By the early 2000s, the Grundig 8-in-1 began to fade. The rise of all-in-one home theater systems and, later, HDMI-CEC (where devices talk to each other via the HDMI cable) made the universal remote less essential. Grundig itself struggled, selling its consumer electronics division to Turkish company Beko in 2004.
The deepest lore of the Grundig 8-in-1 was the function. This was a hidden feature, discovered not through the manual but through whispered forum posts on early internet bulletin boards (CompuServe, AOL).
In a box in a basement in Dortmund, an original Grundig 8-in-1 still sits. Its LCD screen (on the fancier models) is faded. The "SAT" button is worn smooth. But if you put in fresh AA batteries, point it at an old Telefunken TV, and press "Power"? The static will clear, the green LED will blink, and for a moment, the 1990s flicker back to life—controlled by a single, patient, German hand.
Collectors today hunt for the specific model or RC-9 . They praise its "key travel"—a satisfying, deep click that modern whisper-flat remotes lack.
By the early 2000s, the Grundig 8-in-1 began to fade. The rise of all-in-one home theater systems and, later, HDMI-CEC (where devices talk to each other via the HDMI cable) made the universal remote less essential. Grundig itself struggled, selling its consumer electronics division to Turkish company Beko in 2004.
The deepest lore of the Grundig 8-in-1 was the function. This was a hidden feature, discovered not through the manual but through whispered forum posts on early internet bulletin boards (CompuServe, AOL). grundig 8 in 1 remote control
In a box in a basement in Dortmund, an original Grundig 8-in-1 still sits. Its LCD screen (on the fancier models) is faded. The "SAT" button is worn smooth. But if you put in fresh AA batteries, point it at an old Telefunken TV, and press "Power"? The static will clear, the green LED will blink, and for a moment, the 1990s flicker back to life—controlled by a single, patient, German hand. By the early 2000s, the Grundig 8-in-1 began to fade
Collectors today hunt for the specific model or RC-9 . They praise its "key travel"—a satisfying, deep click that modern whisper-flat remotes lack. The deepest lore of the Grundig 8-in-1 was the function
