Multi remote choice help..

Chandler_90

Chandler_90

Chandler_90

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I've just had my father on the phone having a right go at me for his current media set up..

He has a 30" old Panosonic CRT TV, VM digital (old old black and green box) and a Sony RDR-HX525 HDD/DVD-R.

So basically to watch tv he needs 3 remotes.. and this is driving him up the wall as he is nearly 60 and cannot grasp the concept.

So I'm looking at gettin him a multi remote.. and writing some instructions for him.

Any advice as to which is the best to get?

Many thanks!
 
OK.. there is one product that I think is 100% suited in this situation..

The Logitech Harmony Range..

The only proviso is that you need internet access when setting it up, since all device settings are held online..

But assuming your dad has access, or you do, then this product is probably the best solution..

I'd recommend the Logitech Harmony 525, this is around £50.

The reason they are very very suitable for people who find it all too complicated, is that they use what is termed 'Activity based' control..

Basically, when setting the remote up, you give it a list of all your equipment, then you start setting up activities, such as "Watch a DVD", or "Watch TV", "Record TV"..

For each activity, the setup software leads you through setting it up with easy to understand questions such as "Which device will display the picture for this activity", and "What input does this device need to be on", with drop down menus that are relevant to each device.. it also asks you what to do with devices not being used (i.e. turn them off or leave them)..

This has many advantages, as it 'knows' what state it is currently in, if you change activity, it just does the minimum it needs to do..

It has one stand-by button that turns everything off, and if it gets a bit out of sequence, it has a help button on the remote that will lead you through problem solving it, with questions such as "Is the TV on?" and "Is it on Input 1?" until the sequence is restored..

The setup of the device is very flexible, and you can reassign buttons, etc, and all the usual stuff..

You can also manually control any device, by pressing the 'DEVICES' button and selecting the device on the remote..

It's not perfect, and does rely on you letting it put the devices in and out of standby, and not turning them off at the plug, if your dad switches everything off overnight by the plugs, then it will no doubt get out of sequence regularly and he'd have to use the help all the time.. but left to do the controlling of it all, and it should rarely go wrong..

I've had universal remotes for ages, spent months setting up my Pronto, but always found the missus struggled with it.. I spent an hour setting up the Harmony, and the missus just picked it up straight away..
 
Demon.. thank you very much for the advice.. the remote sounds excellent!
I shall google and check the regular places for this.

I shall update you on progress.

Thanks again!
 
Check the database has codes for your "toggle bit" devices, as you can't learn those. If you don't have toggle bit devices, with your original remotes I'd recommend the URC MX-500- about £50. The MX-700 and MX-850 add PC editor with macro function.

Build quality on the URC is higher than Logitech's. I also dislike the "designed for idiots" Harmony wizard, I prefer the editor on the MX Editor.

Using MX-200, MX-500, MX-700 and MX-850.

Go here for pictures and reviews

http://www.remotecentral.com/reviews.htm
 
badbob said:
Build quality on the URC is higher than Logitech's. I also dislike the "designed for idiots" Harmony wizard, I prefer the editor on the MX Editor.
Click to expand...
I thought exactly that when I first got the Harmony, after years of Pronto's (Still have my TSU6000), it seemed such a dumbed down way of setting up your remote.. perfect for dads though!.

However, having got stacks of AV kit to control, I've completely changed my mind about the Harmonies.. The ease of adding new devices and activities, and now knowing where all the 'advanced' stuff is in the setup, I set my whole remote up in 3 hours, with all the custom stuff I wanted and everything (8 bits of kit) all work perfectly.. it took 3 months on the Pronto to get it 'just right'.. and as I change my kit regularly, I was always disheartened to have to spend many hours tweaking my pronto setup to work properly with the new stuff.

What impresses me most is the way the remote 'knows' what devices are on/off and set to what input etc, and how it clearly just makes up dynamic macro's to switch between activities that I think makes the harmony range most suited for all the family to use..

Each to their own..
 
Ive spent years with all the different Pronto's and tbh, the Harmony 555 is much better, eventually you get bored of wasting months on getting a pronto setup right and pretty, id rather spend the time watching/listening to stuff on my rack!

The Harmony is dumbed down, but still has enough geek features tbh.I paid £30 for my 555 of another forum,and its been superb(lasts longer on batteries too:p) i did briefly opt for the 885, but i found the colour display to be really poor, and i couldnt see what it offered over the 555 in reality.
 
Does anyone know if the Harmony 555 works with Virgin Media remotes, including all the record and play functions for V+?

I am getting bored of 1 remote for TV, 1 remote for V+, 1 remote for sound and 1 remote for DVD.

EDIT: I have answered my own question through Google. :)
 
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Another thumbs up for Harmony remotes from me. Whilst it can be frustrating to setup sometimes, this is usually down to the quirks of the device. For instance, my Samsung AV receiver is a pain in the a** to setup. Phoned Logitech and was put throught to their second level support. The guy spent his time trying to understand the problem and after 45 minutes, had it all up and running. :D
 
To be honest i wouldn't recommend using macros and activities to your dad unless he really needs them. It's likely that he'll have to end up resynchronising with activities which aims to confuse the non-technical minded. Ask him what features he wants to control with the remote and get a really basic one that does the job easily and reliably, preferably without the need for an internet connection. My parents only change the channel, volume and record the odd programme and a cheap catalogue store remote serves them well.
 
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