Audio Systems: TV remote control, universal remotes, caveat emptor

Question
Hi Kevin,

Thanks for being available.  The remote control for our JVC TV is wearing out, and we'd like to get a new one---except a new one purchased from the JVC company is $66, too much for us to spend.  Would a universal remote work OK?  Would any model of remote control coming from JVC work on any JVC TV, or just the one that came in the box with this specific model?  We're thinking of getting a used one from Ebay.

Thanks again,
Emily B.

Answer
Dear Emily,

A universal remote should work just fine. And probably any JVC remote would work as well--it's the manufacturer coding that ensures compatibility. However, you'll find that if your TV has any special features, they may not all be matched on a universal remote or another JVC remote for that matter.

I'd check out the universal remotes at Best Buy/Circuit City/[The Big Box in Your Neighborhood] to see what kind of capabilities they have before buying. Yes, you'll probably get a better deal on Ebay, but "used" also means "worn". Caveat emptor.

Good luck. And thanks for choosing allexperts.com!

Kindest regards,

Kevin