Cable TV Remote Controls

Many have asked whether a programmable remote control (which will list for $250 or more, although they can be found new on eBay or meritline.com for $125) is worth it or should one just stick with the standard remote that comes bundled with the cable box (btw, the cable company will give you an extra free one so you can have one both at the end of the sofa where you read your paper and the other end of the sofa where you eat your dinner). The answer is that it depends. If you want total flexibility as to programming, the answer is yes. For example, you can program a programmable remote to turn on with one click one, or some, or all of your devices at once, while the standard can turn on one or all the devices you have set it to control but not just some with one click. If you want ease of operation, however, the answer is no. For example, the A-B-C-D functions and the DVR list function appear as buttons on the standard remote that are easy to push, while they appear as on-screen items with the programmable remote that are more difficult to navigate. My personal research and study of the matter says the programmable remotes are not worth the cost. If anyone would like to buy mine, let me know.