The present invention provides a universal remote control. For each channel supported, a mode is initially established as rolling mode. For a fixed code appliance, a fixed code is received and stored, and the mode changed to fixed mode. When an activation request is received, the mode associated with that activation input is examined. If the mode is rolling mode, a sequence of rolling code activation signals is transmitted, each based on one of the plurality of rolling code transmission schemes. If the mode is fixed mode, at least one activation signal is transmitted based on a fixed code transmission scheme and including the stored fixed code.