A universal remote control transmits one of a plurality of sequences of activation signals when activated. The remote control includes a receiver and a transmitter. At least one wireless channel is associated with a user activation input. Memory holds data describing rolling code transmission schemes and fixed code transmission schemes. Control logic maintains a channel mode set initially to a rolling code mode. The channel mode changes to one of at least one fixed code mode if the channel is trained to a fixed code. In response to an assertion of the user activation input for a particular channel, the control logic generates and transmits an activation signal based on each of a plurality of transmission schemes associated with the mode programmed for the channel.