The most easy to use universal remote

pmckeealaska

OK, so my girlfriend is frustrated by how hard it is to use my system and I need to know what the most easy to use, programmable, universal remote out there would be. Even I find it hard to remember all of the buttons on my NAD reciever remote and I've been using it for 4 years! Please help!

thsmith

Harmony 1. I bought one for my late 70s in-laws and they have no problems. My wife can use it with no instructions.

WilliamM2

I vote Logitech as well. I didn't see the need for all the functions of the more expensive Harmony remotes and wanted to keep it very simple for guests and my wife to use, and went with one of these instead:

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Harmony-Advanced-Universal-Remote/dp/B000BDG3HU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1243980949&sr=8-1

Been using it for three years now, liked it so much I picked up a spare, but haven't needed it yet. My wife was unable to use the system before, could never get the inputs correct, but has had no trouble now.

bigred7078

WilliamM2 wrote: »

I vote Logitech as well. I didn't see the need for all the functions of the more expensive Harmony remotes and wanted to keep it very simple for guests and my wife to use, and went with one of these instead:

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Harmony-Advanced-Universal-Remote/dp/B000BDG3HU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1243980949&sr=8-1

Been using it for three years now, liked it so much I picked up a spare, but haven't needed it yet. My wife was unable to use the system before, could never get the inputs correct, but has had no trouble since.

yeah any of the harmony remotes should be more than easy to use

pmckeealaska

yep. it seems based on what I've looked at so far and from your suggestions that a Harmony remote will be the way to go. Plus, O see there is an adapter that allows you to control a PS3 as well. I'm sold!

tcrossma

+1 for the Harmony One.

rallyshark

I vote Harmony One as well! It's great, even my friends illegal alien girlfriend can use it:D That's pretty good considering she no habla ingles very well:)

wingnut4772

thsmith wrote: »

Harmony 1. I bought one for my late 70s in-laws and they have no problems. My wife can use it with no instructions.

tcrossma wrote: »

+1 for the Harmony One.

rallyshark wrote: »

I vote Harmony One as well! It's great, even my friends illegal alien girlfriend can use it:D That's pretty good considering she no habla ingles very well:)

Harmony One. I have it too.

dpowell

Nobody has mentioned the Universal MX series remotes. They're very nice.

Sherardp

Harmony One all day long. I have mine controlling a complex setup. The range is very good. It controls my PJ just from bouncing the IR off the screen up front. All my gear is in the rear of my room and the One is very good as I just point up front and can run everything from lights to gear. Harmony One is very nicely laid out, easy to use/setup, nice feel to it. I upgraded from the Harmony 880 and am very pleased.

ckphoto

The Harmony One is so simple to use and will control everything with ease.

unc2701

Universal MX-500

Longest range of any remote I've ever used. Never had one break or malfunction, they've been making them since the 90's. Cheap, big, heavy. Heavy is good. If someone breaks into your house, you can always hit them with it.

pablo_rodz

+1 for the Harmony One
Even my wife likes it!!! If you can read the model numbers of your equipment, and turn on your computerm you can program it!

superjunior

yup, don't have to listen to wife complain about all the remotes anymore, very user freindly

Lsi9

The universal brand is better than the harmony remotes, Ive had them all and I must say that this remote is the simplest and most easy to use. After you get over touch screen remotes you will look for ease of use and comfort and the URC R6 is all that with a great price, I went from more expensive to cheaper with this remote and it is backlit with Red which IMO is cooler than blue or green
Click

cnh

I have a Universal RF20 that has a transmitter that can operate equipment in other rooms? But I guess what I'd say is get any 'good' remote, and Harmony is one, and PROGRAM SOME MACROS for them! So that they have ONE button or TWO to worry about! Turning things on off and a universal Volume default. Because I know a lot of people who can't 'handle' ANY remote!!!

cnh

LessisNevermore

Lsi9 wrote: »

The universal brand is better than the harmony remotes, Ive had them all and I must say that this remote is the simplest and most easy to use. After you get over touch screen remotes you will look for ease of use and comfort and the URC R6 is all that with a great price, I went from more expensive to cheaper with this remote and it is backlit with Red which IMO is cooler than blue or green
Click

I agree 100%
My MX500 finally gave up the ghost after a drop from a good height. It survived many previous drops.

I replaced it with a Harmony720, used it for about 2 months, and kicked it to the curb. For a little more than a Harmony ONE, I got a URC MX880. The URC units are hefty, not light and cheap-feeling like the Harmonys. You get what you pay for. The programming is a little more involved, but much more flexible. Oh, and most important, the wife likes the URC much better than the Harmony. lol

Harmony remotes are good for most simple setups, but you start throwing 8-10 components at them, they choke hard.

Javelin1814

I have to chime in for the Logitech. I have a harmony 890, and it controls everything perfectly. I read where some complained about the software ( amazon reviews, for what thats worth ) but I love it. WAY better than inputing codes. 2 cents

Marty913

LessisNevermore wrote: »

I agree 100%
My MX500 finally gave up the ghost after a drop from a good height. It survived many previous drops.

I replaced it with a Harmony720, used it for about 2 months, and kicked it to the curb. For a little more than a Harmony ONE, I got a URC MX880. The URC units are hefty, not light and cheap-feeling like the Harmonys. You get what you pay for. The programming is a little more involved, but much more flexible. Oh, and most important, the wife likes the URC much better than the Harmony. lol

Harmony remotes are good for most simple setups, but you start throwing 8-10 components at them, they choke hard.

Agreed. I have 3 MX-700s and enjoy the programming part. It comes in handy for the weird stuff like listening to background music while watching TV (news, sports, weather, etc.) and for deactivating functions you don't want "accidentally" used. Also nice for reprogramming channel up/down to song/album and DVD chapter up/down and convenience stuff like that.

Still, I would have to agree that for 95% of the population (especially non-programmers), the Harmony products are the way to go.

pmckeealaska

I settled on the Harmony 890 Pro remote and got the new adapter for the PS3 as well so now I should have total control over the system. More importantly, by programming the macros into it, my girfriend should be able to operate the system with ease as well. At least thats what I'm hoping for. I'll post a review once I get it up and running. Thanks everyone for all of the suggestions!

Hillbilly61

I got a Harmony 880 refurb at a steal of a price. Very easy to set up via their web interface. It turns on and off various equipment & reconfigure their mode (like turning on the integrated amp for CD verses tuner modes) needed to get the job done.

The ergonomics of the device is very good too, if you are just laid back on the couch and are flipping channels on the TV to see if something grabs your interest!

wingnut4772

At least you got the Harmony part right. Enjoy!

pmckeealaska

Just got the Harmony 890 Pro remote in yesterday, and after some initial frustration with the setup and a call to their tech support (which was excellent), the remote is setup for my system. It works like a charm and because I also got the adapter for the PS3, it powers everything in the system save for the voltage stabilizer (not sure if there is anyway to remotely power this on). It is so nice to be able to just press a single button for each activity. The girlfriend is out of town but I'm sure she'll be as happy with it as I am now that the formerly complex task of operating all the equipment has been made simple. Highly recommended!