If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably got at least 4 remote controls on your coffee table: One for your television, DVD player, DSTV and perhaps a surround sound system. Not only is this an inconvenience, but it starts to become an eye-soar and the risk of losing a remote in a crevice of a couch or busting it on the floor increases with each new device.

So what is the answer I hear you ask? For many people it might be the Kameleon 8 in 1 universal remote control by One For All (OFA). This device comes with a big reputation and claims to do everything except pour you coffee in the morning.

Key Features

• Kameleon Technology – dynamic menu screens that respond to device selection and illuminate only active keys
• Home Theater Mode – a custom mode that groups the most often used keys together for operating convenience in one mode
• Macros – instant activation of favourite key sequences
• Learning – capture unique functions from your devices’ original remote control
• Key Mover – copy keys from one device to another or to a different position in the same mode
• Direct Code Setup – easy device programming with setup codes
• Code Search – allows setup of your devices without looking up codes
• IR/RF Base Station – extended remote control signal range
• Favourite Channel Scan – easy surfing of favourite channels
• Volume Lock – assigns volume controls to individual devices or to one global device
• Extensive Code Library – largest and most up-to-date group of IR remote control codes for virtually every current brand and make
• Upgradable – upgrade your remote through a unique telephone upgrade system

As implied by the name, the Kameleon supports up to 8 devices including: your TV, PVR, DVD/Home Theatre System, VCR, Audio Amplifier/Receiver, CD Player, Satellite, and an Auxiliary; ensuring that you are pretty well covered.

Impressions

One of the first things you’ll notice about the Kameleon is it’s size – it’s not small by any stretch of the imagination. This isn’t such a bad thing though as it becomes very difficult to misplace and since it supports up to 8 devices, as already mentioned, and uses a clever Electro-luminescent touch display, the buttons are large enough to use without much effort, even for people with sausage fingers!

The magic really starts once you slot in the batteries (not supplied) and the remote control transforms into a space wand with a cool-blue backlit screen that many people might be fooled into believing was stolen off the Starship Enterprise.

One of my favourite features is the macro function which allows you to store up to 15 tedious tasks in one button. I managed to store a macro which switches on my TV and sound system and selects channel 401 (CNN) on my PVR – my daily morning routine – with relative ease. You can store up to 4 macros on the Kameleon, a very useful feature.

However, where the Kameleon really fell short during testing was in the device compatibility department. Although OFA claims to support hundreds of devices from the most popular brands, it didn’t support any of the devices in my home setup out-of-the-box and the supplied codes for my Sansui LCD TV, Pioneer DVD Home Theatre, and Multichoice PVR didn’t work either.

In the end I had to resort to using the “learning” function on the Kameleon to capture each button on each remote control, an extremely time consuming process. This was only moderately successful though as it couldn’t learn certain functions on the original PVR and DVD remotes, meaning I still had to keep them handy which somewhat defeats the purpose of a universal remote.

In my experience this has always been the downfall of most universal remote controls and the increasing complexity of devices being produced from manufacturers all over the globe, means that it’s likely it will continue to be their Achilles Heel for some time to come.

Conclusion

The Kameleon isn’t a gimmick and tackles a very real problem which is common to most of us especially as we place a higher premium on our digital lifestyles. Unfortunately, due to incompatibilities with common brands in South Africa it’s not a perfect solution and most people will elect to save their cash and use their default remote controls for now.

Pros

• One remote to rule them all
• Looks like the handle of a light saber
• Nice customisation features

Cons

• Expensive
• Doesn’t work out-of-the-box with many brands
• Complicated setup and configuration

Pricing and Availability

Kameleon 8 in 1 Universal Remote Control: R602.00 from WantItAll.