Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal Remote Control
by Logitech
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List Price: Our Price: $223.88 You Save: $26.11 (10%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $77.98 (click here) Category: Speakers See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal Remote Control
Customer Review: Not Perfect, But Still Great
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased this remote about a month ago to replace a Sony RM-AV3000. I wanted to get away from the touchscreen, since it got dirty easily and drained batteries. The Sony remote made it so difficult to program macros that I gave up entirely, choosing to switch on my different components one at a time. There was no easy learning programming function, so each remote you replaced with the Sony required lots of tinkering and time-wasting customization. On top of that, the Sony remote didn't recognize my brand new Yamaha receiver, so I was left with two remotes, anyways!
I had heard alot of good things about the Harmony remote and I was intrigued by the idea of a web database with close to all of your remote presets already set up for you. All in all, the remote took about 15 minutes to set up, and as I used it I tweaked it here and there.
I use the remote to control basically four components: Pioneer plasma TV, Yamaha receiver, LG DVD player, and my Time Warner DVR box. When I got the remote, I installed all the necessary software and hooked my remote up via USB to my computer to begin programming it. I opted to use the web option instead of the bundled software, as some users had recommended. The web platform took a little getting used to to navigate, but overall it was pretty intuitive. I entered in the model and make of each component I had and every button was programmed perfectly, I didn't have to re-learn or change one thing! One thing I got hung up on was that I wanted to leave my DVR set to "on" at all times. After a few minutes of unsuccessful tinkering, I consulted the FAQ on the website and found the answer right away. Now my remote switches inputs on the receiver and TV, shuts components on and off as necessary, and controls each component as it should (for example, the volume button while watching my DVR actually controls my receiver volume, not the volume on the cable box or TV).
The main difference between the Sony remote I had before and the Harmony is that the Sony controls each device separately, and for it to perform several actions (such as turning on a TV and setting it to input 1, turning on the receiver and setting the input to DTV), it requires you to program a macro. Not so with the Harmony. Instead, the Harmony treats everything as an action FIRST, and if you want to delve more into controlling the actual device you have the option to do so (but you probably won't have to very often).
One problem I had with my Harmony was that due to a manufacturer's defect my "record" button didn't work. I was able to work the problem out through Logitech's tech support, and they promptly issued me a new remote to replace the defective one. Even the defective remote worked flawlessly in every other aspect. This mishap in quality control is a big factor in why I didn't award the product 5 stars.
Pros:
1) Intuitive set-up that, once you learn how to navigate, is easy to use.
2) All make/model of your components pre-programmed in a database that takes seconds for your remote to "learn" via USB.
3) Rechargable battery means no cursing to yourself that you have to run out and purchase 4 AA's when your remote dies.
4) Customizable background in the LCD screen. I can put any picture I want in my background.
5) Even when Logitech sent me a new remote to replace my defective one, all I had to do was hook it up to my computer and redownload the settings (including my custom background) I had already saved, it took literally 20 seconds!
Cons:
1) Volume and channel buttons could be a little bit more prominent. I occasionally want to press the + Volume button and hit "Mute" or hit the "Previous" button instead of + Channel. That's a little annoying.
2) Recharger is a little finicky to accept a charge. You have to place it in the cradle and make sure you hear 1 beep. If you accidentally knock it off (and it doesn't take much) it'll beep twice and won't charge.
Despite some minor setbacks and inconveniences, it's still far and away the best universal remote I've ever owned.
Customer Review: This is the one you want
Summary: 5 Stars
As women everywhere seem to think, our remote is an extension of our manhood. So ... let me tell you about the one you really want.
I've had several universal remotes over the years. All have been too complicated for others to use (my wife would never touch them). Plus, if the battery dies while I'm on travel, I have to reprogram them (a real nightmare). None of them have never done what I really wanted, so always had to keep a few other remotes laying around to handle the quirky stuff.
So, I've always been looking for the perfect one. And, I finally found it. I saw a TV commercial for a Universal Remote control, Logitech's Harmony 880. Did some research, read reviews and decided to get it (Amazon for about $[...]). Few things are as advertised ... but I've been so happy with this, I wanted to share this with you.
[...]
Got it, plugged into my computer and used their wizard on the Internet. Ten minutes later, I was able to put 7 remotes in a drawer and forget about them --- including the cable / HDDVR remote.
If you know your components and how you've set them up, the wizard is a dream. A few reviews I read were written by folks who had trouble because they really don't know their components or how they wired them all together. Hey, they shouldn't have a remote if they don't know their equipment <grin>.
The benefits? Countless ... but I'll list just a few:
My wife and any guest in my home can use this. Nice full color video screen (with a Desktop ... I picked a photo of my sub) that lists things like: Watch TV, Watch a DVD, Listen to Radio, Play a Game, etc. Each has an icon (DVD even has a bag of pop corn). You can change the menu words and many icons. Each '"activity" and device has it's own menu, that you can also pick the functions, their order, their words and icons. It even has a HELP button for your guests in case they can't read (but why bother if they can't click on a bag popcorn, can they read?).
The configuration setup is stored on a website ... if I ever lose it or upgrade ... I can re-sync. Or tweak it.
The wizard does just about everything automatically. Enter all of your components (by model number) and it knows what jacks, plugs and buttons it has. Once done, it pretty well figures out which devices have to be used for any activity (like watch a DVD). If you have several similar devices, it resolves any conflicts by asking intelligent questions about how you like to do things.
When setting up the DVD button and it automatically picks which devices need to be turned on. It automatically knows to shuts off everything else that isn't needed. It then holds your hand while configuring everything, by device ... such as what HDTV screen mode do you like, which video source in you use, what AV receiver buttons you use. It knows the default and selects them, but if you changed them to take advantage of higher quality video cables, you can change it.
You can tweak it anyway you want. For example, you can change the order in which steps occur and insert add steps for any device as needed. By the way, even when adding a step, it asks what device and then displays all known options that a remote can control and even lets you name it anyway you want. Such as it shows EJECT as an option. If you pick it, you can change it to say "open tray". In my case, timing is critical if I want to open the DVD tray, I needed to insert a slight delay.
I actually have 2 DVD modes setup ... one for movies and another for music concerts. For a concert, I set it to show captions and switch my AV receiver to the the surround sound mode I like for that (heavy woofer).
Rechargeable battery, so it sits in a cradle to charge. When picked up, like an IPhone, it senses movement and turns on. I programmed my to show a slide show when you put it down (photos of the family, etc.).
I can go on ... but I think you can see that my manhood is finally intact <grin>
Customer Review: My favorite remote. . .
Summary: 4 Stars
This is the way universal remotes should work - it might not be for everybody as it takes a shift in thinking for how a remote works, but once you get past that hurdle, it just makes sense.
The difference between a Harmony remote and a regular universal remote is three-fold. First, the remote is "state-based" - this is a fancy way of saying that it keeps track of the settings for the devices in your home theater system - whether they're on or off, etc. Secondly, rather than devices the remote functionality is centered around "Activities." Third, programming the remote is done via computer and the internet (IMPORTANT NOTE: Setup requires an internet connection!)
STATE-BASED REMOTE and ACTIVITIES
This is the hardest thing to get used to. . .with a standard universal remote, you have buttons for each device and you bounce back and forth to control the parts of your home theater. With more advanced remotes, you can say "when I select the SET TOP BOX device, the volume should control the TV," and some allow macros to make it easy to get your system setup to the right channels, inputs, etc. With a Harmony remote, you use of it is based around activities, such as "WATCH TV," "WATCH A DVD" or "PLAY A GAME." These activities represent a "state" a particular configuration, or "state" of your home theater setup with certain devices powered on/set to a certain input, etc. . . While you're using the remote, it remembers what state you're in, so when you want to go from watching TV to playing a game, it knows what adjustments have to be made (essentially using macros to make those transitions.) This is important to understand, as I've seen many users get frustrated with a Harmony remote because it seems to be doing weird things to their system because they manually make a change to the setup (not using the Harmony remote) and things get out of whack because the actual state of the home theater differs from what the Harmony has stored. In essence, once you setup the Harmony, it should be the One and Only remote you use on a day to day basis.
The best thing is, if you have a problem, hit the help button and it runs through the diagnostics to get things setup the way they should be!
PROGRAMMING
My favorite part of a Harmony remote. With most universal remotes, you enter a series of codes to tell the remote what IR signals to send for a particular device. It can be MADDENING if you hit it wrong or have a unique device. With a Harmony remote, you install software to your Mac or Windows PC and then proceed to tell the software what devices you have in your home theater and rather than looking up an IR code, you simply enter the model number.
Once you've entered all your devices, the software suggests a list of activities and then runs through a setup to confirm the settings for those Activities (do you use a Receiver or your TV to control the volume - what input does your Receiver have to be on to listen to the radio, etc.) Once you've confirmed all the settings, you hook your remote up to the computer via USB and it sets everything up. Then you test it. . .
OTHER COOL STUFF
The remote also has a nice LCD screen for displaying the activities as well as custom buttons for your devices. It's not a touch screen, and that's a good thing. . .there are buttons along the edge that are labeled via the LCD screen so they're tactile.
CAUTIONS
Some TVs, particular older ones that require warm up might require tinkering in the software to get to work - adding delays to make sure all the commmands are accepted, etc. Also, this model cannot control the Wii, PS3 and other Bluetooth based systems or RF based control items. (There is an adapter for the PS3, but it ain't cheap.)
MODEL DIFFERENCES
For my money, the 880 is the prime item in the lineup. Lower models (570, 770, etc) have cheaper buttons, less buttons, smaller screens, etc. The 890 is the same model, but includes RF. And I'm just not sure of the Logitech One. . .
Customer Review: Wonderful remote for disabled but NOT for Xmas!! (updated Dec26/05)
Summary: 4 Stars
*Update (Dec27/05):
As per the glowing review I gave previously, I bought this same remote for my partner this Xmas 2005. He has been eagerly trying to setup his Harmony 880 remote 'hourly' since Xmas morning. As of 8:30PM PST on December 27th, he has STILL been unable to do even a basic setup because Logitech's web-based interface cannot handle the high holiday volume. Attempts to access the website initially started with connection times that continued to infinity, to an eventual immediate message indicating 'high server volume - unable to connect'. Without the mandatory web setup, the remote is as useless as a rock right now and cannot even turn on a TV. A look at Logitech's user discussion forum reveals waves of angry consumers and, even there, Logitech has proceeded to delete negative posts from customers claiming that the forum is not a venue for complaints.
My parents (who I bought my first remote for in the review below) still love their remote. I still think the remote, once functioning is a great piece of equipment. But I am now having serious questions about the need for a mandatory web-based setup just to do a first basic setup of the remote. The bottom-line is do not - I repeat DO NOT - consider making this remote a Xmas holiday purchase for your loved ones; if Xmas 2005 is any indication (even as of December 26th!!) your loved one will NOT be able to set up the remote and will be left with a useless piece of metal and an increasingly frustrating experience.
I now rate this a 2 out of 5 stars (except that I can't seem to permanently change the number of stars shown above for some reason).
***
What a wonderful remote. I have tech-unsavvy parents back home, one of whom is disabled and has mobility problems getting to/from the computer in the other room. As a result, I set up a computer / home theatre PC connected to the big-screen TV for easier use. I realized that this was going to provide another level of complexity to the entertainment system ie. switching to video6 on the TV for computer, video3 for TV, video 5 for DVD player, setting the Yamaha receiver to the right setting, etc. Logitech's Harmony remote has been a lifesaver for them.
Totally customizable, I've set up separate buttons for each activity 'ie. Play DVD, Use Computer' etc. The tilt-sensor that recognizes when the remote is picked up saves my disabled dad an extra step. Though the buttons are a bit on the small side, they protrude out enough that my dad has little difficulty pressing the right buttons. Font / photo sizes can be doubled for the vision-impaired. My parents love the remote. Whenever they run into a roadblock, they just press the 'Help' button and it guides them through it. It's so easy now to configure the entire hifi system with a single button push that my mom thinks it's TOO easy and she's worried that she will get so used to it she'll forget how to operate any of the 'normal' remotes manually. Go figure.
A few minor gripes: The remote switches to a slideshow mode of photos automatically when placed in the cradle. I wish there was an option to disable this and not have to push the 'off display' button every time to save LCD screen life, but apparently there isn't. We have not yet had any problems with the remote not sitting in the cradle properly to charge, that some others are reporting. Secondly, when setting up a 'Watch TV' button, after pressing it there is no option to automatically set the first shown screen to 'Channel Favourites'. Instead, it always switches to a text button menu. Having to press the 'Favourites' button separately is an extra burdening step for my disabled dad who has enough trouble with fine motor functions as it is. Lastly is the price... but if you look online (and search Pricegrabber!) you're likely to find at least a couple sources for < $200US, and with the new >$400 models coming out this month (November) the price may drop even further.
Anyways, conclusion: we love it!
Customer Review: Easy to use, powerful, well-built
Summary: 5 Stars
I got this remote almost four years ago in the summer of 2005. I had just purchased my first house, and with it, my first real home entertainment center. There were five remotes, and with a roommate who wasn't into A/V as much as me, I decided I needed a universal remote.
I got this on sale (only $125) and set to programming it. Even then (with the web-based tool), the process was rather easy and the only reason I spent more than half an hour on it was because I was trying to get some timings perfect. Now with the local setup application, things are even easier and intuitive. You will probably misunderstand a couple things your first time through, but it only takes a minute or two to plug it in again and make changes, so no big deal. Keep in mind the application is still web-driven, so the computer must have an active Internet connection.
You will set up Activities, which are just commands executed to accomplish a certain state. My Watch Satellite turns on my TV, selects the input, turns on my receiver, and selects the input. You can immediately go from one Activity to another, and the remote remembers what components are on and how they are configured so it can make the direct change. There is the option to keep a device on all the time (satellite receivers).
Even though the buttons on the remote take care of the majority of commands, they can't encompass everything. Within each activity, you can set the remote to display specific commands on its LCD screen which you select with the same buttons you use to select Activities. If you need to find a seldom-used command, there's no need to hunt for the original remote: press Devices, select the device, and you'll be presented with all the commands that would be available on its remote.
I bought another one of these to use at my parents' lake house and have had a few friends buy them on my recommendation, and I've never heard of a device it didn't recognize. Even if you have a bleeding edge device that isn't yet in the database, you can either select a device by the same manufacturer that is close to it (the command sets are usually very similar) or just train the 880 by using the component's remote.
To address some of the complaints I've seen in other reviews:
- Size of buttons: I have small hands, so I've never had a problem. I can see the number buttons being a tad small, but the main controls (volume, channel, navigate, select, scroll up, scroll down) are all fairly large and in the middle away from other buttons. Before buying any remote, you should go to a store to hold it and see how it feels to you.
- Button placement: I have DISH satellite, watch DVDs, and have a streaming media box. The number buttons are a little far down, but that's because the designers gave so much room for the primary buttons I listed above.
- Cradle/contact: I did have a problem with my remote when I first got it. The contacts didn't always connect to charge it, but I took a metal nail file to the plastic around the contacts and it has now worked almost four years without issue. The one I got for my parents a year ago fits perfectly every time right out of the box, so I believe this has been fixed.
With the advent of touch screen remotes and other technologies, this is by no means the most advanced remote you'll find, but it does the job well and is very easy to use.
Pros
- Offers single-button setup of an entire entertainment system
- Has a very large database of controllable components and can learn commands that are not included in that database
- Programming is easy
- Rechargeable battery means no more buying AAs
- Durable; mine has lasted almost four years with no issues so far
- Ergonomic design is comfortable and makes reaching the main buttons easy
Cons
- Older units did not sit well in the cradle
- Does not have a touch screen
- Buttons might be small for those with large hands/fingers