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Setting up a universal remote can be a big hassle.  First you have to find the button combination to enter setup mode, and then you have to find the right code to enter — usually printed in small type in a user guide. Somtimes there is an auto-program feature, but these can be hit or miss depending on the remote and the devices you have. Maybe you have a more expensive remote with an even trickier setup — which you’d expect to be easier since it costs more, but no luck. Would you be willing to pay a couple hundred dollars in order to avoid having to program those remotes yourself? InstallCard believes you will and is now offering the Universal Remote Programming e-InstallCard, which gets a professional remote programmer at your house for just $250.

InstallCard actually offers quite a wide array of installation services from installing satellite radio to outdoor broadcast antennas (was not expecting to find that one). It seems that their business is much like Geek Squad but perhaps a bit more specialized and a little cheaper. Instead of just paying for a large general home theater setup you can order smaller individual setups. For example InstallCard has a card for AV Hookup, Flat TV, Bigscreen TV, Remote Setup, and Speaker Setup.  So if you only need your speakers wired you can just buy the Speaker Setup card.  They do have more general setup packages but there are multiple restrictions on each type of setup.

Which brings me to another point: if you choose to get the Universal Remote Programming e-InstallCard you should be aware of those restrictions. The service includes setup a single remote and up to 8 controlled devices. However, you only get up to 4 macros for launching activities. Also they will not actually touch any A/V equipment, and all your devices must be in the same room. So if you have two rooms with equipment you will have to buy another card in order to get the support person to walk into the next room. Or maybe you can just stack all of your stuff in one room and see what he does.

Somewhere, someone is missing the underlying problem — we need to make it easier to setup universal remotes. If you buy a Philips Pronto Remote for $600 you shouldn’t have to hire someone for another $250 to set the thing up.  That is almost $1000 dollars before you even get to turn your TV on (we actually have a testimonial on this from someone who has completely changed the way you live, but you’ll hear more about that when we are ready to publish the interview). For a thousand dollars my remote better be able to tell me what to watch and hold a decent conversation. At the same time. Both ways. Uphill. In the snow.