Looking to buy a universal remote. What should I look at? Are there any to stay away from? Something for my Sony KDSR60XBR1,Onkyo 605 and Direct TV H20 receiver.Those are my main things.I also have the the XBOX 360 and PS3,if I could find something to work with thos ealso, that would be great. Thanks for the help.

 

Everyone seems to extol the virtues the Logitechs, but I've been completely happy with my Universal Remote URC-300 "Customizer". I believe the current equivalent model would be their RF30.

 

Logitech Harmony 800.

Love it, guests hate it.

 

Guests shouldn't be handling the remote anyway.

I like the Harmony 1000.

As far as the PS3, since it's Bluetooth, the only way to program a universal remote is buying one of the IR remote packages that plugs into the USB port and then programming your universal remote.

 

I don't like changing/charging batteries. So, I have a Sony RM-VL600. Very easy to use. Some of the buttons are a little bit small but the ones you use most are big and are placed in the right spot.

It is just $25

http://www.remotecentral.com/vl600/index.html


I was going to buy a $100 Logitech but I didn't like the feel of the buttons. And the buttons are small.

The best remote I have used is the one that comes with my Dishnetwork DVR receiver.

 

Logitech Harmony 720

 

Universal MX-900. Blows away any remote in the Harmony lineup, but then again I believe then ANY URC remote blows away any Harmony. Some people love them, but once you try out a URC you will not want to go back. It all depends on how much you want to spend on a remote though. URC, in most cases, will run you a lot more then a Harmony.

 

I have a Harmony 890 and a Harmony 880.

I had a Harmony 1000 but returned it because it sucked.

 

Hmmm. Was it the technology or the feel? I think remotes are like shoes: You need to find one that fits you well.

 

Harmony 670

 

I have the OG Logitech Harmony 659 which has been my favorite remote by far. It's withstood many drops and bites from the dog. Logitech also has a remote specifically for the xbox 360, but you can program any of their remotes to work with xbox 360 or ps3.

 

Who said you can program a Harmony for a PS3? The PS3 utilizes Bluetooth technology for it's remote. I believe some people were able to utilize the remote add-on for the PS2 that uses IR, otherwise you cannot use an IR or RF remote with the PS3. Someone correct me if I am wrong please.

 

I've got two Harmonys and like them...

 

Feel + Lack of Z-Wave + Bugs

 

I've had a Harmony 880 for a couple of years and I like it.
My parents and two ex GF's have been able to use it without supervision with only a few seconds of instructions.

...the real hard part is programming all the devices and getting the delays just right so everything works. Using it isn't that hard, IMO

 

Good point. I own a PS2 and was figuring that PS3 would apply as well, but I forgot about the whole bluetooth factor. Remote Central found a work-around that may not be easy to obtain, but makes IR control possible.
http://www.remotecentral.com/articles/ps3-ir-remote.htm

 

I meant Logitech 890. Ooops.

 

I use the 5-device unviersal remote that came with my SA8300 HD DVR (Rogers Cable). It controls my new Panasonic plasma just fine, and can operate my DVD and audio system as well. I've set it up that pressing Power will turn on the TV and cable box in the right sequence, etc. I rarely watch DVD's, and my audio system stays on 24/7 anyhow (w/ no input signal it goes into sleep mode I believe), so I only set up the remote to control the TV and SA8300 on the default Power-on sequence.

I like the remote because it has (obviously) the exact controls required for the DVR, and I've been using a DVR w/ the same remote for over a year, so I can control it w/o taking my eyes off of the TV.

 

RTI all the way. It's RF and not IR, so I can take it anywhere in the house and it works. It is a bit pricier than the Harmony, but the capabilities are out of control. The only drawback is that to change a programmed setting, I have to get the installers out to my house again.

I have a PS3 as well, and there is no integrating with that thing, the installers tried for days to get it to work. The remote for the PS3 is Bluetooth and the controllers are wireless, so no dice.

 

880 looking to get an 890 pro now...

 

Harmony 880 here. It works really well and is easy to customize for the minimal customization I've needed to do. My wife and kids find it very simple to use.

 

Harmony 670, absolutely love it.

 

880 but wife and guests hate it!

 

What is it with them?

 

Anyone care to share the best place to purchase a Logitech Harmony 880? I found a couple of them on amazon, didn't know if there were other available sources for a cheaper price. Thanks in advance.

 

I did pick up the Harmony 880 on Ebay for $100. It was barely used,it looks brand new,works great

 

My 880 is starting to get a little screwed up. Some of the buttons don't quite work right. In it's defense it gets dropped onto hardwood floor several times a day. Considering what it has been through it holds up well.

 

Carpet flooring FTW!
Actually, I hate having carpets, but my laptop, remotes, camera, and any number of other fragile things would have been destroyed if I didn't have carpets throughout my house (especially the stairs)

 

hmmm..... sounds like some of these universal remotes are not guest friendly? Any super friendly universal remotes that can be figured out by anyone?

 

880 for $120 from Dell:

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...471&lid=566643

 

Is the 880 a good remote? I saw that deal earlier today.


Ok nevermind just read the thread. I may pick this up for xmas.

 

Get it! That is a killer deal. I am considering buying one for the upstairs.

 

Yeah gotta ask the gf to get it for me

I have one plasma, 2 20" tvs, receiver and HD DVR box. I'd assume it support all of those.

 

Actually, yes. I like the universal remote that came with my Yamaha HTR-5840 system, but the one I use the most is a Brookstone Universal Programmable Touchscreen remote. (Link is to one being sold on eBay.)



Because the buttons for each of 8 components is customizable, both in what the buttons are used for, but also what buttons can be "hidden," you can have a "dumb visitor" mode which only has the buttons they need: stop, play, pause, << and >>, |<< and >>|, master volume, etc. I have my DVD component programmed with buttons for all DVD-related functions, including changing decoding formats on the amp, setting the aspect ratio on the TV, etc. Every button has 4-5 image options (what they represent) and can be programmed for anything. Oh, there's a macro learning facility, too, but I've never bothered to used that. Supposedly, I could program a single macro to turn on all 3 (tv, amp, DVD), select the DVD input on the amp, then press play on the DVD. Nice backlighting, too, not too intrusive during lights-out movie watching.

I'm sorry to see that Brookstone doesn't sell it (or the later revision, which boasted even more buttons per component, via "pages") anymore. Pity. Damn good remote. Helps if you have a stylus or PDA-tip pen to use with it.

 

Damn good find on the dell website...

 

Universal MX-850 love it!

Never used a harmony though...

 

couldnt resist.... I picked it up.

 

Well, been a couple weeks since I've had the 880. what can I say..... AWESOME remote. My only complaint is the size of some of the buttons (too small). But I am getting used to them. It was a breeze to program. Connecting it via USB to my home PC (with vista) was smooth as can be. Best of all, wife figured out the remote in minutes.

 

Harmony 880 FTW!

 

don't you guys miss being able to change the channel or volume w/o looking at the remote?
i have the standard remote with the physical buttons. i know that i feel my way around it and know what to push.

do you find it difficult to push the right button w/o looking at the remote?