Are Universal Remotes worth it for my uses?

[xneox]

Originally Posted by arthursiew

Is it really worth getting? I mean... is it like really worth buying? Turning lights on, TV and other things on one remote is cool, but is it totally like 100% worth getting? Eventually, I will be getting one, but I'm not sure whether it's worth getting rite away. I don't have much equipment rite now and I only have 3 remotes now (TV, DVR and PS3). I just want to know whether I am actually getting my moneys worth if I buy one rite away.

Pretend I'm someone talking about a Harmony. NO, IT'S NOT! Buy the URC8820 and be done with it. Use the $150+ dollars you'll save to buy...well, ANYTHING.

[DavidAg02]

A Harmony will be a great addition.

However, a 550 is all you really need man. Anything else is just overkill for your system.

[Fors*]

I like my Harmony 880, the only issue I have had has been the charging base. But that has been well noted previously in another thread. I do think the One is overkill for your set-up, unless you think you are really going to dive into the HT thing and continue to upgrade in the future....then look at it as an early investment perhaps?

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by DavidAg02

A Harmony will be a great addition.

However, a 550 is all you really need man. Anything else is just overkill for your system.

I disagree. What's nice about the 880 is the color screen and it looks better. Also, the buttons are much more solid and work better. I have a 550, 880, and One and if I could do it over again I would have bought another 880 over the 550. Also, right now the prices are comparable enough to make the 880 a better value.
One of the nicest functions of Harmony remotes is the activities. With a normal universal remote if you want to watch a Blu-ray you have to turn on the tv, change the input, turn on the player, and turn on the receiver. With Harmony you set it up so you push one button and it will change all the inputs. Harmony isn't the only one with this ability, but there aren't many at this price range. Also setting it up online over punching in codes is so much easier.

[ludawg23]

Originally Posted by xneox

Pretend I'm someone talking about a Harmony. NO, IT'S NOT! Buy the URC8820 and be done with it. Use the $150+ dollars you'll save to buy...well, ANYTHING.

relax dude, stop yelling

That's an ugly looking remote but i'll buy one...and play fetch with my dog.

The Harmony 550/880 would suit you. It's a great investment...you'll be happy

[ZIPPO]

Originally Posted by ludawg23

That's an ugly looking remote but i'll buy one...and play fetch with my dog.

I agree. If you have a bunch of gear, then you need one of the top end Harmony models. If not, get one of the lower end Harmony remotes or another brand universal remote. I use the Harmony One in my set-ups because the ease of use. List your gear model #'s, tell how you have them connected & your set. Hit Watch TV, it turns the tv & receiver on & to the proper inputs. Hit Watch DVD/Blu-ray, it turns the blu-ray player on & switches the tv & receiver to the proper inputs. Hit Play VCR, it turns off the blu-ray player, turns on the VCR & turns the tv & receiver to the proper inputs. Hit Listen to Radio, it turns the tv & vcr off, then switches the receiver to the radio band input,etc., etc. I don't think the URC8820 can do all that, at least not as well as the Harmony remotes. There are other brand activity based universal remotes available, but they usually cost more than the Harmony remotes or require a custom installer to program. Harmony offers a cheap simple user interface, which can be set up using your computer at home.

[gr3y]

I say def. get one. Its just way easier to push one button on one remote then pressing 1 button on 3 different remotes. I have the 550 in my bedroom and its worth every penny, and Its simple to set up. I also own 670 and 1100.

550- + Good for your needs now, all functions of a harmony - No rechargable battery / No RF kit / No touch screen / No color screen

880- + Color screen / rechargable battery / RF kit -No Touch screen

ONE- + Color screen / rechargable battery / Touch screen - No RF kit

RF kit will allow you to control lights/fans/some bose items... 880 only one thats comes with this so you wont need to pay extra.

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by gr3y

I say def. get one. Its just way easier to push one button on one remote then pressing 1 button on 3 different remotes. I have the 550 in my bedroom and its worth every penny, and Its simple to set up. I also own 670 and 1100.

550- + Good for your needs now, all functions of a harmony - No rechargable battery / No RF kit / No touch screen / No color screen

880- + Color screen / rechargable battery / RF kit -No Touch screen

ONE- + Color screen / rechargable battery / Touch screen - No RF kit

RF kit will allow you to control lights/fans/some bose items... 880 only one thats comes with this so you wont need to pay extra.

The 880 does not have RF. The 890 does. They are the exact same remote other than the RF and color and the 890 costs about $140 more.

[xneox]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

One of the nicest functions of Harmony remotes is the activities. With a normal universal remote if you want to watch a Blu-ray you have to turn on the tv, change the input, turn on the player, and turn on the receiver. With Harmony you set it up so you push one button and it will change all the inputs. Harmony isn't the only one with this ability, but there aren't many at this price range. Also setting it up online over punching in codes is so much easier.

My $17 remote does this. One button. It's called a macro, and Logitech didn't invent it.

[xneox]

Originally Posted by ludawg23

relax dude, stop yelling

That's an ugly looking remote but i'll buy one...and play fetch with my dog.

Where's the smiley that's flipping two birds? Pretend I posted that.

I buy cars, clothes & furniture with an aesthetic consideration. Not too worried about how "ugly looking" my remote is, as long as it does what I need it to do. You can sit & stare at your beautiful Harmony - I'll be watching the Blu-Ray that's playing on my tv, thanks. From a price : performance standpoint, the URC8820 creams the Harmony.

[ludawg23]

Originally Posted by xneox

Where's the smiley that's flipping two birds? Pretend I posted that.

I buy cars, clothes & furniture with an aesthetic consideration. Not too worried about how "ugly looking" my remote is, as long as it does what I need it to do. You can sit & stare at your beautiful Harmony - I'll be watching the Blu-Ray that's playing on my tv, thanks. From a price : performance standpoint, the URC8820 creams the Harmony.

What do you have against Harmony and what makes you so angry that people only reference that remote? It seems to be quite popular amongst the HD enthusiasts. It does the job nicely, it's aesthetically pleasing and very user friendly.

If you want to suggest your remote, by all means...go for it. But to come on here and bash Harmony owners? Pretty lame.

You say you purchase cars, clothes and furniture with consideration on how it looks.

What kind of car do you have? If you tell me you drive a BMW or Mercedes...I could use your argument and tell you to go buy a Hyundai.

Does the same thing as a BMW and costs a lot less

[blujacket]

I voted no. For just a dvr and a tv, I don't beleive it's worth it.

[kingofgrills]

Yes, Harmony remotes are very worthwhile. I have two right now, the 659 controlling my 2 channel setup in the den, and the 880 controlling my home theater room.

What's nice and distinct about Harmony remotes is the fact that they're easy to setup and operate, while remaining future proof through device updates via the web. Harmony remotes use web based programming software that walks the user through easy step-by-step questions to program the functionality. When the questionaire is completed, the software automatically programs the remote with the macros necessary for each function. Options such as Watch TV, Watch a Movie, Listen to Music, Play PS3, or anything you want to set up are selectable with a single button touch. It will adjust all device inputs to match what you want to do. If something doesn't turn on corrrectly, simply press the help button, and it will quickly troubleshoot everything for you while asking simple questions along the way.

Before getting the Harmony remotes, I was saddled down with 3 or 4 remotes, which while it was manageable by me, it was not manageable by my wife or son. Now, they can easily work everything in the HT room and den.

I would take that sort of convenience and future proofing over a stock remote or $15 universal any day of the week. There are several good universal remotes on the market, but most of the comparable ones are more expensive than Harmony remotes.

[arthursiew]

Originally Posted by blujacket

I voted no. For just a dvr and a tv, I don't beleive it's worth it.

A simple answer that answers my question fairly well. I thought about that and that's one of the reasons why I started this thread. I wanted to know whether it's worth it and I'm kind of leaning towards that option of not getting one until I have a more advance HT.

Originally Posted by ZIPPO

I agree. If you have a bunch of gear, then you need one of the top end Harmony models. If not, get one of the lower end Harmony remotes or another brand universal remote. I use the Harmony One in my set-ups because the ease of use. List your gear model #'s, tell how you have them connected & your set. Hit Watch TV, it turns the tv & receiver on & to the proper inputs. Hit Watch DVD/Blu-ray, it turns the blu-ray player on & switches the tv & receiver to the proper inputs. Hit Play VCR, it turns off the blu-ray player, turns on the VCR & turns the tv & receiver to the proper inputs. Hit Listen to Radio, it turns the tv & vcr off, then switches the receiver to the radio band input,etc., etc. I don't think the URC8820 can do all that, at least not as well as the Harmony remotes. There are other brand activity based universal remotes available, but they usually cost more than the Harmony remotes or require a custom installer to program. Harmony offers a cheap simple user interface, which can be set up using your computer at home.

Agreed. I don't spend a whole lot of time at my HT and I don't have that much gear. If I wanted to get one, I could get one of those lower end ones, but I just like the colored screen and design.

Originally Posted by xneox

Pretend I'm someone talking about a Harmony. NO, IT'S NOT! Buy the URC8820 and be done with it. Use the $150+ dollars you'll save to buy...well, ANYTHING.

No need to yell. My question was about Harmony remotes not this one. If I was really going to get one and didn't want to spend a lot, I still wouldn't get these ones. I would get a Logitech one.

Originally Posted by DavidAg02

A Harmony will be a great addition.

However, a 550 is all you really need man. Anything else is just overkill for your system.

The 550 isn't bad too, but I like the design and colored screen on the 880 and One. I will consider this option, but I'm sorta leaning towards not getting one. I can spend my money on something else or just save it as I am only a 14 year old.

[xneox]

Originally Posted by arthursiew

My question was about Harmony remotes not this one. If I was really going to get one and didn't want to spend a lot, I still wouldn't get these ones. I would get a Logitech one.

My point exactly. Your thread title is "Are Universal Remotes worth it for my uses?". Your thread title is not "Are Logitech Universal Remotes worth it for my uses?".

The underlying implication here is that if it doesn't say Logitech on the box, it's not a universal remote, much less a capable one...an implication fed by most people on the site. That's what annoys me, because it's simple ignorance and blind brand loyalty.

My answer stands - no, a Logitech universal remote is NOT worth it for you...but something under $20 that does 95% of the same thing is definitely worth it.

[Hammie]

Whatever you get, I would highly recommend one that has the buttons backlit. If you are ever watching a movie when the lights are dim or turned off and remote has no backlight, it is a PITA!

Whether you go Harmony, All-in-One, Universal Remote, sony, etc., do your self a favor and get one with ALL keys backlit.

[arthursiew]

Originally Posted by xneox

My point exactly. Your thread title is "Are Universal Remotes worth it for my uses?". Your thread title is not "Are Logitech Universal Remotes worth it for my uses?".

The underlying implication here is that if it doesn't say Logitech on the box, it's not a universal remote, much less a capable one...an implication fed by most people on the site. That's what annoys me, because it's simple ignorance and blind brand loyalty.

My answer stands - no, a Logitech universal remote is NOT worth it for you...but something under $20 that does 95% of the same thing is definitely worth it.

Let's not try to start an argument here. Don't try to start one since it's not a good idea to start yelling at a 14 year old that you don't know. True, my thread title isn't exactly detailed enough, but my question in my thread is more detailed. Please, try not to make me feel bad. I never have been talked down to in forums.

[arthursiew]

Originally Posted by louhamilton

Whatever you get, I would highly recommend one that has the buttons backlit. If you are ever watching a movie when the lights are dim or turned off and remote has no backlight, it is a PITA!

Whether you go Harmony, All-in-One, Universal Remote, sony, etc., do your self a favor and get one with ALL keys backlit.

I agree. I was planning on getting ones with backlit keys.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by arthursiew

Let's not try to start an argument here. Don't try to start one since it's not a good idea to start yelling at a 14 year old that you don't know. True, my thread title isn't exactly detailed enough, but my question in my thread is more detailed. Please, try not to make me feel bad. I never have been talked down to in forums.

Dude, if you're 14, then thats pretty impressive. Already asking questions about HT gear and doing some research is awesome. Even your literary skills are excellent if you ask me. I hope my kids can write that well when they are 14. By the way, there are only a very select few that might become difficult to deal with, so keep the faith....

[kpkelley]

I voted no.

You have five electronic devices, three of which can't be completely controlled by a universal remote control. I have set-up and used several URC's and they are very useful in most every situation, but your set-up leaves too much out for a URC to be entirely beneficial. Besides, can't your dvr controller control the basic television settings?

Save your money and get some more blu's, or start saving for a car and all the stuff you want to put in there