New Universal Remote Suggestions

swillsy

swillsy

swillsy

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Hi All, Currently using a Harmony 650 which had been great and I've had for like 8+ years however it's struggling with the new devices (like the Sky puck - avoid anyway!) so I'm in a situation where all remotes are now out including universal remote.

What are people using for their remotes nowadays? My setup is an old AV receiver and TV :) half tempted to get rid of the AV receiver and move to a soundbar
 
Nothing great that's new tbh. I've read issues with sofabaton.

Plus everything is going phone app, so it's unlikely a new IR remote will come out. Sucks as mine are starting to play up.

And if they do release a universal it'll be full touchscreen, or online only type setup like Logitechs
 
Sofabaton are well respected as they do bluetooth control as well as IR. (but there are some bad experiences with them)
U2 is pretty good value
X1 has a hub and many more features and integration (but pricy)

I'm no expert and don't have either but have been looking also.
 
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In the market for a new universal remote too - have a number of dedicated remotes for humax-t2 and philips bedroom tv that have become unreliable due to conductive button membrane degrading.

I'm more tempted to get a more basic learning universal remote like
doesn't have macros/app-interface just a database of standard product IR codes and ability to re-assign/learn buttons if you need it
12 month warranty of sofabaton's membrane buttons versus 3 years on the urc1241 one.

e: just scanning this user guideV £34 - usb connection to host device for programmimg
skip-org.gitbook.io

Introduction to Your Skip 1s Remote | Skip Remote Guide

skip-org.gitbook.io skip-org.gitbook.io
 
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jpaul said:
In the market for a new universal remote too - have a number of dedicated remotes for humax-t2 and philips bedroom tv that have become unreliable due to conductive button membrane degrading.

I'm more tempted to get a more basic learning universal remote like
doesn't have macros/app-interface just a database of standard product IR codes and ability to re-assign/learn buttons if you need it
12 month warranty of sofabaton's membrane buttons versus 3 years on the urc1241 one.

e: just scanning this user guideV £34 - usb connection to host device for programmimg
skip-org.gitbook.io

Introduction to Your Skip 1s Remote | Skip Remote Guide

skip-org.gitbook.io skip-org.gitbook.io
Click to expand...

Not too bad if it replaces four remotes might not have all features but way of cutting down coffee table pile of remotes.
 
picked up a one for all urc175 £10 in argos
quality of the buttons seems up there with a panasonic tv remote that's been going strong for 5years, better quality than Humax/stb remotes.
has macros as well as (other ir) learning - just 2 devices tv/stb
I have 2 tv's I wouldn't mind mapping , but, anyway, you can't use a pre-set tv code in another device category (but could learn buttons)


tv mode - some missing buttons and useful (cross-over) STB functions
stop - STB video-format 576i..1080i cmd
record - DVB select
FAV - select favourite DVB channel 704
couldn't remap netflix button

stb mode
netflix button -> radio 4/704
 
Watching this thread with interest. I'm STILL using 2 x Harmony Companion Hubs in my house for all remote duties.

Best remote ever made because it:
1) It doesn't have a touch screen so the battery lasts forever (can't remember the last time I replaced them)
2) No touch screen means all the buttons can be found without looking at the remote
3) Controls both IR and Bluetooth devices without line of sight via the hub (with IR extensions as well)
4) Has enough buttons to do everything you could want
5) Didn't cost an arm and a leg

To be honest since all the harmony software still works, and that you can buy them for sub £100, I'd actually still recommend them over anything else at the moment...
 
RoyMi6 said:
Watching this thread with interest. I'm STILL using 2 x Harmony Companion Hubs in my house for all remote duties.

Best remote ever made because it:
1) It doesn't have a touch screen so the battery lasts forever (can't remember the last time I replaced them)
2) No touch screen means all the buttons can be found without looking at the remote
3) Controls both IR and Bluetooth devices without line of sight via the hub (with IR extensions as well)
4) Has enough buttons to do everything you could want
5) Didn't cost an arm and a leg

To be honest since all the harmony software still works, and that you can buy them for sub £100, I'd actually still recommend them over anything else at the moment...
Click to expand...

Problem if Logitech shuts down servers, the online database and software is then useless so you can't update or modify the remotes. The remotes I use have local software and local IR database (granted it's out of date) but I don't need internet connection/login to modify the remotes. If the IR remotes can be learned then ok. The contact inside are starting to go, which makes me sad these products aren't made anymore. It's all gone phone apps etc, which is rubbish
 
Firestar_3x said:
Had a Harmony Elite for donkey years, going to wait a little while longer, but if all pans out OK with the software then this (Remote Two)
Click to expand...
Had a look at this previously. My concerns are:
1) Why does the charging dock have to be the IR base station? It means I can't have my remote charging next to my seats OR I'm running IR extender cables around the room to get to my AV cabinet...
2) It probably does physically have enough hardware buttons for me personally (I only need a direction pad with select, play/pause, ffw/rwd, volume up/down/mute, back, home, menu) but the lack of dedicated menu button means it's not user friendly for other family members
3) It costs £500... and I'll need two... sigh...

hornetstinger said:
Problem if Logitech shuts down servers, the online database and software is then useless so you can't update or modify the remotes. The remotes I use have local software and local IR database (granted it's out of date) but I don't need internet connection/login to modify the remotes. If the IR remotes can be learned then ok. The contact inside are starting to go, which makes me sad these products aren't made anymore. It's all gone phone apps etc, which is rubbish
Click to expand...
Yeah, 100%. They have said that currently "they plan to support them as long as people are using them" (whatever that actually means...) but I still think the actual features you get from the Harmony Companion Remote and Hub, given it's price even with an unknown support date, are better than the alternatives at the moment.

I'm going to be wrong one day... If you buy it today you might get 5 years of use out of it, if you buy it in 5 years time you might get one day of use out of it... For me I can afford to wait to find the perfect alternative because it costs me nothing - I'm just arguing that the cost to others (found one on Ebay for £60!) is cheap enough to also play that game.
 
Firestar_3x said:
Depends what you want, currently my room is controlled through a tablet.
Click to expand...

It's not too bad, just a couple more. The hard buttons I use a lot and new one would have to have these

Power on
Power off
Vol up and down
Skip and reverse chapter
ffwd/rwd
up, down, left, right and select
Play, pause, stop
Mute
Info, back
One unused button left over for lighting

Then on the screen would be custom buttons etc for each device or activity. Typically 10 buttons would be ok, but some devices have 20 and some have 40 (discrete inputs etc) I like mine as each button on the LCD has it own dedicated button so you can use the screen button without looking at it.
 
RoyMi6 said:
Had a look at this previously. My concerns are:
1) Why does the charging dock have to be the IR base station? It means I can't have my remote charging next to my seats OR I'm running IR extender cables around the room to get to my AV cabinet...
2) It probably does physically have enough hardware buttons for me personally (I only need a direction pad with select, play/pause, ffw/rwd, volume up/down/mute, back, home, menu) but the lack of dedicated menu button means it's not user friendly for other family members
3) It costs £500... and I'll need two... sigh...
Click to expand...

The IR decision is odd but all my gear can be controlled over the network.
 
Aaannnnd we've ended up in the same place as last time then? Nothing else to choose from... Such a shame that it's so slim pickings...

Sofa Baton X1 seems like the closest one to my needs personally, but I can't get over the horrific usability of that back button in the top right hand corner. What absolute muppet came up with that idea?!
 
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