Which Logitech Harmony remote?

ssmacc · 17 Sep 2011 at 19:01

Radiation said:
I wanted the 650 but only if i could get it for around £30, got tired of looking for an offer so went for the cheap 300 version for £17, sure it doesn't have the screen or more than one basic macro but to be honest i doubt i would really use those and it sounds like they could fail to work properly, should have better battery life as well.

As far as I know the 300 is a different class of remote, it doesn't do anything the other harmony remotes can, it's just a basic all in one remote (although if thats all you want then i guess its great for your needs)

Phill4321 · 17 Sep 2011 at 20:23

Just ordered a harmony 700. Hope its good. Will be using it to control my projector, av receiver and xbmc powered htpc. Also bought a HP ir receiver for the htpc. Does anyone know how well the remotes work with xbmc?

ivrytwr3 · 17 Sep 2011 at 23:14

so have we decided which one is best? I am clueless with these remotes and am swaying towards the harmony one.

Radiation · 18 Sep 2011 at 13:01

ssmacc said:
As far as I know the 300 is a different class of remote, it doesn't do anything the other harmony remotes can, it's just a basic all in one remote (although if thats all you want then i guess its great for your needs)

It's just missing the screen and activitys plus only controls 4 devices, it has similar button customization and physical shape as the others though which is the main thing.

Phill4321 · 18 Sep 2011 at 15:05

ivrytwr3 said:
so have we decided which one is best? I am clueless with these remotes and am swaying towards the harmony one.

I don't think there's a best remote as such. Just important to pick one with the features you need at a price point you find acceptable.

pabloh20 · 19 Sep 2011 at 09:53

Phill4321 said:
Just ordered a harmony 700. Hope its good. Will be using it to control my projector, av receiver and xbmc powered htpc. Also bought a HP ir receiver for the htpc. Does anyone know how well the remotes work with xbmc?

The harmony remotes work fine with xbmc. You can also download a keyboard set up, so that you can add whatever keys you like. Useful for subtitles, changing audio, etc

alchemistkevin · 19 Sep 2011 at 11:46

ivrytwr3 said:
so have we decided which one is best? I am clueless with these remotes and am swaying towards the harmony one.

If you can afford it, get the one. You won't spend any time wishing you'd got the one if you're not having any job with the cheaper ones.

MeMeMeMe · 20 Sep 2011 at 10:18

Radiation said:
It's just missing the screen and activitys plus only controls 4 devices, it has similar button customization and physical shape as the others though which is the main thing.

It's the activities that make Harmony remotes so useful. Without them, you have to switch each device on and off individually. You can't touch one button, and have it switch on the tv and set to the right input, switch on the htpc, and audio system, then press the off button and have it power them all down in one go.

Martynt74 · 20 Sep 2011 at 11:31

Torch [P4];20090427 said:
just purchased a 1000 off av forums so looking forward to getting that all setup

A beautiful looking remote, my only complaint was that the screen was quite unresponsive on the one i had which promted me to sell it quite soon after

alchemistkevin · 20 Sep 2011 at 12:38

Yeah I had one as well - sold it after a week or so, it's looks good on the coffee table but isn't ergonomic at all.

Participant · 20 Sep 2011 at 15:27

525 here, got it for £20 last year some time. It is controlling an Onkyo AV amp, V+ box, LG TV, and an HTPC and is the best piece of kit in my living room on a value for money basis

.

Press 'Watch TV' - Harmony switches on TV, amp, V+ box and knows to use the av amp to adjust volume. The record button records shows on V+, the menu, guide and coloured buttons all work wonderfully, and it is very unfussy in terms of direction.

Then if I fancy some GTA IV on my HTPC...press the 'Use HTPC' activity, it leaves the TV and amp on, puts the V+ box on standby, and wakes the HTPC from sleep, all with one button press. I could even add an activity 'Play GTA IV' and it would load the game for me too.

Outstanding at twice the price.

Radiation · 21 Sep 2011 at 13:55

Just got the harmony 300 delivered, set it all up how i want, it looks nice and feels at first like it will sit nice in your hand but when it comes to reaching for buttons it starts to fail, the buttons are too small and spaced too far apart, the sky hd remote is better, im glad i didn't waste money on the higher spec models which have the same basic design, oh well at least it will replace the tv, bluray and amp remote which look rubbish.

If logitech revised the button layout and size, shortened the remote so everything is in reach and made it so it sits more comfortably in your hand they would have a winner, the basic style is nice it's just far from ideal.

Participant · 21 Sep 2011 at 13:59

I agree the buttons are small, especially the number buttons. I also dislike the clicky central arrow buttons. However this is easily overlooked because the functionality and flexibility is just stupendous.

Radiation · 21 Sep 2011 at 14:40

I think i was also right about the activity's not being all that great, it's only got one which turns devices on and switches to the correct input for sky, already it's gone out of sync as my amp failed to turn on, it does have a poor receiving area though to be fair, is there any way i can improve it with a lens/reflectors or something?

Participant · 21 Sep 2011 at 15:30

Radiation said:
I think i was also right about the activity's not being all that great, it's only got one which turns devices on and switches to the correct input for sky, already it's gone out of sync as my amp failed to turn on, it does have a poor receiving area though to be fair, is there any way i can improve it with a lens/reflectors or something?

- Create more activities.
- If it's out of sync you weren't pointing it in the right direction.
- These remotes are far more tolerant to pointing in the wrong direction than most remotes.
- Mine's got an excellent receiving area.

Radiation · 21 Sep 2011 at 18:41

Im liking it more as im getting used to it but those issues are still a bit disappointing, for some reason it will turn the amp on with the tv and sky but not off even when i make sure to point at it, also i set favourite button 4 to component input on the tv and it doesn't change, even though the other 3 work in switching to different hdmi inputs, i have no idea why, it's all setup correct on the myharmony site?

valve90210 · 21 Sep 2011 at 19:47

If it's not turning your amp off it might be that you need to look for a different power off code for the amp.

Vanquish-Storm · 22 Sep 2011 at 00:17

Robbie G said:
525 here, got it for £20 last year some time. It is controlling an Onkyo AV amp, V+ box, LG TV, and an HTPC and is the best piece of kit in my living room on a value for money basis .

Press 'Watch TV' - Harmony switches on TV, amp, V+ box and knows to use the av amp to adjust volume. The record button records shows on V+, the menu, guide and coloured buttons all work wonderfully, and it is very unfussy in terms of direction.

Then if I fancy some GTA IV on my HTPC...press the 'Use HTPC' activity, it leaves the TV and amp on, puts the V+ box on standby, and wakes the HTPC from sleep, all with one button press. I could even add an activity 'Play GTA IV' and it would load the game for me too.

Outstanding at twice the price.

Where did you get your 525 from if you dont mind me asking?

picnic · 22 Sep 2011 at 10:25

The Harmony Link looks interesting if you already have an iPad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnY5nKv-eKw&feature=player_embedded

Participant · 22 Sep 2011 at 11:50

Vanquish-Storm said:
Where did you get your 525 from if you dont mind me asking?

Actually my brother got it for my birthday and I believe it came from [edit - probably can't say that, suffice to say the deal is no longer there], the product was EOL hence the deal.