Topic summary

Digital Command Center

Digital Command Center

The Digital Command Center was a very large remote control introduced for RCA's high-end television sets; in 1983 for the Colortrak 2000 and the SJT400 CED player and in 1984 for the DimensiaLyceum TV sets. The main feature of the Digital Command Center was that it was universal amongst many RCA-brand entertainment systems on top of controlling the monitor itself. The Digital Command Center took four AA batteries to power, due to its extensive and ahead-of-its time functionality. Two variations of the remote were made; the initial 1983 version was a stainless steel metallic color and only had the ability to control the video monitor, VCR, and CED player sold with the Digital Command line; the 1984 version of the remote was black and now had the ability to also control RCA Dimensia stereo systems, CD players, cassette players and record players (while simultaneously removing the CED player button as the device was cancelled for the 1984 fiscal year).

The initial Digital Command Center released in 1983 with the Dimensia system, the CRK35A, had 47 buttons, had onboard memory, and weighed nearly a pound with its batteries; the 1984 remote would have 52 buttons in total.

In 1985, RCA released the Digital Command Component System, an all audio system that was compatible with all Dimensia audio components, which also used the Digital Command Center remote. The idea of this system was to have the full functionality of the Dimensia's sound system without the need of a Dimensia monitor.