Not very reliable. The remote only had four buttons (volume up/down, channel up/down) and various sounds like kitchen appliances, flushing toilets, and jingling keys would be interpreted as remote control actions by the TV.
My grandfather had one; he seemed to find it more entertaining to talk to people about it than to actual use it.
My grandfather had one; he seemed to find it more entertaining to talk to people about it than to actual use it.