What is the Rē?
Will the Rē support my AV devices?
Can I use the Rē in more than one room?
Can I really control a TV in a public place?
If I buy a new TV or other device in the future, will it work with the Rē?
Is the database chip upgradable?
Is the Rē easy to setup?
Why does the Rē use infrared?
How will the Rē control my PS3 that uses a Bluetooth remote?
What is an activity based remote control?
Can I turn on all of my AV equipment with one button press?
Can the Rē remember my favorite TV channels?
Why do I need the plug-in accessory?
Why is the Rē Accessory larger than others I have seen?
Will the Rē Accessory work with more than one iPhone or iPod touch?
Does the Rē require WiFi to operate?
Does the Rē require “line of sight” to operate?
What is the operating range?
What if my devices are installed in a cabinet or another room?
Will the Rē Accessory drain my iPhone battery?
What are the advantages of a Rē IR universal remote control over WiFi remotes?
Is the Rē a learning remote?
What are the disadvantages of learning-only remotes?
What are the advantages of the IR code database in the Rē Accessory?
Where is the Rē made?
My device brand is not listed. Can I still use the Rē?
How can I determine the best IR code to use for my device?
Why do some of the buttons on the Device Remote I selected not work?
Why doesn’t the Start macro power on all of the Devices in my Activity Remote?
My Rē looks like it’s working, but devices aren’t responding anymore.  What could be wrong?
Why won’t the Rē learn buttons from my old remote?
Why can’t I learn a button in my Activity Remote?
Why can’t I build a macro in a Device Remote?
Will the Rē work with Bang & Olufsen devices?

General Information about the Rē Universal iPhone Remote Control

What is the Rē?

The Rē is a plug-in accessory and application that turns your iPhone or iPod touch into an infrared (IR) universal remote control. It will control your TV, DVD, Receiver, and most other IR controlled entertainment and home control devices.

Will the Rē support my AV devices?

The Rē contains an IR code database chip that supports nearly all popular devices, and other devices not in the database can be learned. Download our free App from the App store and check to see if your device is supported or visit our list of Pre-Programmed Devices

Can I use the Rē in more than one room?

Yes, the Rē will save setups for as many locations as you want to use it. Set it up for all the rooms in your home where you control entertainment devices, for your office projector or break room, for Grandma’s house or the corner bar. The Rē saves every room you setup, and you just select the room you are in to have a full universal remote for that room.

Can I really control a TV in a public place?

Yes, unlike learning-only remotes which need access to the original remote, the Rē controls any TV within viewing range by just knowing the TV brand name.

If I buy a new TV or other device in the future, will it work with the Rē?

It is most likely that one of the existing codes for that brand will work since manufacturers reuse IR codes in their new models for compatibility.

Is the database chip upgradable?

The codes in the database are periodically upgraded to add new devices and device types. Learning is also used to add a device not in the database.

Is the Rē easy to setup?

Yes. Just plug in the accessory, download and start the Rē App, and tell the Re about the devices you want to control. You will be controlling your entertainment equipment in minutes.

Why does the Rē use infrared?

Infrared is the native control signaling method for most entertainment devices such as TVs, cable boxes, DVDs, and receivers. By using IR, the Rē is a direct replacement for the function of the original remote control that came with your equipment.

How will the Rē control my PS3 that uses a Bluetooth remote?

There are several IR to Bluetooth converters that work with the Rē. We have tested it with and recommend the Schmartz PS3IRX1 and PS3IR-1000. Select the Schmartz brand name during setup of your PS3 Device. For more information, click here.

What is an activity based remote control?

High-end universal remotes are typically activity based. This means that you setup a single remote that provides the buttons you need for an entertainment activity like “Watch TV” or “Listen to a CD.”

Can I turn on all of my AV equipment with one button press?

Yes, the Rē automatically sets up a “Start” macro in each Activity that powers on all of the AV equipment used in the Activity. You can modify this macro to add input and output signal selection for your devices as well. An “All Off” macro is provided to turn off all equipment with a single touch.

Can the Rē remember my favorite TV channels?

The Rē maintains multiple Favorites Lists for each Activity you setup in a Room. So you can have a list of sports channels, a list of movie channels, a list of news channels that all work with your Watch TV Activity. You can also make CD playlists for your “Listen to CD” Activity, and radio station lists for your “Listen to Radio” Activity.

Why do I need the plug-in accessory?

The iPhone and iPod touch do not have an infrared emitter. The plug-in accessory provides the IR diode to send and learn IR codes.

Why is the Rē Accessory larger than others I have seen?

The primary reason for the slightly larger size is that the Rē contains the local database chip not found in other iPhone remotes. This chip enables the unequalled portability and setup speed of the Rē vs. downloaded IR codes or learning-only remotes. The Rē accessory is designed to match the iPhone and iPod touch “look” and to work with most accessory cases. The Rē, along with the convenient storage pouch, is the ideal size to take with you in your pocket or purse, or leave on the coffee table for others to use.

Will the Rē Accessory work with more than one iPhone or iPod touch?

Yes, all settings are maintained in your iPhone or iPod touch, so you setup any device that has the free App downloaded. Personalize your iPhone with the Activities and Favorites you like, and your wife or other user can have a different personalized setup in their iPhone or iPod touch.

Does the Rē require WiFi to operate?

No, the Rē will work anywhere. WiFi is not needed to setup or operate AV devices with the Rē Universal Remote. This allows you to instantly setup and use the Rē anywhere you are.

Does the Rē require “line of sight” to operate?

Yes, the IR emitter must be in “line of sight” with the receiver on the device to be controlled.

What is the operating range?

The range is typically 30 to 40 feet depending upon the receiving device and lighting conditions. The Rē flashes the IR diode at maximum power with the emitter positioned at the ideal angle for comfortable best screen visibility during use.

What if my devices are installed in a cabinet or another room?

There are several IR to RF to IR repeater solutions that will work with the Rē in non line of sight applications. We will be happy to make a recommendation for your installation.

Will the Rē Accessory drain my iPhone battery?

No, the battery drain is dominated by the display during use of the application. The accessory draws almost no power when the application is not running.

What are the advantages of a Rē IR universal remote control over WiFi remotes?

The Rē offers easier setup, portability and instant device response. WiFi based remotes for the iPhone require a converter box to change the control signal from WiFi to the native IR code that your TV requires. The converter box must be located in the room where the AV devices to control are located. This results in additional setup steps, loss of portability and device response delay.

Is the Rē a learning remote?

Yes, but the Rē is much more than a learning-only remote. The Rē Accessory contains an IR code database that supports most popular brands of AV equipment so setup is quick and easy for most devices. Learning is supported by the Rē as a backup to the IR code database to learn special buttons or new device brands not yet in the database.

What are the disadvantages of learning-only remotes?

• Slower to set up because each button must be learned by pointing the old remote at the learning remote and pressing the button until the code is recorded.
• Learned codes are a copy, and sometimes the copying process is imperfect causing you to have to relearn the button.
• Lost remotes cannot be replaced by a learning-only remote.
• You can only control devices if you have the original remote to copy, so portability is limited.

What are the advantages of the IR code database in the Rē Accessory?

• Quick setup of devices.
• Builds the remote layout automatically with fully functional buttons.
• Allows the replacement of a lost or broken original remote.
• Contains “discrete codes” for many devices that cannot be learned from the original remote. These codes for power control and I/O switching create buttons that enable macros to work more efficiently.

Where is the Rē made?

While many of the components are manufactured overseas, the Rē is designed in Oregon and assembled in Washington and packaged Oregon.

Using the Rē Universal Remote Control

My device brand is not listed. Can I still use the Rē?

Yes, you can nearly always learn your device if it has an IR remote control. Also, there are many devices that are marketed under multiple brand names. You may be able to determine if your brand is supported under a different name by searching the web for information or posting the question to our Forum. Alternatively, select the brand “-UNLISTED-“and then select the type of your device and search all of the codes for that device type to find a possible match. If you are still unsuccessful, send us the brand and model of your device, along with a description of the problem and we will check to see if your device has an unsupported IR protocol.

How can I determine the best IR code to use for my device?

If you find more than one code for your device, it’s best to use the (Test Remote) button in the IR Code selection screen to compare the IR codes. Check that the most important buttons for your use of the device are in the selected code before you save that Device Remote.

Why do some of the buttons on the Device Remote I selected not work?

Each IR Code typically supports many device models of the same brand or even several brands. The buttons on the Device Remote represent a superset of all of the supported models, and models vary as to what functions are supported. As an example, your TV may not have PIP, but because another very similar model has PIP and the IR Code is shared; the PIP buttons appear on the Device Remote but do not function.

You may also find buttons on the Rē Device Remotes that control your device even though those buttons are not on the original remote. These in many cases are discrete controls that help setup macros. Power On and Power Off in addition to On/Off toggle are typical. Also many original remotes have select menus rather than discrete buttons to select inputs and outputs which are preferred in macros. You will often find that the Rē provides much better control of your device than the original remote.

Why doesn’t the Start macro power on all of the Devices in my Activity Remote?

The Rē loads the Start macro with discrete Power On buttons if they exist in the Device Remote definition. If there is no discrete Power On, the macro uses the On/Off toggle. As described in the previous FAQ there are cases where the discrete Power On button appears in the Device Remote, but your specific device doesn’t have that function. You can replace the Power On button with the On/Off toggle button in the macro, or if the original remote has a discrete Power On, learn it on the Device Remote and use it in the Start macro.

My Rē looks like it’s working, but devices aren’t responding anymore.  What could be wrong?

It is possible that the Application and Accessory stopped communicating due to a connection problem. Unplug the Accessory and re-plug it into your iPhone or iPod and make sure it is seated completely. That should correct the problem.  If it still doesn’t work close and restart the App.

Why won’t the Rē learn buttons from my old remote?

Learning can be difficult on some remotes.  The Rē will learn most IR remotes, so try these steps to solve the problem.

• Replace the batteries in the old remote.  Low batteries cause reduced IR output.
• Verify that the button you are learning on the old remote controls the device properly.
• During learning, make sure the two remotes face each other so the emitters line up properly.  Refer to the manual for details.
• Try varying the distance between the Re and the original remote.
• Try learning in low light.  Sometimes bright light may interfere with the learning signal.

If you are still unsuccessful, send us the brand and model of your device, along with a description of the problem and we will check to see if your device an unsupported IR protocol.

Why can’t I learn a button in my Activity Remote?

The Rē has you learn buttons in a Device Remote so that you are able to use the learned button in more than one Activity.

Why can’t I build a macro in a Device Remote?

Macros typically control multiple devices, so the Activity Remote is the optimum place to build Macros.

Will the Rē work with Bang & Olufsen devices?
The Rē does not have Bang & Olufsen devices in the database, however, the Rē has worked with Bang Olufsen devices and will learn from your original Band & Olufsen remote.