The remote control that comes with Comcast cable service can often confuse users due to the massive number of buttons found on the remote.
The Top Section of the Remote
The top section of the Comcast remote control features the component buttons. These include the AUX, TV, CABLE, POWER and SETUP buttons. The AUX button can be programmed to control a DVD player, VCR, stereo receiver or any other audio/video equipment you may wish to control. When you receive your remote control, it comes with a pamphlet that includes programming instructions and the codes you need to input into your remote.
Directly below the component buttons is the ALL ON button. Once you have your components programmed into your remote control, all you have to do is press the ALL ON button to turn everything on or off. However, if you plug a piece of equipment into the available outlet on the backside of a DVR, then you will have to turn that piece of equipment on after the cable box is turned on.
The Comcast Remote Control -- ON DEMAND
The area below the ALL ON button is where the ON DEMAND button and relative controls are located. One press of the ON DEMAND button takes you to the On Demand section of the digital cable service. This is where you find the free programming and pay-per-view content.
The buttons immediately under the ON DEMAND button control the playback of recorded or On Demand content. These buttons include Play, Rewind, Fast-Forward, Stop and Pause. Also included in this area is the REC button for recording to your DVR, the LIVE button, which returns you to live programming if you paused a show, the MY DVR button that takes you to your recorded content and a button that rewinds 30 seconds instantly (these buttons are only available on the DVR remote).
The Middle of the Remote
The middle section of the Comcast remote control is where most people get confused.
The blue, yellow and red buttons offer an interactive guide on Scientific Atlanta, Pioneer Voyager and Pace cable boxes. If you have a Motorola box, the blue triangle is the LOCK button, so parents can easily block out a channel or program, and the red circle button takes you to pay-per-view content.
The center of the remote features four white buttons surrounding an OK/SELECT button. The four white buttons are navigational buttons for maneuvering around the on-screen menus, and the OK/SELECT button is what you will press when you want to make a highlighted choice.
Immediately below the navigational buttons is the INFO button, which provides detailed information about the show you are watching or about any show you highlight in the Guide.
To the left of the INFO button is the GUIDE button, which brings up the on-screen TV guide. To the right of the INFO button is the MENU button, which brings up the settings and options screen for personalizing your viewing.
The Bottom of the Remote
The last section of the remote features the EXIT button, which takes you back out of the Guide, the HELP button for access to help for your digital cable and the LAST button, which takes you back to the last channel you were watching or it takes you back one page in the on screen menu.
The volume and channel controls are also located in this area as are the individual number buttons for inputting a specific channel or for inputting passwords.
The MUTE and FAV buttons control the volume mute and the programmed favorite channels, respectively.
Some Comcast remote controls may feature a set of tiny buttons at the base that controls Picture-in-Picture features on TVs that are compatable with that feature.
