A method of testing and installing a remote control unit (RCU) for controlling elements (ACT1, ACT2, ACT3) of a home automation network, intended for managing the security or heat or light comfort in a building, comprising the use of software (ALS) emulating the remote control unit in a computer (PCU) to define a virtual remote control unit (VRCU), and the configuring of the virtual remote control unit to enable the elements of the network to be controlled, wherein sending rights are assigned to the virtual remote control unit at the time of that configuration and wherein the cancellation of these sending rights results at least from a step for copying the configuration (CFG) of the virtual remote control unit in the remote control unit.