Perfect Remote? Does it exist?

bcurrey

I'm having trouble finding a good remote. I don't feel like my needs warrant anything fancy, but I just can't find anything and was hoping you guys might be able to point me in a direction.

Currently, I have a Harmony 880, and I just don't like it. I've had it about a year and just can't memorize the feel of the buttons. I'm always looking down trying to find the volume button (which is way to small IMO) and always hitting the wrong #'s on the keypad. I prefer the dishnetwork remote over the 880 about 90% of the time.

What I like about the 880 is that I can press a button and it automatically go to the HDMI input option that's needed to do whatever I'm wanting to do.

Here's the items I need to be able to control: Samsung TV, Dishnetwork box, and a Yamaha RX-V673. Ability to control a PS3 would be an added bonus, but not required.

Any ideas on some good options? Sounds like my two biggest needs are good layout and user defined macros. I keep reading good stuff on the Harmony One, but it just seems like more than I need.

Thanks!

EndersShadow

The Harmony one is one of THE BEST remotes I have ever owned. With that said it takes time to really unleash the full potential by programming the LCD screen buttons to what you need.

They do make other Harmony remotes, some of which are now just simple remotes (no screen) that allow you to utilize an app on your phone for custom buttons. (review of that product here)

To me I plan to keep my Harmony remote until it dies, and may even pick up a couple more as backups just in case.

Irrenhaus

EndersShadow wrote: »

The Harmony one is one of THE BEST remotes I have ever owned. With that said it takes time to really unleash the full potential by programming the LCD screen buttons to what you need.

They do make other Harmony remotes, some of which are now just simple remotes (no screen) that allow you to utilize an app on your phone for custom buttons. (review of that product here)

To me I plan to keep my Harmony remote until it dies, and may even pick up a couple more as backups just in case.

+1

I really love my Harmony also, but it takes time to now it.......

Cheers

zane77

I've got two Harmony One's and that' the best I have found so far.

Conradicles

Harmony 650 may surprise you. Perfect for your needs and better in hand feel than the 880.

AsSiMiLaTeD

I created a thread here on the Harmony Smart Hub, which I think is the best consumer remote control system ever made, have a look at that.

chumlie

I seem to remember when I was growing up, my Father had the perfect remote. Voice controlled, Even fetched drinks and snacks.

txcoastal1

Must have been the chumlie CR120, my dad had a similar one too

chumlie

txcoastal1 wrote: »

Must have been the chumlie CR120, my dad had a similar one too

Had 5 back-ups too.

Toolfan66

The harmony one is easy IMO, it was fun setting it up...

F1nut

Tried Harmony, absolutely hated it. Can't stand the way it wants to group things because that's not always the way I want to do things. I love the old Sony RM-VL900 as I have absolute control.

Hermitism

F1nut wrote: »

Can't stand the way it wants to group things because that's not always the way I want to do things.

Were you singing Christmas carols tonight? The rhyming kind?

cmy330go

I've used 4 different Harmony models. The one I liked by far the least was the 880. The channel and volume buttons, as you said, are too small and kind of oddly placed. Plus the buttons had a rather cheap feel to them. For a few years now I've been using the 670 in my HT system. It's been very solid. I've also setup and used the new Harmony One for my parents. Though I'm not a fan of touchscreen, it's use is kept to a minimum, and the layout of the basic buttons is far better than the 880. I also just the other day setup a 650 for my bedroom system. Even though it's cosmetically quite different from the others I've used, it took almost no time at all to get used to it. For what you're doing I think the 650 would be your best bet. I got mine from Amazon for only $59. I'd say give one a shot. At least with Amazon's simple returns you won't be out anything if you don't like it.

jbooker82

I just use the remote that comes with my onkyo receiver. You put in the model number of the equipment you want to control and it downloads the codes and flashes them to the remote.

seabeerob213

chumlie wrote: »

I seem to remember when I was growing up, my Father had the perfect remote. Voice controlled, Even fetched drinks and snacks.

and when it didnt work, a light smack would usually make it immediately responsive, and faster too

mantis

For a consumer level remote , nothing on the market is going to beat the Harmony line. You might want to look into the rest of the line and see if you can find one you like. If Not

Seek out a customer integrator and get a Universal Remote brand MX series remote. Right now the best bang for the buck is the MX780. It's a wonderful fully custom remote that can be programmed anyway you like.
A nice step up if you like the color screen is the mx880. This comes with a rechargeable battery and has a slightly bigger screen. It also has a different feel. They retail around 499.99.
Another really nice solid remote which I have 2 of as I found the best value in is the mx900. This is the tried and true of our industry and has been sold more then any other Universal remote in our Custom History. I think it's aroung $449.99 or so. Sometimes you might see it for $399.99 depending on if there is a sale or not.

All above remotes have to be programmed my a Certified Universal Remote Programmer, no customer level software for these remotes.

If you want a alternative , you can look at the mx450 which I hate but you might like. It's a hand program remote and not that good IMO. The older version is the mx350 which is even worse.

bcurrey

Thanks for all the responses! Lots of good stuff.

zingo

zane77 wrote: »

I've got two Harmony One's and that' the best I have found so far.

Ditto here; a great remote.

SCaryV

My dog ate my first Harmony One remote and I thought the world ended, it was the best remote I've used and bought a new one within a week. Ate ramen noodles for 2 months, haha

Jimbo18

I have a Harmony 650 and it does what I need it to do but I really like my much simpler Sony RM-VLZ620. It was about $25 and does everything the Harmony does it and feels better in my hand. It handles up to 8 different devices and the buttons all make sense to me. One thing that I really like about it is that it's very omnidirectional. It has 3 remote signal generators at the end so it sends out a very wide signal that doesn't seem to require direct line of sight.

It's a learning remote and did a good job with the 3 or 4 different commands I had to teach it.
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-RMVLZ620-Universal-Remote-Control/dp/B00385XUG0

bobsauto49

Harmony one for two years and love it! Never lost its programming since! Absolutely the easiest I've come a tossed for functionality!

dkg999

I'm going to second Mantis' recommendation on the URC MX900. It was the best $350 I have spent. If you are a good customer of a URC dealer they will provide the software for the remote. The software takes a little time to catch on to, however URC has some nice training videos out on the interwebs.

PolkieMan

Yea mine too, works well, didn't even think about it till I started messing with it one day, works great!

jbooker82 wrote: »

I just use the remote that comes with my onkyo receiver. You put in the model number of the equipment you want to control and it downloads the codes and flashes them to the remote.