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The T3 is RTI’s ultimate handheld universal controller and is available exclusively through a well-controlled network of Custom Installers and certified dealers trained in programming RTI control solutions. Since the RTI T3 is intended for delivery to the end user pre-programmed by a trained professional this review will focus more on the daily use of the remote as opposed to the initial configuration.

Pros – Extremely reliable and accurate touch screen, ergonomic design, excellent battery life, automatic backlight activated by tilt sensor, integration with other RTI components including the RP-6 Remote Control Processor (scheduled for future review right here at RemoteShoppe.com).

Cons – No “soft” buttons, no battery or time display, limited availability, very bright status light on charging base.

Choosing RTI
The RTI T3 Universal Remote Control is only available from certified Custom Installation professionals so before we dive into the remote I’d like to share my advice to anyone who has made the decision to invest in these professional services. Research the reputation and the experience of the businesses in your area and hire the one that demonstrates the abilities to best meet your needs. You should of course familiarize yourself with the different components offered by competitive installers but once you’ve chosen a CI with a certain degree of confidence it is time to let them do what they do best and put some faith in their recommendations.

The number of remote control solutions available from your installer is greater than ever before, with offerings from industry standards like Crestron and AMX, more powerful than ever solutions from RTI Corp., UEI’s NevoSL, Universal Remote Control, the Philips Pronto, and even some new Pro series solutions from the Logitech Harmony product line. The first step in sorting out these options is to see what your dealer has had the most experience setting-up because these remotes are only as good as the programming. However, you must also realize that you will be using your new remote control more than any other device in your system and it is this small component that is going to allow you to make the most of your new home theater with quick and easy access to all the features you need. Now that we agree that the remote control should not be an afterthought, rather something that was carefully considered for your home, there are several good reasons for insisting on the RTI T3.

RTI Corp. has made the decision to restrict distribution of their newest products through AVAD dealers only in the US (as well as Sound Developments in Canada and Alia Systems in Mexico). They have also made the TheaterTouch Designer programming software available only to dealers who register directly with RTI. What does this all mean for you and I – the customers? It means that you could place a certain amount of confidence in a business offering RTI products and it means that your chances of receiving gray market goods without warranty protection are significantly decreased. RTI Dealers are also given full access to several training and certification programs presented by RTI themselves as part of the RTI Advanced Control University.

Physical Design

Now, finally on to the review of the remote control itself… The RTI T3 is a vertically designed touch screen remote with a 240x320 screen and a panel of hard buttons below the screen. At first glance the remote is very simple looking but after just a few minutes of use you’ll come to appreciate many of the design elements including the overall ergonomics of the device. The T3 is balanced nicely and has a contoured groove that runs down the middle of the back of the remote. The remote is narrow enough to easily access all commands with one-hand operation and the contoured back makes it very easy to shift the remote in your hand to quickly switch from the lower hard keys to the custom touch screen controls. The tilt-sensor activated backlight makes it easy to control your system even in a darkened theater and since the touch screen is also activated you’ll have one-button access to all the commands you need. Other remotes require two button presses once they “fall asleep” – one to activate the touch screen and the second to initiate you command.

The Buttons

The T3’s lower panel includes thirteen hard buttons with the most common commands including volume and channel control, direction pad with center select, menu, guide and exit. All of these buttons are made with a high quality rubber feel and are spaced nicely and distinctively marked so you can use the controls with your eyes closed. But, if you still want to see what you’re doing these buttons are all labeled with backlit lettering that lights bright amber when the tilt sensor is triggered. Above these hard buttons, and just below the touch screen, are three additional buttons labeled with a left arrow, home icon and right arrow. These three buttons back light as well but in a much more subtle blue color. Most completed programs I’ve seen use these keys for programming navigation allowing the user to go back to the last page, home page or the next page in the programming. However, since all of the buttons are completely customizable, these buttons are ideal for use as “soft” buttons. Soft buttons are physical buttons on the remote (as opposed to the touch screen) that serve different functions throughout the remotes program. For example: I am a heavy DVR user so in my T3 configuration I use these three buttons as Rewind, Play & Fast Forward on my DVR program page so I have easy access to these functions without worrying about my thumb hovering above the touch screen. The only problem with configuring “soft” buttons like this is that a new user who is unfamiliar with your set-up may be confused by the remote’s operation. This is why I would have personally liked to see at least two true soft buttons on the T3 with no button label at all. Ideally these soft buttons should be placed as close to the touch screen as possible so the screen can display the label for the buttons with complete customization.

The Touch Screen

As far as touch screen remotes go I’ve found the RTI T3 to be the most responsive to my commands. This opinion is not based on any type of scientific test but I’ve used Palms, PocketPCs and other touch screen remotes for years and I’ve always strived to achieve the most efficient use without using a stylus. In my opinion, a device that’s made to fit in your hand should require only one hand for use but that’s not always possible when you have big fat sausage fingers like me. I was truly impressed by the responsiveness of the T3 and by the default sounds that confirmed each button press. This audible feedback makes it much easier for all users in the house to adapt to and accept a touch screen remote as opposed to the traditional, and less flexible, hard button alternatives. Another nice programming note that makes it easier to welcome the T3 into your household is the fact that it will support all three of the popular multimedia image formats including GIF, JPG and PNG making the customization options endless. You can ask your programmer to include screen shots of your kids, pictures of your new home theater room, your favorite movie posters and more! The possibilities are truly endless.

Other impressive design elements include the hidden USB port beneath the battery cover and the use of a rechargeable LiIon battery. It’s important to remind you that this product was designed to be programmed by a professional so once it has been customized for your home there is little reason to ever connect the remote to a computer. For this reason, it’s nice that the USB port is hidden and protected. The rechargeable LiIon battery appears to be a standard battery and is replaceable. The RTI T3 also received excellent battery life in my home, which was a major concern for me, especially with the tilt-sensor activated backlight. Using the remote for approximately 6 hours of TV viewing a day I was able to make it four days between charges and even then I caved under pressure and decided to charge the remote even before it gave me the low battery warning (which I’m sure was inevitable). Currently, the RTI T3 does not display a battery meter on the screen so this information may only be found by entering the remote’s control panel. And, even in the control panel, the battery strength is only represented by ranges and not by a meaningful percentage or expected running time remaining. I’d like to see RTI upgrade the remote to be able to display the battery status and the time of day on any page of the programming. I realize that this is a being picky but if you don’t have a clock available in your viewing room its nice to just check the remote that’s in your hand, especially since its been a feature on just about every remote I’ve owned including the $20 Radio Shack special. I digress, back to the rechargeable battery… Once the battery is ready to go back on the charging base (which you can do every night since LiIon is not subject to memory problems associated with older NiCd batteries) the superiority of RTI’s design is once again apparent. The T3 slides into its charger and stands firmly in its base. The fitted design and gravity allow perfect connections to be made every time so the T3 will always be ready for use. The charger has a blue light that is active while the remote is being charged and shuts when charging is completed. Beware that this light is very bright for a dark room so if you plan on using the T3 in your bedroom you may want to find a location where it will not be bothersome or place it on your path to the bathroom so you can make the most of your new nightlight.

NOTE: I approached RTI with my impressions of the RTI T3 and they responded with this explanation regarding the lack of a clock on the remote:

I thought it might be helpful for you to know why we don’t include (a clock) on the handheld remotes (it is included with the in-wall panels): To incorporate a full time accurate clock we would also need to include a back-up battery (in case the main battery dies). The back-up battery may be very difficult for the consumer to replace - the installer would most likely be required to come back to replace the back-up battery. Also the clock would add additional drain on the battery and we felt it more import to have maximum stamina for the battery life. Hope this sheds a little light on the topic. Please note that we do include a non-volitile flash memory where the program is saved in the event of battery failure.

Why You Should Buy the RTI T3?
In my opinion the RTI T3 is a leader in a new category of remote control solutions that are bridging the gap between consumer universal home theater remotes and ultra high end control solutions like those from Crestron and AMX. A tremendous advantage of the RTI T3 that has not even been discussed in this review is the integration with other RTI components that allow your custom installer to offer much more than simple IR control. Optional RF, RS232 and Remote Control Processors like the RP-6 (scheduled for future review right here at RemoteShoppe.com) are all available from RTI for use with their universal remotes including the T3. The T3 is also a wise long-term investment as opposed to less expensive solutions that will have to be replaced more often. The T3 is field upgradeable and RTI is already promising future WiFi capability so it will soon be capable of controlling your home theater PC, multimedia server, and other network components.

For more information on the RTI T3 go to RTI’s Product Page.