Anyone still use non-tablet/phone controllers for TV, A/V?

[MaxDepth]

So my remote control to my receiver, Pioneer VSX-1120-K, is crapping out and I'd like to finally have one remote that replaces all its functions along with my TV, an old RCA tube projection TV -- R52WH74, and if possible be bluetooth or IR capable to my HTPC connected to the receiver. I don't mind plugging in an IR or bluetooth dongle into the HTPC.

Right now I have:
- Original remote for the TV
- Original remote for the receiver
- Logitech diNovo Mini (crap, I see that has been discontinued)

I really like the diNovo, it feels right in my hands, has a good keyboard and keeps a charge very well. As I use XBMC on the HTPC, I need the keyboard. (Searches mostly.)

However, I could easily combine TV and receiver remote which both work on IR. If I could get all three, that would be great however it's not a deal breaker.

Any suggestions?

 

[LoveMachine]

To answer your thread title, yes. While the tablet/phone thing sounds great, I don't want to have to push a button/swipe/tap, etc. just to turn down the volume. Grabbing a remote without taking the eyes off the screen and pushing a button based on tactile feel is still dandy in my book. While others likely have a simpler solution, here's what I do:

Purchased a Rosewill W7 media center remote from the Egg for ~12 bucks on sale, tossed the remote in a drawer, plugged the wee USB receiver into the HTPC. Got a lower end Harmony, set it all up (I think the media center remote is listed as a "Media PC" device), and it works beautifully for everything except text. For that, I got a cheap, small wireless keyboard (can't remember the brand now) that gets stashed on a shelf near the couch, out of the way. Again, a wee USB receiver on the HTPC for that. There are plugins that allow you to launch XBMC from WMC using remote control input, and you can launch WMC using the proper button setup with the Harmony. No mouse needed at any point.

 

[SlitheryDee]

I use a harmony one. It controls my TV, home theater system, and HTPC very well. I have an MX air and Logitech Dinovo Edge that I use to navigate the desktop on my HTPC. They work well enough, but for watching media I much prefer using my One with WMC. I have my HTPC set to sleep after 30 minutes, and my Harmony one is setup to send a "power on" signal to my HTPC when I use any of the preset activities programmed into it. Pressing the menu button on the remote opens WMC, so it's possible to turn everything on, wake my HTPC from sleep, open WMC and begin watching TV/Netflix/stored movies/etc. without ever touching anything but my remote.

 

[Anubis]

yes

actually I use 3 or 4 depending

AVR remote
TV remote - this just turns on/off the TV
Cable Box Remote
PS3 remote when watching BR

sure I could program it all to a universal remote/app on the tablet/phone but i'm lazy and honestly don't care about using them and it costs me nothing

 

[MaxDepth]

Thanks all for the input so far.

@Anubis -- Yeah I am the same way, it sounds more complicated when I try to explain it someone else but it works pretty easily for me.

Except now the babies have jammed a couple of keys on the Pioneer remote and if I need to replace it, I'd rather have a better learning remote than the Pioneer one. It's easy to use the RCA remote to switch channels on the TV (I don't have cable or sat, just OTA) than trying to use the Pioneer to change em.

 

[Muadib]

I also use a harmony one, but any harmony remote should work for you. Programming one is easy, (I'm looking at you Anubis!:awe: ) you just use their website to enter your devices, and it does the rest.

 

[Anubis]

i know its easy
i just don't care

 

[poofyhairguy]

sure I could program it all to a universal remote/app on the tablet/phone but i'm lazy and honestly don't care about using them and it costs me nothing

Agreed. You probably don't need it.

But maybe one day you will want a wife or a child or a family member to actually use your equipment without you doing it for them, and on that day you will need to buy and program a Harmony or something better.

 

[tential]

yes

actually I use 3 or 4 depending

AVR remote
TV remote - this just turns on/off the TV
Cable Box Remote
PS3 remote when watching BR

sure I could program it all to a universal remote/app on the tablet/phone but i'm lazy and honestly don't care about using them and it costs me nothing

Or you could use your AVR remote to just do all of that.
What AVR you have?

My Onkyo remote controls my AVR, Cable, and Xbox 360. You just have to type in the remote code for your TV/Cable box. On Onkyo, it even just lists them int he remote section adn you just keep trying til it works. It's really easy to setup you should look it up. I don't think you can control the PS3 but maybe you can.

 

[Raduque]

I still use 3 remotes. My Yamaha AVR's remote, my Samsung TV's remote (turns the TV on, and the TV and AVR off through HDMI link) and the HTPC's Media Center remote.

I have a low-end Logitech Harmony model, but I can't figure out how to get it to switch inputs on the AVR so I don't use it.

 

[mnewsham]

I just use my phone, it has a built in IR blaster and it has never failed to recognize a device I have tried to pair with it. I have it setup for all the TVs and cable boxes in the house sorted by room and device type.

 

[tential]

I still use 3 remotes. My Yamaha AVR's remote, my Samsung TV's remote (turns the TV on, and the TV and AVR off through HDMI link) and the HTPC's Media Center remote.

I have a low-end Logitech Harmony model, but I can't figure out how to get it to switch inputs on the AVR so I don't use it.

Why though? The AVR remote can control your TV and your Remote? Why wouldn't you use the AVR remote to turn to control both your TV and your AVR? You could even use it to control the HTPC....

 

[Raduque]

I have the RX-V375. It doesn't come with a learning/universal remote.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I have the RX-V375. It doesn't come with a learning/universal remote.

What exact Harmony do you have?

 

[s44]

The current Harmony ("Smart Control") has *both* a centralized wifi hub for app-based control *and* a "simple remote" for the obvious stuff -- like changing volume, muting, etc. -- that you don't want to pull your phone out to do.

 

[skriefal]

To answer your thread title, yes. While the tablet/phone thing sounds great, I don't want to have to push a button/swipe/tap, etc. just to turn down the volume. Grabbing a remote without taking the eyes off the screen and pushing a button based on tactile feel is still dandy in my book.

Agreed! I want to pick up the remote and use it immediately, without having to first push a power button to active it. I also want physical buttons for the most common tasks.

 

[Raduque]

What exact Harmony do you have?

An older low-end one, the 300 or something?

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I have two Harmony 880s (living room, MBR) and one Harmony 650 (man cave). All are going strong. I've thought about the tablet/phone thing for my living room, but without onboard IR, I'd have to get some Ethernet to IR adapters and set everything up in my cabinet to ensure the devices could see the IR signal. I'm just too lazy to do that at this point.

 

[Wingznut]

To answer your thread title, yes. While the tablet/phone thing sounds great, I don't want to have to push a button/swipe/tap, etc. just to turn down the volume. Grabbing a remote without taking the eyes off the screen and pushing a button based on tactile feel is still dandy in my book.

Exactly the same reason I don't use my phone/tablet as a remote. I love my Harmony 700.

 

[ControlD]

The current Harmony ("Smart Control") has *both* a centralized wifi hub for app-based control *and* a "simple remote" for the obvious stuff -- like changing volume, muting, etc. -- that you don't want to pull your phone out to do.

That is the one I have and it is awesome. The included remote is actually good enough to do everything I need, but it is still nice to be able to use my phone / tablet when the remote isn't within reach.

Then again I don't have to do anything to "unlock" my phone, so using that rather than a remote isn't much more of a chore.