Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal Remote Control
by Logitech
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List Price: Our Price: $89.99 You Save: $160.00 (64%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Speakers See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal Remote Control
Customer Review: I've tried and abandoned many programable remotes... This one works!
Summary: 5 Stars
Finally! I really have *one* remote sitting on my table. I've tried many (expensive, large, clunky, hard to program) remotes but never was able to confidently pack my old remotes away.
Here's what I like about it:
- One touch activities, and they actually work! Anyone can walk up to my system and simply press "Watch TV", or "Watch DVD" and the remote does *everything* for me. This is not really a new breakthrough feature - I've had remotes that (supposedly) did this as long as 15 years ago. However, difference here is that a) it is relatively easy to program and b) it actually works perfectly.
- The Help button: TVs, receivers, dvd players, cable boxes.. They're all pretty complicated to control. When programmed properly this remote makes it very easy 99% of the time but occasionally things can still go wrong (e.g. your TV is on the wrong input, the cable box is "off" instead of "on", etc.) When this happens, just push the Help button! The onscreen instructions walks you through (and fixes) the most common issues.
- Programmable via USB on your computer. At first I though this would be more trouble that it's worth, but the software actually make it very easy; much easier, in fact, than *any* "non-pc" remote I've used. Plus now I know if I lose or damage my remote, all my programing is still available on the PC without needing to go through all those programming steps again.
- It's a normal looking remote. I've tried a few of those very shiny, large remote controls with large, fancy LCD screens. They are usually very expensive and none of the ones I've tried fully eliminated the need for remotes and all were difficult to program and use. Not so with this remote. Plus, this remote is cheaper and fits in your hand better anyway.
During setup of this remote, I did have a couple glitches after their automatic set up wizard ran. Not all the activity buttons worked 100% and I had to go in and manually tweak some of the programming to make everything work 100%. I don't think this is common (I have some weird components) and it was still well worth it!
The somewhat-complicated "activity" macros actually fire out commands to all your components in series. As you might guess, this will only work when you exclusively use this remote to control everything. If you were to pick up your old TV remote and start pressing buttons, if you happen to start messing with the buttons on the TV, or perhaps if there is a power failure - the remote can get confused and end up in the wrong "state". No problem, however! Just click the help button and the onscreen wizard will diagnose whatever the problem is in usually 1 or 2 steps.
Customer Review: Ahh, perfect Harmony...
Summary: 5 Stars
I received this as a Christmas gift from my husband because I have been annoyed with the 5 remote controls that clutter up our coffee table. As a newlywed using all of HIS equipment (TV, DVD, Amplifier, etc) I would get frustrated trying to figure out all of the settings that things needed to be on to play a DVD, for example. Don't even get me started on how to watch HDTV! I had figured all the tricks out - but I don't like having to use three remotes to change what I'm doing.
Programming the 880 was basically a piece of cake - I needed his help programming the VCR, but it turned out that was because it wasn't plugged into the TV! :-) We had it set up and running in a 30-45 minutes. If you make a mistake, you can re-add the device later (we put the wrong TV model in but were able to change it later).
The devices the 880 controls in our living room are as follows: TV, Direct TV R-10 DVR, Pioneer Receiver, PlayStation 2, VCR, and DVD player. It's SO nice. I am also going to set up extra activities (i.e. Watch TV #2) for our bedroom. It will work ceiling fans, lights - all kinds of devices. If you have a remote that currently performs a function, it can learn that function via infrared transfer.
There are a few separate options on this remote. The first is activities - that asks you what you want to do, i.e. "Watch a DVD", "Watch TiVo", etc. The next is the devices button. That brings up a list of your devices - you select one (i.e. TV) and then it gives you options for that device. For example, our TV device has 12 pages of commands you can scroll through - so you never need your old remote again.
If you program a device and it's not correct, you can actually use the on-remote Harmony assistant to try to correct the problem - you DON'T have to run back up to your computer right away to figure it out.
The screen is very easy to read in the dark, as are all the buttons. The buttons are a bit on the small side, but that's what allows the remote to be so compact and fit in your hand nicely. I've had this remote for about 2 weeks and I'm already getting the feel of it.
Since there is a docking station that charges it, I always know where the remote is. I consider myself a lover of technology and can usually figure out remotes if I have to. However, this takes all the guesswork out. The most important thing is that I wouldn't be afraid to let a relative or friend use the remote without messing up all of my configurations. If you have the means to obtain this remote and an hour of spare time to set it up and learn the remote, I highly recommend it!
Customer Review: FINALLY A REMOTE I WAS DREAMING ABOUT!
Summary: 5 Stars
i love the Logitech harmony remotes! it is so so so cool! I have been reading and considering a Universal remote for about 4 years now! To be honest this is my first (and I think last) remote. I had heard 3 of my friends raving about their Harmony 1's and I was like "do I need to spend 300+ for a decent version!" not anymore! This is a perfect remote under 140! The hold and grip of the device feels solid. The functionality is brilliant. One does need to spend a few hours the first time to get all tiyr activities in order. For me this was a deftely an answer to my 11 remotes for the following devices:
Epson Powerlite Home Cinema 720 720P HD 1600 Lumens
Pioneer Elite BDP-05FD - Blu-Ray disc player - upscaling
OPPO DV-980H 1080p Up-Converting Universal DVD Player with HDMI and 7.1CH Audio
OPPO HM-31 Certified HDMI 1.3 and 1080p Switch
Venturer HD DVD Player - SHD7000
Toshiba HD-A1 HD-DVD Player
Panasonic DMR-EZ37VK DVD-Recorder/VCR Combo with ATSC Tuner Black
Panasonic DMR-E80H Progressive-Scan DVD Player/Recorder with Hard Drive , Silver
Philips old AVReciver
Yamaha RX-V1800BL 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black)
Apple MA711LL/A TV with 40GB Hard Drive
My activities list includes:
watch a standard dvd
watch a bluray dvd
watch an HD dvd
watch my podcasts
Record a DVD RAM video
it opens and closes all the way with one magical button of my choosing! It just feels really really cool to have all these devices with one button!
A must have for any newcomer on universal remotes!
Customer Review: Great remote and just WOW on the customer service.
Summary: 5 Stars
No remote is perfect, but this one is as close as I have ever found. It controls everything I have ever tried to control except the PS3, which nothing can control, thanks to Sony's terrible product design. It's infinitely customizable and since I purchased it several years ago, that one remote is all I have ever needed.
Ok, so now check this out:
After owning this remote for going on four years it finally died on me. The leads had become scratched so badly that it could not take a charge from the base station. Over the last year or so of life I had to futz with it a bit to get it connect, but it was no big deal. Eventually, however, it died, which I wasn't that bothered by because, hey, fours years out of a remote is pretty good.
So after it died, I contacted Logitech to see if they knew any way I could get it working again. After a few emails over the course of about three or four days, DHL pulled up at my house with a brand new remote. I hadn't even asked for one, since it was three years out of warranty, and they had not mentioned to me that they were sending a new one, but after less than a week, boom, I had a new remote. That's some pretty darn good customer service.
So I was pretty happy about it, but then after about a week the new remote started having trouble docking and charging. This was annoying, but since I got it free after being years past my warranty date, I just figured it was par for the course. My luck finally ran out, right?
Wrong. I contacted Logitech again to tell them about it and ask them if they had any suggestions, and they sent me an email back saying they were sending me yet another replacement. Now this time around they mentioned how far I was out of warranty and not to expect them to send another one again, but I am still impressed as hell they sent me the first replacement, let alone a second replacement. They could have said, "Screw you," the very first time I contacted them, as so many, many, many companies would do, but they did not. And then they definitely should have told me to take a hike when I came back to them again, but again they did not.
Now the only question that remains is will this new one work or die off quickly. The first remote I had lasted four years. The second one (the free one) lasted four weeks. Maybe in the last four years the quality has gone downhill, I don't know, but I still have to say that they have shown me some mighty impressive customer service.
Customer Review: Very nice universal remote
Summary: 5 Stars
I've had this remote for a month now and really like it. It didn't set up very fast and took a number of tries to get the macros right for turning on the TV and switching input devices, but once it was set it's been great. My kids are 12 and 15 and are thankful for the remote. They don't have to ask for my help to play video games or watch a DVD anymore.
A few particular features I like about the remote:
1. The keys for the most part are backlit and when you move the remote the display and backlight are activated, you don't have to push a button.
2. It is rechargable. I hate having to replace batteries every few months. It lasts almost a week on one charge... but I put it on the charger after about 3 or 4 days. I don't want to chance being without this baby.
3. It will learn commands from my other remotes. This was very helpful when setting up the macro for switching TV inputs. Even tho I put the TV make and model in it didn't know how to switch from SAT input to DVD input without a little learning. This all depends on your TV. Mine is a Mitsubishi WD-65733. I also had to tell it what the inputs were called and which ones were listed in what order. Beware... I think it was case sensitive in setup.
4. If you want to go into the advanced features of one of your devices without using the macros to do what you want to do you can still do that. Just a double click of a button and you can set the surround sound on your stereo receiver or modify the night display on your DVD player... and so on.
5. It controlls my HD DVR from DirectTV so I can still FWD,RWD, pause, and record without any problems. It does everything the remote for the device did.
6. You can upload your own photos to the remote and set them as the background in the display.
What I don't like???
There are really only two things I would change about it and that's the feel of the buttons and the ease of setup. Some buttons are very small and they're hard plastic. Some remotes have the nice big rubber buttons and for some people they really like those. I don't know how you could make it easier but I did have to get it to learn a few commands from my TV remote. Some people just aren't into computers and electronics much and could get frustrated by this.
Over all, this is one sweet remote. My friends are jealous when they come over. A co-worker went out and had to buy the same one because he liked it so much. I highly recommend it.