Tek Pal - Large Button TV Remote Control

I bought two of the original TEK-PAL IR remotes for my elderly mother and one for my in-laws (all with limited vision). They thought this was a great remote, reliable and with no non-essential buttons that can be bumped accidentally and kick their TVs "off the tracks". The remote's 6 glow-in-the-dark buttons are ergonomically shaped and labeled, logically located, easy to read, and they all light up green when you touch one, so you can easily use it even in a pitch-black room. The TEK-PAL is a GREAT remote when you don't want extra buttons that can be accidentally pushed and "mess up" the settings on your TV - less is more, simpler is usually better (K.I.S.S.). It's perfect for older users with limited or no vision, and for young, unsophisticated users, particularly when they only watch a couple of channels most of the time (no numeric digit keys). Our folks still keep their original IR remotes handy for occasionally entering specific channel numbers and to control other more complicated TV functions.In summary, the TEK-PAL IR remotes work out-of-the-box with most (but not all) HDTVs. When they work, these popular, well-designed IR remotes are arguably the best ones available for users with limited vision.HOWEVER, those original version TEK-PAL remotes (made by HY-TEK) were designed to control a single TV, and were NOT designed to work with cable and satellite set-top boxes. The CATV systems at the places where our parents live have recently been "upgraded" and they can no longer use their TEK-PAL remotes to change channels. There's no way to update the remotes, so we pulled the batteries and threw them in a drawer.According to the manufacturer's support department, the TEK-PAL remotes have been enhanced/updated to also work with many cable and satellite set-top boxes. This "new, improved" version of the TEK-PAL (now made by Bay Products in Tampa, www_BigButtonRemotes_com) looks identical to the originals, only its programming has changed. The updated packaging adds: "Now compatible with Cable/Satellite devices" and "INFRARED (IR) TECHNOLOGY". Also, the setup instructions on the back of the package are longer and more complex, but the package has the same UPC barcode as before (!!!). These latest TEK-PAL remotes have newer datecodes of 0915 and later (likely September 2015, the datecode label is on the inside of the battery hatch).BE AWARE THAT - as of February 2016 - these latest-version TEK-PAL remotes still don't work with some of the latest HDTVs and cable and satellite boxes. A newer firmware version is reportedly "under development" (available late Spring 2016??) that will work with even more digital devices, including the new cable "mini-boxes" that are required for basic cable service, now that US cable companies have converted their signals to encrypted all-digital format. You can no longer connect your HDTV directly to cable and use its built-tuner to receive basic channels (thank you FCC). I hope that Bay Products will clearly update their packaging and barcodes to help buyers identify the latest version TEK-PALs, it would be even better if they re-named them the "TEK-PAL PLUS" or something to that effect. It's probably safest to check with the Bay Products support department before you purchase to confirm that your particular equipment is supported (yet), and to order directly from them to ensure you will be getting the latest available firmware version.Too bad the remote's firmware can't be updated by users like other modern digital devices. An IR "learning" version might also enable customers to solve this problem. I've discovered that the German company SEKI (SEniors and KIds) sells the SeKi Easy, the SeKi Slim and the SeKi Easy Plus Universal IR Remote Controls (among others). These are "learning remotes" that can be programmed using just about any existing IR remote. They are simple, basic remotes with a minimal number of buttons. The SeKi Easy Plus remote adds 12 pushbuttons for digits 0-9, TXT and * so users can tune directly to a particular channel instead of using the UP/DOWN buttons to step through the channels one-by-one. I've ordered one of each from an Australian company via Amazon to try them out.

Great, simple remote for anyone with poor eyesight, dementia, or problems feeling small buttons. This remote has large buttons, only 6 - on/off, mute, channel up and down and volume up and down. The buttons also light up when pressed and stay on for a few seconds, which is great at night in a dark room if you are channel surfing or need to hit a different button. Large, easy to feel buttons that have good travel (move) so you know when you push them. The remote is easy to set up, I'll leave the simple programming instructions below, no codes are needed. I bought this for my father, who has dementia, but I love it as well. Highly recommended.How to program the remote:1. Install 2 AA batteries, ensuring that the polarity is correct.2. Manually turn on the TV3. Press and hold ON/OFF and MUTE buttons together for 3 seconds4. The indicator light will remain on5. Press and release CH+ (or CH-) button until the TV shuts off6. Press MUTE button immediately after TV shuts off to complete set-up7. The indicator light will blink 3 times, indicating that you’ve successfully programmed yourTek Pal remote.

I purchased this cool little remote because my 84 year old Mom, who has vision issues needed something simple and easy to use for her TV. For the most part, this product is. However it could be even better.SETUPSet up was a breeze as well. You put in your batteries and using a few combined button pushes, you push buttons until the remote finds your TV code and you accept this setting. Ideally you would need someone who can read the directions to set this up for you, if you can't read easily. In other words, don't buy buy this for the visually impaired unless someone can set it up for them. After that except for battery changes you're all set. However once a person with good visual accuity puts in batteries, subsequent changes can just follow the prior orientation.BASIC HARDWAREThis remote's asymmetrical shape makes it easy to realize which end you have picked up. This is a plus. One thing did surprise me was its size. This remote fills the palm of your hand. This is good. Not as easy to lose as a small remote.There are 6 white rubbery light up buttons on this beige remote.* A round one to turn it on* A square one to Mute the sound* Two up and two down triangles to control the sound and adjust the volume.When any button is pushed the buttons light up.There is large text on each of these buttons in capital letters in identifying their function.RECOMMENDED CHANGES FOR FUTURE MODELS:1. The volume control was under the On/Off button. It would make more sense under the Mute button. That way the controls would be grouped more logically and put sound on one side.2. Rather than large text on each button, I would use massive text and only shown one letter or two at most.For On/Off: OFor Mute: MFor Up Volume: +VFor Down Volume: -VFor Up Channel: +CFor Down Channel: -C3. Also I would make the remote a more different color than the buttons, so that low vision people can see the button shape and not have to feel it only.OVERALL REVIEWThis remote was easy to set up and easy to use. It's a 4 out of 5. But, looking at what else is out there it is much better than most.

A mi abuela le encantó fue totalmente práctico para ella

Exactly as advertised. A larger big button easy-to-use remote. Bright green keypad when pressed. It can be cumbersome if you want channel 61 and you have to keep pressing the UP channel button repetitively to get there but there's no way around it without adding 10 more keypad buttons for the channel number. It's just something to keep in mind. It's an otherwise great easy-to-use remote for people like my elderly dementia affected nearly blind mother.

Not to bad to program, but not fun when you have to keep programming it after every three uses, as it seemed to forget. Plus it did not work past 6 feet from the tv. Not very easy for older people to program either.

The size of the remote is great and the buttons as well. The lettering is extra large and the buttons light up. Mom can use it although still a bit nervous. Once she uses it a bit I think it will be great for her. She was especially happy with the mute button for when someone comes to the door or the phone rings.The only not so great part was the set up - it just takes persistence. I had to program the TV and the Set Top Box. I would get one perfect - volume - and then do the next one and it would loose something - volume. Anyway following the instructions works well, but sometimes you need to do them repeatedly until it works.Thankfully we did not give up and it works well!

Well we're in to day 3 of trying to get the remote to talk to the cable box as well as the TV.The TV setup was fantastic and easy, now trying to get the remote to talk to the cable box....... Step 2.Followed the steps about 13 times for Step 2 and STILL .....it won't do the three light-blinky thing where it will run the TV with volume and mute and power but CHANGE CHANNELS ON THE CABLE BOX !! No joy ever !!I called the phone number listed on the packaging and its a total waste of time, no human answers and it just tells you to try email or go on line to watch lame you tube videos ..... so customer support so far is lacking- will try email next, but I'm not holding by breath .....Cheers'Dave