A universal remote control establishes a new transmitter identifier when programmed to a particular rolling code scheme by an existing transmitter. During programming, the universal remote control receives at least one activation signal transmitted from the existing transmitter. The activation signal includes an existing transmitter identifier. The activation signal is examined to determine which of a plurality of rolling code schemes was used by the existing transmitter to generate the received activation signal. The new transmitter identifier, different from the existing transmitter identifier, is determined based on the rolling code scheme. Subsequently, when an activation input is received, the universal remote control generates and transmits a new activation signal including the new transmitter identifier.