A code converter is provided in a satellite remote controller for converting commands from an instant programmer or universal remote into commands recognizable by a satellite receiver. The commands are sent to a satellite receiver to command the satellite receiver on and off and to select the proper channel in the satellite receiver. Communication between the satellite remote controller and the satellite receiver can be either via infrared or radio frequency (RF) signals. In an embodiment of the invention, encoded video recorder/player timer programming information listed in a television calendar, which allows a timer programming feature on a video cassette recorder VCR to be programmed using a compressed code of as few as 1 to 8 digits, is decoded by a decoder built into an instant programmer to convert the compressed code into channel, date, time and length information. At the appropriate time the instant programmer transmits the proper commands to a VCR to command the recording of the selected program. To allow the instant programmer to command the satellite receiver to turn on and tune to the proper channel for recording the selected program, the instant programmer sends commands to the satellite receiver remote controller and the code converter in the satellite remote controller converts the commands from the instant programmer into commands recognizable by the satellite receiver. Then the commands are sent to the satellite receiver to command the satellite receiver on and off and to select the proper channel in the satellite receiver.