Remote Controls....

Fallen Kell · 02-07-2013, 02:15 PM

So I thought I would ask what you guys have been doing for remote controls. I'm currently looking for replacing a broken Harmony 880, but I just don't know what to get anymore. Harmony itself is in limbo, and the current ones (650, Touch, and 1100) are all just horrible. I don't want a remote that I have to look at to do anything (1100, and Touch), and the 650 just doesn't control enough devices (I need at least 7). I am not even really a fan of the One due to the touch screen because I know other people will have issues hitting the right thing. The buttons around the LCD were great since you had tactile feedback in both pressing it and in knowing where to press. It just doesn't make sense to me that someone who designed these current ones ever tried using them without taking their eyes off the movie or show playing (requiring you to either miss part of the show, or have to hit rewind...). And add in the fact that they are in limbo with Logitech trying to sell them....

Before the Harmony, I had previously owned several Home Theater Master (URC now) MX-800 remotes, which I had liked, but they were were very slow to put out color LCD's into their remotes, and then they also stopped providing the software to program them to end users (which really put me off).

So what are you guys using?

purbeast0 · 02-07-2013, 02:20 PM

right now im using my iphone to control my projector, avr, ps3, xbox360, and cable box. i'm also using it to control my tv and cable box upstairs in another room. i'm using an app called roomie remote for now, and so far it's awesome. if i feel i want more customizable options i will snag irule and check that out.

i plan on getting an ipad at some point in the near future though and will be using that as the remote instead of my phone. i could definitely use the real estate of a tablet over a phone for the controls.

i had a harmony 659 that lasted me quite a long time, but over time it started to wear out and the buttons became unusable and eventually it just died on me. i wouldn't buy a harmony again though as i like these other options with tablets and stuff.

Drako · 02-07-2013, 02:58 PM

Harmony One here.

Fmr12B · 02-07-2013, 03:12 PM

Harmony One -

Very few controls are activated wit the touch screen - basically just turning everything on like "Watch TV" or "Watch DVD"

Everything else is buttons.

Drako · 02-07-2013, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fmr12B

Harmony One -

Very few controls are activated wit the touch screen - basically just turning everything on like "Watch TV" or "Watch DVD"

Everything else is buttons.

Yep, that's why the new Harmony Touch makes no sense. Removing the hard buttons was just a really dumb idea.

Midwayman · 02-08-2013, 11:02 AM

I like the URC stuff. I got one for like $50 with a color LCD and its far more robust than any of the harmony products. Sure you have to program it on the remote, but its not a huge deal unless you're constantly changing setups. I have a mx-450 that I use to run my WMC7 HTPC, TV, Reciever, and blueray. I also have one of their lower models in the bedroom that runs a tv, dvd, and WMC extender. Very happy with both of them.

iRONic · 02-08-2013, 01:30 PM

Harmony One also.

x2ezx · 02-08-2013, 03:07 PM

Harmony One.

deltree86 · 02-09-2013, 05:10 AM

Get something you don't have to program with another remote because if the OEM remote goes faulty there's really not much the universal remote can do!

ArJuN · 02-09-2013, 12:58 PM

I went from the Harmony One, to the Harmony 900, to a few Xsighy remotes and finally settled on the Roomie Remote. Network control beats IR and RF any day.