RTI Remote Technologies Inc. T3-V Wireless Remote Controller

There are many universal remotes available for controlling home theater systems. However, most have limitations that make full customization difficult. Seamless integration is not easy and requires a skilled installer who knows the system components and how they interact with one another. Problems such as components placed behind cabinet doors make controlling the system more complex and challenging. Conventional IR remotes (including universal remotes) require clear line-of-sight to the components, but often this is not practical from the user's seating location. Remote Technologies, Incorporated (RTI) addresses all of these issues and offers a series of advanced control products designed to simplify a complex entertainment system. We have had some previous experience with RTI's T3 and T4 remote controllers and love the way they control a complex home theater system. At that time we came to the conclusion that RTI offers installers a complete solution for customers needing a fully customizable remote controller for their system. Fortunately, RTI continues to improve their remotes and have recently released the new and improved T3-V. The T3-V is the second generation of the award winning T3 handheld system controller we reviewed earlier last year. The new contemporary design looks great with its darker exterior and features a much improved 3.5” high resolution resolution (480x640) color touchscreen that allows users to display graphics, photos, and web pages with excellent detail that was not possible with the earlier T3 design. Something new to the T3-V is the addition of wireless Ethernet and a built-in web browser allowing the user to access web pages and IP addressable devices, including IP control for web based integration applications.

The T3-V also has buttons with tactile feel that are spaced farther apart than the earlier design, giving the user better control. In addition, two new buttons for Power and Info have been added along with an easy to use three-way rocker switch for scrolling list navigation. The body of the remote is made from an anti-slip material giving it a nice feel. Like the original T3, the T3-V works with other RTI automation devices offering features such as RF transmission through walls and cabinets, power sensing for reliable operation, and RS-232 communications for advanced control systems.

The Cradle
The T3-V sits in a weighted cradle where two contacts are used to charge the internal Lithium-Polymer battery. The charge LED indicator on the docking base illuminates red when the unit is charging and then turns blue once the battery is fully charged. Compared to the earlier T3 design, the T3-V base has a diffused power indicator that makes it much less distracting in the dark. A fully discharged battery will take approximately 2-4 hours to completely recharge. Users can keep the T3-V in the docking station indefinitely without worrying about overcharging the battery. The base comes with a universal switching power supply that provides 5-6V at 2 amps and accepts a wide input voltage from 100-240VAC. The base also includes a clever design that locks in the power plug and allows the power cable to exit the back or from either side of the cradle.

Under Cover

The back cover of the T3-V is much easier to remove than its predecessor. The battery

in the T3-V appears to be the same physical size offered in the earlier T3 design,

but it is very

different in both storage technology as well as capacity. The new battery provides users with a 40% increase in storage capacity going from a 3.6V/1200mAH Li-Ion to a 3.6V/1700mAH Li-Polymer. The battery appears to be user replaceable with a pair of screws and a brace holding it down and a simple two-pin connector providing the electrical interface. Behind the rear cover is the small USB connector and the unit's power switch. The USB cable is a standard 5-pin connector compatible with generic USB cables designed for smaller portable devices. Under normal conditions, the customer will never have to r

emove the rear cover since the unit sits in a recharging cradle. However, the power switch is used to access the Control Panels for setting up the basic functions of the TV-3. By holding down the Home button while switching the unit on, the TV-3 will enter the Control Panel mode.