Code Modulation. Its peculiarity is that each command is assigned a separate 3-bit sequence, for example:

000 – turn off the TV; 001 – select the next channel; 010 – return the previous channel; 011 – increase volume; 100 – reduce volume; 111 – turn on the TV, etc.

That is, when you press a button on the remote control, the electronic circuit turns on the IR LED in accordance with a given pattern: “111” - ON, ON, ON, with a clear signal step length, for example, 3 milliseconds. If you selected the volume button, which has code 011, then the LED will perform three such actions with a predetermined delay: turn off, turn on, and turn on again.

There are three different types of remote controls on the market:

Original;
Unoriginal;
Universal.

Original and non-original remote controls are control devices created for one specific model of technical devices. The only difference is that the first type is produced by the native manufacturing plant where the TV itself was assembled, while non-original remote controls are produced by different companies under license.

Universal remote controls (UPDU) are learnable control devices that:

Can be customized;
Suitable for many TV models;
Can be used instead of a lost remote control for any technical device.

A universal remote control can be chosen by shape, size, color, design, depending on personal preferences. Inside such a device there is a special program and a special code base that allow you to determine signals from almost any TV.

The most common brands of universal remote controls are Supra, Huayu and Beeline.

Setting up universal remote controls

The remote control must be powered by installing batteries or accumulators into it. Batteries are not included in the kit - they must be purchased separately. Batteries are recommended; although they are more expensive, they require recharging.

Next, turn on the TV with which the control unit will be used. Press the “TV” button for 3 seconds, which sets the mode (TV, DVD, Audio or PVR), until the indicator on the front of the television receiver lights up.

Next steps vary. If the code is known, perform manual configuration; if not, perform automatic configuration.

Automatic

Press “9999” on the remote control and do not remove your finger from the button until the TV reboots. If everything is done correctly, an auto-search for channels will begin, which lasts up to 15 minutes. The method is working and relevant if the code is not found in the reference books.

This is how channels are searched.

For new TVs Samsung, Panasonic, LG, Philips, they usually take a universal PU from Supra. How to set it up:

Turn on the TV and point the remote control towards it.
On the remote control, press the “Power” button for 5–6 seconds until the LED lights up.
The volume icon should appear on the display. If it can be increased or decreased, the setup is completed successfully.

“Set” button on the remote control.
Instructions for Huayu remote control:

Turn on the TV receiver.
On the control panel they press “Set”, then “Power”, after which they are released simultaneously.
Press “Power” again.
The volume icon will appear on the display.
To exit the settings, press “Set” twice.

For other UPDU models:

Turn on the TV.
Press the “TV” button until the LED lights up.
To activate the search, hold down “Mute”.
After finishing, check whether the TV responds to pressing the remote control.

Manual

In this case, you will need a pairing code. After entering it, specific actions are performed, depending on the remote control model.

Supra. The remote control is pointed at the television receiver, the “Power” button is pressed, after which a window appears on the screen where the code is entered. The LED will blink to confirm that the correct combination has been selected. "Power" is released;
Huayu. Press “Power” and “Set” until the indicator flashes. Enter the 4-digit code. When the diode goes out, press “Set”;
Beeline. Press “C” and “Setup”. The diode will blink 2 times – initialization is complete. The buttons are released and the connection is checked by adjusting the volume.

The TV code must be entered within 1 minute. After this, the device returns to normal mode and you will have to repeat the procedure again.

No code

If there is no digital combination, you can select one. How to do it:

Turn on the TV and point the remote control in its direction.
Press “TV” and “OK” for 2–3 seconds. At this time, all buttons on the remote control will light up. You should wait until everything goes out except those that highlight numbers.
Without haste, they press the button that switches the “CH+” channels until the TV turns off, which will indicate that the code has been successfully selected.
To save the settings, press “TV”.

There are no uniform settings for a universal TV remote control - each brand has its own algorithm of actions. But there are some similarities that can be gleaned from the recommendations described. In any case, the UPDU is a convenient device used to control all electrical equipment in the house.

How to find out the TV code

To set up a universal remote control for your TV, it is advisable to know the three- or four-digit code of a specific model. You can find such codes either in the technical data sheet of the TV, or on the website of the equipment manufacturer, or in special reference tables. It’s called “Code for setting up the remote control.”

But how to set up the remote control for your TV if you couldn’t find the right model code for your model? For this purpose, each UPDU has an automatic configuration function with software code search. Simply press the desired combination of numbers, after which the auto-selection command will start.

How to manage

The universal remote control is operated in the same way as the original TV remote control. Due to the large number of models it must fit, it is necessary that the buttons act according to the functions indicated on them.

However, the wide variety of original remote controls leads to the fact that some of their functions are not performed on universal devices. In order to find out exactly how each button works when configured for a specific model, you need to read the technical documentation for the universal device.

How to set up a Chinese universal remote control for a TV - connecting and pairing the remote control, codes for TV:

Smartphones with universal remote control function

Did you know that the latest models of some smartphones already have a universal remote control function? You don’t have to buy another remote control, but simply set up your phone to control all the devices in your apartment, but only those that have the SMART option.

To set up a universal remote control on your smartphone, you will have to visit the Play Store and download the mobile application. There are many of them, so read the reviews and install the one that suits you best.

After starting the program, you will be offered a list of equipment (set-top box, media streamer, TV, player, smart home, etc.). Choose what you want to control. Next you will need to indicate the manufacturer and pairing method (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, infrared).

The program will start searching for equipment, and as soon as you see the name of your equipment on the phone screen, select it. A special confirmation code will appear on the TV display, which you will have to enter into the program on your smartphone. Now you have in your hands not just a phone, but also a control panel.

This installation is extremely simple and straightforward. All instructions appear sequentially on the phone, and all you have to do is confirm your actions. For such a setup, you do not need to know the code and automatic search is also not required. Remote communication is established using the selected wireless communication technology with specific devices in your apartment.

Having a single control panel for all equipment in the house is very convenient. And as you understand from our article, setting up a universal remote control is quite simple and quick.

How to set up a universal remote control

Each device comes with instructions that describe the setup process in detail. We will look at setting up models from popular manufacturers.

Huayu

To configure it you will need:

turn on the TV, point the control unit at it and simultaneously hold down the power and “Set” buttons;
Watch the indicator carefully, it should be on all the time;
use the volume control to set commands;
To exit pairing mode, press the “Set” button.

Automatic adjustment:

turn on the TV, point the remote control at it;
hold down the button indicating the device type;
after the indicator lights up, release it;
press the power button on the UE, this will start an automatic code search;
As soon as the TV turns off, you must quickly press “OK”, this will save the code in memory.

Sometimes the automatic search does not work well, so you need to configure it manually.

Manual adjustment:

after turning on the TV and pressing the “TV” button, the indicator will light up;
releasing it, enter the device code;
after entering the fourth digit, the code will be saved in the device’s memory and the screen will go dark.

Auto-tuning occurs according to the following algorithm:

turn on the TV, point the CP at it, press the button indicating the brand of TV;
hold down the “Set” button and hold until the indicator lights up;
click on channel selection, automatic code selection will begin;
Once the indicator goes off, immediately press the “OK” button to save the found code.

How to set up the LG Magic Remote

The latest generation televisions, equipped with the Smart TV (smart television) function, are practically computers designed for viewing visual content from various sources, including the Internet. But for all their technology, manufacturers made sure that they were very easy to operate. One of these developments from LG was the LG Magic Remote, also known as LG Magic Motion, known among owners of LG equipment as the Jedi Remote. What did he do to deserve such an honorary title?

With its help, you can easily control not only the smart functions of the LG TV, but also other devices connected to the TV, for example, a Blu-Ray player, home theater or set-top box. It also has other unique features:

The Magic Motion remote control has a built-in gyroscope, so you can move the cursor on the TV screen by moving the remote control in space. What is called a “light movement of the hand.”
The remote control has a wheel similar to the wheel on a computer mouse, making it very convenient to view content on Internet sites.
There is a voice search function, which is much easier than typing a query in the search bar or even switching channels with buttons.
The newest Magic Remotes have added a gesture control option.

For most new LG TV models (starting from the 7 series), the Magic Remote is included in the package along with the regular remote control. For earlier versions, the Magic Remote will have to be purchased separately. Also, some models may require a Wi-Fi/Bluetooth adapter. It may also be included in the kit, or you will need to buy it additionally.

But anyone who has ever used this device will say that the purchase is worth it. Moreover, such a remote control is relatively inexpensive. Manufacturers recommend buying only original remote controls, since only they can guarantee operation without failures, interference and other “glitches”.

An alternative way is to download the LG WebOs Magic Remote application on your smartphone and use it as a remote control.

But in any case, regardless of whether you purchased it separately or it came with your LG TV, the Magic Motion remote needs to be configured and connected to the TV. This is done very simply.

Connecting the remote control to an LG TV

First you need to establish a connection between the remote control and your TV.

Insert batteries into the remote control. The remote control runs on two AA batteries.
Turn on the TV. Wait until it downloads completely.
Point the remote control towards the TV and press the wheel to initialize.
A message should appear on the TV screen indicating that the remote control has been successfully paired with your LG TV - “Registration completed successfully.”
If for some reason the inscription does not appear, you must repeat the entire process again.
Turn off the TV, then turn it on again. Then press a combination of buttons on the remote. Button combinations vary for remote controls of different years of manufacture.

Magic Motion remote control 2010-2011: you must press the OK and MUTE buttons simultaneously for at least 5 seconds, while pointing the remote control towards the TV.

Magic Motion remote control after 2012 release: you need to press the Smart (or Home) and “Back” buttons simultaneously for at least 4 seconds, pointing the remote control towards the TV.

Possible problems when connecting the LG Magic Remote.

If you are unable to connect your remote control, it may be due to the following:

Batteries not working. Try replacing both.
There are objects between the remote control and the TV that interfere with normal operation. The Magic Motion remote control operates in the frequency range 2400-2484 GHz, its transmitter power is 10 dBm, its range is up to 10 m. However, for optimal and correct operation of the remote control, it is necessary that there are no foreign objects between it and the TV.

Important: The IR receiver is located in the lower right corner of the TV. So this area should be given special attention.

How to choose a Magic Remote for your LG TV

If you purchase the Magic Remote separately, you need to consider compatibility with various LG TV models. Of course, the TV must have the Smart TV function, but you also need to take into account the year of manufacture. Different Magic Remotes are suitable for different TV models.

LG LED LSD TVs or plasma TVs produced before 2012 – AN-MR300 remote control.
LG Smart TVs produced in 2013 – AN-MR400 remote control.
LG Smart TV 2014 release – AN-MR500.
TVs produced in 2015, UHD 4K models – UF7700, UF8500, UF9400, UF9500, LCD – LF6300, OLED – EF9500, EG9600, EF9800 – AN-MR600 remote control.
2021 TVs with WEB OS 3.0 (except for UH625-603V, LH604V, LH590V, LH570V) – AN-MR650 remote control.
TVs 2021 - AN-MR650A remote control.
LG SIGNATURE TVs come complete with AN-MR700 remote controls.
TVs 2021 - remote control AN-MR18BA.
TVs of 2021 - AN-MR19A remote control.

How to use the Magic Remote:

Once you have connected your remote control to the TV, you can start using it. To do this, gently shake the remote control from left to right. A pointer will appear on the TV screen. The wheel on the remote control has the function of an OK button. You can use it to switch channels, scroll through menus, etc.

You can also optimally configure the remote control based on your own preferences: set the speed of movement, its shape and size. This can be done in “Settings”. Select the “Settings” item, and in it the “Index” item.