Logitech Harmony One. Period.
Looking for the perfect universal remote
I have 3 HDTVs in my house and 4 DVRs. Because all the DVRs are located in a central location and controlled with an IR repeater, I can view any of the DVRs from any TV.
I have 2 HR21-700s, 1 HR10-250 and one ReplayTV 5040 which I want to control with a single universal remote. I currently use the URC R6 which works great but it only allows for 40 learn commands which is not enough. I tried the URC R7, but it has a problem with too weak a signal and won't work reliably for distances over 10 feet from the IR repeater.
This is what I am looking for:
1. The remote needs to control my TV, a DVD player and the 4 DVRs listed above.
2. I want the pause and play button to be in the center of the remote with the skip - on the left and skip + on the right.
3. It needs to have the 4 color buttons used on the HR2x DVRs or 4 extra buttons together that could be used for the color buttons. (like the bottom buttons on the URC R7)
Things I would like to have:
1. The ability to program from my PC
I like the layout of the R6 (see picture):
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=117355&highlight=Looking+for+the+perfect+universal+remote
If there is any way to increase the number of learn commands on this remote, I would do it.
I have 2 HR21-700s, 1 HR10-250 and one ReplayTV 5040 which I want to control with a single universal remote. I currently use the URC R6 which works great but it only allows for 40 learn commands which is not enough. I tried the URC R7, but it has a problem with too weak a signal and won't work reliably for distances over 10 feet from the IR repeater.
This is what I am looking for:
1. The remote needs to control my TV, a DVD player and the 4 DVRs listed above.
2. I want the pause and play button to be in the center of the remote with the skip - on the left and skip + on the right.
3. It needs to have the 4 color buttons used on the HR2x DVRs or 4 extra buttons together that could be used for the color buttons. (like the bottom buttons on the URC R7)
Things I would like to have:
1. The ability to program from my PC
I like the layout of the R6 (see picture):
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=117355&highlight=Looking+for+the+perfect+universal+remote
If there is any way to increase the number of learn commands on this remote, I would do it.
1 - 20 of 53 Posts
Agreed with one stipulation. Macro'ed commands are sluggish as heck. For example switching from DVR/Sat to DVD playback can take 2-3 seconds after selection from the touch screen.qwsxz said:Logitech Harmony One. Period.
Other than that the One is a nice remote, just a little on the pokey side.
I went with the Universal Remote Control MX-500. You can't program it from your pc, but it is super easy to setup, has a perfect DVR layout, and is only about $70 on Amazon.
Anything from the Harmony line.
If you don’t have an aversion to touch screen remotes, you might look into the Pronto. You can program your layout any way you want. We have an HR20 and an H20 in the HT cabinet feeding a TV in the living room and one on the back porch. My wife absolutely could not use our system without it. Instead of having to look for small labels on gray or black buttons, I have her remote with color-coded buttons. I also use various backgrounds so she can tell which TV and which receiver (or DVD player) she is controlling. I also have screens with floor plans of the house for controlling lights.
You should be able to pickup a color TSU7000 with RF extender for under $300. Grayscale (TSU3000) versions are half that price. While I know many people complain about the lack of tactile feedback on a touch screen, having the ability to design and label things the way want cannot be beat.
You should be able to pickup a color TSU7000 with RF extender for under $300. Grayscale (TSU3000) versions are half that price. While I know many people complain about the lack of tactile feedback on a touch screen, having the ability to design and label things the way want cannot be beat.
Very true, nothing compares to the power and customization of the pronto remotes.rudeney said:If you don't have an aversion to touch screen remotes, you might look into the Pronto. You can program your layout any way you want. We have an HR20 and an H20 in the HT cabinet feeding a TV in the living room and one on the back porch. My wife absolutely could not use our system without it. Instead of having to look for small labels on gray or black buttons, I have her remote with color-coded buttons. I also use various backgrounds so she can tell which TV and which receiver (or DVD player) she is controlling. I also have screens with floor plans of the house for controlling lights.
You should be able to pickup a color TSU7000 with RF extender for under $300. Grayscale (TSU3000) versions are half that price. While I know many people complain about the lack of tactile feedback on a touch screen, having the ability to design and label things the way want cannot be beat.
Actually, you can control the durations of pause between events. Logitech has them very padded to ensure devices respond to one command before the next one, but they are user adjustable in the Harmony software.rahlquist said:Agreed with one stipulation. Macro'ed commands are sluggish as heck. For example switching from DVR/Sat to DVD playback can take 2-3 seconds after selection from the touch screen.
Harmony One will work for you.
I use a Harmony 890 to control 5 HD receivers, 5 HDTV's, AVR, DVD player, and BR player. You may like the layout of the Harmony 1 better.
On setup, just remeber to set one of the HR21's to use the AV1 command set. This way you can have the IR repeaters set to "all fire" commands and the receivers won't get confused.
On setup, just remeber to set one of the HR21's to use the AV1 command set. This way you can have the IR repeaters set to "all fire" commands and the receivers won't get confused.
DIRECTV style RF is a requirement for me. Unfortunately, the last I looked, the only universal remotes that handle RF are VERY expensive. 
Cheers,
Tom
Cheers,
Tom
The Harmony 890 is not too bad, though far from cheapTom Robertson said:DIRECTV style RF is a requirement for me. Unfortunately, the last I looked, the only universal remotes that handle RF are VERY expensive.
Cheers,
Tom
The one thing I wish the Harmony remotes would add is simultaneous IR transmissions. I know it is a long shot as very few remotes have this, and all are very high end, but it makes macros so much nicer as it can simultaneously carry out commands to different devices so it is much quicker and more seamless.
I actually really like the layout of the RC64 (I think it is even better than the Harmonys for controlling the DVR), and I love using RF with my DVR, so for now that is what we use. 90% (maybe more) of our viewing is Directv anyways and the RC64 controls my DVR, Receiver, TV, and Xbox so it works out fine. If they could just add my Oppo DVD Player I would be all set!
Radio shack 15-134 for $30 (link in my signature). Get a JP1 cable to program it from your PC. Write macros to your heart's content up to 15 steps each (I think harmony is limited to 5). Out of the box, it's a 5 device remote, but can do 8 if you program it from your PC. Very capable little remote for the money, with the button layout and colored buttons you want. Heck, you could even buy a bluray player with the money you saved.
Not sure which you have, but, see release note 2, got the RC64 working my oppo...Grentz said:If they could just add my Oppo DVD Player I would be all set!
http://www.oppodigital.com/dv970hd/dv970hd-firmware-4a-0209.html
I looked at the Radio Shack 15-134 but rejected it because it was a 5 device remote. You say it can control up to 8 devices if programed from my PC. Could you explain how that could be done? Does it currently have a JP1 connection? Would it be possible to add a JP1 connection to the URC R6?mdavej said:Radio shack 15-134 for $30 (link in my signature). Get a JP1 cable to program it from your PC. Write macros to your heart's content up to 15 steps each (I think harmony is limited to 5). Out of the box, it's a 5 device remote, but can do 8 if you program it from your PC. Very capable little remote for the money, with the button layout and colored buttons you want. Heck, you could even buy a bluray player with the money you saved.
I wish they would add that to mine! I have the 971H, which is actually the model up from the 970HD, and yet they did not add that featurecjever19 said:Not sure which you have, but, see release note 2, got the RC64 working my oppo...
http://www.oppodigital.com/dv970hd/dv970hd-firmware-4a-0209.html
<humor injection>
I have the perfect remote and its voice activated.
wife, change channel. wife, change volume. wife, tunr on ... etc.
works perfectly, although a small amount of "programming" is needed..
I have the perfect remote and its voice activated.
wife, change channel. wife, change volume. wife, tunr on ... etc.
works perfectly, although a small amount of "programming" is needed..
I'm a huge fan of the URC MX850. Prgram on your pc and zillions of possibilities.
It's got great tactile feel sitting in the hand.
It's got great tactile feel sitting in the hand.
Harmony 890...that is, until the "Harmony Two" (presumably the name of the RF version of the Harmony One) is released. Only real issue is the "color" buttons, but you can program those to the LCD softkeys (which is what most of us with this remote do). The other alternative is the Harmony 895 (the euro version of the 890) which has the color keys in hard buttons on what is otherwise basically the same remote (it replaces the page up/page down buttons located below the navigation circle. You might be able to get one of those on eBay.
--Mav
--Mav
I bought one of these several years ago to control my HDTV, cable box, DVD player, laserdisc player, VCR and A/V receiver (and I paid north of $100 for it at the time). It was a great remote but eventually a piece came loose inside and the screen light no longer worked. I ordered another one and "cloned" the first one, then decided to keep the original remote around so that the wife and I wouldn't fight over the remotes - we'd each have our own. Nowadays, the remotes control my HDTV, satellite receiver/DVR, DVD player, Blu-Ray player, DVD-burner and A/V receiver (all of which are different models than the ones I started with, testament to the learning features of that remote). In addition, when I put another HDTV and satellite receiver/DVR in the upstairs loft, I got another MX-500 to control those two. A bit of overkill perhaps, but my wife doesn't have to learn the layout of a different remote when she's watching that set.dkeeton09 said:I went with the Universal Remote Control MX-500. You can't program it from your pc, but it is super easy to setup, has a perfect DVR layout, and is only about $70 on Amazon.
One feature I really like about the MX-500 is the favorite channel list. I'm not sure how many other remotes have this, but you can enter up to 50 favorite channels and the remote will jump you to any of them. If I hit the "ABC" button, for example, it tune my tuner/DVR to whatever channel it is that brings in the HD broadcast for the local ABC affiliate. I don't even know the channel number for it or pretty much any of the other stations I watch on DirecTV.
One other thing you should think about is whether you prefer a touch screen or hard buttons. For me, I prefer to use the remote without having to look at it so I go for the hard buttons approach of the MX-500. I can see the attraction of the touch screen as you can program in attractive, multi-color images for the display. However, you pretty much have to look at it to know what virtual button you are pressing.
A buddy of mine is a huge Harmony fan and likes the idea of activity-based buttons. You press the "Watch TV" button and it turns everything on and makes the setting selections necessary to watch TV. With macro programming (which the MX-500 supports), you can do the same thing. It just takes a bit more manual work to set up as the MX-500 has no PC interface. It's more expensive siblings do though, if you think that's worth it. To me, I'd rather have two $70 MX-500s than a single $150 MX-whatever whose main feature difference is the PC interface. But that's just my opinion. Your mileage may vary.
1 - 20 of 53 Posts
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