Harmony Solution?

[speakerman39]

Folks, having multiple remotes has not bothered me too much in the past. Not sure why now, but it has become a real problem. As such, looking to get a refurbished Harmony remote of some kind. My needs right now are as follows:

Have Now:

43" Hisense 4K TV
Sony BR Player
Denon X3000 AVR
Roku Premiere Plus

Plan To Add In 2017:

55-65" True 4K TV
Samsung 4K BR Player
Denon/Marantz AVR that is HDCP 2.2 Compliant*


Found this one for only $20! Would this work for my needs?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Logitech-Harmony-350-Universal-Remote-Control-8-Devices-Harmony-300-Upgraded-/111501279050?hash=item19f5fe7f4a:g:mhMAAOSwdpxUUwAY

No need to go real expensive or real fancy. Just something that would control what I have now AND hopefully in the future as I add more gear. Any other recommendations? Thanks!


Cheers,

Phil

 

[rojo]

@speakerman39 I'm not absolutely certain about this, but I suspect your Roku gadget will only understand RF signals. That Harmony remote is infrared only. I think you'd need a Harmony with a hub, something like this Harmony Ultimate (currently on a deal of the day special, normally around $275 according to 3camels).

However, if you could live with the Harmony remote + the Roku remote for an almost single-remote solution, then that 350 might work. If you can live without RF, then the best Harmony I think is the Harmony One. There's one ending in an hour with a bid currently at $40 on eBay. You might try sniping it and see what happens, but I suspect that price will double by the end. Anyway, the One is great because of its charging cradle, its durability (owed to its hard plastic buttons), and its touch screen soft menus handle many more activities than the 350 you found.

 

[speakerman39]

@speakerman39 I'm not absolutely certain about this, but I suspect your Roku gadget will only understand RF signals. That Harmony remote is infrared only. I think you'd need a Harmony with a hub, something like this Harmony Ultimate (currently on a deal of the day special, normally around $275 according to 3camels).

However, if you could live with the Harmony remote + the Roku remote for an almost single-remote solution, then that 350 might work. The best Harmony I think is the Harmony One. There's one ending in an hour with a bid currently at $40 on eBay. You might try sniping it and see what happens, but I suspect that price will double by the end. Anyway, the One is great because of its charging cradle, its durability (owed to its hard buttons), and its touch screen soft menus handle many more activities than the 350 you found.

Thanks a bunch Rojo. Not really looking to spend that much. It may be a good deal over all, but more than I want to spend right now. Was hoping that I could find something cheaper. If you know of something or come across something please let me know. Sorry for being such an El Cheapo......LOL!!!!!

Cheers,
Phil

 

[speakerman39]

As annoying as it is, I may just have to live with this a while longer. Have other priorities right now. But, hey worse things could happen right? Maybe sometime down the road I can revisit this. If anyone knows of something more affordable, then please let me know. Thanks!

Cheers,

Phil

 

[highfigh]

As annoying as it is, I may just have to live with this a while longer. Have other priorities right now. But, hey worse things could happen right? Maybe sometime down the road I can revisit this. If anyone knows of something more affordable, then please let me know. Thanks!

Cheers,

Phil

You could buy a cheap model for now and go to a higher end unit later- Beast Buy has the Harmony 560 for $39.

If you look at the Harmony site for the capabilities of each model, you'll see that they have a stand-alone hub that can control via IR, Bluetooth and IP, for $99. It's the same hub used by the Ultimate, Smart Control, Elite and Elite Pro, as well as accessories like the Logi Pop, Wemo, Lutron Caseta and many other devices.

 

[speakerman39]

You could buy a cheap model for now and go to a higher end unit later- Beast Buy has the Harmony 560 for $39.

If you look at the Harmony site for the capabilities of each model, you'll see that they have a stand-alone hub that can control via IR, Bluetooth and IP, for $99. It's the same hub used by the Ultimate, Smart Control, Elite and Elite Pro, as well as accessories like the Logi Pop, Wemo, Lutron Caseta and many other devices.

Thanks for the info. Will be sure to look into it. The 560 for $39 is not bad at all. But, the hub at $99 is more of the problem. Will see what I can do. Thanks!

Cheers,

Phil

 

[lovinthehd]

I see infrared remotes on the Roku site, do some Roku models have infrared capability? Not a Roku guy but am curious as I already have Harmony remotes (I use the 600 & 650, you can get a 650 for about $50).

 

[3db]

Thanks for the info. Will be sure to look into it. The 560 for $39 is not bad at all. But, the hub at $99 is more of the problem. Will see what I can do. Thanks!

Cheers,

Phil

Wait for Best Buy to have sales on the Harmony 650 if you don't mind it not controlling the Roku. I own two of them for my two systems and they are great remote minus the R/F. If Harmony added R/F to the 650 and kept the price within $10, then one would have a killer remote.

 

[speakerman39]

Wait for Best Buy to have sales on the Harmony 650 if you don't mind it not controlling the Roku. I own two of them for my two systems and they are great remote minus the R/F. If Harmony added R/F to the 650 and kept the price within $10, then one would have a killer remote.

Okay no problem. So, the 650 could control everything but my Roku? If so, then that is a fair trade-off. My Roku remote has a headphone input which comes in handy. Honestly, have not used it much, but it is nice to know it is there if I feel like chilling out. Thanks a bunch. Will keep my eye out for it.

Cheers,

Phil

 

[speakerman39]

I see infrared remotes on the Roku site, do some Roku models have infrared capability? Not a Roku guy but am curious as I already have Harmony remotes (I use the 600 & 650, you can get a 650 for about $50).

Chris, I am really not too sure. Am very new to the Roku and streaming altogether. I mainly use my Roku for Sling TV. So far, it has worked out very well. Have had a few issues here and there. But nothing to get to upset about.

Cheers,

Phil

 

[BMXTRIX]

I'm unaware of any Roku player which does not have an IR receiver built into it.

From their website for the Premiere+:
"Remote control
Advanced point-anywhere remote with headphone jack for private listening.

Player includes IR receiver, compatible with various universal remotes."

So, yeah, no problem controlling the Roku with a good universal remote.

 

[lovinthehd]

Is it just the Roku sticks that don't have the IR capabilities?

 

[speakerman39]

I'm unaware of any Roku player which does not have an IR receiver built into it.

From their website for the Premiere+:
"Remote control
Advanced point-anywhere remote with headphone jack for private listening.

Player includes IR receiver, compatible with various universal remotes."

So, yeah, no problem controlling the Roku with a good universal remote.

So, the Harmony Remote I linked above would work for my needs then? Heck, at $20 I have nothing to lose here. Or, do you recommend a better one such as the 650 as 3db recommended? I don't mind spending a bit more, but the cheaper the better due to budget constraints. Thanks!

Cheers,

Phil

 

[j_garcia]

Is it just the Roku sticks that don't have the IR capabilities?

Probably. Same with the Fire TV stick IIRC. IMO, most of those types of devices use some sort of BT. The full Fire TV box does too, I believe.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Is it just the Roku sticks that don't have the IR capabilities?

I haven't actually gone through all of their products to be 100% sure. But, I believe that's pretty much the case. They DO specify it in their specifications section for each product which is awesome. Very useful. Plus, the price difference from a stick to a better unit is negligible over the long term. Actually, I hadn't seen their most current product list. Yeah, the stick is the only model without IR. The Express models are even cheaper than the stick if someone needs real basic Roku setup. Their Premiere products just aren't that pricey though.

 

[BMXTRIX]

So, the Harmony Remote I linked above would work for my needs then? Heck, at $20 I have nothing to lose here. Or, do you recommend a better one such as the 650 as 3db recommended? I don't mind spending a bit more, but the cheaper the better due to budget constraints. Thanks!

I actually don't have a point of reference on this. The model you linked lacks the color 'custom' interface of soft buttons which can add some capabilities for functions that may not otherwise be obvious on a pure hard-button remote. But, as long as you get macros which will turn on all your gear reliably, and you are willing to spend the time necessary to get it working perfectly, then a universal remote control is one of the single most important pieces to making a room usable. I use Crestron control and a distributed setup in my home, so the mid/lower tier product I am just not familiar with and can't say how well they really work. I do know of a few people though who have NOT used their universal remotes because they just never were reliable enough or laid out properly and easily for daily use. At $20, it certainly seems priced properly to at least try it out. Even at $40 or so for the upgraded 650. Not a lot of cash to ensure everyone can use the remote.

 

[highfigh]

I see infrared remotes on the Roku site, do some Roku models have infrared capability? Not a Roku guy but am curious as I already have Harmony remotes (I use the 600 & 650, you can get a 650 for about $50).

I think all Roku models except for the Stick and the Roku 4 use IR, but if the remote can control via IP, which the Harmony hub does, it will work.

 

[lovinthehd]

I think all Roku models except for the Stick and the Roku 4 use IR, but if the remote can control via IP, which the Harmony hub does, it will work.

Just took a glance and even their Roku Ultra has the IR receiver, but seems they've changed from numbering models to naming them?

 

[speakerman39]

I actually don't have a point of reference on this. The model you linked lacks the color 'custom' interface of soft buttons which can add some capabilities for functions that may not otherwise be obvious on a pure hard-button remote. But, as long as you get macros which will turn on all your gear reliably, and you are willing to spend the time necessary to get it working perfectly, then a universal remote control is one of the single most important pieces to making a room usable. I use Crestron control and a distributed setup in my home, so the mid/lower tier product I am just not familiar with and can't say how well they really work. I do know of a few people though who have NOT used their universal remotes because they just never were reliable enough or laid out properly and easily for daily use. At $20, it certainly seems priced properly to at least try it out. Even at $40 or so for the upgraded 650. Not a lot of cash to ensure everyone can use the remote.

Thanks a bunch. Will look into it further. May even give Harmony a call and just ask right out....LOL!!!! Who knows right.....LOL!!!! No really it looks like I will need the hub. So, will do some reading up on that when time allows and go from there. Thanks!

Cheers,

Phil

 

[highfigh]

Just took a glance and even their Roku Ultra has the IR receiver, but seems they've changed from numbering models to naming them?

I would say that it's easier to equate a name with a model- Roku used four digit numbers with an x at the end- who remembers what a 3020x was? Oddly, a friend of mine does, but he's a freak, so......