Universal Remote Control Customizer URC-300 User manual

Owner’s
Manual

Thank You!
Thank you for purchasing the CustomizerTM
URC-300 Pre-Programmed and Learning Remote
Control. The Quick Setup DVD tutorial supplied
with the Customizer demonstrates the process of
setting up and automating a home entertainment
system. Watch the DVD first to familiarize your-
self with the capabilities of the Customizer and
the setup process. This manual is designed to
assist you step-by-step as you setup the
Customizer to replace all of your remote controls
and automate your home entertainment system.
URC-300 Owner’s Manual © 2004 Universal Remote Control, Inc.
The information in this manual is copyright protected. No part of this manual may
be copied or reproduced in any form without prior written consent from Universal
Remote Control, Inc. UNIVERSAL REMOTE CONTROL, INC. SHALL NOT BE
LIABLE FOR OPERATIONAL, TECHNICAL OR EDITORIAL ERRORS/OMISSIONS
MADE IN THIS MANUAL. The information in this manual may be subject to change
without prior notice. Customizer is a registered trademark of Universal Remote
Control, Inc. Power of Simple is a trademark of Universal Remote Control, Inc.
DoubleTap learning is a trademark of Universal Remote Control, Inc. All other
brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
companies or organizations.
500 Mamaroneck Avenue, Harrison, NY 10528
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

1
Table of Contents
Getting Started ......................................................... 2
Button Layout ........................................................... 3
Basic Setup ............................................................... 5
Pre-Programmed Method .......................................... 5
Learning Method..................................................... 10
Volume Control Punch Through ............................. 13
Advanced Operation .............................................. 15
Advanced Setup.......................................................17
Editing Button Labels................................................17
Macro Button Setup ................................................ 20
Favorite Channel Setup ........................................... 22
Hiding and Adding Pages........................................ 24
Erasing Settings ....................................................... 26
Cloning One Customizer to Another ....................... 28
Recalling Pre-Programmed Settings ......................... 29
The Optional Expander........................................... 30
Pre-Programmed Code Notes ................................. 32
Pre-Programmed Code Tables................................. 33
Frequently Asked Questions ................................... 50
Specifications/Warranty ......................................... 51

Getting Started
Congratulations!
You’ve purchased one of the most advanced and easy to
setup control systems available. The Customizer’s built-in
library includes thousands of different brands and models
of remote controls. In most systems, all you have to do to
setup the Customizer is enter which brands and models
you own. If you own a component too new to be in the
library, the Customizer uses advanced DoubleTapTM
Learning technology to quickly set each Customizer
button, one at a time. Setting up your Customizer to
replace all your existing remote controls can be done in
a few minutes. Basic Setup is described on pages 5 to 14.
The Customizer’s exciting advanced features automate
and customize operation in many ways. You could use
Macro Setup to power on all of your components and
start the show with the press of one button! With the
Customizer’s unique Favorite Channel capability, you can
tune in a channel with the press of one button instead of
entering the entire channel number. Any of the button
names on the display can be edited as you like. It is best
to delay any Advanced Setup (described on pages 15 to
29) until after you finish Basic Setup.
Battery Installation
Remove the battery compartment
cover by pressing up the cover
lock. Insert four AAA batteries into
the battery compartment as shown
in the diagram.
2
The Customizer
+
+
+
+
-
-
-
-

3
URC-300
Button Layout
MAIN
Button
takes you
to the
MAIN
Menu.
Touch the
Screen
to use the
Buttons on
the screen.
PAGE
Numbers
FUNCTION
Buttons
TITLE LIGHT
Button
PAGE
Buttons
( )
change the
page of
buttons
displayed.

4
The Customizer
Selecting a New DEVICE Changes
All Button Commands Instantly
The Customizer can operate fifteen different devices
even though it is only one remote control. Let’s try it
now! Press the MAIN button, then press the TV DEVICE
button.
The top of the screen changes from MAIN to TV. Now
all of the buttons change their function to operate a TV.
Press the page buttons. Watch the labels of the display
buttons change with each press. There are four pages
of display buttons already labeled for TV operation.
To operate another of your components (e.g., VCR,
DVD, etc.), press the MAIN button to return to the
MAIN menu. The MAIN menu displays seven of your
Devices on the screen. Simply press one of the touch
screen Device buttons to operate another device. If
you don’t see the device name you want, then use the
PAGE buttons to display the remaining eight devices
on page 2 of the MAIN menu.
Light Button
Press the LIGHT button to backlight all the buttons. To
turn off the backlighting, press the LIGHT button again,
or just wait ten seconds (the backlighting automatically
shuts itself off).
TV
DEVICE
Button
MAIN
Button
LIGHT
Button

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URC-300
Basic Setup
You can start setting up your Customizer using either the
Pre-Programmed Method or the Learning Method.
However, all the buttons of the Customizer are setup at
once with the Pre-Programmed Method, so it is usually
faster than the one-button-at-a-time Learning Method.
Pre-Programmed Method
Power on the A/V component you wish to setup, so that
you can test codes by sending power off commands.
Refer to the pre-programmed code tables on pages
33 - 47 and write down the code numbers listed
for your A/V component. The code numbers are
listed by categories of devices, then by brand. See
page 33 for a category list.
Press and hold the MAIN and ENT (Enter) buttons
at the same time for approximately three seconds.
The top of the display will show “SETUP”. You are
in SETUP mode now.
Note: You have 30 seconds to perform a step while you are
in SETUP mode. If you don’t press a button within that time,
the Customizer will time out and return to normal operation.
MAIN
Button ENT
Button
1
2
3

Press the P-PRO button to select the
Pre-Programmed Method.
The screen changes to show the first page of the
MAIN menu of Devices:
In this step you choose the name of the device
you’d like to setup. Use the cursor UP or DOWN
buttons to change the flashing name. When it is
correct, press the SELECT button.
For Example: I wanted to setup the TV Device button
first, so I pressed the cursor UP or DOWN until “TV”
was flashing in the display.
6
The Customizer
4
5
P-PRO
Button
Press either of the Page buttons ( ) to display
the second list of eight devices.
FAV
(Not a
Device)
UP
SELECT
DOWN
Devices
Devices

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In this step you verify the type of component you
plan to operate with this device button. If the
flashing name is correct, press SELECT.
If the name flashing in the display is incorrect (for example,
you are setting up AUX to operate a second DVD player),
use the UP and DOWN buttons to change the flashing
name to the correct type of component.
Note: Each name that appears in the display may
include several types of components. For example, the
AUX category includes video processors, subwoofers,
and even remote controlled pianos. See page 33 for a
list of component types each Code Table contains.
Point the Customizer at the component, then enter
the first three digit code number from your notes
using the numbered buttons. After you enter each
three digit number, look at the component to see
if it turned off.
Continue to enter code numbers until the
component powers off.
For Example: I have a Sony TV. I found the code
numbers 070, 139, 147, 126, 185, 194 and 085 under
Sony in the TV TABLE. Using the numbered buttons on
the Customizer, I entered 070 and looked at the TV. It
didn’t turn off, so I entered 139, then 147 and so on,
until I found the code that powered off the TV.
6
7
SELECT
Use the
number
buttons to
enter the
code
number.

8
The Customizer
When the component turns off, save the code
number you entered by pressing the SAVE button
that appears on the screen.
Note: If your component fails to turn off after you have
entered all the code numbers listed for your brand, you
can scan through the other brands in the table by
alternately pressing the UP (or DOWN) and POWER OFF
buttons.
Exit SETUP mode by pressing the MAIN button
two times.
8
9
SAVE
Button
Code
Number
You
Entered
Scan Up
to the
next Code
Number.
MAIN
Button
Scan Down
to the
previous
Code
Number.

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URC-300
When the display shows “MAIN”, you are back in
normal operating mode. Now it’s time to test all
the buttons. If some buttons don’t work, try
repeating steps 1-9, to see if you can improve the
match to your component.
For Example: My Sony TV powered off with TV
code number 139. However the number buttons
didn’t work when I tested them. So, I repeated
steps one to ten, using other code numbers and
eventually discovered that when code number
185 is set, all the buttons work perfectly.
Repeat steps one through nine for each of your
devices. In most systems, you can finish basic
setup in just a few minutes and put all your old
remote controls away.
If you are still missing commands to control any
of your devices, use the Learning Method on the
next page.
10
11

10
The Customizer
Learning Method
The Customizer can learn commands from your old
remote controls one-button-at-a-time by following
these simple steps:
Line-up the Customizer with your old remote
control, head-to-head, one or two inches apart.
Press and hold the MAIN and ENT (Enter) buttons
at the same time for approximately three seconds.
The top of the display will show “SETUP”. You are
in SETUP mode now.
Note: You have 30 seconds to perform a step while you are
in SETUP mode. If you don’t press a button within that time,
the Customizer will time out and return to normal operation.
Press the LEARN button.
The top of the screen will change to “LEARN”.
1
2
3
LEARN
Button

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URC-300
The display will show a list of the first seven
devices.
Select the device you would like to teach
commands to by pressing the Device button.
Press any button you want to teach a command to.
Note: If you don’t see the display button you would like to
teach, use the PAGE buttons. The only buttons you can’t
teach are the PAGE and MAIN buttons.
Once you press a button, the top of the display will
change from “LEARN” to “READY”.
4
5
6
Press
any
Button.
FAV
(Not a
Device)
Devices Devices

12
The Customizer
Press and hold the button on your old remote
control until the display changes to “RETRY”.
Press and hold the same button on your old remote
control once again.
The Customizer’s unique DoubleTap learning technology
ensures compatibility with the widest variety of remote
controls ever!
Once you have taught the button twice, the display
will change to either “GOOD” or “FAILED”.
If the “GOOD” label appears on top of the display
and “SAVED” flashes on the bottom, you were
successful. Now, press the next button you wish to
teach. Keep repeating steps 6 through 9 until you have
learned all the buttons you want.
If the “FAILED” label appears on top of the display,
try to teach the same button in Customizer once
again by repeating steps 6-8.
Continue to teach any commands from any of your
remote controls by repeating steps 5-9 (to go back
to step five, press MAIN once).
Once you completed teaching all the buttons, return
to normal operation by pressing the MAIN button
twice. Test all your new commands. If any of them
don’t work, try learning again using these notes:
7
8
9
10
11
Move to another room. Plasma TVs, sunlight, halogen or
quartz lighting can interfere with the learning process.
Although the old remote control seems to work fine,
change the batteries to fresh alkaline batteries.
Vary the distance between the remote controls
gradually. Try 1/4”, 1”, 2”and so on, up to 4 feet.
Tap the button on the original remote control instead of
pressing and holding it during the learning process.

Volume Control Punch Through
In most home entertainment systems, the sound
volume is only controlled by one device. In some
systems, it is the TV speakers that make the sound,
so you would use the TV device on the Customizer to
raise and lower the volume. In another system, it might
be a surround sound receiver and speakers that control
the sound, so you would use the Customizer’s AUDIO
device to adjust the volume. Constantly switching the
Customizer to TV or AUDIO to adjust the volume is
inconvenient in daily life.
You can use Punch Through to set the Customizer’s
volume buttons to always control the sound in your
system. That way when the Customizer is set to VCR
or DVD, the volume up, down and mute buttons will
work perfectly without switching back to AUDIO or
TV. Here’s how:
Press and hold both the MAIN and ENT (Enter)
buttons for three seconds. The top of the display
shows that you are in SETUP mode now.
Note: You have 30 seconds for each step, otherwise the
Customizer will time out automatically.
From the Setup menu, press the PUNCH button.
Press the VOL button. The display confirms by
displaying “VOL” at the top of the screen. This sets
up the group of three buttons (Volume Up, Volume
Down and Mute) in one action!
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URC-300
1
2
3
Select
Volume

The bottom of the display flashes ”PUNCH TO”.
Press the device button for the device that doesn’t
have volume control commands yet (i.e.,DVD).
This is the device you are going to PUNCH TO for
the volume and mute commands.
Note: If you wish to PUNCH to the MAIN device, press
the POWER OFF button at this time.
The bottom of the display will then flash “PUNCH
FROM”. Now you select the device that has the
volume commands you want (i.e.,TV for systems
using the TV speakers, AUDIO for systems with
surround sound receivers). The bottom of the
display will flash “SAVED”.
Repeat steps 3-5 until all your devices operate the
volume perfectly. Press the MAIN button twice to
return to normal operating mode and test your
Punch Through settings.
Note: The Punch Through feature is not limited to
volume and can also be applied to channel or other
functions. If you find yourself switching to a particular
device frequently to use a group of controls, consider
using Punch Through for another group, as listed here:
VOL - Volume Up, Volume Down and Mute
CH - Channel Up, Channel Down and Prev. Channel
PLAY - Play, Stop, Pause, Rewind and Fast Forward
VOD - Guide, Menu, Info, Exit, Up, Down, Left, Right, Sel
POWER - Power On and Power Off
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The Customizer
6
4
5
Select
the Device
you want to
“Punch To”

15
URC-300
Advanced Operation
Setting Backlight Options
You can adjust the amount of time that the Customizer
backlight stays on by entering the SETUP mode and
proceeding to page two (using the PAGE UP button),
then pressing the LIGHT button on the display (not the
Backlight button). Then enter the amount of time you
would like the light to stay on using the number pad
(0-99 seconds). After making your selection, press the
SAVE button.
If you don’t want backlighting at all (this extends
battery life), press the ON button that appears on the
screen. The ON will change to OFF. Press the SAVE
button. Exit the setup mode by pressing the MAIN button.
Favorite Channels
Press MAIN, then press the Favorite Channel button on
the touch screen (FAV). The screen changes to a list of
your favorite TV channels. Each button can be set to
instantly select the channel on your TV. There are five
pages of eight favorite channel buttons for a total of 40.
Simply touch the PAGE buttons to display the other
favorite channels.
To setup your Favorite Channel buttons go to page 22.
Favorite
Channel
Buttons

Adjusting Contrast
You can make the text darker by pressing both the
MAIN and cursor UP buttons at the same time. To
make the text appear lighter, press both the MAIN and
cursor DOWN buttons at the same time.
Transmitting (Busy Signal) Icon
When a command is being transmitted, an
icon will appear in the top right corner of the
display. It is a useful aid when setting up
Macros and FAVs, since it flashes with every
step of a sequence of commands.
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The Customizer
MAIN
Button
Contrast set low. Contrast set high.
Cursor
Up & Down
Buttons

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URC-300
Advanced Setup
After you’ve finished all your basic setup, you can
choose to make operation easier by customizing the
Customizer just the way you want, using the Advanced
Setup features described in this section.
Editing Button Labels
You can change the name of any of the display buttons
(including Favorite Channels) by following these steps:
Press and hold both the MAIN and ENT (Enter)
buttons for approximately three seconds. The top
of the display will show “SETUP”. You are in
SETUP mode now.
Note: You have 30 seconds to perform a step while you are
in SETUP mode. If you don’t press a button within that time,
the Customizer will time out and return to normal operation.
Press the EDIT button.
The display changes to the EDIT menu. Press the
TEXT button.
1
3
2
EDIT
Button
TEXT
Button

18
The Customizer
The screen displays the list of devices and “EDIT”
will appear at the top of the screen. Navigate to
the device and page where there is a button label
you want to EDIT, selecting between the FAV,
MAIN, DEVICE; then using the PAGE button.
Note: If you wish to change the name of a DEVICE
button, press the Page Up button twice. The top of the
display changes to MAIN, and you can navigate to MAIN
page 1 or page 2 before going on to Step 5.
Press the button you wish to edit. The first
character of your button label blinks.
4
5
Blinking
Character
EDIT flashes at the bottom of the screen.
DOWN Cursor
button deletes the currently
blinking character.
UP Cursor
button deletes ALL text.
LEFT Cursor
button
moves blinking
character left.
RIGHT Cursor
button
moves blinking
character right.