Which remote control?
Discussion
I'm in need of a remote control to replace the crazy number that litter the coffee table/floor and I'm looking for some advice seems the net seems somewhat limited.
Currently I have a pioneer tv and amp, arcam bluray, media center pc, apple tv, sim2 projector and a ps3. Ideally I'd like to be able to control them all. I also have a GET remote lighting system. Having searched the net and what hifi, the logitech harmony keeps jumping out but there are quite a few models so I'm a bit lost. The only other make I've seen is Nevo but they seem a bit overpriced.
Functionality is most important, I don't really want to be digging out the remotes every 5 mins because the universal remote lacks a particular button but then again I don't want to spend the earth.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Currently I have a pioneer tv and amp, arcam bluray, media center pc, apple tv, sim2 projector and a ps3. Ideally I'd like to be able to control them all. I also have a GET remote lighting system. Having searched the net and what hifi, the logitech harmony keeps jumping out but there are quite a few models so I'm a bit lost. The only other make I've seen is Nevo but they seem a bit overpriced.
Functionality is most important, I don't really want to be digging out the remotes every 5 mins because the universal remote lacks a particular button but then again I don't want to spend the earth.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
I've had a harmony one for a few years now and I wouldn't go back to all that faffing about with multiple remotes if you paid me!
I control tv, amp, blueray, ps3, xbox360, apple tv, macbook & lights with it. It does take some time to get it set up and working so don't expect to get it out the box and be up and running within a few minutes.
I also kept al the other remotes handy for a couple of weeks and anything I needed but the harmony couldn't do I taught it the command using the original. I haven't used any of the original remotes for a long time now.
The battery lasts a few weeks between charges and it's not much of a chore to get some more juice in just plug the cradle in and leave it there for a couple of hours.
Having a remote that lights up is also great when movie watching in a dim room etc.
I control tv, amp, blueray, ps3, xbox360, apple tv, macbook & lights with it. It does take some time to get it set up and working so don't expect to get it out the box and be up and running within a few minutes.
I also kept al the other remotes handy for a couple of weeks and anything I needed but the harmony couldn't do I taught it the command using the original. I haven't used any of the original remotes for a long time now.
The battery lasts a few weeks between charges and it's not much of a chore to get some more juice in just plug the cradle in and leave it there for a couple of hours.
Having a remote that lights up is also great when movie watching in a dim room etc.
I've got the harmony one http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/remotes/universal-re...
It doesn't have direct coloured buttons which can be annoying if you want to control sky apparently. I don't have sky so it's fine for me.
If you do want the coloured buttons they do the 900, which is quite a lot more expensive but it includes RF support. http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/remotes/universal-re...
I also have a 300 that I use in the bedroom to control TV, Apple TV 2 and DVD player. It's a lot simpler than the 1 and I wouldn't really recommend it for a living room http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/remotes/universal-re...
It doesn't have direct coloured buttons which can be annoying if you want to control sky apparently. I don't have sky so it's fine for me.
If you do want the coloured buttons they do the 900, which is quite a lot more expensive but it includes RF support. http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/remotes/universal-re...
I also have a 300 that I use in the bedroom to control TV, Apple TV 2 and DVD player. It's a lot simpler than the 1 and I wouldn't really recommend it for a living room http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/remotes/universal-re...
I have had the 900 for a couple of years. Wasnt cheap but absolutely worth it. You can get the refurbished for considerably cheaper than full price where I live.
I have mine set up using the RF and nothing is controlled through ir. This has allowed me to use a side board with copper fronted doors as a tv cabinet. It sounds strange but it looks super cool and gets all the boxes off show.
If you don't need the rf there is a harmony remote that does everything the 900 does but is a third of the price. You can always buy the rf add on for almost all the harmony remotes.
(I'm in the US so product availability may be different. )
I have mine set up using the RF and nothing is controlled through ir. This has allowed me to use a side board with copper fronted doors as a tv cabinet. It sounds strange but it looks super cool and gets all the boxes off show.
If you don't need the rf there is a harmony remote that does everything the 900 does but is a third of the price. You can always buy the rf add on for almost all the harmony remotes.
(I'm in the US so product availability may be different. )
Thanks for all the input. I decided on the One along with the ps3 adapter. I dont really need the RF functionality as all devices are visible and I have no need to change that. If I find it lacks features that I need, I will upgrade and use the one for the kitchen. Hope the setup isn't too painful! Any tips?
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
Good choice, it's exactly what I have.
You can download the software now so you can get cracking on setting it up. http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/440/3742?section=dow...
You can download the software now so you can get cracking on setting it up. http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/440/3742?section=dow...
Got the remote. I find the software a little limited and can go round in circles. Found I couldn't use it with the media center which is essentially my pvr or the lights as they both use RF. I then thought about upgrading to the 900 but then found the RF support is actually somewhat misleading. Seemingly it can't actually control RF devices, only the RF to IR bridge. This is no use to me.
I have found a part solution and bought an IR controller for the media center and just discard the remote (along with the RF one!) which is a bit of a waste but at least I can part solve the problem. The lights I will have to live without.
My main disappointment is the software, it's too rigid. I would like to be able to customise a lot further than the software allows. It's a shame as I can't really see why it is so rigid.
Overall I'm happy with it or at least will be when I can use the MC but my expectations were a little higher.
I have found a part solution and bought an IR controller for the media center and just discard the remote (along with the RF one!) which is a bit of a waste but at least I can part solve the problem. The lights I will have to live without.
My main disappointment is the software, it's too rigid. I would like to be able to customise a lot further than the software allows. It's a shame as I can't really see why it is so rigid.
Overall I'm happy with it or at least will be when I can use the MC but my expectations were a little higher.
Sorry to hear you aren't getting on as well as you'd hoped.
I'm not sure what else you want from the software? You can identify all of your devices and tell it any extra commands you need to do under that. Then you set how to group activities together and what input each device needs to be on for that activity.
I'm not sure what else you want from the software? You can identify all of your devices and tell it any extra commands you need to do under that. Then you set how to group activities together and what input each device needs to be on for that activity.
BananaRob -
Harmony remotes are good for the basics. For a more customised remote control though, you would need to look at the likes of URC's and RTI's. The Philips Pronto were a good remote too, but they are sadly no longer with us.
You do pay extra for the more custom remotes, but you have almost complete control over what you want it to do. If you want TOTAL control, then you need to look at the likes of the Crestron and AMX systems.
I use a Pronto 9800 with an RFX 9600, but I am going to change it all round to an RTI setup.
Hope that helps
Harmony remotes are good for the basics. For a more customised remote control though, you would need to look at the likes of URC's and RTI's. The Philips Pronto were a good remote too, but they are sadly no longer with us.
You do pay extra for the more custom remotes, but you have almost complete control over what you want it to do. If you want TOTAL control, then you need to look at the likes of the Crestron and AMX systems.
I use a Pronto 9800 with an RFX 9600, but I am going to change it all round to an RTI setup.
Hope that helps
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