Home theater systems have become so insanely complicated to operate in recent years that universal remote controls are now practically standard fare. But even with a universal remote, many systems are still too complex for everyone in the family to easily use.

Niles first tackled this problem 12 years ago with their IntelliControl remote. At the time of its introduction, that model offered many unique control features and was a big hit among custom installers and users alike. But the IntelliControl has started to show its age and limitations in recent years. It was finally time to put the IntelliControl out to pasture and bring in a new stud.

Cue the iC2 Home Theater Automation & Control System. Like its predecessor, this remote is designed to prevent you from thinking about how your system works and let you get back to actually enjoying it. But many other remotes also promise simple operation, so I wondered if the iC2 could actually deliver.

The iC2 is actually a two-part control system consisting of a hand-held remote controller and an HT-MSU (Home Theater Main System Unit) that sits near your electronics, and which you will probably never have reason to touch. The remote communicates with the HT-MSU using 2-way ZigBee radio frequency (RF) signals, meaning you don't need to "point" it at anything. This also means that it works through walls and will control your components even if they are located in a closet, in another room, or behind closed cabinet doors. The ZigBee signals work in the 2.4-Gigahertz frequency range and offer much greater range and resistance to interference than the original IntelliControl remote's one-way, 416-Megahertz signals.

Like all universal remote controls, the iC2 requires programming before it can learn the particular nuances of your system and actually function . However, unlike many remote controls, the iC2 must be programmed using special Niles hardware that is only available to trained Niles dealers. While this makes professional programming an absolute must, you'll never have to wonder if the remote was programmed correctly.

Even though your daily interaction will be with the iC2 remote itself, that unit actually requires very little setup. You first select from the 511 preprinted tags to label the eight "Master Keys." Niles provides a huge array of tags, from source names like CD, DVD, and Blu-ray, to activities Movies, Games, and Music, etc., along with program genres and channel IDs. You should have no problem customizing it to your liking.

The iC2's business end is the HT-MSU. This is where the programming gets loaded and stored, and where all physical connections are made to your components. Niles did a really nice job redesigning the HT-MSU from the previous version. It's roughly the size of a small hardback book and only 1-inch thick, meaning it can be mounted or placed practically anywhere.

Since the HT-MSU is the liaison between the iC2 remote and your electronics, it features a variety of connections to make sure everything behaves. Each of its 8 sources features both IR (Infrared) and RS-232 output. The RS-232 outputs are one-way only, meaning the HT-MSU can't receive any communication back from the component. However, RS-232 control is still preferable to IR for a few reasons. First, it's a hard-wired solution opposed to those emitters that get affixed to the front of the unit and are prone to falling off. Second, there are often RS-232 codes and commands that aren't available when using IR. Finally, components respond quicker and more reliably to RS-232 than to IR.

The HT-MSU has three assignable contact closure relays and three assignable 12-volt outputs for automation  tasks like lowering video screens or triggering power amplifiers. And there's also an IR input for connecting an external IR target to the system and a global "all" IR output. Connections needed by the installer include a USB port for diagnostic testing, an RF Test port that shows whether the unit is receiving and sending commands, and an RJ-45 jack for system downloads.

Finally, the HT-MSU provides "status inputs" for each source  that are used to determine whether a particular component is on or off. Since this concept is slightly arcane, it requires a bit of explanation. Most remote controls simply issue "dumb" macro commands. For instance, if you tell it in programming that your TV needs to be on when you watch a DVD, it will issue a power command every time you start that activity. But if your TV doesn't have discrete commands for power on and power off, the remote might actually turn the TV off . By sensing the power status of each device, the iC2 can use intelligence to determine whether or not to send a power command, ensuring that devices get turned on when they should be. And since each device has its own unique sense input, Niles also offers a host of sensors to monitor factors like current draw or light output.

Since any programming changes require a service call from your installer, I'd suggest you ask for a follow-up "tweaking" visit when you purchase the remote. After you've had a chance to live with it for a bit, you'll likely think of some minor changes that would make the remote exactly to your liking.

PERFORMANCE

Cosmetically, the iC2 is a facelift as opposed to a total overhaul of the original IntelliControl. The iC2 replaces the original's very '90s green backlighting with a cool, contemporary blue backlight. The buttons are also larger and well spaced, making it easier to operate. The much-needed A, B, and C buttons used by many cable and satellite set-top boxes have also been added. Another cosmetic improvement replaces the old remote's generically labeled M, G, P, and E keys with keys clearly marked Menu, Guide, Exit and Info.

One change I'm not so crazy about is the move from ten master keys on the original remote to only eight on the new iC2. This limits the remote to handling just eight activities — its biggest shortcoming, in my opinion.

Altogether the iC2 features a total of 45 hard buttons and that's it; there's no touch screen or LCD display. This is definitely in keeping with the remote's "less is more , easier is better" philosophy. The iC2 is designed for people who are intimidated by their home theater system and is meant to be easy enough for an entire family to use. In contrast to other remotes that try and do everything, including whole-house control, it's intended to be a single-system home theater controller.

Having said that, the remote does have its limitations. As I mentioned, with only eight master keys, there's a limit to the number of activities the remote can perform, and more complex systems will simply be beyond its capabilities. Besides my receiver and TV, I have an Escient music server/DVD controller, a Sony PS3, a laser disc player, my cable company's HD-DVR, and a compact disc player. While I wouldn't consider my system overly complex, I maxed out my master keys on the remote, meaning if I want to add another activity — satellite radio  or iPod playback, or lighting scenes, for instance — I would have to delete something.

The system's limitations also prevented me from adding specific buttons for aspect mode adjustment or surround mode selection. Granted, I would describe myself as a power user; not having direct access to these commands might not bother many other people.

Niles does provide a solution for adding additional buttons in the form of the "Fav" key. Within each source, the "Fav" button allows you to perform ten (Fav plus buttons 0-9) special functions. For instance, you could set up a Watch HD activity, so that pressing Fav 0 could take you to your ABC-HD channel and Fav 1 could take you to CBS-HD, etc. However, unless you keep a sheet of paper next to the remote, or don't mind randomly cycling through channels or button presses, it quickly becomes difficult to remember what has been programmed under one or two source keys, let alone all eight.

The remote has great "staying power," lasting one to two weeks between charges depending on usage. This is especially handy if, like me, you repeatedly forget to plug the remote back in at the end of the night.

One ZigBee RF technology benefit that Niles makes use of is 2-way communication. This means that the HT-MSU actually talks to the iC2 remote, and vice-versa. Niles states the RF range to be 75-100 feet, and I had to go way out of my living room — like, out to the driveway — to exceed its range. Since this remote is designed to operate in a single room as opposed to being a house-wide controller, range should be no problem. And if it ever did become an issue, Niles offers an antenna extension kit.

The iC2 uses a lithium-ion battery that's much lighter than the old Intelli's three chunky D-cells, so the weight has been cut roughly in half. But it's hardly a lightweight, and no one will call it "small." If you're used to a handheld, wand-style remote, the iC2 might take a bit of getting used to. In fact, my wife at first found it kind of bulky. And unless you rest it in your lap, or next to you on a couch or tabletop, one-handed operation really isn‘t possible. On the plus side, the question, "Where is the remote?" is a lot less likely to pop up.

BOTTOM LINE

The original IntelliControl was a huge hit, finding a fan-base with people who wanted incredibly simple, one-button operation over their systems and preferred the tactile feedback of a real button to a touchscreen. Niles' new iC2 provides a set of much-needed tweaks, including buttons to control common 21st Century devices, greatly improved wireless communication, and RS-232 control. And it's also priced $400 lower than the original. If you find yourself or someone in your family constantly complaining that the home theater system is too hard to operate, then you're a candidate for an iC2. It will make using your system fun again.