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Universal Remotes
BadAccident
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So I recently lost the remote to my 50'' Samsung DLP TV and I'm looking for a suitable replacement.
I'm just wondering if anyone has had any experience with universal remotes and possibly has any recommendations?
I'm just wondering if anyone has had any experience with universal remotes and possibly has any recommendations?
BadAccident on
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As an aside, there are about three other threads on this subject within the first two pages of this forum. Should have the info you need without waiting for responses.
Amazon has them up for about 75 bucks right now if you don't mind a refurb unit. 130 if you do.
The above is true except for the 1000.
Comments like this make me think that the conventional wisdom of all Harmony remotes being the same to set-up is incorrect; the 880 is a breeze to set up, and the software is ridiculously easy to use. This is especially true when compared to traditional universals.
1: Press source selection
2: Scroll to the correct source using up and down arrows
3: confirm source
I can't, so the Harmony only uses the down arrow and scrolls down the entire long list whenever it tries to get to the DVD player on HDMI1.
EDIT: And TBH you don't even need to do that. If I start watching tv by hitting the Watch TV activity, and then later want to switch to a dvd, Activities -> Watch DvD switches everything around, and leaves components that are already on and in the correct setting alone. Again, you are either setting it up incorrectly or you aren't talking about the 880.
I have the 550, and found the software easy to use.
Also, I've found with a little ingenuity there is very little you can't do on it.
EDIT: Though I haven't run into any device limit yet...just have a TV/OXbox/Receiver/DVD/Blu-Ray/Cable though.
If I understand right, this is an unfortunate problem with your TV. The Harmony can replicate every command your components original remote can do. I remember on my original set up for my remote it asked if my TV had individual input buttons. I know that my dads Mistubishi TV wants you to go to a list of inputs to choose from.
If another remote can do what you want, then I guess I don't understand what you want to do.
But no matter what the wizard sets up for you, you can change everything. So you want a button to scroll through the inputs, what is stopping you from having the Harmony send that command connected to any hard or soft button?
And yes, the Harmony software is a pain in the ass when it comes to load times. Sometimes its menu layout is made for the lowest common denomenator. But it fucking works.
What type of configurations?
The hostility was unnecessary, Zell. The problem is not with the Harmony or its software, as I can literally walk to my living room and do exactly that.
Actually I did. And I indicated the problem you are having has nothing to do with the remote or its software, as it is quite capable of doing exactly what you described. It isn't other people's fault if your equipment or the manner in which you have the software set up doesn't allow you to fully utilize the capabilities of the thing.
And the jailed thing was a cheap shot, and was edited out. You're just blazing on the responses.
Edit: also while this TV will get replaced soon, I'm just pointing out, the Harmony can't do everything and has (annoying) limitations. Every other device I've gotten to work perfectly, flaws with the default setup aside.
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Holy shit! Sony's new techno toy!
Wii Friend code: 1445 3205 3057 5295
There's no announced timetable, for the Harmony's or any other universal that I'm aware of. If you go here you can get a breakdown of the 4 converters you can use to make your PS3 accept IR commands.
EDIT: These seem to be the best option in terms of cost and effectiveness. It plugs into one of the front USB ports on the PS3, and away you go. The basic model is about 35 bucks, a hell of a lot better than some of the other options.
Thanks for the help. I bought the PS3 remote back at launch with my PS3 when it was the only option besides the controller. I'm content to use it for now since my family members are a bit abusive on remotes. For this reason I haven't purchased a replacement Harmony yet. I went through the "trouble" of programming my cable box remote to control everything on my TV, including switching between all 7 inputs.
Uh...
Look up 4 posts.
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I've been configuring it a few times and ran into a roadblock trying to change settings. Most recently, having the remote not change the TV to channel 3 every time I select "Watch TV". I never change the TV's channels (I use a cable box), so this is an unnecessary step. The only thing I can change in the software is "TV must be on channel 03", when what I really want is a list of commands the remote sends whenever I select "Watch TV".
This is typical of the issues I've had with the software. It's not preventing me from making the remote usable, but it is preventing me from tweaking it the way I'd like.
Works great.
Does your TV have an IR signal/command to make it go backwards through the list?
Its hard for me to picture what happens in your software right now. Lets say you are watching TV (receiver input TV, TV input TV). To watch a DVD, you press 'Watch DVD', your receiver goes to input DVD, a menu on yout TV opens, it scrolls to input DVD automatically, and voila?
Maybe the Hamrony can't do what you want, but have you called their support? That would be the only way to know for sure. I've heard good things about them, sometimes even importing their own code to make you happy.
I haven't done an indepth from scratch setup in a while. I know that my TV "switches" to video 3 every time (video 3 pops up every time the activity is changed), but this sounds like something you should be able to remove. I'll look into it when I have some more time. Sometimes another set of eyes, as well as using the website can make a difference.
Again though, Harmony tech support is able to make all sorts of changes for you. It doesn't hurt to give them a call, it won't cost you any money, and they might do what you want.
Whoa, I could have sworn I read the entire thread.
Sure, it can't do everything. It's not like I sell the damned things.
And honestly once the activities were set up correctly I didn't even need to use them anymore. But, if I did, the arrows are right there.
the 'feature' where it lights up when you get nearby is a bit creepy tho.
Yeah, 550 is the same. Half the time if I'm just walking by to get a drink of water at 4:30 in the morning, it lights up...but if I actually pick it up and want to adjust some setting on my TV, I have to hit a button.
Still, love it. And I've only had to change my batteries once this year. The battery thing is kind of a non-issue.
Also, how does it work with DVRs, as far as scrolling around and selecting stuff? It sounds a lot like its principal use is setting up components and not navigating menus.
The database that the Harmony pulls from for IR codes is obscenely huge. Even if, somehow, it does not have the codes in it's system you can very easily teach it the codes if you have the original remote.
That being said, the PS3 uses bluetooth and the Harmony line uses IR (except for the 1000 which uses RF). There is an adapter (Nyko?) out there for a PS3 remote that plugs an IR receiver into a USB port. It will allow you to do everything but power the PS3 on I think.
As for DVRs, it works super awesome keen! The replay button |<< skips backwards, the skip button >>| skips forward, the rew button << rewinds constantly, and the fwd button >> fast forwards. The original setup is easy. You just need to know your components model names and what inputs everything uses. To tweak the remote (decide what buttons you want on the screen, choose a background because lets face it you want a custom one, input images for your favorite channels, etc) takes some time.
$80 for an 880. It's the lowest priced color screen model (I think). Just get it!
My favorite soft button (on the screen) is Recorded Shows. Thanks to macro commands (a series of commands from one button press) it will automatically go through Dish's menu system to the shows I have recorded. It's just one button press instead of two, but I love it. Does anyone else have a great button set up? How about a good background?
Here is a site with a lot of high res icons built for the One and the 1000.
http://www.iconharmony.com/icons/
This site has icons and backgrounds or the 880.
http://squareworld.com/harmony/
If you want to make your own background, they have some very good templates to start with.
I've got some of m own backgrounds that I'll post later. They just aren't on this computer.
That sort of blows. If I'm dropping close to $100, it better replace all my remotes. If not, I'd just as soon pay $20 for something that still replaces all but one remote but isn't quite as pretty.
while the principle selling point is the ability to turn on any configuration of your HT with two button presses (activities->watch tv/dvd/whatever) instead of having to change all the inputs manually, the really underlooked feature is the device button. if you want to change your receiver to movie sound config then you just hit the device button, pick the receiver, and then you can scroll through every option the theater's remote would have on it.
basically while the remote may not have a hard button to do what you want, it will be available through a soft button on the screen. plus you can have any soft feature displayed default on the screen with each config.
EDIT: jeffe, i just got a 550 for my gf's dad for like $55+shipping. It really isnt worth dropping the money on the new color fancy ones unless you have a lust for gadgets
run activities. Watch TV turns my TV on, sets my TV to the right input, turns my receiver on, sets my receiver to the right input, and makes the remotes buttons control the sat box (except for the volume button which controls my receiver). Watch DVD sets my TV to the right input (turns it on too if it is off), turns my DVD player on (if its off), sets my receiver to the right input (again, turning it on if it was off), and makes the remotes buttons control the DVD player (except for the volume buttons which are still going to the receiver). Each of those activities is one button press.
You can't buy a $20 remote that is...
so easy to set up. The software is very easy to use and it does a lot of the work for you through a wizard.
You can't buy a $20 remote that can...
let anyone use your system without thinking. Having an LCD on your remote is as handy as having one on your MP3 player. Sure you can do without one. But do you want to?
If you think you need a universal remote but don't want to spend nearly a hundred bucks, just get the cheapest Harmony you can find on Amazon. After using mine, having other people use mine, and having bought them as gifts for others, I think it is as much of a requirement in a home theatre as a TV.