Need help on selecting a good universal remote

[dtat64]

What is a good universal remote? I've heard the logitech 880 is a good chioce. I have a new onkyo 805, new Sony XBR4 52 , older Dennon CD player and older dvd player. I want one that is easy to use and my wife can understand. any help would be appreciated.

thanks

D

 

[jimfitz]

I just got a Logitech Harmony 880. I really like it. It was easy to program because you do it on the internet and then download the settings to the 880. After it's all programmed, you push one button to watch TV and one button to watch DVD's. Everything else is automatic. I got mine on Ebay.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Yep; it's hard to beat the Harmony for simple use.

 

[supervij]

I went to the shops to take a closer look at the 880. I didn't like it. I found that the buttons were too smooth, and too close together. It was difficult to intuit which button to press without looking. The 676, however, had button layout and feel that made sense to me. And I don't regret for a second picking the 676 over the 880. But hey, that's just me.

cheers,
supervij

 

[mfabien]

I'm used to using both hands to operate my 880 so that is not a problem.

An important advantage for selecting the 880 is the charge cradle that comes with it. One is never caught with power loss because of batteries.

 

[supervij]

I don't want to turn this into a 676 vs. 880 thread, but the 676 (much like most remotes, I imagine) will give you the "Warning! Low Battery" screen but will still be able to function efficiently for the rest of the day. And since I usually do my battery recharging at night, I'm never caught with power loss either.

cheers,
supervij

 

[sholling]

Obviously from my signature I like the Harmony 880. I like it enough that I bought a second for my bedroom. Really my only complaint is that there is no sleep function.

 

[TYLERG]

I also have the 880 and love it. I bought from buydig.com 136.90 shipped. BB wanted 249.00.

 

[jonnythan]

Pretty much all of the Harmony remotes have identical functionality. Any of them would be more than adequate for your system.

I don't like the 880 for a few reasons:

1) You need to have a "dock" for the remote somewhere accessible, and the dock needs to plug into the wall.
2) It has fewer physical, labeled buttons compared to the other Harmonys.
3) The screen is much brighter and more annoying in the dark than the simple green glow of the other Harmonys.

I use the Harmony 659 and it works beautifully (on 4 AAA batteries that last months, by the way). Look around the Harmony line before deciding. Choose based on button layout, battery/dock requirements, and screen.

 

[jimfitz]

Pretty much all of the Harmony remotes have identical functionality. Any of them would be more than adequate for your system.

I don't like the 880 for a few reasons:

1) You need to have a "dock" for the remote somewhere accessible, and the dock needs to plug into the wall.
2) It has fewer physical, labeled buttons compared to the other Harmonys.
3) The screen is much brighter and more annoying in the dark than the simple green glow of the other Harmonys.

I use the Harmony 659 and it works beautifully (on 4 AAA batteries that last months, by the way). Look around the Harmony line before deciding. Choose based on button layout, battery/dock requirements, and screen.

To each his own. I find the docking station a benefit, not a negative. It has more that enough buttons to do everything I need, and the screen is fine. It only stays lit a few seconds anyway.

 

[jonnythan]

I keep my remote on the coffee table. I'd hate to have to run a power cable to the small table in the middle of my room

But, yes, to each his own. I can see how some would prefer the 880. I just don't recommend buying it over the others because it's the "best," most expensive model.

 

[MDS]

A charging cradle vs batteries would definitely fall into the personal preference category but I too prefer batteries.

With a rechargeable remote you have to treat it like your cordless phone. You can have it on the sofa next to you all day but if you leave the house for awhile or go to bed you really need to put it back in the cradle or it will be dead when you need it next.

The batteries in my MX-350 last months and I can tell when it's getting about time to get new batteries when the backlight isn't as bright as it used to be. Once the backlight starts to dim you have 1-2 weeks before the batteries are totally drained.

 

[mfabien]

With a rechargeable remote you have to treat it like your cordless phone. You can have it on the sofa next to you all day but if you leave the house for awhile or go to bed you really need to put it back in the cradle or it will be dead when you need it next.

Not quite...

for the 880, there's a charge remaining meter, just like a cell phone. Leaving on the sofa all day, as you said, does not cause discharging. And it can remain off the cradle for more than one day. But why do so? Before retiring at the end of the end, it is a simple habit to put the thing in its cradle.

 

[MDS]

A charge remaining indicator is nice but in no way does that mean that it does not slowly discharge when it is off the cradle - just like a cordless phone, electric razor, rechargeable nimh batteries, etc.

That 'standy' time may be quite long though and I didn't mean to imply that it would be fully dead after just one day, only that if you are not in the habit of placing it back on the cradle you may end up with a non working remote just when you need it.

 

[jimfitz]

My 880 will go a week without having to charge it. I seldom put in back in the charging station.

 

[jonnythan]

And what do you do when the battery *does* die while you're using it?

*shrug* It's a consideration.

 

[jimfitz]

Never has. It has a battery guage. How often does your car run out of gas?

 

[Gasman]

My 880 will go a week without having to charge it. I seldom put in back in the charging station.

Never has. It has a battery guage. How often does your car run out of gas?

I will second that. My 880 (although, I am a firm believer in Prontos), will last a easy week.
It will depend more for different peoples habits, and the setup itself.
You can change (or just turn off) the backlighting, and the bigger remote battery eater is the motion sensor.
Granted, the motion sensor can be turned off.

As far as the easiest remote that I have ever had (and I am very good with computers), is hands down, the Harmony.
I have had the Pronto TSU3000 and the great one handed TSU500 (as well some other URs).
They (Prontos) are MUCH stronger at customization, but in the end will turn on/off the same exact devices as the Harmony.

Seriously, a 6 year old child could program a Harmony.

Anyhow I really do not know where I was going with this rant. (old age kicking in)

 

[NeverSeen]

I've had the 880 for well over a year now. I got it 1/2 price when i worked at Ccity. I love mine. Its simple to program, but it does take a while to get it how you like it.

About a month ago mine died though. It stopped sending the IR signal. Being that i work at a major OEM EMS company i had no problem taking it into work and having one of my reworkers pop it open and replace the LEDs with a couple i got from radio shack. It instantly started working again and was only $3 to fix .

I would guess in nearly 2 years i may have put it on the cradle less than 10 times. I keep the cradle in a drawer and plug it in and charge for a few hours and then put the cradle away. Not sure why anyone gets only a week out of it, i seem to get months. Maybe i need to watch more TV??

PS. if i ever need to get another remote, i'll be getting another 880 or simular.

 

[sholling]

BTW the newer 880s have an improved docking station. The charging connection is a lot more reliable. Note if your's is charging fine then you probably already have the latest model.