Recommend me a Universal Remote please

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littleheaven

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#171195 9-Apr-2015 16:28

Having recently joined the SVOD bandwagon in a big way, I now find myself juggling 5 remote controls. My setup is an old Sony Bravia HD TV (circa 2009), a Sony Home Theatre System (2012), Apple TV, brand new Panasonic PVR, 1st gen PS3. I'm also planning to maybe add a little Windows TV box later this year. I know very little about universal remotes, but I think I need one now! Can anyone recommend one that will operate the majority of my devices? Even if I could just combine the TV/Home Theatre/PVR it would be helpful. Budget preferably under $300.

Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.

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#1279810 9-Apr-2015 16:42

I hate having to recommend the Logitech Harmony remotes but I will.

Pros:
Great device support (excluding PS3 as that's Bluetooth and most Harmony remotes are IR only - there are options to support other things though)
Once setup, they are brilliant

Cons:
Good ones ain't cheat - The Harmony One ($299 not on special) is great.
Setup can be nightmarish. It _SHOULD_ be good and easy but if you have to depart from the wizard in any way, prepare for a world of hurt.
Logitech don't update them and they are quite tied down. On even some current devices, they don't have named support for Bluray. You need to call them a DVD player! (Still works though)

I have a Harmony One and now it's setup it's amazing. I still resent the fact that Logitech won't update the graphics on the screen or make it possible to customise them to include Bluray, or gaming system icons.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

MileHighKiwi

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#1279827 9-Apr-2015 16:50

I recently purchased a Harmony 650 for $55 (retail around $99), so very entry level, but man, what a difference. The Panasonic TV, Vodafone TV, Panasonic home theatre and Roku 3 remotes now reside in a drawer and the Harmony 650 controls all of the devices. It's not perfect, but I suspect any problems I have are due to the way I set it up.

raytaylor

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#1279828 9-Apr-2015 16:50

Used to sell them when i worked in an appliance store 5 years ago.
Awesome idea and yeah i do remember the software was rather crude, but it could be customised.

They were awesome for the elderly who just wanted to push one button.

I remember walking into a persons house and setting up their new tv to work all nice and well-
Afterwards they complained because when they pressed power on the remote to switch it off, AV1 would appear on the tv.

Turns out they left their tv on 24/7 and the sky decoder just sent a black picture and they thought it was off.

A Harmony remote sorted them right out.

Ray Taylor

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reven

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#1279833 9-Apr-2015 16:56

harmony smart control is my personal favourite universal remote. I've had about 6 or so harmony remotes over the years, I like being able to control the tv through home automation, or a smart phone as well as the remote. and since its wireless it doesnt need line of sight, the base unit sits by your av equipment.

its pretty cheap too. very nice remote.

littleheaven

2130 posts

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#1279929 9-Apr-2015 18:55

Thank you for the suggestions - I will check them all out. It seems like Harmony has cornered the market - I just need to work out which model. Does the fact that the Apple TV and Panny PVR both go through the Home Theatre System make a difference? I had to do that as I ran out of HDMI ports on the TV.

Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.

wasabi2k

2096 posts

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#1279940 9-Apr-2015 19:13

reven: harmony smart control is my personal favourite universal remote. I've had about 6 or so harmony remotes over the years, I like being able to control the tv through home automation, or a smart phone as well as the remote. and since its wireless it doesnt need line of sight, the base unit sits by your av equipment.

its pretty cheap too. very nice remote.

This. Absolutely awesome device.
Radio from remote to blaster, so no ened to point the remote which is amazing.
Phone/Tablet control by app if you care.

Not ridiculously expensive.

Their software just works and has support for everything I have thrown at it.

littleheaven

2130 posts

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#1280009 9-Apr-2015 20:50

wasabi2k:
reven: harmony smart control is my personal favourite universal remote. I've had about 6 or so harmony remotes over the years, I like being able to control the tv through home automation, or a smart phone as well as the remote. and since its wireless it doesnt need line of sight, the base unit sits by your av equipment.

its pretty cheap too. very nice remote.

This. Absolutely awesome device.
Radio from remote to blaster, so no ened to point the remote which is amazing.
Phone/Tablet control by app if you care.

Not ridiculously expensive.

Their software just works and has support for everything I have thrown at it.

Sounds great, but do you have to use your phone or iPad? I see it comes with a stand-alone basic remote. My phone tends to live in my handbag and I don't fancy quitting out of whatever I'm doing on my iPad to control the TV. Does the remote do everything on its own?

I'm wondering just how expensive I need to go, here. I only want to control 4-5 devices, and I'm a little worried my Panny PVR is not on the supported list. Would the bottom-end remote do the trick, or will I regret not getting a better model?

Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.

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stocksp

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#1280010 9-Apr-2015 20:50

wasabi2k:
reven: harmony smart control is my personal favourite universal remote. I've had about 6 or so harmony remotes over the years, I like being able to control the tv through home automation, or a smart phone as well as the remote. and since its wireless it doesnt need line of sight, the base unit sits by your av equipment.

its pretty cheap too. very nice remote.

This. Absolutely awesome device.
Radio from remote to blaster, so no ened to point the remote which is amazing.
Phone/Tablet control by app if you care.

Not ridiculously expensive.

Their software just works and has support for everything I have thrown at it.

absolutely agree - have owned several harmony remotes and this is just the best. I have several devices going thru the amp to the tv, and absolutely no problem

reven

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#1280016 9-Apr-2015 20:58

littleheaven:
wasabi2k:
reven: harmony smart control is my personal favourite universal remote. I've had about 6 or so harmony remotes over the years, I like being able to control the tv through home automation, or a smart phone as well as the remote. and since its wireless it doesnt need line of sight, the base unit sits by your av equipment.

its pretty cheap too. very nice remote.

This. Absolutely awesome device.
Radio from remote to blaster, so no ened to point the remote which is amazing.
Phone/Tablet control by app if you care.

Not ridiculously expensive.

Their software just works and has support for everything I have thrown at it.

Sounds great, but do you have to use your phone or iPad? I see it comes with a stand-alone basic remote. My phone tends to live in my handbag and I don't fancy quitting out of whatever I'm doing on my iPad to control the TV. Does the remote do everything on its own?

I'm wondering just how expensive I need to go, here. I only want to control 4-5 devices, and I'm a little worried my Panny PVR is not on the supported list. Would the bottom-end remote do the trick, or will I regret not getting a better model?

it has 3 activities on the remote, the remote does everything I need and I mostly just use that (I have some home automation things setup to turn on the receiver and to the right input when the sonos starts playing music). you dont need to use a smart device to use it, you can just use it as well if needed. I found this quite handy when i left the room and got distracted with something else and just turned off the tv via phone.

littleheaven

2130 posts

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#1280060 9-Apr-2015 22:00

One last query - nobody's had any issue with the RF waves interfering with their Freeview signal? I just got mine fixed so don't want to knock it out again :)

Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

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#1280066 9-Apr-2015 22:07

I would spend a little and buy the Harmony Ultimate - it does everything.
From custom logos for channels / devices, you can control almost anything as it has Bluetooth on-board.
To top it off, it even controls my lights!
I had a Harmony One, that was nice. The Harmony Ultimate though, is just that much better.

reven

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#1280160 10-Apr-2015 08:25

littleheaven: One last query - nobody's had any issue with the RF waves interfering with their Freeview signal? I just got mine fixed so don't want to knock it out again :)

I haven't experienced this at all

marlinz

441 posts

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#1280173 10-Apr-2015 08:39

oh and one hint from me

Don't sit on your harmony remote , had Harmony 900 and destroyed it after two days

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Wade

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#1280177 10-Apr-2015 08:45

What kind of phone do you have? If you are fortunate enough to have an android with IR blaster there is an android app called Anymote which is actually quite good, means i can control Netflix/chromecast/TV/MySky/BD/amp/etc all from one device

My family leave remotes all over the place, i no longer care, their problem to find, me, i sit back and enjoy my control

BigMal

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#1280187 10-Apr-2015 09:00

+1 for Logitech Harmony.

I've got the Harmony 900 with RF capability. It's been fantastic although it does crash every now and then. Nothing major, just have to take out the battery and put it back in.

The Smart Control looks nice. The Ultimate looks good but is too pricey IMO.

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