Sonic Screwdriver TV Remote Control

Product Description

Control your Earth-based TV with this Doctor Who collectible Sonic Screwdriver

Ever since Patrick Troughton, the second Doctor, first produced it from his jacket, the sonic screwdriver has been Doctor Who's most valued, iconic, coveted, not to mention extremely cool gadget. Now, for the first time, Doctor Who fans have the opportunity to transport a little bit of the Time Lord's technology into their own homes.

A high quality metal replica of the Mark VII Sonic Screwdriver currently used by the eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith, the new Sonic Screwdriver Universal Remote Control is a gesture-based universal remote control that utilises infrared (IR) technology to manipulate almost all earth-based home entertainment systems - from TVs and iPod docks to DVD/Blu-ray players and beyond.

With a green flashing tip and an impressive four operational modes - including a practice mode - and three memory banks, a total of 39 commands can be stored in the Sonic Screwdriver Universal Remote Control, giving the option of operating multiple home entertainment devices with just a different flick of the wrist.

Control your TV like The Doctor himself

Control is straightforward - even for humans. The Sonic Screwdriver Universal Remote Control works through a series of 13 short gestures, such as rotating, flicking or tapping, and a guided set-up procedure uses spoken prompts to match gestures to commands learned from existing remote controls.

And, for those fans who wish to transport a little more of the Time Lord into their own homes, the FX Mode features a range of authentic vintage Doctor Who sound effects.

What's in the box:
-Sonic Screwdriver Universal Remote Control
-Display Stand
-Clear display cover
-Illustrated instruction manual

Top Reviews

Not Suitable for Time Wars
by Kat (4 out of 5 stars)
August 24, 2014

FX Mode is almost as cool as bowties! And there is a little flashy glowy light! And it talks!

As a remote, it is not very functional. I got it to turn my TV on and off and turn the volume up or down. I only tried to program these signals (all for the TV): on/off, volume up/down, channel up/down, and mute. It seems to only be willing to take two signals at a time. And when I tried to use my regular remote with this turned on, it interfered with the volume down signal so I kept accidentally turning it up via the sonic screwdriver but could not turn the TV volume down until I turned the screwdriver off. It's a fun novelty item though and the dome case is cool.

One note: the tube for the batteries is very narrow. I had slightly sticky batteries that got badly stuck inside and the wrong way (look at the paper directions, not the directions on the screwdriver, which, if you are another regeneration of me, you will not realize you are holding upside-down). It took a long time to get the batteries dislodged, clean the tube, and get a different pair of batteries in the correct way. It was a mildly difficult task but luckily I was guarding Trenzalore at the time and had quite a bit of time to kill.

Ironically, you will need a small electronics screwdriver to open your Sonic Screwdriver to insert the batteries.

It doesn't really seem like the screws are required if you are just planning to be a couch potato Time Lord, as the copper colored ring screws it shut too. However, if you plan to take this through time and space saving the universe, you should be sure to also have a small electronics screwdriver and some spare (and clean!) AAA batteries.

Notice: This universal remote control does not control the universe.
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Great Doctor Who Collectible, Decent Remote Control
by rusty (5 out of 5 stars)
August 5, 2014

I'll try to address all the pros/cons of this device, but I think the first thing everyone needs to realize is that if you are considering buying this, it should be because you are a Whophile, not because you're in the market for novelty universal remotes (read: if you want the best universal remote, this ain't it).

Before I get into the pros and cons, it's important for people to understand how this thing works as a remote. You don't program it to control all functions of a device like most universal remotes I've used, you program a COMMAND from the original remote to GESTURES on the Screwdriver (e.g. volume up = clockwise rotation, volume down = anticlockwise rotation). It has three memory banks and you can program commands from multiple remotes on any single memory bank.

For instance, on mine memory bank A stores the primary commands for my TV. It has the on/off, vol. up/down, and input swap commands programmed. Memory bank B has the most basic commands for the TV (i.e. vol. up/down & on/off) plus additional commands for my cable box, including opening the guide, the navigation buttons (both arrows and the page up/down), the select button and the last channel button. Since I only watch about 15 channels, I just created a Favorite Channels list that made navigation a snap. Memory bank C has the on/off functions for every TV in the house programmed in it just for fun.

I recommend splitting up the commands on multiple memory banks, rather than trying to use all the gestures on one memory bank, and here's why: as I will state in the pros/cons, this device is quite sensitive. If you program a lot of commands (especially conflicting ones) on similar gestures (i.e. tap on the top/right) you run the risk of unintentionally sending the wrong command (A LOT). This is why I programmed the on/off command the to the one gesture you can't really do by accident, pressing the button on the bottom twice. Things like tossing it on a bed, having it roll, or even just thumping something near it can set off certain gestures, so don't program the most important functions to the easiest gestures to perform (intentionally or otherwise).

Let's start with the pros:
1. Fit and finish are top notch. It's weighty (don't wanna venture a guess, but I wouldn't want to get hit with it!), it has real metal and really nice plastics (ABS and a simulated-leather type). Sounds are just the right volume if you ask me (I usually operate it in Silent Mode anyway), and the green light is spot on when it lights up (though in its off state it looks rather blue).The display case with clear dome is a bonus as well.
2. Easy to program. Even has a polite female voice which guides you through the process.
3. Ability to program commands from multiple original remotes on any one memory bank (as stated above in detail).
4. It has good signal strength. I rarely have to repeat a gesture because the device didn't register the signal.
5. It takes a single AAA battery. Getting it in there involves a tiny (non-sonic) screwdriver, but it's another reason this thing feels so solid. The top and bottom essentially lock into each other with lugs and the little screws keep them in place. No rattles, wiggles, or other issues.

And the cons:
1. Yes, the remote is quite sensitive. The instructions say as much, stating that the motion sensor can detect movements of about 5 cm (for those of us on the English system, you need only wave it about 2 inches in a certain direction). The tap sensors are also incredibly sensitive. Plan your commands and gestures accordingly.
2. While I haven't had a case in which the remote wasn't compatible with a device, certain commands from the original remotes can be very difficult to capture with the Screwdriver. I have found there is a direct correlation between how crappy the original remote is and how well its commands program into the Screwdriver (go figure!).
3. Yeah, it doesn't extend, and this may bum you out for a whole five minutes. When you take into account that the motion sensor is located in the front portion of the Screwdriver, and you consider how sensitive it is to slight movements/light taps, it's not really all that surprising that they wouldn't want to add a spring-loaded extension on there.

To summarize, if you are looking for a full-function, highly practical universal remote control, this is not for you.

If you love Doctor Who and you want a realistic replica of the Sonic Screwdriver -which happens to function as a novelty remote control- then this is for you.
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I think I like it more than she does and SHE'S the Doctor ...
by Steve (5 out of 5 stars)
April 12, 2015

HAHA... Got this for my girlfriend not too long ago. I think I like it more than she does and SHE'S the Doctor Who fan! Its a lot of fun to play with. Programming is easier than most universal remotes. Just takes a little getting used to as far as the movements. Really neat piece of gear though. I can use it to control everything in my entertainment center!
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Perfect for every Whovian!
by Kimi (5 out of 5 stars)
February 27, 2015

If you or someone you love is a Whovian, you NEED this! My husband has been loving this, not to mention my kids. It was easy enough to program and has different settings for different sounds/voice. This gift has made my husband so happy and brought out some childlike fun for our family!
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Sweet purchase
by jose (5 out of 5 stars)
March 5, 2015

Hmm... It's a GREAT sonic screwdriver BUT It has a few things I don't like. It should have some kind of button that turns the gesture feauters on n off (clearly not the actual on/off button). Any movement has this thing firing off the IR signal messing with your electronics. Also, the CLAWS! They need to extend (unacceptable). That aside, it's an awesome purchase.
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Must for every hard core whovian
by Whovian K8 (5 out of 5 stars)
June 10, 2015

I got this for my husband's birthday and he could not wait to play with it. The motion sensors are sensitive and pretty easy to program. So fun to whip out and control the TV. Also a great accessory for cosplay. It has some heft to it, very solid, quality piece .
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Very cool piece of hardware
by Colauhu (5 out of 5 stars)
January 13, 2014

As a toy/prop, I love the screwdriver. It has cool sound effects, the protective case it comes in is kind of cool, and it is made of metal, so it feels very durable. As a remote, however, it is kind of a pain and almost useless in my opinion.

It is so sensitive that after you program it (which took me a while to get the hang of) if you barely move the device it starts doing things you don't intend...like changing the channel or turning the tv off. For example, if you program it to change the channel when you wave it up, it will change the channel just by picking it up. Then when you go to put it down, the motion of putting it down will active whatever function you programmed for the down motion. Quite maddening. But, like I said, worth every penny if you are a Doctor Who fan and you want a quality (i.e. not made of cheap plastic) sonic screwdriver!
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The doctor is in
by Kaghne (5 out of 5 stars)
May 23, 2013

this is just amazing, granted i do not use it as much as i should this is just fantastic, the motion controls are a little rough to learn but once you get it down you will be running around the house just turning everything on from the AC to the TV to the radio all in suave whovian fashion
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Amazing!
by Amazon Customer (5 out of 5 stars)
July 6, 2017

Was a gift for my son, 2 years later he still loves it and it still works perfectly!
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Geek gasm!
by BearFather (5 out of 5 stars)
December 31, 2013

I love this little toy, I can't stop walking around scanning things with it. It was extremely easy to program and setup. Fun an cool to show off to my fellow whovian's. The motion can be sensitive at times, but once you learn it becomes easy to use.

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