Logitech Harmony 555 - Any good?

I know this is an old thread. But I got one recently to replace FIVE remotes that I had to use to control everything.

It is awesome. Spend some time setting it up properly and it is great. To watch TV before, I needed 3 remotes, now I press 2 buttons and it all starts up (it can be a little slow, like 5 seconds) but it is so much easier to have one remote. It is AWESOME. Great £50 spent!
 
Thanks for the reply.

Was still undecided between this and a higher model.

For £50, sounds like you cant go wrong.
 
Gimpymoo said:
Thanks for the reply.

Was still undecided between this and a higher model.

For £50, sounds like you cant go wrong.
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Definitely. I did some minor changes to my setup tonight (as they were a bit weird with the V+, by weird, they worked, but the default layout was weird) and now it is even better.

As I mentioned, the activities can be a bit slow starting the devices up (Watch TV for me involves 3 devices for example) but it is definitely no slower than picking up 3 seperate remotes to turn on, and a hell of a lot easier.

It might take a little while getting used to. I haven't yet found myself having to use any of the other controllers because the Harmony won't do what I want, which is great, but I think general tweaking as time goes by might be necessary to make sure it all works. For example, I haven't watched a DVD yet, and I often have to change the sound settings to my liking for this. So more tweaking might be needed if I can't make those sound changes with the Harmony when a DVD is playing. It is kinda fun though :)

All in all, for £50, you can't go wrong, 5 controllers down to 1, and if you have a remote controlled oven, it even works with that!!!! :p

I have gone on a bit now. To summarise what I am saying in two words. Buy it!!

:D
 
On line setup wizard configurator is rubbish...designed for noobs. But not very powerful. Pronto editor and MX editor are far more powerful. Still for £50...

I need macros on any location, wanted off-line editor, and total flexibility, so I went for a more expensive remote.
 
badbob said:
On line setup wizard configurator is rubbish...designed for noobs. But not very powerful. Pronto editor and MX editor are far more powerful. Still for £50...

I need macros on any location, wanted off-line editor, and total flexibility, so I went for a more expensive remote.
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I thought it was great. You say it is for 'noobs', but why should it not be?

I bought it because I read it was easy to setup, which it was, it controlled everything I have, which it does, and it does what it says on the tin (plastic), which it does.
Not sure what you mean by 'macros on any location', but for the average joe with a home cinema setup the 555 is perfect. Well done for spending more.
 
I'm just saying as I see it, for someone with a more complex system the Logitech's are too basic. Can you put macros on any button you like, including those with IR commands? Have short cuts on any button, including within the macro? Create your own activities, with any button from any device in that activity (again macros and short cuts anywhere in that activity)

Can you configure off line, without the need to plug the remote to your computer? Can you save all your settings on your computer? The URC is only slightly more...but worth it if you need the flexibility.
 
I am currently aiming for one of these when I build my HTPC, but have read elsewhere that they feel rather "plasticy" and the buttons are fiddly (difficult to push because they are so small, etc.)

The spec looks great, but is the build quality really that poor? Or are people just exaggerating on certain review sites? :confused:
 
badbob said:
I'm just saying as I see it, for someone with a more complex system the Logitech's are too basic. Can you put macros on any button you like, including those with IR commands? Have short cuts on any button, including within the macro? Create your own activities, with any button from any device in that activity (again macros and short cuts anywhere in that activity)

Can you configure off line, without the need to plug the remote to your computer? Can you save all your settings on your computer? The URC is only slightly more...but worth it if you need the flexibility.
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I don't know about Macros, as I don't really have the need for one. However I think you can, as someone on another forums set up a single button to fast forward x32 instead of just x2 (x32 would normally require 4 button presses, this is on a V+ box) Is that what you mean by macro? If so, then yes it can.

Ones with IR commands? You got me there, not sure what you mean. However on the software it does have a button along the lines of "Learn new control from IR remote" or something like that. Could that be it?

Can I create my own activities? Yes.
Can I use any device with any button in those activities? Yes.
Can I set the buttons up however I wish in general? Yes.

Can I configure offline? Don't think so, not a big deal for me however, connected 24/7.
Can I save my settings on my computer? Don't know, don't care. You can download settings that other people have made so I assume you can save them somewhere.

Not bad for £50 hey? :p

How much is this URC you talk of? What is it?
 
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I don't know about Macros, as I don't really have the need for one
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Kinda a daft reply, if you don't know what they are how can you say you don't need/want it? :-/

A macro is a sequence of IR commands sent from the remote when a single button is pressed. For example on the "watch DVD activity" when pressed, it'll send these commands without user intervention. No need to switch TV on, DVD player on, switch inputs, switch av amp on, av amp to that input. All done for you...

TV Power on
DVD power on
TV HDMI number 1 (DVD input)
DVD play
AV amp power amp
AV amp DVD input
Lights 2/10 level
Volume @ -30 dB

Screenshot of MX Editor. on the bottom right is the macro viewer.

macro.jpg


Or anything else you need. URC MX-850 was £90. My dealer is considering giving up Logitech/Harmony retailer because they're a pain to setup (from a CI perspective) Not saving your profile off-line, and having to have the remote at hand, and with net connection can be negative reason (as a CI) Even the CI logitech software doesn't allow you to save to the local HD..all done on line.

Don't know, don't care
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Logitech servers lost the settings for there customers once ...now imagine a CI with dozens of profiles with hundreds of hours spent configuring them, all lost because the CI can't save onto his own HD. Pronto and MX editor are off-line, and allow saving (and multiple versions if you need it) ie a mate has identical remote, so I can easily load his file, configure it, then update his/save it back to file, then load up mine and update. I can also export and import individual devices, so can quickly create a profile from scratch, by importing devices from my other files to what kit is connected (individual devices saved as a file)

A short cut is a link to another page, useful for making the remote easier to navigate. In a "watch TV" activity you'll have the TV normal controls, but I add "goto DVD" which basically is the same as "watch DVD" activity, but it also opens up the DVD activity page...a bit like a short cut to a directory in windows (whilst also doing macro commands) URC MX-850 here

http://www.universalremote.com/product_detail.php?model=38

URC software policy now stinks- they don't give out the full updatable software to end users, only CI's...but you can find it anyway ;-)

You can spend quite a bit of money on remote controls...Creston remotes are in the four figure range! :-O Local dealer has just got the £250 Harmony One, looks pretty good but the buttons are too flat against the main housing.
 
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Well, in that case. It does have macros. For me, that MX editor looks a nightmare. I love the ease of use the Logitech software provides.

Have you ever actually used the Logitech software out of interest?

£250 is a ridiculous amount for a remote control, and defintely overkill for my needs.

Even £90 for me, I would never pay that for a remote unless it controlled my whole house, made breakfast, run the bath!

£50, easy to use software and it does everything I need. Poi-fect!!
 
Yes I've used the Logitech software- I found it infurating, it's designed for people to tell them what they want to do, unlike a pro who knows what they want the remote to do. Try using the Pronto software. Looks hard to use, but more far more powerful. It's the same principle as Windows MCE versus Media Portal...MCE "does the job" but it's just too basic.

£250 is a ridiculous amount for a remote control
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Creston remotes are something like £4000. I agree I think that's silly, but if you're a millionaire...can controle devices with serial com port protocol, but my av pre-amp has it. Pioneer plasmas do, as does oppo HDMI switcher and new DVD player.

It does have macros
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Use them, then...if you power on/off, switch inputs then that can be done automatically. Why buy a learning/macro remote and not use it?
 
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