"One for all" type remote control

[NiceCupOfTea]

Saw an item on the Gadget Show a couple of days ago about this and they quite like a Philips one but the macros didn't work, and the one that's supposed to be great (Harmony?) they had problems with, and Amazon reviews, although most are good, there is a significant proportion saying they have had problems and the software is rubbish.

So, what is the PH Consensus?

Most of my kit is quite old, but it would be nice to have something that will work if/when I upgrade...

Currently in my living room:

Philips CRT (8 years old)
Sony Digibox
Toshiba DVD player
Arcam AVR100
Arcam CD72

Ideally I want something that can control all of these, and also use macros (watch TV, watch DVD, listen to music, etc.) that will change the channel on the Amp etc.

I want to make sure that if I add a Media Centre (eg Xbox) I can control it from the remote.

[rednotdead]

Had a Harmony One for a couple of years and had no problems with it. Yes, it takes a bit of time to get it set up how you like it but once it's done you don't need to fiddle again unless your kit changes. Also used it with an XBox gen1 with no problems......

[VEX]

If your prepared to think about the programming, what you want it to do, how to configure it then the harmony's are great.

I use them on a number of jobs and because I know how they work I have great success with them

V.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Not worried about the programming - more am I going to get hacked off with it crashing and dodgy website client software (which is what I have read on the amazon site)

[mrmr96]

I've got this.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kameleon-6-Way-Remote-Cont...
It's a bit old, but does macros and has a learn feature, so you can teach it new commands for any new devices.

ETA no software; you program it on the device.

Edited by mrmr96 on Tuesday 29th March 22:38

[rednotdead]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Not worried about the programming - more am I going to get hacked off with it crashing and dodgy website client software (which is what I have read on the amazon site)

Never had a problem with the Logitech software on either PC or Mac. The software does need internet access to function but it seems pretty stable to me. You can download the software and have a play first http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/440/3742?section=dow...

[kazste]

If you are capable of getting it set up, then imo the way to go is Phillips pronto something like a 980 would do all you want. Their getting a bit scarce but should be able to grab one for about £200

[Driller]

Another shout for the Harmony One here. Well priced and very easy to program and use.

[SeanyD]

We've tried most of the logitech/harmony type remotes with various degrees of success, but eventually settled for one of these, had it for years and years now and its rock solid, has had various spills/abuse/drops that a small child could subject it to, and it just keeps on working. Very very simple and intuative to program and use.

http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/sony-rm-av3000-uni...

[Bullett]

Another +1 for the Harmony One.

Never had a problem with it, everything worked first time and mine is working via a IR relay because all the kit is in a closed cabinet.

[LeoSayer]

Another + for the Harmony One.

It's very easy to get started with, but it's also very tempting to keep fiddling with the set up to get everything exactly the way you want it.

The Mrs is happy to use it in place of all the other remotes so that says it all really.

[Silverbullet767]

I have a Harmony 555, excellent bit of kit, got it cheap at the time too, about £40.

[jimmyjimjim]

Off topic, I was impressed the other day to find that the remote for my new Sony TV actually worked with my AVR100, and the set-top box, and the PS3(though the last isn't really surprising).

Didn't have the button to go in to the setup menu for the AVR100 though.

Which brings me back on topic; another vote for the logitech harmony series; whichever one you get will be able to fully control the Arcam.

[bobthemonkey]

Yet another Harmony fan.

Bit of a PITA to set up sometimes, but once set up, simply stunning.

If you get one which doesn't have a rechargeable battery pack, get some Sanyo Eneloop (SP?) rechargable units for it.

[Hoover.]

I've a harmony 1100...... love the fact you can set one touch buttons that turn on a vraiety of things ie DVD logo, turns on TV, puts tv on right channel input, turns on processor and puts that on to right channel output, turns on Amp and yet again turns that to right channel, and also turns the blu-ray player on ..... for some reason I can't get it to choose a bluray/dvd from the cupboard and put it in the player

Have some minor issues with it, which are due to the way which my tv choose's it's channel input, but on the whole I love it.... currently controlling 9 bits of kit..... so much less clutter, trying to find the right remote etc.


I think to operate a PS3 you need also to buy and additional bit, from memory.

[Bungleaio]

I've got a harmony one as well. It takes a couple of hours to get it all set up and running correctly but after that it's great. Mine is setup to control my TV, amp, bluray, minidisc, PS3, xbox 360, lights and power down.

I wouldn't be without it now and is much better than having multiple remotes.

Hoover. said:

I think to operate a PS3 you need also to buy and additional bit, from memory.

The PS3 uses bluetooth rather than infra red so the signal needs converting as the harmony one doesn't have bluetooth in built.

http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/gaming/other-accesso...

[The_Doc]

Bungleaio said:

The PS3 uses bluetooth rather than infra red so the signal needs converting as the harmony one doesn't have bluetooth in built.

http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/gaming/other-accesso...

Although my new Bravia TV will talk to the PS3 down the HDMI cable and control it. SO I didn't have to buy the PS3 remote add on thingy. Result.

Harmony 555 for me, great remote but you need a brain to set it up.