Suggestions for a SIMPLE universal TV remote?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Suggestions for a SIMPLE universal TV remote?

stuffed

288 posts

Ultimate Geek

#230754 12-Mar-2018 09:01

Anyone suggestions for a SIMPLE universal TV remote?
Don’t want 45,000 damn buttons to confuse one of our users!
On/off, volume, 1 button for Sky, 1 button for Apple TV, 1 button for another input.
Thanks

Why work on Wednesday and stuff up 2 good long weekends

josephhinvest

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#1972959 12-Mar-2018 09:25

I got one of these, now Jaycar carry them. Does what it says on the tin and was easy to program. Either selecting brands from a list of codes or pointing exisiting remotes at it and recording. Might be suitable for you.

Cheers,
Joseph

Bananabob

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#1972982 12-Mar-2018 10:19

I have a Logitech Harmony 650 for sale if you want it.

stuffed

288 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1973004 12-Mar-2018 10:35

Thanks but one of us would have a heart attack just looking at that!

Why work on Wednesday and stuff up 2 good long weekends

Stu1

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#1983635 26-Mar-2018 16:47

The basic Logitech without the screen works well. Use of Apple TV , sky and bluray

boland

547 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1996429 15-Apr-2018 12:29

I've got an old Logitech Harmony 520. Really like the programmable buttons. Been using it for about 7 years, still going strong. Super easy to use. IMO better than the new basic ones, as they don't have a display.

raytaylor

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#1996480 15-Apr-2018 15:12

I used to sell harmoney remotes to elderly who loved them.

You push the DVD button and they would

- Power on dvd

- Set tv to the correct input

- open the tray

- set the play / control buttons to run the dvd player.

Push TV and it would

- Power off the dvd player

- Set the tv back to the correct channel

They remember the state each device is in and have profiles of common models which you download into the programming software so one button can run a sequence of events based on the current state of each device - like it remembers if its on AV1 it must cycle the input 3 times for that tv model to get to HDMI1

Ray Taylor

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stuffed

288 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1996485 15-Apr-2018 15:26

That’s most interesting thanks.
Would it be able to do the following with labels for each?
Apple TV - HDMI input
Sky - HDMI input
Camera - AV input
Many thanks

Why work on Wednesday and stuff up 2 good long weekends

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stuffed

288 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1996508 15-Apr-2018 15:55

and sorry forgot to ask - which model?
Thanks

Why work on Wednesday and stuff up 2 good long weekends

raytaylor

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#1996549 15-Apr-2018 17:02

From memory (its been 10 years since i was selling them and they have evolved since) you can customize the labels on the screen.

Ray Taylor

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Dingbatt

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#1996579 15-Apr-2018 18:55

Just a word of caution about Harmony remotes. To get the most out of them you need to put the time into setting them up. That can mean sitting at a computer for a couple of hours to get it the way you want it. The activity based way of operation is great once it is set up but (once again) can involve hours getting things just right. In use, the worst thing is when the activities get out of sync (devices off when remote thinks they're on, etc). Make sure all your users know to keep the remote pointing at the equipment until everything has started and changed to the correct inputs etc.
The models with an LCD screen let you to name buttons accurately, rather than needing to remember that the button labeled "stb" is for Sky. Although even that can be fixed on a screenless remote with a label printer.
I have been using Harmony remotes for years (just bought my sixth) and have moved to the 'Elite' model. But it is $500 (RRP) and is overkill in your case I expect. That does raise the point that Harmony remotes aren't cheap, even for a 'simple' one.

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dimsim

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#1996586 15-Apr-2018 19:24

+1 for the Harmony’s

I’ve been using a 600 for years and it’s great. As said before the user does need to be aware of using the remote to control the power so the activities don’t get out of sync

boland

547 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1996596 15-Apr-2018 20:19

The good thing regarding out of sync, is the help button. It will try to sync, and ask questions like "is TV on", or "is DVD set to TV1 input", and fix accordingly.

One thing to keep in mind: They eat batteries. We use 4x AAA every 3 months or so.