The Ultimate Remote [?]

[FuZzYknUckLeS]

For years now, I have been seeking the perfect remote control. The one that will let me get rid of the 5 or 6 that I typically need to operate my setup. I have come close, but it always seems you need to dig out a remote at some point to make adjustments to things. TV colour adjustment. Switch inputs on the TV. Change the sound field on the AV Processor. That sorta shit. I never had any luck. Until now.
Meet the Logitech Harmony 659.

This thing does it all. And more. Controls every component just like the original remotes. Fully backlit. Even somehow downloads the TV guide and displays it in the little LCD screen, without my having to connect it to anything. One button, it turns on all the components I need to watch a movie. One button turns them all off. Same for watching TV. Or listening to CDs. Or the radio. And the real cool thing is, you set it all up online. Connect it to yer PC via USB, go to their website and set up an account. Tell the site what components you own, including make and model #, how you have them all connected, it compiles all the shit for you and BAM! It uploads the programming into the remote for you and yer good 2 go. If you change anything, simply go to the website, make the change, even if you change the entire configuration, and it will revise all the settings and upload the new ones for you. Around $.5 at Futurecrap.

This thing is blowin' my fuckin' mind.

 

[gravitas]

This thing is blowin' my fuckin' mind.

Have you already picked one up and are using it? If so I'm very interested as the old Philips Pronto I was using in one of the guest bedrooms just packed it in and I'm not keen on the idea of dropping $650 for something that only gets used a few times a year.

Gratzi

 

[FuZzYknUckLeS]

gravitas, yes, I'm using it. Taking me a while to program in all the custom soundfields for the AV Receiver, but it's time well spent. I'm totally luvin' this thing.

Tha Bounce, the HK remote is nice, but I can prolly get 2 of my Logitech units for the price of that fucker. Also, I'll take backlit buttons over a colour display screen any day. The Logitech does come with a colour display for about double the price. I actually laffed at the Futurecrapper dude when he told me that.

Here's the Logitech version of the HK Unit, sans colour screen:

One thing I just thought of. This puppy takes four AAA batteries. It would be nice to have the recharchable unit that comes with a docking station. It's 3 bills.

 

[gravitas]

Check this out...

Looks kewl and seems to do all the shit I'd want but for a unit that hardly gets used pretty f'in pricy. Also a little grizzed at HK these days so I'll prob take a pass.

gravitas, yes, I'm using it. Taking me a while to program in all the custom soundfields for the AV Receiver, but it's time well spent. I'm totally luvin' this thing

Thx, I appreciate the comments

One thing I just thought of. This puppy takes four AAA batteries. It would be nice to have the recharchable unit that comes with a docking station. It's 3 bills.

I have mixed feelings about that. One of the reasons I went to a universal remote is so I had less shit left around. I bought the cradle for the NG and used it twice till I was sick of having to dust the fucking thing. A set of 4 AAA's last a couple of months so no big deal

 

[Anna]

OMG.. i dreamt last night, i bought this dude a remote, hahaha.. weird how theres a thread about remotes.. to high tech for me

 

[FuZzYknUckLeS]

OMG.. .. to high tech for me

we really need to hook up sometime...

 

[hulala0219]

Remote Control....Ever watched the movie by Adam Sandler " Click"???
It's not bad..

 

[hitrack]

I found that no matter how fancy-dancy a remote ya got ya still need to pick up the original to atleast one of your stereo components during the time your watching movies.

 

[gravitas]

need to pick up the original to atleast one of your stereo components during the time your watching movies.

nope.....in both the upstairs family room and downstairs entertainment room everything (all the components, TV, lighting and in the case of the family room the fireplace) with the pronto.....mind you it took a fair bit of fucking around to get it to work but once set up its the cat's ass

 

[hitrack]

nope.....in both the upstairs family room and downstairs entertainment room everything (all the components, TV, lighting and in the case of the family room the fireplace) with the pronto.....mind you it took a fair bit of fucking around to get it to work but once set up its the cat's ass

Yah well I bet ya can't program it to scratch yer ass!!!!!

 

[gravitas]

Yah well I bet ya can't program it to scratch yer ass!!!!!

no, but thats why I have you

 

[Penhold]

For years now, I have been seeking the perfect remote control. The one that will let me get rid of the 5 or 6 that I typically need to operate my setup. I have come close, but it always seems you need to dig out a remote at some point to make adjustments to things. TV colour adjustment. Switch inputs on the TV. Change the sound field on the AV Processor. That sorta shit. I never had any luck. Until now.
Meet the Logitech Harmony 659.

This thing does it all. And more. Controls every component just like the original remotes. Fully backlit. Even somehow downloads the TV guide and displays it in the little LCD screen, without my having to connect it to anything. One button, it turns on all the components I need to watch a movie. One button turns them all off. Same for watching TV. Or listening to CDs. Or the radio. And the real cool thing is, you set it all up online. Connect it to yer PC via USB, go to their website and set up an account. Tell the site what components you own, including make and model #, how you have them all connected, it compiles all the shit for you and BAM! It uploads the programming into the remote for you and yer good 2 go. If you change anything, simply go to the website, make the change, even if you change the entire configuration, and it will revise all the settings and upload the new ones for you. Around $.5 at Futurecrap.

This thing is blowin' my fuckin' mind.

Got two (one for each system). Tried it on the simpler system and wished I had taken both back before I lost the damn receipt!

I started on the simple system first as it should have been fairly simple. First, it took a long time to download new drivers and software updates (on ADSL). Then a number of attempts to setup the various options for each piece of equipment (and to find the sub-menus that allow you to keep different pieces of equipment on when you switch from one mode to another). When I finally got everything working the way the system was intended, not all features of all remotes were available - so I find I am still always reaching for the individual remotes. Still have problems with it when something is on when it thinks its off and vice-versa (especially with equipment that uses the "power" switch to toggle between on and off).

Frankly, I've thrown it aside and went back to using the three remotes so that all of the features of each piece of equipment were more readily available.

Based on this experience, haven't bothered even trying it with the more complicated system as it has more than twice as many components.

The Harmony is definitely much, much better than what was available a couple years ago. However, it still can't replace all of the individual remotes for some systems.