Owning a TV/DVD combo unit (like those made by RCA, Toshiba, Bush, or Insignia) saves space, but it creates a massive headache when you lose the remote.
When you buy a universal remote, you usually program it for a “TV” or a “DVD Player.” But what do you do when your device is both?
If you have entered every code in the book and the volume works but the “Play” button doesn’t, you aren’t alone. This happens because most universal remotes see a Combo Unit not as one device, but as two separate devices sharing a plastic case.
Here is the master guide to getting both the screen and the disc player working on a single remote.
The “Two-Brain” Problem
To fix this, you have to understand how these TVs are built. Inside the casing, the TV motherboard and the DVD drive often use different infrared (IR) command sets.
- The TV Code: Controls Power, Volume, and Inputs.
- The DVD Code: Controls Play, Pause, Eject, and Menu.
Most people make the mistake of trying to find one magic code that controls everything. While these exist for some major brands, 90% of the time you need to use the “Split-Programming” Method.
Method 1: The “Split-Programming” Strategy (High Success Rate)
This is the most reliable way to set up a combo unit. You are going to treat the device as two separate machines on your remote.
Step 1: Program the TV Side
- Press the “TV” button on your universal remote.
- Enter the code for your TV brand (e.g., RCA or Toshiba).
- Test: Check if Volume Up/Down and Power work.
- Ignore the DVD buttons for now. If the volume works, save the code.
Step 2: Program the DVD Side
- Now, press the “DVD” or “AUX” button on your universal remote.
- You likely won’t find a code listed specifically for “RCA Combo DVD.” Instead, look for just “RCA” under the DVD/VCR section of your code book.
- Enter that DVD code.
- Test: Press Play or Eject.
How to Use It:
Now, when you want to change volume, you press “TV” first. When you want to pause the movie, you must press “DVD” first. It is a slightly extra step, but it is often the only way to get full functionality on older combo units.
[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Take a close-up photo of a universal remote, pointing a finger at the “TV” button and then the “DVD/AUX” button to visualize the switching.]
Method 2: The “Combo” Codes
Some higher-end universal remotes (like One For All or GE) do have specific “TV/DVD Combo” codes.
- Check your manual’s code list for a separate section labeled “TV/DVD Combos”.
- These codes are unique because they map the volume keys to the TV signal and the playback keys to the DVD signal simultaneously.
Pro Tip: If your combo TV is a lesser-known brand (like Acclorries or Venturer), try codes for LG or Samsung. Many budget combo units use internal parts from these major manufacturers, and the codes often overlap.
Troubleshooting: “I Can’t Switch Inputs!”
This is the most common complaint with Combo units. You programmed the TV, but you can’t switch from “Cable” to “DVD” mode because the Input/Source button isn’t working.
On Combo TVs, the “Input” command is often unique. If the standard Input button on your universal remote doesn’t work, try these tricks:
- Channel Down 0: On some older CRT combo units, pressing “Channel Down” past channel 2 or 0 will cycle into “Line 1” or “DVD Mode.”
- The “AV” Button: Look for a button labeled “AV” or “TV/Video” on your universal remote.
- The “Menu” Workaround: If there is no dedicated button, press “Menu” and try to navigate to the Source selection using the arrow keys.
Personal Experience: The “Code Search” Last Resort
I recently worked on an old 13-inch Toshiba Combo TV where no listed code worked for the DVD player. I used the Auto-Search Feature (where the remote cycles through every code in its memory).
- The Trick: I didn’t wait for the TV to turn off (which is the usual instruction). Instead, I put a DVD in the tray and pressed “Play” repeatedly while scanning.
- Eventually, the remote found a code that triggered the “Play” command, even though the manual didn’t list it for Toshiba.
- Lesson: When using Auto-Search for a combo unit, search for the function that is missing (like “Play”), not just “Power.”
Conclusion
Don’t throw away that old TV/DVD combo just because the remote is lost. By splitting the functions across the “TV” and “DVD” buttons on your universal remote, you can restore 100% of the functionality.