Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I had high hopes for this relatively cheap device.
Currently, we have a Logitech Harmony One Universal Remote with Color Touchscreen and it has problems switching inputs when going between PVR, AppleTV, and PS3.
The Audiovox Central, I thought could record new macros and allow us to use our iPhones to correctly control the TV with the various inputs from our different sources.
Well, was I ever wrong... here are the issues that I encountered:
1. Pairing the Zentral with my iPhone
--> during my first attempt, my iPhone found the Zentral Device but the phone rang before I could enter the Key: 0000
--> I tried to pair again, and it did not find the Zentral Device, I unplugged the Zentral, I turned off bluetooth and tried again. No connection.
--> Finally, I did a soft reset of my iPhone and then tried again, turned on bluetooth, plugged in the Zentral device, found, entered 0000
2. Installing Zentral app.
--> Once paired, my iPhone prompted me to download the app.
--> Once downloaded, I launched it and tried to Enter My Zentral Serial Number and Room Name
--> This failed and I was told to go to their website, but no URL was given: [...] I googled "AR Zentral" and it was the second link, then I clicked on "Zentral Home Command", I selected my phone, then entered my e-mail address and login information.
--> The Registration required my Phone ID. On the site it said to go to Settings > General > Status > but that does not exist in OS 4.2, I tried all of the likely suspects for the iPhone ID and all failed.
--> I googled iPhone ID and turns out that you need connect your iPhone to your Mac and go to the System Profiler and find the ID there under USB --> iPhone --> Serial Number. There is a 40 character string there, I used that and the registration worked.
3. Add Devices
--> I tried to add TV, and none of the codes for Panasonic would turn my TV on
--> I tried to add my Denon receiver, again, none of the codes would turn it on
--> I tried to find Apple TV, but it did not exist, so I thought, okay, I can teach the Zentral App those codes later (as it turns out I never tried because of what happened when I tried to record a Macro)
4. Record a Macro
--> I tried to record a Watch TV macro: Power on TV, Power on Receiver
--> It did not work, most likely because none of the code sets had worked when I added my devices
5. Edit a Device
--> Both online and in the Zentral app, it is not apparent how you can edit or remove an existing device.
6. App Stability
--> The App crashed
--> When I relaunched it, it had lost connectivity to the Zentral box
--> The Zentral Box light started flashing blue again
--> I paired again
7. Website
--> The zentral app website does not have product codes or codes that you can download to the app, it would be great to be able to record macros on line, and to search for the code sets based on your TV and Receiver Model Numbers.
Overall Conclusion:
Fail
If someone else has different results, please let me know.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Acoustic Research Zentral ARRZ300IP Smartphone AV Remote for iPhone
We've all been there. You've got the snacks and the drinks, everything ready to watch your favorite show, but you can't find the remote control! Now there is a way to make sure you'll never have to worry about losing your home theater remote again! With the AR Zentral AV Remote you can use your iPhone or iPod touch to turn on and run your home theater instead (requires iPod touch Second Generation or later).
Audiovox Zentral AV remote for iPhone andiPod touch (see larger image).
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