Fantastic Universal remote!!!
pearsall001
Posts: 5,092
I knew I had to do something when my wife called me at my son's baseball game & I had to walk her thru how to use the remote & to get all the HT gear on. I've been over it a thousand times with her but it never sunk in.
In my search for a new universal remote I came across this one...http://www.x10.com/products4/google/icon_universal_remote_ps_lp1023.html. This thing is the real deal. It does so much that I can't believe it. It was simple to set up & you can tweak it to really suit your needs. To make a long story short, my wife absolutely loves it & even for her it's a breeze to operate. She has the whole HT system up & running in 1/2a second.
I bought it for $69.99 which also included free shipping. For how easy this is & for what it does I expected it to cost a whole heck of a lot more. Highly recommended!!
In my search for a new universal remote I came across this one...http://www.x10.com/products4/google/icon_universal_remote_ps_lp1023.html. This thing is the real deal. It does so much that I can't believe it. It was simple to set up & you can tweak it to really suit your needs. To make a long story short, my wife absolutely loves it & even for her it's a breeze to operate. She has the whole HT system up & running in 1/2a second.
I bought it for $69.99 which also included free shipping. For how easy this is & for what it does I expected it to cost a whole heck of a lot more. Highly recommended!!
"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
Post edited by pearsall001 on
Comments
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Hmmm. I'll have to look in to it. I have been wanting a good universal but I didn't want to pay the for the Harmony price tag.
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I was a bit hesitant at first too...but after getting it up & running, I see no point in spending the kind of money for some of the other ones out there. Head to head this one will come out on top."2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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compare it to a real remote, not a harmony, and we'll talk.Never kick a fresh **** on a hot day.
Home Setup: Sony VPL-VW85 Projo, 92" Stewart Firehawk, Pioneer Elite SC-65, PS3, RTi12 fronts, CSi5, FXi6 rears, RTi6 surround backs, RTi4 height, MFW-15 Subwoofer.
Car Setup: OEM Radio, RF 360.2v2, Polk SR6500 quad amped off 4 Xtant 1.1 100w mono amps, Xtant 6.1 to run an eD 13av.2, all Stinger wiring and Raammat deadener. -
compare it to a real remote, not a harmony, and we'll talk.
Please my good man, direct me to another remote that does what this does for $69. Maybe you know of one?
I'm not saying that there aren't better remotes out there, but for the whopping price of $69 I think it's hard to beat. Very easy to set up & my wife can actually use it. The other remotes I looked at cost a lot more money & were a pain in the butt to navigate. Very happy here with my little 'ole X10!!
Will it launch the space shuttle?? Hell no! but it has my system fired up & running as easy as eating a piece of cake."2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up. -
Got one of these a few weeks ago for the wifes room.....there are great....nothing close to it for the money........and YES I have launched a space shuttle with it...something my harmony could never do
..and also saved me mucho dinero over the overpriced harmony which i am now using.... -
I'm glad you found something that works out well for you, but I only paid $49 for each of my Harmony 676 last year and couldn't be happier.
The problem I have with ones like the X10 is that I don't trust companies that say they have all the remote codes built in. There are always newer components or obscure older components that aren't in their database. The Logitech database has never failed me. It is always updated when new models hit the street each year. In addition, the Logitech has codes for functions that often aren't even on the original remote, like discrete on/off power buttons or discrete input buttons.
Yes, the Harmony needs a computer, but to me, that is what makes it all the better.
Also, the interactive Help function on the Harmony makes it nearly foolproof. I noticed that the X10 comparison doesn't mention the Help feature...For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore... -
Phil, does it have a sub woofer button?????
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I don't wanna crap on your thread, but hey open discussion is what forums are for right?
I have several issues:
First, I'll admit that I bought one. I tried the X10 and it didn't work with my HDMI switch or the decoder out of the box. Yeah i could make it learn the commands, but I can do that the the $10 remove at WalMart.
I also own the Harmony 880, paid $99 during one of the Amazon sales, which are fairly frequent for this model. I prefer the 880 and returned the X10.
Second, I realize that they're trying to sell a product, but their website's interpretations of the functions of the Harmony is VERY misleading, and had I read through all that before I wouldn't have purchased the remote because I don't like that type of false marketing. I'll address each one of their 5 'comparisons' individually:
Yep, I've got those on my harmony too, and they're just as clunky on this remote as they are on the Harmony, I don't use them at all, the guide on my Tivo works just fine.ROUND 1: Fun, Familiar Channel Logos - You’ve got thousands of TV channels. Nobody wants to waste their time sifting through all of the boring channels they never even watch. That’s why we designed the iconRemote. With fun, familiar TV channel logos displayed on the LCD screen in brilliant color, finding your favorite channels has never been easier. Instead of trying to remember what station The History Channel or ESPN is, just hit the logo.
The Winner: The iconRemote wins the first round!
I have no issues whatsoever with the buttons on the Harmony, but I suppose if you're blind or have fingers that are 3 inches wide, okay.ROUND 2: Large, Easy-to-Use Buttons and LCD Screen - We’re all getting older. We don’t want tiny, hard-to-read buttons. With the Harmony 880, the buttons so close, some users say it’s almost impossible to control the remote by touch. The iconRemote, on the other hand, is designed with big, easy-to-read, well-placed buttons and a high-resolution, 2” color LCD screen. It couldn’t be easier to use!
The Winner: The iconRemote strikes again!
I actually like this feature in concept, and it's the reason I decided to try the remote. This particular function works well.ROUND 3: His & Hers Favorite Buttons - You know that you and your wife tend to watch completely different channels on TV. With His & Her Favorite buttons the problem is solved. When you hit the His button, only ESPN, HBO, CNN and all of your favorites come up on the vibrant LCD screen. When your wife hits the Hers button, only Oxygen, E! Entertainment, CBS and her favorite channels come up. Finally, the 2-in-1 remote both of you can enjoy using. You can even enter in favorites for your kid, babysitter, and more – up to 10 friends and family members! The Harmony 880 does not have His & Her buttons or easy-to-program user profiles.
The Winner: The iconRemote wins again in an uncontested round!
So many problems with this part.ROUND 4: The 5-Minute Setup - Why in the world would you want to hook your remote to a computer to set it up? With the Harmony 880, that’s what you’ll have to do. Not to mention registering an online account and taking a mandatory survey. Then you realize you have to unplug all your devices and look at the back to find the model numbers. From the instant you hit the first button on the iconRemote, the on-screen Setup Wizard guides you through the easy process. Plus, the iconRemote comes ready to go right out of the box (unlike the Harmony, which requires overnight charging). Just pop in the three included AA batteries and the iconRemote is a breeze to set up while the Harmony is a huge headache. We’re so confident, that if you can’t set up the iconRemote in less than five minutes, we will give you your money back!
The Winner: The iconRemote in a blowout!
A - There is no mandatory survey on the Logitech software, not that I've seen anyway.
B - I don't have A SINGLE device that doesn't have the model number within plain sight, so I've never unplugged anything to find a model number.
C - My 880 was fully charged when I received it, no overnight charge was necessary. And even if it was, is that really a big deal.
The fact that the codes are built in kinda makes it the opposite of future proof.ROUND 5: The Future-Proof Remote - With the world’s largest built-in remote code library, we’ve future-proofed the iconRemote. That means that all of your existing devices – TV, cable box, DVD player, stereo, surround sound –have their codes built into the iconRemote. If they don’t, the iconRemote will easily learn them by simply pointing the remotes at each other. The Harmony 880 knows about half as many remote codes as the iconRemote and requires you to look up the model number, often requiring you to unhook the device or get behind your entertainment system. Then you have to get online to find the correct code. Chances are, with this remote, you’re going to have to learn codes on your own, which can be a hassle!
The Winner: Once again, the iconRemote comes out on top!
A - My HDMI switch and my decoder, neither one had the codes built into the remote.
B - The whole last two sentences of that paragraph are just so misleading. I've never had a device that wasn't in the Harmony online database. I've never once had to 'teach' the Harmony a code, they've always been in the online databases. Their whole representation of the Harmony experience is just pure BS.
C - If you're not really comfortable with hooking something up to a USB port on your computer, then you're probably not reading this thread anyway...
This one REALLY pisses me off. It's the same effing thing as with the Harmony. You have an Off button on the Harmony that turns everything off, and you hit the activity to turn everything on, it's real simple. If I go manually turn off a device by hand, yeah it messes up the Harmony because it thinks the device is still turned on. It's the same thing with this remote! They bash the 880 for that function, and then it's the same thing!ROUND 6: QuickPower Feature - The Harmony 880 is supposed to remember when your TV, cable box, DVD player or any other device was last turned on or off. Sounds cool, right? The only problem is that if you manually turn the device on or off, the Harmony may get confused. Warning: It’s unreliable and could frustrate you by turning on your devices when you want them off and vice versa. The iconRemote is the only remote with the QuickPower feature. Hit QuickPower, then turn on and off devices with one touch. Piece of cake!
The Winner: The iconRemote does it again - and the crowd goes wild!
The Harmony isn't perfect, but one great feature that it has that Bill mentioned above is the Help feature. If I end up where something is out of sync, my wife can press the help button and it'll wallk her through in plain English resolving the issue. My 800 is normally quite a bit more than this X10, but even the less expensive 676 that I use in the bedroom as a superior product IMO.
It's a shame really, as the X10 is actually a decent product that will work for most people, but the sometime blatant lies that they have on their website are a turn off for me. You've made a good remote, just sell it for what it is. It;s not an 880, quit trying to compare it to one. Just say, Hey, this isn't as good as an 880, but it also only costs 60 bucks, and is the best remote you can buy for 60 bucks, here check out all the features it is". If they'd at least left it at that I wouldn't have returned it. But I'm not going to be lied to and misled and do business with you, sorry. -
proof once again that nobody likes their baby called ugly.
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Funny, but true.reeltrouble1 wrote: »proof once again that nobody likes their baby called ugly.
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reeltrouble1 wrote: »Phil, does it have a sub woofer button?????
RT1
Yeah, you smart ****, it had a pre-loaded code already built in labled...Carver Amazings. Now they can really sing!!
"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up. -
NevermindThe world is full of answers, some are right and some are wrong. - Neil Young
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Ok, I took your advise and picked up one of these X-10s and I gotta say it's a lot of remote for the money. I'm very pleased with it. Thanks for the heads-up.
I have not used a Harmony 880 so I can't make comparisons. I'd probably get one too if I saw one for under a $100. I suspect people love the harmony because the PC based programming makes the programming very straight forward. That said, the X-10 programming is as intuitive as one could desire. I have not dug the manual out of the packing peanuts yet and I doubt that I will. Jobs done without it.
The X-10 could handle any command I threw at it including some pretty wild macros that make the Escient music manager a little easier to use. The time required was about 45 minutes for the initial programming and another half hour for tweaks. That is for five remotes including a Yamaha receiver it did not recognize and the Escient that I did not expect it to recognize.
The LCD display is wonderfully clear, bright and easy to read. I have programmed macros for all my favorite XM channels and the cable logo-based user interface is a wife pleaser.
When I bought a new Rotel Amp, the first question she asked was if it had yet another remote; she was thrilled that it did not. Now that we are down to a single remote with HIS and HERS buttons, she is a happy camper. Perhaps that will build me some WAF headroom for something really heinous.The world is full of answers, some are right and some are wrong. - Neil Young -
Nice second review dcmeigs, thanks. This is looking more tempting all the time. I'd honestly like the harmony 1000, but I'd rather drop $400 (plus a bit more) on an amp in the FM,,,2007 Club Polk Football Pool Champ
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One thing I like about the Harmony is that it is computer compatible; so no matter what I add to my system, I can always add codes or change the set-up on my remote later. I programmed my "One" when I got it, and I'd have to say the set-up couldn't be easier. I actually thought it was kind of fun, but that's cause I'm strange and nerdy.
I do however think it's ironic that you can buy the 880 from their website for the inflated Logitech price... I guess you're never to good to make money. -
i have the harmony 880 and love it...but wife and daughter hate it...they would rather have 5 different remotes to deal with, than 1..i dont know how much easier it could get. I have tried several universal remotes, and she hates them all. Wish i could make the cable remote to everything...thats the one she likes:D
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If the X10 remote is good enough for you, that means you need a more confusing system. Take that tax gift from G.W. and go buy some more complicated cool electronic gadgets.
~J -
It's actually a Philips Prestigo 10 remote. I haven't used one but it appears to be a good price.
http://www.google.com/products?q=Philips%20Prestigo%2010&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1&um=1&sa=N&tab=wf
Woot had them for $34 a couple of days ago, I almost picked one up to use in the garage. -
I have a Harmony 520 bought on BF from Sears @ $49... my set-up only contains 6 components so it's plenty for me but the build quality on this model is no good. Are all the Harmony remotes flexy/flimsy?Currently listening to:
Marantz SR5004
Sony BDP-S370
Apple TV V2
Audio Technica AT-LP120
Mirage CMD-5 x 5
Bic H-100 -
It's actually a Philips Prestigo 10 remote. I haven't used one but it appears to be a good price.
http://www.google.com/products?q=Philips%20Prestigo%2010&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1&um=1&sa=N&tab=wf
Woot had them for $34 a couple of days ago, I almost picked one up to use in the garage.
Good eye. But, who is "Woot"?The world is full of answers, some are right and some are wrong. - Neil Young -
RutgersFTW wrote: »I have a Harmony 520 bought on BF from Sears @ $49... my set-up only contains 6 components so it's plenty for me but the build quality on this model is no good. Are all the Harmony remotes flexy/flimsy?
I have two of the 520's. One has been working fine for almost three years now, so far that's the record for me and universal remotes. I think the build quality is fine. The second I bought just as a spare a few months ago. -
Good eye. But, who is "Woot"?
http://www.woot.com/
They offer one deal a day, at midnight. Usually a very good price, but not often they actually have something I'd want. But once in a while... -
On woot.com for $40 shipped, right now. Woot-off, so you've got about a half hour, tops.
http://www.woot.com/
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