A few months ago, I purchased a GE Universal Remote via Amazon due to the loss or breakage of my previous Roku and TV remotes. Frankly, I got weary of having one remote per appliance. I had also read that a GE Universal Remote was capable of controlling several devices at once, but I did not have the codes.
As many others, I was at a loss as to how to program a GE universal remote with no codes. That query began my research, trial, and experience and I would like to relate my experience to you so that you do not end up wasting time as I did.
Why I Bought a GE Universal Remote and From Where
I bought my GE Universal Remote at Amazon due to its low costs and confirmed by the buyers. In comparison to purchasing a product at a local electronics shop, Amazon provided me with a product description and rapid delivery. The other reason why I picked Amazon was that the seller offered me a simple set up manual, which I believed will make life easy.
Convenience was the reason why I purchased this product. A single remote was an added bonus as I did not have to use three different remotes: one that controlled my TV, the next my Roku, and the last my sound system. This is where the fight started though: the printed manual contained codes to the various TV manufacturers, but I could not locate the one for my Vizio and then Roku. And that is when I began researching how to code it without codes.
The User Problem: Codes vs. No Codes
The greatest issue that the majority of individuals have is locating the correct 3-digit or 4-digit code to their TV or streaming device. Resources such as YTechB and PCGuide provide a list of codes of various brands, yet the fact is that sometimes your brand/model of device simply does not fit into any of them.
That was exactly my case. My Vizio television and Roku stick did not work with any of the code in the booklet. I felt dishonoured and believed that I had wasted my money. However, then I found the secret of the automatic scan method of programming a GE Universal Remote without code.
This auto-search will work to search through the library of device codes in the remote until it locates one that is compatible with your TV or Roku. Initially, it seemed too technical, but I tried it several times and figured it was not as difficult as I thought.
My Research and Step-by-Step Discovery
I began reading instructions on reliable websites when I was not capable of figuring it out on my own. The SlashGear guide taught the step by step approach. You just need to press the setup button on the remote till the LED light remains on and then press the device button (TV, DVD, etc.). Then you can press the power button many times and the remote tries various codes automatically. Whenever that machine eventually goes off, you close that code by pushing the Enter or Ok button.
It was easy to say but I had to practice it a couple of times. On the first occasion, I hit the buttons too fast and missed the right code. The second time I tried, I just obeyed and it was magic. I was able to turn my GE Universal Remote on and use it to control my Vizio TV.
I did this later with my Roku. This cost me time since there are several models of Roku, but I have finally made the right choice. It was a little win since I no longer needed to memorize or look up any codes.
Pros and Cons of Programming Without Codes
As with any productivity or process, there are advantages and disadvantages of programming a GE Universal Remote without codes. Here is the truth of the matter:
Pros
- There is no need to find long lists of codes.
- Works even when your brand or device of television is new and not in the manual.
- Like you will see how to go.
- Gives flexibility to program multiple devices like Roku, TV, or DVD players.
Cons
- It is time-consuming compared to typing a code.
- The right code can also be skipped by mistake when pressing the buttons too fast.
- There are still devices that may not be responsive.
- In my case the advantages are more than the disadvantages. I saved time in the long run and would not need to memorize 4-digit codes again.
My Feedback After Using the GE Universal Remote
I used my GE Universal Remote and it became clear to me that my everyday life was made much easier. I was no longer required to maintain three different remotes and that I could program it without codes was even better. It was compatible with my Vizio TV and Roku and I later attempted to program it with my sound system in the same manner. This was easily achieved after I had known how the auto-search feature functions.
The other thing I am going to point out is durability. I have dropped the remote several times but it still works very well. The buttons are responsive, and it is simple to use, which my family can easily use.
The downside that I can only see is that, when you replace the batteries, you may need to reprogram the devices. Not a very big problem, but it bears mentioning. In my opinion, I would say the GE Universal Remote is worth the money. This product is truly a savior in case you are a person like me who is just bad at using many different remotes or forgets the codes of the devices.
Conclusion
It might seem complicated to program a GE Universal Remote without codes, however, once you know how it works in the auto-scan process, it becomes simple. My experience has taught me that good things come to those who wait and now I can operate all my appliances using a single remote. I would also recommend it to someone who gets fed up with using more than two remotes or losing codes.