RF Remote

[solleyman]

Apparently, I'm looking in the wrong places, but RF remote selection seems tiny.

My Harmony 890 went kaput and need a new RF remote, but it seems Harmony only has the 900 and the 1100. I haven't found any good deals on either (and hardly any gleaming reviews) so I started to look around, but there's not much.

Anyone here have any recommendations? I've got young kids, so I don't want to invest too much coin since it will surely get put in the toilet at some point, but I don't want to buy junk to save $50 bucks, either.

 

[Binky]

I had an 880 and it was the worst Harmony remote I've owned.

Why do you need RF? If the devices are behind cabinets, consider an IR repeater system then just buy a cheap Harmony (or a few of them as backups) like the 300 or the 650. Its a lot easier to write off a $30-$50 remote than $100-$200.

 

[Drako]

I had an 880 and it was the worst Harmony remote I've owned.

Why do you need RF? If the devices are behind cabinets, consider an IR repeater system then just buy a cheap Harmony (or a few of them as backups) like the 300 or the 650. Its a lot easier to write off a $30-$50 remote than $100-$200.

I had an 880 because I have a PS3. Did they ever put IR on the PS3 slims?

 

[JackBurton]

You can forgo IR and skip right to wifi:

iRule + Apple/Android tablet may be a good solution for you. VERY versatile and cost effective solution provided you already have an iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad or Android tablet.

 

[solleyman]

I had an 880 and it was the worst Harmony remote I've owned.

Why do you need RF? If the devices are behind cabinets, consider an IR repeater system then just buy a cheap Harmony (or a few of them as backups) like the 300 or the 650. Its a lot easier to write off a $30-$50 remote than $100-$200.

Shortly after posing, I found what you're talking about on Monoprice under new products for ~$30. http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10110&cs_id=1011009&p_id=9194&seq=1&format=2

It only has 3 IR bulbs, but my closet has receiver, BR, TiVo, Switcher, and 360. Maybe I could mount the blubs on the wall of the closet to be able to shoot to more than one component each?

 

[solleyman]

You can forgo IR and skip right to wifi:

iRule + Apple/Android tablet may be a good solution for you. VERY versatile and cost effective solution provided you already have an iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad or Android tablet.

I looked into this last week, but wifey was kind of cranky about having to use the Xoom or our phones.

I kind of like the fact that I'd never lose the remote again (plus the customization options).

Do you have 1st hand experience with iRule? Was it an odd transition? I've got some concern over losing the ability to operate "eyes-free", since I wouldn't be able to feel around for buttons.

 

[Rio Rebel]

Another option:

http://www.amazon.com/URC-RFS200-Pow...d_bxgy_e_img_y

I bought this on clearance a while back at Fry's, and it serves my basic need of operating components inside a cabinet. If you could use the remote without having to buy the receiver unit, it is only about $45.

Like the post above, I am also intrigued with using tablets/smart devices to control components, but not all of the things I need to control are networked.

 

[Modelworks]

You can convert almost any remote to RF easily. Remotes use a crystal fairly specific to them that a device like the one below can pick up if close enough.
http://www.amazon.com/Next-Generatio...4607917&sr=1-1