Sky remote controls are a type of universal remote that allows you to control your sky box and your television. The Standard Sky remote was the first to come out and has understandably seen a lot of changes since then. Commonly referred to now as a "classic" standard Sky remote, the navy blue controller came until revision 5 and was replaced by revision 6 remote controls that came in the newer silver or white colour.
It is said that with a lot of fake remote controls that do not work well with either your TV or your satboxes, it is important for you to know if you have an original remote control, especially if you are buying a replacement remote control. For the white or silver standard Sky remote, the telltale sign that the remote is genuine and has the latest revision software is the speaker icon on the number 0.
Take note that since these are earlier models of Sky remote controls, they use a different set of codes than the more current Sky Plus or Sky HD remote control. In short, you can use the standard Sky remote in the same room as a Sky Plus or Sky HD remote control.
When Sky Plus was introduced in 2001, the company introduced a new line of remote controls that upgraded the silver look of the standard Sky remotes and gave it a black lining and green buttons on a black panel. The original remote worked with previous standard Sky systems, although there is some minor programming involved. In time, Sky replaced the green buttons with navy blue ones as they changed firmware versions. The blue Sky Plus remotes are those that feature revision 8 firmwares.
BSkyB also went out of its way to design what it called the "disabled" remote, which features easy grip and textured remote controls with larger and more raised buttons for easier handling by people with disabilities, the elderly, or people with reduced dexterity. The buttons on the remote also feature bigger and easier-to-read graphics and text to make it easily identifiable.
Additionally, the "disabled" remote has contoured buttons that has reference points to help visually impaired individuals identify which buttons to press, as well as higher contrast between the buttons and the remote itself. BSkyB came up with the design with the help of Scope at Beaumont College, Ricability (a disability research Agency) and Age Concern.
The last type of Sky remote control is the Sky HD remote control that has undergone no revisions since BSkyB introduced its HD service in May 2006. The lightweight controller controls Sky HD satellite boxes and most popular brands of television. The Sky HD remote control has been lauded as the best designed of all Sky remotes. Design wise, it eschews the black panels found on Sky Plus remotes and takes the black lining all through the bottom to the top. This controller works with multi-room, SKY+ or SKY+ HD, but not standard Sky systems.
