One remote to rule them all
One remote to find them
One remote to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
I have owned an alarming number of game consoles through the years. If we’re keeping track, I have slimmed my collection down to six consoles from the eleven I had when I got married six years ago. My wife is surprisingly good natured about it and indulges my affection for videogames.
I have never used a game console as a cd player or a dvd player. As far as I’m concerned game consoles are for gaming and dedicated cd and dvd players are much better at those duties than a game box.
Until now.
I find myself in the uncomfortable position of relenting and allowing that the PS3 is perhaps the best Blu Ray player currently available. That makes it a hell of a useful piece of equipment for a guy like me, who has a library of Playstation and PS2 games, and is beginning to amass both Blu Ray and PS3 game collections.
So, now that we’ve accepted that the PS3 is not just a game box, but an av component as well, how do we integrate it into our home theater?
The sticky bit here is that the PS3 does not support IR or RF input. What does this mean? It means that no existing universal remote currently made will operate the PS3. The PS3 uses Bluetooth for it’s game controllers and remote control, and no one is making a remote that does both IR and Bluetooth yet.
So, if you’re like me and refuse to operate a piece of home theater equipment with a game controller (fine for games, not fine for movie viewing), what are the options?
First up is Sony’s Playstation 3 Blu Ray Disc Remote ($19.99-$24.99). This remote will fully control the PS3, giving access to all movie playback functions and XMB navigation, including power on and off. This remote does everything you need it to. It’s one drawback is that it is Bluetooth, so there is no way to program your universal remote from it. If you have one remote controlling all of your equipment, you will be adding a second if you go this route.
The next option is Nyko’s Playstation 3 Blu Wave Remote ($14.99). The Blu Wave uses a USB dongle that plugs into one of the PS3′s USB ports and translates IR commands from the included remote to button presses that the PS3 can recognize. The Nyko unit gives you the main functions of a PS3 controller plus some rudimentary movie playback functions, but it does not allow you to turn the PS3 on, which is something of a drawback. In the Blu Wave’s favor, if you can live with the limited functionality, for $15 you have the means to give your universal remote some PS3 functionality. Several aftermarket manufacturers make similar units in the same price range.
Next up is the PS3ToothFairy ($89). The PS3TF uses PS2 remote commands and maps them to PS3 remote commands. In other words, it’s an IR to Bluetooth convertor for the PS3. Because the PS3TF is PS2 remote compatible, this unit will work great with universal remotes, but you will need a PS2 remote to learn from if your remote manufacturer doesn’t have built-in or downloadable PS2 remote compatibility. That adds another $12, making this a relatively expensive solution. This unit will turn the PS3 on and off, and it’s your choice whether you want to use the ac power adapter or plug it into one of the PS3′s USB ports.
IR2BT ($55). The IR2BT does pretty much the same thing the PS3TF does, for a cheaper buy-in price. You still need the PS2 remote if your universal remote doesn’t natively support PS2 functions, so add $12. They had problems with the 2.4x firmware breaking their functionality, and currently they are sold out while they are fixing all their existing customers’ units to work properly. Once they are available again and if the firmware fixes they implement are working, this is an attractive solution. Powered by two AA’s or USB.
PS3IRX1 ($35). Transmits PS2 IR commands via USB to the PS3 as key presses. Will turn the unit off, but not on. A nicer solution than the Nyko Blu Wave, but not as functional as the IR2BT or PS2TF. Tiny unit that plugs into a USB port and is less conspicuous than the gigantic dongle that the aftermarket solutions from the big name accessory makers utilize.
PS3IR-PRO ($100). Another unit that translates PS2 IR codes to Bluetooth commands. Power via USB, and add $12 for a PS2 remote if, well, you know the drill. Supports firmware updates via USB, so if Sony ever changes anything in the PS3 firmware that breaks the PS3IR-PRO’s functionality, you will be able to apply any fix they release instead of having to send your unit in, which is a plus.
For the time being, those are your solutions. It wouldn’t surprise me if the big names in universal remotes jump in, but don’t be surprised if at first the Bluetooth capable models are high end, high dollar remotes. Earlier I said that no existing remote supported Bluetooth. There has been one announced, but it is still not available at this time. The RICAVision VAVE100 has a listed price of $349, but is still on pre-order status and is not available for purchase.
For the moment, for total functionality at the lowest price, Sony’s remote is the solution, provided that adding a second remote to your av setup is something you can stomach.
If you absolutely, positively have to live in a one remote world, either the PS3TF, IR2BT, or PS3IR-PRO will fit the bill. If IR2BT can get their act together and supply a working product that people can actually buy, I give them my vote based on price alone. $55 plus $12 for a total of a $77 investment gets you complete functionality via any universal remote, and you don’t even need to plug it into a USB port if that bothers your sense of aesthetics.
