It's no doubt that many people own aftermarket universal remote controls purchased from grocery stores, gas stations, and hardware stores. In a pinch, these $10 wonders can perform many functions of hundreds of devices, but can also be a little deceiving at the same time.

The term "universal", according to Merriam Webster's Dictionary, means "including or covering all or a whole collectively or distributively without limit or exception." But when it comes to "universal" remotes, it's simply untrue. These remotes are not limitless in their ability, and do not cover every device as a whole. This would mean that anything labeled as a "universal" remote would command every function of every device in existence. Anyone with experience with these remote controls will tell you, they are filled with limits and exceptions. When it comes to a remote, "universal" is just a marketing term.

It's unrealistic to believe that a $10 remote will control every function of the thousands of remote capable devices that have been produced since the remote control was invented. They can be useful, considering they normally control the basic functions of a compatible device, like power, channel up/down, play, stop, pause, etc. However, the more advanced, but commonly used functions like menu,

cursor controls, input, and picture-in-picture, are often absent.

The truly universal remotes are usually very expensive. They are most often touch screen devices that are fully programmable. Using software on the computer, you can create every button on your existing remote, and teach the commands to the universal remote control. This way, every function for every device you own is at your fingertips. Although, even touch screen remotes sometimes have limitations. For example, devices using radio frequencies are often out of reach to these remotes, but anything that uses infrared light are compatible. So don't plan on using anything other than the original remote if you have a Bose Lifestyle system.

If you still have all of your original remote controls, inexpensive "universal" remotes can be an inexpensive way to combine a lot of the common functions into one remote. However, if you've lost the original remote for your device, it's best to get an OEM replacement remote from the manufacturer to ensure control of all your devices functions. If you want to truly have one remote for everything, options are out there (it's funny that they are usually not called "universal remotes", but usually called automation devices), but they will cost a lot more than what you may be expecting, and unless you have decent computer skills, will need to be programmed by a professional.