Universal remote solutions

[krunchkin]

Anyone found any clever solutions to the pile of remote controls that today's connected living room generates. App based or otherwise? I currently have:

Sony Bravia smart TV ( terrible remote app) , Sony soundbar (which unfathomably requires its own remote) , Virgin box, PlayStation 4 (I see they have just released a remote for this that has some universal functionality) , Apple TV (have the "remote" app), and a Rasberry Pi Kodi (app is used as remote)

Is there anything that would cover all these?

[schmunk]

A Logitech Harmony remote control is the standard answer.

[Gingerbread Man]

Logitech harmony will allow you do all of that.

[clockworks]

I've been using universal remotes for many years, and the Logitech Harmony Smart Control is by far the best. Easy to set up, easy to use, flawless in operation. A real bargain now at around £70 for the "basic" version.

[Chris Stott]

I've had a Harmony 'One' for the last 6/7 years... great bit of kit.

Look out for Logitech deals... they do some crazy promotions from time to time... IIRC, I paid c.£70 for mine when the RRP was c.£200.

[krunchkin]

there seems to be a large choice there - are any preferable ?

[Du1point8]

Can I maybe suggest something outside the box?

https://neeo.com

This will do most of the house, I got in very early with Kickstarter, but it looks great and is about to be offered to the general public.

[moles]

I like the neeo but is it ever going to see the light of day?.

[silverous]

Logitech Harmony all the way, I've got several of them and had one previously also. Just check that if you need infra-red that the model you look at has it - some of the new ones seem to rely on the "hub" unit having line of sight. e.g. I put the "hub" in a cupboard and then can't control the TV

[davek_964]

I use a Philips TSU9600 downstairs which is fabulous and can do pretty much anything you want - but unfortunately, they don't make them anymore.

Upstairs, I agree with the points so far - Logitech Harmony does the job very well. In fact - much as I like my TSU9600, I'd be tempted to move to the Harmony downstairs for simplicity but it turns out I have some remote control code clashes and changing the codeset of the devices that clash doesn't seem to solve it. So the TSU continues to reign the lounge.

[JEA1K]

Du1point8 said:

Can I maybe suggest something outside the box?

https://neeo.com

This will do most of the house, I got in very early with Kickstarter, but it looks great and is about to be offered to the general public.

I'd say the Logitech's are great for the money. Pretty simple to set up and to replace if you break them.

Regarding the Neeo, will happy to see another remote control product working but from my experience, it can be a headache. An extensive driver database, ease of set-up and of course cost will decide whether this will succeed or fail. At $339, it will be £339 in the UK so hardly cheap but its lower than the RTI or Control4 equivalent. We're a Control4 integrator and still spend time writing drivers (less so nowadays) for particular products ... thankfully many drivers are now IP and Zigbee.

It looks nicely packaged but the software and ease of use will play a major part in how its received. Touch screens are all well and good but when it comes to controlling TV's, people like to use hard buttons, not touch screens, however, music lends itself really well to using a touch screen.

[98elise]

Another vote for Logitech. The remotes are great and the customer service is fantastic.

[PGM]

Harmony touch is my latest one, been through two other Logitech Harmony before it.

This one is the most reliable and foolproof, essential in a family environment. Controls bluetooth devices too, Fire TV and playstation etc and works in most of the house.

[kingston12]

krunchkin said:

there seems to be a large choice there - are any preferable ?

It depends on your budget. The Ultimate is really good and seems to have been popping up on Amazon's daily deals for about £70 recently. Great deal at that price.

[Output Flange]

Is there a solution if you add in the requirement to control devices by RS232 and also Sonos?

[davek_964]

Output Flange said:

Is there a solution if you add in the requirement to control devices by RS232 and also Sonos?

TSU9600 (with an RFX9600 for RS232) can - that's how I control some of my kit. But as I mentioned, they are only available second hand these days.

[Output Flange]

That's what I've currently got, but am looking to move away from.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Do any of the above control a Sky HD box with the regular ease of use?

[Gingerbread Man]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Do any of the above control a Sky HD box with the regular ease of use?

The Logitech Harmony will.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

One other issue I have is the set up of my AV room (lounge), there's not always a direct line of sure between seating position and AV equipment-meaning reaching remotes around furniture to get them to work!

If using the harmony and hub thingy, I take it the hub needs to be able to look straight at the AV equipment it needs to control?

Also, does it need to be programmed to work each thing it controls or can it copy a signal from a remote as well?