...if I can survive the learning curve, that is.
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm?PAGE=products/features/harmony&CRID=2078&countryid=19&languageid=1
The Backstory: Hubby and I reached the end of our patience with all the remotes cluttering our living room. I swear, they breed, and we can't figure out how to neuter them. Unfortunately, to date, no so-called "universal" remote we have tried to date has controlled every device, so we've been stuck with them as they keep reproducing.
So I played around with the Test Drive software for the Harmony 628, which is selling for about $60. Test drive software SEEMED to confirm that it would support whatever we threw at it, including our DishNetwork DVR and somewhat aging VCR. $60 seems a reasonable compromise between the cheapo $15 "universal" remotes that don't work, and the $200+ remotes that look like Palm Pilots and probably DO work, if we could ever justify spending that kind of money.
I found it sitting on our stoop at about 5PM this afternoon. Four and a half hours later I've got most of the basic functions working. About an hour of that time was spent on the phone with tech support for two reasons:
1) because our TV DID NOT like the thing at first and refused to even talk to it, and when it DID talk to it, things went a little wonky, and
2) the Dish receiver/DVR wasn't working with it and because Dish remotes use some weird non-standard IR signal, the Harmony couldn't "learn" straight from the Dish remote
However, at this point, with the touch of a single button, the following things happen:
1) I press "Watch TV" and
--TV turns on and input is set to SVHS (S-video input from the Dish receiver)
--Stereo receiver turns on and input is set to TV/Sat, and volume is controlled on Stereo
--Dish receiver turns on, and all functions relating to the receiver are controlled
2) I press "Watch a Movie" and
--TV turns on and input is set to AV1 (component input from DVD)
--Stereo receiver turns on and input is set to DVD and volume is controlled
--DVD player turns on and is controlled
Also have the option to select a similar command for "Watch VCR", and "Play the Radio"
The one pebble in my slipper right now (once I figured out how to get the 10-second skip backward and 30-second skip forward DVR commands programmed in, because after four years of a DVR, I simply cannot function without the ability to skip past commercials) is the fact that I can't figure out how to program in more advanced commands, such as getting into the DVR recordings selection menu with a single button. On the Dish remote, it's easy, just hit the big button marked "DVR" and you're golden. Without that special button, however, you have to go into the Dish receiver menu and then scroll around and select the DVR programs from the choices. God forbid I should have to do in two or three button pushes what I once used to accomplish with one.
Anyway, to quote Ferris Bueller, if you have the means, I highly recommend one.