Control a Bose Wave Radio with a Universal Remote
The picture on my new 40″ Samsung LCD HDTV is amazing, but the sound, not so much. So I plugged the audio output of the television into the auxilliary jack for my Bose Wave Radio. Much better! But then I encountered a new problem. When the TV audio is external, the TV remote can’t control it. Luckily the radio has a remote (otherwise I’d have to walk across the room to mute the TV when the phone rings), but I’d rather have the TV volume on the same remote as the rest of the TV controls.
First I tried to set the auxilliary button on my Time-Warner Cable remote to the Bose radio. The cable remote instructions list these codes for Bose audio equipment: 070, 170, 224, 374, 409, 460, 532. I tried them all, but none of them worked. So then I tried the scanning method, holding down the channel button until the radio turns off. But it never turned off.
I did an internet search on controlling Bose devices with universal remotes and found a plethora of contradictory information, none of which solved my problem. So I called Bose customer support. Their products may be pricey, but they sure have good customer support. I got someone on the phone immediately, and he was knowledgeable. He explained the problem instantly and gave me the solution.
And now I’m sharing it with you.
Universal Remote Control URC-WR7
You Need a “Learning” Remote
Many people think that the Bose codes don’t work because Bose remotes use radio frequencies rather than infrared. But this is only true in their high-end home theatre equipment. The Bose Wave Radio remote does use infrared, but – and this is the missing piece – Bose did not set up codes for programming a universal remote. You can’t find the right code because there is no code. To control a Bose device, you need a universal remote with “learning” capability. It has to be one of those remotes where you put the original remote nose-to-nose with the universal and “teach” the universal by pressing the corresponding buttons.
You don’t need a $200 Logitech Harmony remote to do this. I spent some time looking at the extremely complex manual for the Harmony and decided no way. I found another remote that is nearly a tenth the price and, in my opinion, far better: Universal Remote Control URC-WR7. I got it for $27 at Best Buy. Amazon is currently selling it for $21.44.
It took just a minute to get it working with my Bose Wave Radio. Even better, I have it set up so the volume controls for my TV and Blu-ray both use the Bose device. You can’t do that with any other universal remote. It’s a feature they call “punch through”, and it’s fantastic. You can make functions from any device available from any component. A reviewer for the Sony Universal Remote complained that it switched to the TV component whenever you pressed the volume control, so beware of that one!
Tip on using the learning function with the Bose remote: Holding down the volume Up or Down button is a different command than a single press of Up or Down. You need to program both into the universal remote.
The URC-WR7 also has macro capability. I set it up so when I turn the TV on or off, the Bose Wave Radio turns on or off, too. There are other things you can do with the macros – I haven’t finished exploring all the features.
So no, you don’t need a separate remote for volume if you use a Bose Wave Radio to output the audio for your TV. It’s easier and cheaper than you think – you just need the right universal remote.
Sheryl Canter:
There’s a way to find out the code after using the learning method. The Bose Wave Radio code appears to be 083. But it doesn’t work – I tried it on the Time-Warner Cable remote. The only way to get it to work is the learning method.
January 16, 2010, 11:18 pmSheryl Canter:
One more thing I discovered… The remote for the DVR I rent from Time-Warner Cable also is made by Universal Remote Control. Maybe that’s why I can access all the special cable features with the URC-WR7 remote – colored buttons, etc. Too bad the learning function is disabled on the TWC remote – I tried it.
January 17, 2010, 10:44 amDave:
Sheryl, I have the same issue. Renting a DVR with remote from AT&T uVerse, with a Universal remote. Have you learned anything new?
June 2, 2010, 7:21 amSheryl Canter:
I don’t understand what you’re asking. Are you having a problem?
This post is only about remotes from the company “Universal Remote Control” – an unfortunate name for a company because it’s also the name of the device so it’s confusing. I got my URC to do exactly what I wanted – nothing more to learn.
June 2, 2010, 8:24 amMarshall:
Hello Sheryl,
I have a few year old Olevia Syntax LCD HD TV. The speakers seem scratchy coming from the STB and I have a Bose Wave Radio, so I thought I would try what you outlined. Just started playing with the universal remote last night. Question, which button controls the list of recorded programs in the DVR? Looked around on the remote and pressed a few buttons, but could not find the list. I can record and get to the menus.
Thank you.
June 16, 2010, 7:21 amfm radio online:
hmm .. great information and now i learned how to control online radio station through a remote control..is this remote available on amazon?
June 27, 2010, 7:30 pmplease reply me
regards
http://www.fm96blog.co.cc
Pranav:
Sheryl, I have lost my bose original remote, and so it wont turn on. I got a Sony learning remote, but it requires the device to be turned on to make the learning mode work. Did you need the Bose turned on when you set it up with your universal?
June 29, 2010, 9:33 pmSheryl Canter:
The on and the off signals are the same for most devices (and definitely the same for the Bose radio), so getting it to turn on with your learning remote is the same as getting it to turn off. I don’t think the radio needs to be on.
Note that you probably can pick up a replacement Bose remote on eBay for not too much.
June 29, 2010, 10:16 pmJulie:
we lost our remote to our bose system. Can we still get the universal remote to get it to work
August 11, 2010, 1:24 amSheryl Canter:
You need the original remote. Check eBay.
August 18, 2010, 2:42 pmTeddy:
Thanks for this recommendation. This remote solved the problems I was having with needing 4 or 5 remotes especially the Bose Wave Radio. I have gone back and bought them again for family to use because I like this one so much!
March 12, 2011, 8:42 amScott S.:
I have a URC Universal Remote it’s the Atlas DVR 1056.
This Remote DOES have codes for the Bose Wave Radio.
You DO NOT need to learn on another remote.
The Code for the Bose Wave Radio is 1841 as per http://www.urcsupport.com/
Radio Turn ON & OFF.
Tune Channels
Control Volume
Numeric Pad for Presets
etc…
Some Other features such as Alarm / Sleep etc.
DO NOT work but for 80% functionality it’s not that bad.
Will definitely get you through if you lose or break that
May 14, 2011, 1:25 pmcredit card remote that comes with it.
Sheryl Canter:
I didn’t try this code so I can’t confirm it works even partially. I already have a 100% functional remote through learning and I wasn’t going to erase that.
But if you have a learning remote like the one I reviewed here, then learning is better than a partially working code. 100% functionality is better than 80% functionality.
May 15, 2011, 6:41 amgerard:
The radio remotes are only 10 dollars at Bose. Don’t know if ebay would be much cheaper.
July 31, 2011, 10:26 amDiamond Bangle Bracelet:
Hi Sheryl
this is great info, not just from you but your posters as well. Here is my question and i am hoping somebody will know. We just purchased the wave radio and have it connected to our lifestyle 48 surround which is in another room so that we can play our stored music as well as internet radio etc. The 2 units are connected with boselink. The bummer part is that the remote that comes with the wave will not activate the boselink, it has to be the lifestyle remote BUT… you have to alter the channel switches inside of the remote which is a pane in the butt. Optimum situation would be to have a second lifestyle remote. These are not cheap obviously. Ebay is an option for a used one. Do you think the universal remote you mentioned will activate the lifestyle 48? Does anyone else have options? Thanks to all in advance.
September 18, 2011, 11:46 amJohn Matson:
The code 224 worked for me on a Time Warner UR5U-8780L remote and Bose Wave Radio/CD
October 30, 2011, 8:05 pm