Something I've been meaning to ask for a long time. Is there a remote (kenwood or other) that can be used with the RioCar that has lighted buttons ? (backlit or other) You know, like some remotes of Hifi equipent have (like my Yamaha DD DSP A2 ).
While I really like the existing remote, I find it is hard to use in the dark. I tried to get used to the positioning of the buttons but now after several months of use I still think a remote with (back)lit buttons would be better.

Anyone?

I've never seen a backlit car remote, but if you can't memorize the pattern, you could always use a TV learning remote. But that might be too big.

It's not that I can't memorise the pattern, it's just that I think it would be more convenient to have a backlit RC. It would also be much easier for my friends to use at night, you know those friends that drive along once in a while, but who don't use the Rio on a daily basis and don't know the button layout by heart. (but who DO like to play with it during the entire trip!)

Try www.remotecentral.com for details of learning remotes. I agree that they would probably be too big for car use but I have the Rio remote programmed into my Philips Pronto for home and its the dog's.

A Pronto 6000 would be key!

You could also get a $50-$100 Palm Pilot and use that as your remote. Plus if you don't already have a Palm...

The dog's, eh? Is this short for saying something like it's the Bee's Knees, or the Dog's Pajamas?

Greg

Though that Phillips seems like a great RC, I think it's a little overkill for what I intend to use it for.
Maybe I'll try this remote. It's buttons are also not illuminated, but it seems to me there's not much chance of pressing the wrong button anymore.
Is anyone using this remote?

I used one it works fine with the empeg but you will lose some of the functions that are on the new rio remote

Ah? Could you please tell me which functions I will loose? Aren't those fuctions programmable into other buttons using Frank's program?

I have that remote for my Z919 CD mp3 player. It's a nice remote, but the button markings wear off =(

I don't have one, but if you have a tuner, I believe this backlit unit by Access Tech should work (Sony compatible).

Sadly, it doesn't have all the buttons of a Kenwood unit, so accessing search features would perhaps be impossible.

I don't remember I no longer have either kenwood remote I remember reading there were some functions added to the rio remote that the original kenwood one didn't have and the one you are looking at is pretty much the same as the original kenwood one except it has one source button instead of a button for each source

you can use the remote you are referring to without doing anything to the player

I believe if you install Hijack, you can remap the buttons to whatever you want.

I tried my Marantz RC-2000 home remote and it learned the all the codes from the Rio remote I just received. Learning remotes are kinda big, but if you have no other choice.....I also received a tuner, and they bumped up my 10gb unit for a 12gb unit. 12gb?

Is anyone using this remote?

I am using it. It works well, the only function I am aware of that you will lose is the ability to scroll through the Info modes. (There may well be other, more obscure (less scure?) functions not available as well -- but the loss of Info scrolling is the only one I know of for sure.

If you get one, let me know and if you want I will mail you a color overlay that correctly labels the buttons. (It is crude -- just a color laser printout on plain paper that you have to tape to the remote, but it doesn't look too bad and makes using the remote much easier.)

tanstaafl.

HiJack allows arbitrary remaping, but I believe that original Kenwood remote did not support 'hold' function on most buttons. That could be worked around by inventing a 'shift' button, though.

Doug, I suppose you mean you loose only that one function relative to the original Kenwood, not Rio remote, right?

Hm, I like that remote's shape. Even if one has to program some wierd alt- or shift- remapping through HiJack, it might still be worth a try....

Now to find it somewhere locally or at a store that ships to these lands far far away....

Hey where can I get one of those from Iax?,
any online stores?, I looked at the distributor list and it says only local places, have you got any pricing?

Wonder if someone would buy it and send it to me (NZ) ,
I'll pay em thru paypal or something.

Cheers,
Jaidev

If you get one, let me know and if you want I will mail you a color overlay that correctly labels the buttons. (It is crude -- just a color laser printout on plain paper that you have to tape to the remote, but it doesn't look too bad and makes using the remote much easier.)

Great! That's very kind of you!

I will go out on a hunt for one of these babies, but I believe it will be hard to track down here in Belgium. Anyone know of an online shop that sells them?

As for the loss of the info scrolling : I can live with that. I'll leave the original remote in the car too for in the rare case I'll want to use that feature.

Thanks!

Sorry JaBZ, I have no idea where they're sold. I just came across that product page several months ago; in the end I decided to wait (was still using the Empeg-supplied Kenwood remote).

I've more-or-less gotten used to the newer Rio remote, but there are some things I still don't attempt in the dark. ;-)

yea, I would really like to get one for the back seat ppl,
Im currently using the Sony wired commander and the Rio remote upfront, would love to get my hand on one of those.
Im a control freak

So if anybody can get one and send it, I'd be gratefull,
tell me the cost. Shipping shouldn't be much.

cheers,
Jaidev

I suppose you mean you loose only that one function relative to the original Kenwood, not Rio remote, right?

No, relative to the Rio remote. There is no button on the (what was it, something like RC-600 I think) remote that cycles through the info modes like the Rio remote does.

I got mine from Crutchfield for less than $30, if I recall correctly, but they no longer list it for sale. Not sure where you'd go to find one now. But there is a lot more information about it in this thread.

tanstaafl.

I got mine at circuit city it was in the back in the install area not with the rest of the car stereo stuff

I got mine from Crutchfield for less than $30, if I recall correctly, but they no longer list it for sale

Crutchfield still has them in stock, but they don't ship to Europe. See here

Looks like I may be going with this instead of waiting to see if I can get a tuner module and use the Sony wired remote.

JaBZ, I'd be happy to order an additional one and ship it to you for the cost. PM me if you'd like me to do so.

Crutchfield still has them in stock, but they don't ship to Europe. See here

Ha! You got me! I searched for RC-600, instead of RC600. Doh!

tanstaafl.