Universal remotes, anybody ?

[Deschodt]

I recently bought a Harmony 600-something from logitech. Cheap...

One remote to control 4 primary devices and reduce remote clutter...
But it's *far* from perfect, it wants to script everything and dumbs it down too much, so sometimes when it gets in unusual situations it's useless....And even though it powers on say, my TV and fios-box/DVR immediately, I've got zero volume control for 15 seconds... Ugh, loud ads... (oh, and it's got no blueray category so if you have a DVD and BR, one gets cast aside as an extra device- seriously, 2010 and no bluray!)

So, not 100% happy... their software is too "wizardy" for me, I want more nitty gritty options... any really good multi-device universal remote recommendation from you guys ? Something that can be scripted to the last detail and does not cost as much as my TV?

[SpeedracerIndy]

I've had a few of these. I agree, Logitech's software tries to dumb it down too much. Some of their cheap remotes are all via web browser wizards. I have a Harmony One, and it comes with dedicated software that's pretty good. It's the first universal I've been almost completely content with.

In my opinion, a universal remote should allow you to put the various remotes away and not have to access them except for very un-routine functions. The Harmony One is ALMOST there. I still keep my Blu-ray, receiver and TV remote hidden within reach because I find something that it doesn't do right once in a while. Overall though it's pretty slick. But it was ~$300 new when it came out, ouch!

[Scott R]

I searched for years for this, ended up with a Crestron system in the whole house. It uses power sensors to detect which states the various appliances are in, on, off, standby, etc.

Sadly it requires a good deal of time to program, and often a professional. However it sure is nice to just have one remote for the whole house and a few touch screens in the walls for everything else.

[Joeaksa]

I got one of the ESPN universal remotes two years ago and have used it about 20 minutes. Just too difficult to get everything working together for this old fart...

[Pazuzu]

Harmony is too "wizardy"?? You can set that thing up to do almost anything you want! You have absolutely control of mapping the buttons, you can put in timed delayed between things (maybe the TV needs 5 seconds before it recognizes a port, so you can delay the input). I've had a 676 (I think that's the model) for years now and it was the single best thing I ever did for my entertainment center. It even had native control of my Western Digital WDTV box.

[89911]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

Harmony is too "wizardy"?? You can set that thing up to do almost anything you want! You have absolutely control of mapping the buttons, you can put in timed delayed between things (maybe the TV needs 5 seconds before it recognizes a port, so you can delay the input). I've had a 676 (I think that's the model) for years now and it was the single best thing I ever did for my entertainment center. It even had native control of my Western Digital WDTV box.

Can't agree more. I don't know why anyone would look for anything else. I have two and they have worked flawlessly for years. When my wife and kids have no problems, you know it must of been designed right. If for some reason it doesn't turn everything on or off correctly, just hit the help button and it will solve the problem. I don't even know where all my other remotes are.

[island911]

The problem with most all of the Univ remotes is that they are open-loop. (the remote doesn't 'know' what equipment is on or off. ...which inputs are already selected.)

The best 'universal' remote I've ever used was part of a Bose system. --Closed loop, and RF. The remote always 'knew' what was on and could control the TV radio, whatever, anywhere in the house, and would display what's going on at the main system (volume/channel/...)on the remote.

That said, I wasn't going to spent over 5k for that functionality. So, I went to all Sony gear.

How it works: W/ the "Bravia Link" On, all of the devices play well together. ...for example, if you're listening to radio/CD's... and turn on the TV, the TV audio will take-over the audio (and switch to those audio settings) ... or if (with all equipment off) someone puts a disk in the Bluray player, the system will power-up the HT(audio) and TV and switch to the proper input.

I believe that Samsung has something similar for their gear.

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

Harmony is too "wizardy"?? You can set that thing up to do almost anything you want! .

Yes it is and no you can't :-) Maybe (probably) yours has different software... Mine does not let me do squat... Just go thru wizards, which are very generic at best... And really, no bluray section, just one DVD, not cool... I hear different models have different software... I'll go search the cd see if I missed the power tools or something...

I also do not get why it'll power up the TV in one second but i cannot do anything for 15 more seconds... It wants me to keep pointing at the tv, what for, it's on already?

Finally, say the kid walks by and powers the DVR off, kids are kids... I'm stuck! The script to watch tv combines TV and DVR as one entity so if i press the TV button do another cycle, now my tv will be off and DVR on...etc... No individual control, all scripted... Again, probably ****ty software, because other than that it works and detected everything!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

I recently bought a Harmony 600-something from logitech. Cheap...

I've got zero volume control for 15 seconds... Ugh, loud ads...

I recently bought a refurbished 880 (or was it an 890) on Amazon for $89. It's great.

That 15 seconds that you're talking about, it's a setting that you can change (I was able to change it on mine).



I think the "power-on delay" was set to 15000 on mine before I adjusted it. I could probably do more fine tuning too, but this is good enough.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

I also do not get why it'll power up the TV in one second but i cannot do anything for 15 more seconds... It wants me to keep pointing at the tv, what for, it's on already?

Probably because you hadn't read my post yet.



You may be right about the 660 not being as configurable as the 880 that I've got, or, like me, you may just not have found the right spot to look yet. I had to do some searching online and check out a harmony remote forum (Pelican for Harmonies). Or maybe my post is the answer that you need.

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by masraum

Probably because you hadn't read my post yet.



.

Thanks ! I hope so, but your screen shots show panels I cannot get to with my software! Mine goes through a discovery wizards, assigns 2 devices or more per main button, and asks if it "works" at the end. Say "yes" and you are done, say no, it starts over.. None of this fine tuning... Hmm...

Tell you what, I'm starting to think the Mac version of the software is 100% defective, the hint being that it never quits the app properly when you hit finish anyway.

I'm going to re-install this on the PC side instead and see if it works any better (don't blame the mac, it's just bad programming). I hear you guys, I've heard nothing but good reviews on the Harmony remotes, so clearly I'm missing something software wise.. I can't edit, fine tune, assign, just the dumb wizards, seems wrong ! (or your 880 has better software)

[Deschodt]

Yes !! Thanks Steve ! I do not have ALL the setup options you have, my remote clearly is the cheaper version, but the PC software was much more configurable and not so buggy (still crashed a few times but...)

The TV power up delay was set at 23 seconds, no wonder I was going crazy waiting to get any control for sound or anything else. 23 seconds, jeez... Between this and some more tweaks (make the silly messages dissapear, turn off the help), it's pretty good now ! Excellent...

[masraum]

Awesome. I really like the remote (but the software does suck). Wow, 23seconds, I just don't understand why they make those default delays so long.

It took me a while to get used to the way the remote works, and I'm still probably not completely used to it, but I very much prefer it to the old multi-remote setup.

If I could wiggle my nose and make one appear in my hand, it would probably be a little different, but I'm happy with it compared to the alternative, and not remotely ready to pay $200 or more for one that may or may not be better.

[Heel n Toe]

I'm fine with remote clutter. No problems.

Everything works flawlessly and not having to hassle through that programming manual is FREEEDOMMMMMMMMM.

We had a universal a coupla years ago. It was okay.

Some of those universals that have "large, easy-to-read buttons" are getting ridiculously large... I believe the last one I saw was about 8" wide x 18" tall. I wondered if it was for real... I guess it's for old farts.

I'm not there yet.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

I'm fine with remote clutter. No problems.

Everything works flawlessly and not having to hassle through that programming manual is FREEEDOMMMMMMMMM.

We had a universal a coupla years ago. It was okay.

Some of those universals that have "large, easy-to-read buttons" are getting ridiculously large... I believe the last one I saw was about 8" wide x 18" tall. I wondered if it was for real... I guess it's for old farts.

I'm not there yet.

My Harmony is definitely not one of the big button remotes. It's small and sleek, actually smaller than the remote that came with my cable box.

Also, the remotes that we're talking about don't use a manual. You program them from your computer.

There are universal remotes, the cheap ones that you get for $10 or 20 use the codes and are moderate. The more expensive Harmony remotes are much better and can actually be used to effectively replace all of your others. No matter what, there's some trade off someplace.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

I guess it's for old farts.

I'm not there yet.

Just wait, every minute of the day you get closer and closer my friend!