Spec me a remote

[CaptainRAVE]

Looking at better remote solutions for tv, Sky, home cinema etc.

Came across the Logitech harmony collection. Any good?

Are there any better solutions that I haven't considered e.g. apps?

 

[lucid]

Apps promise a lot but rarely deliver until you're spending north of £500 (yes, seriously). Much depends though on your expectations and experience of other solutions. I've sat with customers who were just dying for any reason to use their smart phone or iPad for 'yet another thing'. It doesn't matter to them that the software isn't that good or the layout is unfriendly, they're just looking for an excuse to play with their favourite toy

I have other customers who have been there, done it and decided that using a smart device actually gets in the way of the primary function which is to control the system with the absolute minimum of fuss. They're the ones who see the value in a bespoke remote control solution. Harmony's aren't in that league, but they're a useful first step.

 

[pepp77]

The harmony ultimate remote control is brilliant. IR, RF and Bluetooth courtesy of the included hub. It will control pretty much anything you can stick under a to as well as the tv.

I wouldn't go back to normal remotes after using one harmony or another over the past half decade.

Just remember it is focuses on activities and not devices, so when you press watch a bluray it will control the Tv, the bluray player and the amp, turning them all on and go the correct input. Volume buttons will do amp, play pause etc will do bluray commands. Change to watch tv and channel buttons are for tv, volume will be amp or tv depending on which you tel it you use in this activity.

End of night press off and everything turns off.

Edit.

My current activities are

TiVo - Virgin Media
PS3 - via an adapter as I have the older touch model (no hub)
Roku
XBox One
Smart Hub

Using the following devices
Samsung tv
Sony amp
TiVo
PS3
Roku
Xbox one

Considering adding a hub to give ps4 and wii control as well in the future.

 

[CaptainRAVE]

Thanks for the responses, the harmony remotes are certainly tempting, especially with the current reductions. Will see how I get on with my current setup for a little longer before deciding.

That is also useful information about the activity aspect, didn't realise it was focussed in that way.

 

[craig_t]

I'm just re decorating my room and was thinking about this same thing. I think harmony may be the way to go for this for sure, from what I've read previously.