Recommend me a universal remote

Forums › Home Theatre (incl HTPC) › Recommend me a universal remote

Loismustdye

542 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 43

Topic # 160257 30-Dec-2014 12:30

I've finally had a guts full of juggling the TV, my sky, home theatre and WD live remotes to get anything done in the lounge.
Have previously used the basic harmony remotes but wondered if anyone had any suggestions for one in this day and age. Our main viewing is my sky through the TV and using the TV speakers. Second to this is the ps4 through the TV but using ARC for its audio.
We are also an iOS household if anyone has any thoughts on the harmony remote that uses the app.

Thanks in advance.

numfarr

325 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 7

Reply # 1206194 30-Dec-2014 19:36

Due to someone stepping on the Harmony One and breaking its apparently irreplaceable screen, I recently switched to the Harmony Smart Control, which is the one with the simple hard-button remote and the smartphone app for advanced features. I'm still a bit lukewarm about it.

The app does work pretty well but the "friction" of finding/unpocketing the phone, switching to the app and waiting for it to connect is annoying (I know, first world problems). The basic remote is almost adequate but lacks backlighting. I can see why they did it because they want it to run off a coin battery, but it's still irritating and I wish there was a backlit option apart from the much-more expensive "Ultimate".

Batman

Mad Scientist
19012 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2469

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 1206197 30-Dec-2014 19:39

whatever it ends up being, a Samsung Galaxy S4 phone is not it. man those days were painful!

wasabi2k

2091 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 848

Reply # 1206232 30-Dec-2014 21:12

Logitech Smart Control - the included remote is perfectly adequate and the wiwreless to blaster works great.

If you want backlighting the Harmony 650 does the job - but you have to keep it pointed at the devices.

Dunnersfella

3390 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 467

Reply # 1206236 30-Dec-2014 21:23

I've had a cheap Harmony, a Harmony One and a Harmony Ultimate.
Put simply, get the Ultimate.
You don't have to point the remote at the TV / AV gear to get it to work, it controls both of my consoles, my Mac Mini, my CD player, my MySky box, Pana TV, Perreaux pre, Pana BluRay recorder... you get the idea.
Loading the Sky channel logos in makes surfing through Sky a piece of cake.
What's more, it controls my Philips Hue lightbulbs, making for brilliant integration that is used daily without thinking about it!

Loismustdye

542 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 43

Reply # 1206243 30-Dec-2014 21:31

Thanks for the advice, I would love an ultimate but I don't think the wife will be overly happy when she finds out the new remote was $500 lol.
Going to have a closer look at the smart control option as I think that will be far easier to sneak past the boss.
Cheers :-)

driller2000

636 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 218

Reply # 1206246 30-Dec-2014 21:37

yeah harmony one screen cracked a couple of months back - went less than one day before pushing buy on a harmony touch (couldn't stand the thought of using up to 9 remote, again : /)

it does the trick - but it ain't cheap

Dunnersfella

3390 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 467

Reply # 1206255 30-Dec-2014 22:04

When you can get the Ultimate for under $400... pull the trigger.
Just my opinion of course.

Lias

3364 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1839

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 1206261 30-Dec-2014 22:30

One person supports this post

Have a few years old Harmony 525 and I love it. Can't tell you if the top end Logitechs are worth the $$ (but sounds like it from other posters) But even my lowly 525 is bloody brilliant.

Information wants to be free. The Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it.

dukester

373 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 22

Subscriber

Reply # 1206295 31-Dec-2014 06:18

I have just ordered a LOGITECH HARMONY ONE Universal from PB tech for $192.00, normal price $299.00. I did have the harmony 650 which is a great remote but I purchased an Amazon fire tv and discovered It isnt compatible with the 650. 8-(

trig42

Banana?
4457 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1061

Subscriber

Reply # 1206313 31-Dec-2014 09:00

I had a Harmony 725 (I think that was the number), but the charging cradle connectors broke and stuffed up something inside the remote.
Had ONE painful night of using the original remotes (after I found them and found batteries for them) and was authorized by the minister of finance and television to get a new Harmony.

Got the Harmony Ultimate One (which as far as I can tell is exactly the same as the Harmony Touch).
So easy to setup, it just imported my settings from the broken Harmony (it used the older App, the new one has a newer UI to set it up) and away I went - I set it up at work and when I got home it went perfectly.
I did have to fine tune some of the screen buttons as this new remote has less physical buttons, but it got instant WAF.

stocksp

399 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 164

Reply # 1206382 31-Dec-2014 11:11

PB tech has the harmony ultimate RF for $373 at the moment. Best remote I have ever owned (and Ive owned a few harmony's). As Dunnersfellas notes, using RF and wifi means no longer having to stand there pointing the remote like a fool waiting for all the devices to take the commands.
Simply brilliant.

kendog

251 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 30

Reply # 1206388 31-Dec-2014 11:17

stocksp: PB tech has the harmony ultimate RF for $373 at the moment. Best remote I have ever owned (and Ive owned a few harmony's). As Dunnersfellas notes, using RF and wifi means no longer having to stand there pointing the remote like a fool waiting for all the devices to take the commands.
Simply brilliant.

I would buy this remote, but the fast forward and play buttons at the top seem like a bad design.
Have you had any problems with these?

trig42

Banana?
4457 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1061

Subscriber

Reply # 1206389 31-Dec-2014 11:20

They are a bit annoying at the top compared to the bottom.
I'll get used to it, but I think I'd prefer them at the bottom.

stocksp

399 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 164

Reply # 1206391 31-Dec-2014 11:27

yep, a bit annoying at the top, but worth it for overall effectiveness and ease of use

driller2000

636 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 218

Reply # 1206408 31-Dec-2014 12:01

to the three posts above - i thought this too re my harmony touch...however

the touchscreen defaults to a touch pad type format and you can use this to ffwd / rewind / play / pause etc using this touch pad by swiping and tapping - so yeah this kinda makes up for the weird topside media button placement.