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 See more product details |
|---|
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Logitech Harmony 550 Universal Remote Control
Customer Review: Previous problems must have been addressed
Summary: 5 Stars
I was a bit nervous when I read some of the reviews here. Of course there are always going to be negative reviews by people with unrealistic expectations, but I am not a tech savvy customer so I have to be careful.
For those with similar worries I can confidently tell you not to worry. If I was able to conquer this device, you can too.
Pros:
Does everything you want it to do, including sequencing. This means if you have a certain picture setting for daytime viewing on your plasma, and another one that is better for when it is dark you can assign one of the buttons to enter the menu, scroll to the setting you like, enter the setting and then exit the menu. Why would you want to do this? Because if you are watching Tivo or a DVD you probably have the menu and directional buttons set to control your tivo or dvd player--not your tv. So now you can toggle between the two without switching devices on the remote. If this isn't important to you just realize that whatever IS important to you can be done instead.
Is very easy to get used to. It is hard to call a remote intuitive these days because they are all so different. This remote is not hard to learn or memorize by touch, plus it is back-lit so you can see in the dark when you need to.
Doesn't look ridiculous. Some of the higher end versions of this remote look stupid to me. Why do you need a color monitor on your remote? Kinda pretentious. I don't really want my buddies thinking I spent too much money on things like remotes. The kind of people I hang with are not impressed by that kind of stuff--just the opposite.
Personalized baby! This could be a pro or a con depending on your situation, but once you program the thing you will be the only master of it--that is unless you give thorough lessons to your spouse/family/roommate/friends. It will do everything you want it to, but nobody else will understand it--thus it ends up in YOUR hand. I like this. Plus it cannot be reprogrammed without hooking it up to your computer. End result? You are in control.
Cons
Takes a wee bit of tweaking. You will have to spend a good hour or two getting the settings just how you like them if you have several components to control, but even though it is frustrating at first, the pay off is well worth it. The UI is not as bad as I expected from other reviews, and I was able to navigate it and figure out how to deal with every issue until I hit the sweet spot. I am guessing that some of the problems experienced by other reviewers have been addressed in updates because for me it wasn't bad at all and I didn't need to call customer support. Just realize that even though your device will probably be listed you will most likely want to change a few things to your own liking. Again I need to reiterate, worth the effort.
As stated before, your buddies or family will not be able to pick it up and "get" it once it has been programmed by you. To this I say "eff em", na'mean?
That's about it for cons, at least so far.
I got it for $49.99. It seems the price goes up and down several times a day here on Amazon, so check back if it is higher than that. I am very happy with it at that point. If you are awesome like me you will be too.
Customer Review: A Great Remote for Middle-of-the-Road A/V Systems
Summary: 5 Stars
I already owned a Harmony 720 for my main AV system. I LOVE that remote, but I couldn't justify the cost of another 720 for my bedroom system, so I purchased a Harmony 520. Although it had great features, the LCD screen was nearly unreadable, so I returned it. For only about $10 more, I purchased this 550 and am VERY happy with it! Logitech made the font thicker and darker and modified the backlighting a bit to make the 550 LCD screen much more readable than on the 520.
This remote is perfect for people without a huge A/V system, or for people needing a second universal remote for a smaller bedroom system. The (4) activity buttons on the LCD are perfect for that, whereas the (6) activity buttons on the 720 are better for running a larger system.
The backlight on the 550 has a motion sensor, but it's an unusual one: It only comes on the first time you pick it up within a 2-hour period. After that, you can shake, rattle or bump it and the light will NOT come on by motion. You have to physically press the "Glow" button, or any other button on the remote. But set it down for 2-hours or more and it will come on the next time you pick it up (or walk by it - it's a sensitive sensor). I don't like that "feature", but I think it was done to make the (4) AAA batteries last longer. I guess it worked for that because I've had this remote for 2 months and the batteries are still just fine. The more expensive Harmony 720 has a true tilt sensor that will come on every time you move the remote. However, that remote also has a rechargeable battery which can handle running the backlight more often.
Programming the 550 remote is just like any other Logitech Harmony - it uses the Harmony online software. If you don't have an internet connection, you will not be able to program this remote. But that aside, the newest version of Logitech's Harmony software is terrific (currently at v7.2.4). Gathering the model numbers of all your AV components is the hardest part. After that, the Harmony software's "Wizard" will walk you through basic setup in about 20-minutes. That is often all anyone needs because it does an amazing job of making everything work the way you want on the first try. However, the ability to tweak the settings is endless. It's not always well covered in the documentation, but if you are willing to experiment - there's lots to be found. There are also plenty of online forums where other users (such as me) are willing to answer questions on advanced programming for Harmony remotes.
The Harmony 550 looks sleek & elegant, feels good in your hand and seems well constructed. All of the keys light up - even the chrome keys are surrounded by light. I like the fact that the "transport" keys for playing the DVD/VCR/DVR are high on the remote and are large enough to see well and use with large fingers. The chrome keys make a definite "click" noise when you press them. I like that, but I've read other reviewers who seem to hate it. I can't imaging that it would be a deal breaker since this is such a great remote.
I highly recommend the Harmony 550 (but get the 720 or one of the other, higher end Harmony remotes if you have a large or complex AV system).
Customer Review: WOW...The last remote you will ever own
Summary: 5 Stars
The Logitech Harmony 550 while the lowest end of the product series is simply awesome. I am assuming the other models use the same software, so you are paying for a fancier looking remote with different/color screen. Not worth it. The software is what drives these remotes and makes them so power packed. You can check your components compatibility on the Logitech website before buying but rest assured they have done an excellent job accommodating nearly every brand and model of every component.
My biggest concern was having complete control of my HD cable box with DVR (Scientific Atlanta). No problems. My cable box and DVR work perfectly. Here's how these remote work: You simply install the software and add your components (TV, receiver, DVD, game system) through a series of drop down menus. The software already has ALL your remotes programmed and loads them right into the remote (connected with mini-usb to your pc). Note: the Logitech software & remote labels DVR as a PVR, a minor quirk.
But what makes these remotes unique is that you then specify what Logitech refers to as "Activities". Activities are simple descriptions of what you do with your entertainment components like: Watch TV, Watch a DVD, Play a game, etc. The software then walks you through which components are used in these activities. So for instance "Watch TV" involves use of your receiver and TV.
Once programmed (5 minutes tops), you simply press the "Activities" button on the remote and the screen lights and displays in clear text which activity you choose to do. Press the corresponding button and boom all the designated components come on and you're ready to go.
For the A/V techies you still have complete control of your individual components by pressing the "Devices" button on the remote, all your remote functions are inputted as text options on the remote. Its amazing, for instance for my Pioneer receiver I was worried about control of the surround sound options, - all are programmed without any teaching the remote. Yes, you can enable the remote to "learn" new and additional functions (but you need your old remote to do this since it is through the Infrared).
So seriously, 1) if you're looking to consolidate remotes - don't hesitate buy one of these remotes or 2) as in my case my 1 year old broke my receiver remote - it is a waste of time and money to try to replace an original remote.
The actual remote physically is lightweight, very stylish, and comfortable. The blue screen with black text has a very clear font and size for readability.
I have set up my remote to control my Optoma Projector, Pioneer receiver, HD cable box, with DVR, Playstation 2, and DVD player. I went from two remotes and no control of my projector & PS2 to one remote with control over all of them.
As I, you should never need another remote if you obtain a Logitech remote. This is technology at its finest and did I mention extremely easy to set up and use. No universal remote can do what the Logitech remotes do with such ease, power, and simplicity. No more programming 3-4 digits, nothing but smooth couch potato action.
Customer Review: Logitech Harmony Is The "World's Best Remote. Period!!!"
Summary: 5 Stars
Logitech Harmony Is The "World's Best Remote. Period!!!"
Let me start out by saying that any negative reviews that you hear about Logitech Harmony remotes are from people that don't have patience or from those that did not pass 5th grade.
I have had Onkyo's RC model universal learning remote for more than 5 years till a few of the buttons started dying. I wasn't very sure that the Logitech Harmony 550 would work; since it had fewer buttons and you had to use a program or website to program it. But, I was proved wrong towards a very pleasant surprise by my Logitech Harmony 550.
Great Features:
* Can customize almost all buttons to your preference
* Knows which units are on, so that only those are turned off, when you press the single power off button
* Can learn any IR command from the original remote
* HUGE database that already had 7 out of my 8 components... WOW!
* Remote goes into power save mode after 2 hours of non usage to save battery life
* 550 model has 4 extra buttons: Sound, Picture, A & B; I'd rather have more button, hence I picked this model
* LCD display itself acts as 4 additional buttons once you are into an activity such as watching tv, watching dvd etc.
* Great build quality and a high quality rubberized finish throughout the bottom of the remote so that it won't slide off your hand
* You can even control the speed of delay between IR signals to the same device, between devices, during power on and a couple more. Basically you can control any little thing you want to the finest level of detail with this remote
Important Tips:
* Software: Use the program from the CD, provided it is the latest or better version. My CD came with version 7.0.2 while the web based program is 7.0.1. I chose to use my CD program and I like the much cleaner interface of the CD program versus the web based program
* Forums: The logitech forums are amazing and you can get to it from the 'More Help' -> 'Contact Us' -> 'Forums'. Look for posts in this forum by a user by the name 'WannabeActuary' of 'Logi Guru' level and he seems to know answers to all your Logitech Harmony questions
* Programming: The basic programming if you know all your device model numbers takes 10 minutes. For advanced i.e. more picky users you can customize the remote to perfection and you can spend a whole day doing this, because of the sheer fact that you can customize anything and everything, which is great!
* Activity Buttons: Make sure that once you are inside an activity, that you customize the first two pages of the LCD screen to show the commands that you use most frequently. E.g.: In the activity of 'Watch DVD' with a DVD changer, you probably would want 'Subtitle', 'Audio', 'Next Disc', 'Previous Disc' commands are displayed on the first page of the LCD screen and so on
Conclusion:
This is best remote you can find for under $70 and it can do everything you want it to do and it is truly a universal remote. In final analysis, the only thing I can say is that this is the "World's Best Remote. Period!!!"
Customer Review: Great product - went 5 to 1 controls -- easy to setup !
Summary: 5 Stars
Like other people with several pieces of electronics, I had become frustrated by having to set up and use different control units. Of course, one can sometime get an individual control unit to control more than one piece of equiment (e.g., control your TV off of a DVD control). I had tried to do this when I bought a new Toshiba HD-DVD unit and wanted to set up the DVD controller so that it could control my Sony TV. The problem was, however, that there were about 30 codes you had to choose from listed in the DVD manual to control a Sony TV with no sense which one might work. I mentioned to someone I knew after getting through about half of the list of codes and he suggested I look at getting a Harmony unit.
The Harmony unit is great!! It took about 15 minutes to set up and essentially get all of my common tasks such as playing a DVD, watching a TV show, listening to the radio, watching a video, etc all onto one easy-to-use control. In setting up the control, you link to your computer (and I have a Mac, which offered no problems) and simply enter the model numbers of each piece of equipment you have. You then do through simple menus to set up various tasks such as watching DVDs. The software will ask you some basic questions (i..e, which input on your TV does your DVD unit feed into) and then sets things up so that the one control takes the place of all of the others.
Instead of turning a TV on with one control, then turning your AV unit with another and the DVD player with the third, you simply click one of the activities listed on the screen such as watch a DVD. The appropriate units turn on just as if you had used the three separate controls and the Harmony unit becomes your DVD controller with all of the functions built into it. If you then want to watch a TV show instead, you click the button next to "watch TV" and the DVD player shuts off and the Harmony becomes a TV contoller.
I have found this to be a great product with a lot of nice features, both in terms of hardware and software. Other reviewers have described many of these, but one thing that has impressed me is the "glow" button that lets you light up the various buttons and screen so you can easily use the controller in a dark room. On the software front, it is very easy to make changes in the settings on your controller (e.g., if you switch jacks into which audio sources will feed) -- the inetrfaces are very nicely designed and efficient.
I have never said that a product deserves 6 stars, but this one does. It really helps to clear "control clutter" and makes it a simple task to manuever your way around you home theatre/audio system.