Logitech Harmony 550 Universal Remote Control
by Logitech
Our Price: $175.99
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $70.00 (click here)
Category: CE
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Customers in the UK,
buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: LogitechModel: 550
Product features:
- Compatible with TVs, sound systems, and DVD players/recorders from over 3,000 electronics manufacturers
- Replace up to 15 remote control devices
- Sound and Picture convenience buttons help you change picture aspect ratios and sound modes.
- Connect via Windows/Mac PCs to receive updates, configure remote
- Interactive LCD screen and backlit keypad
- Coby TF-TV1525 15-Inch 720p LCD TV
- Coby TF-TV1925 19-Inch 720p LCD TV
- Coby TFTV2224 22-Inch Widescreen LCD HDTV/Monitor with HDMI Input (Black)
- Coby TF-TV3225 32-Inch 720p LCD TV
- Coby TF-TV2225 22-Inch 720p LCD TV
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Logitech Harmony 550 Universal Remote Control
Customer Review: Everything I hoped
Summary: 5 Stars
I have a pretty typical setup - Plasma TV, Cable DVR, DVD, VCR, AV Receiver. Before the harmony 550, I had 4 remotes sitting on my side table. Watching a DVD involved turing on 3 components, switching the TV to and AV receiver to the DVD input and then when we wanted to watch the DVR we had to switch everything back. Now my the remote that came with my Motorolla DVR wasn't too bad as a universal remote, but it couldn't change the aspect on my TV or the input / advanced settings (like midnight mode) on my AV receiver. So, every time a channel didn't fill the entire screen I had to reach for my TV remote - mustn't get any burn in after all ;)
Now - to set the stage, my wife despises technology and complained loudy about how she couldn't figure all this out. I sometimes think she secretly longed for a 13" tv with a knob to change the channel and nothing more. So, I was a little worried that this remote would cause more trouble than it solved - "this piece of junk isn't working - tell me why we bought it again?"
I do like technology, so when this baby arrived (just a few days after ordering it despite what Amazon estimated - Thanks Amazon!), I excitely unwrapped it and checked it out.
Now I had read some complaints about the buttons (too small and mushy), so that was one of the first things I tried out. I have to say, I like the feel of the buttons - they aren't all the same - some are hard, some are soft - but they all feel comfortable and provide good feedback that the button was pushed. The number buttons are a little small, but very useable. I would judge the appearance, erganomics and layout of the buttons to be excellent.
Next, I plugged the remote into my USB port and installed the software. One other complaint I had read was how terrible the software was. Again I have to say, while not perfect, I felt the software was pretty straightforward and walked you through the process if anything with a little too much hand holding. I entered all of my components, answered all of the questions, clicked update remote in about 5 minutes. I thought I would just try out the default settings to begin with. I'd say they were about 95% of what I wanted without any tweaking at all. I did go back in and tweak some of the speed settings, change some buttons, add some options to the LCD buttons - and all were simple using the software. Your milage may vary, but I just don't see the issues with the software that others have reported.
Now to the actual use of the remote. It has been absolutely fantastic. My wife and kids simply click the button next to the LCD screen that reads "Watch Cable" or "Watch DVD" and they are off and going. The other remotes are gone. When they are done, they click the off button and everything turns off. The best part, unlike other universal remotes, is that you can assign any button to any device's command while in a certain activity (like watch cable). So you can have a button that switches aspect on the TV or turns on midnight mode on your AV receiver while the rest of the remote controls your Cable DVR. Most universal remotes would make you switch to the other device, click the button and then switch back. One other worry I had - not all of my components had discrete on / off commands, so the remote has to remember the state of the device. I was thinking "out of sync" nightmares - everything but the dvr is on, so my wife pushes the watch cable button again. Now, the dvr is the ONLY thing on. At this point she flings the remote at my head. I'm happy to report - this has not happened. The few (very few) times someone has clicked the watch cable button and pointed the remote everywhere but the tv (it does take a few seconds to turn everything on and switch inputs), a simple click of the help button fixes it and asks "did that fix it?" If not it guides you through extra steps to fix it. How much simpler can it get? I swear my wife even smiled a little when I showed her the help button. That is most ringing endorement of the remote I can give - she hasn't demanded the other remotes back.
Donwsides? The only ones I can come up with (and they are very minor in my opinion) are that the first few days I had the remote I think I zapped it with static electricity when I touched it and it locked up - that happened about 3 or 4 times the first few days. I had to take out the battery and put it back in to get it work again. But then it was fine. Also, it has been over a month now and no more freeze ups. We'll see when winter comes around again and there is more static. The other thing is that pusing the same button multiple times is a little slower than the original remotes. But you really only see it when you are scrolling one line at a time through the guide and after tweaking the speed settings the delay is not bad. Finally, there really isn't any way to program a macro outside of the initial activities. So, if that is a must - then a harmony remote isn't for you. However, given that the activities really do 99% of the things you would do with macros, I don't really see a need.
Overall, I love this remote and would highly recommend it. By the way - the Amazon price is much lower than i could find anywhere else.
Description of Logitech Harmony 550 Universal Remote Control
The Logitech Harmony 550 Remote Control brings Logitech smarts for the home theater. The entire Home Entertainment system can be accessed with just the push of a button.Digital Cameras and Photo Categories
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