I remember a thread quite a while back about universal remotes but I need some fresh info.

I need something that can be used on as many as 10 different machines. We might pay someone to program it if I don't have time, so programming easiness isn't really an issue, but it DOES have to be fairly easy to use after it has been programmed (the general public are mostly dummies).

Budget is fairly open...

Logitech Harmony?

Logitech Harmony 880 = win

This one looks pretty decent :O I think the biggest problem will be how our equipment is setup - it is all linked into an AMX system. I guess that'd mean we really need one to turn stuff on or off instead of having it all magically sequenced on the remote.

The one I had at home does up to 6 devices and it does 90% of the original remote functions. It is a touch screen one which after using it for a year or so, it's so-so, would've prefer more tactile buttons for commonly used functions like fast forward, rewind plays etc. It also has macro function to do things like turn on all devices and play with one hit of a button etc - this is pretty hit and miss for me never really work properly.

A better/more expensive one like logictec you can download the remote code which would program the universal remote for you. You'll need to install the software on a PC, hook the uni.remote up via USB and the way you go. You can also manually program the remote on your PC so it's easier.

I had to manually program mine because mine an el-chepo ones but it suits my need i.e. does 95% of the original remote functions, you know the usual on/off, play, eject, menus, etc etc.

The advantage I can see is when you get a replace device like new DVD player, you reprogram the uni.remote, but to the users the UI doesn't change i.e. don't need to learn how to use the new remote for the new dvd player, play still the same icon on the uni.remote etc.

You'll find that non of them will be perfect but the one I have does me fine. After having a universal remote for nearly two years I can't go back and use multi remote.... it's just so much easier to just have one remote that controls all my AVs.

Depending on how reliable you want the system and how complicated the macros you want programmed are you might need to go to something a bit more advanced than a Logitech Harmony. An RTI remote/system would be ideal, but they aren't cheap :p If you just want to select a device and then control it then the Harmony will do fine, even a Foxtel remote could probably handle it (no feedback on it though).

A lot of the control we need will be the most basic stuff for the most part, eg on/off/channel/volume. It just needs to be easy to use and cover a large number of machines (the more I think about it we easily have >10 devices).

Anyone have any idea of how they might work if you have a few of the one device next to each other? Eg. we'll have 6 LCD tv's about a metre apart, all the same brand and model.

If that's the case then a normal universal remote won't be any good for you. They just spam the IR codes and anything in the room that uses that code will do something. The only solution is to have a box that controls the IR for you and sends them along an IR cable with the emitter connected to the receiving point on the device. I am not sure if there are any budget control systems out there that does this. It is the way RTI works though. The remote talks RF to its main controller and the controller shoots out IR to the appropriate port/emmitter. 10+ devices is going to make it expensive unfortunately.

cheers guys.

harmony 1000i looks like a f***ing beast of a controller

Some also glow over these puppies: http://www.pronto.philips.com/

haha f***, great timing.

so at christmas my girlfriend bought me a Logitech Harmony 785 Advanced Universal Remote Control, which I love and use all the time (hi babe?!)

the other day my brother up and decided to move to canada, so he offloaded all his s*** to me that he didn't want
included in the deal was a ps3, xbox 360, bang and olufsen cordless phone, rooma vacuum robot, etc etc
last night whilst my girlfriend was at my place, my brother walks in and goes 'oh you forgot this', hands me a logitech harmony 1000i

girlfriend was pissed, i laughed my ass off at my brother hanging s*** on her with comments like 'its ok angeh, now he can throw yours away and use the one he really wanted' etc

so my point is, the 785 rocks - does everything i need it to do
the 1000i is just huge wank factor, i haven't played with it yet but im sure it doesn't do much that the 785 doesn't

last edited by teq at 14:43:29 16/Jan/08

and ang would have your f***ing balls if you didn't use hers :p

last edited by paveway at 14:54:29 16/Jan/08

can't you just program them both and use hers when she's around, to make her feel good?

So teq u off loading any of these extra gear soon bros?? ;p

Get this thing, it's cheap, and you can cause a lot of mischief http://www.tvbgone.com as gizmodo did at CES2008

can they control split system air cons?

Funny at first, but really, those guys are c***s because now we'll invariably have to black tape the IR receivers on our booths to stop all the f***ing copycats.


(yes, I work at shows like this one)

sif selling it, I scored big time
I asked "wont you want some of this s*** back?"
his reply "nah it will all be out of fashion by the time I come back in a few years"


seriously, he's a gadget freak and I hit the jackpot
who ever said hand me downs couldn't be a good thing
also, resistance: fall of man rocks, i haven't played a fps in years but im loving it again
just need to setup the projector so I can enjoy it all via hdmi

can they control split system air cons?

I'm pretty sure mine can if I can be bother to manually program it.

Harmony 880 is the go.
fully programmable + activities + fav channels + does other appliances
have one myself...controls TV x 2, Home theatre, 360, austar, DVD-HDD
easy to program with online updates via USB...
best gadget i've ever had.....
check things out here http://www.remotecentral.com/