Do you use a third party universal remote for your media components?

[yoda313]

THIS POLL IDEA IS BY EPICURUS8A - THANKS!

Entertainment Centers can be quite complicated these days. With that in mind, do you use an after-market "Universal" Remote for your Entertainment Center?

1. Yes, exclusively.
2. Yes, for some things.
3. No, just the manufacturers remote(s).
4. I don't use or need an Entertainment Center / "Universal Remote."
5. Other. (Please explain.)

Please share your experiences and thoughts on this subject.

[Baldrick]

Yep, exclusively. A logitech harmony. Works PERFECT!

[gadgetguy]

Every time I pick up a universal remote I end up returning it because it doesn't work with half of my components. I do sometimes use the universal capability of some manufacturers remotes, but it's never good for more than one other component.

[Baldrick]

My harmony one works with all my stuff, even with a noname hdmi switcher I bought from ebay. You update it on your computer connected to logitechs online component database.

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/devices/3898&cl=US,EN ! Only $250. .

[edDV]

I've been intending to buy a Harmony for several years. In the meantime I have an extra large felt lined antique wooden cigar box that holds all the remotes.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

In the living room we use Comcast's remote for the cable box/DVR, the TV (which is functioning only as a monitor) and limited use on the receiver (power & volume is all it can do).
Still have the original remote for the DVD and receiver.

In the Home Theater room we use the remote that came with the receiver because it's the same brand as all the other components and does well. Have a wireless keyboard & mouse for the HTPC.

In the bedroom it's the old monster sized $ony RM-AV2100 Universal that we used to have in the Home Theater.

This mama-jamma will run anything and what it's not already programmed for it can learn.

[Number Six]

What's an entertainment center :P


I use one of these to control all my electronics:

[Epicurus8a]

Thanks!

I used a Harmony for a year or so. Now I'm using a Universal URC-50 and couldn't be happier. It makes the Harmony look like a cheap toy.
http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Remote-Control-URC-R50-Digital/dp/B001KC08AE/ref=sr_1_...4508240&sr=8-1

My wife, on the other hand, needs a remote that works via mind control.

[Epicurus8a]

Doh!

[nwo]

I can never get the Universal remotes to work together, waste of time...

[cal_tony]

I have too much stuff to use a universal.
TV room has ...
3 tvs, 1sound system 3DVD players, 1 PS3, 1 VCR
Always have at least 2 TVs on plus the sound sys.
Some of the above items come with smart remotes and I don't even bother to program them to use anything else.

And that's just the TV room... every room has some stuff

Oh yeah, I have programed my 2 analog to digital boxes for a specific TV but that's it.

Tony

[ricoman]

Thanks!

I used a Harmony for a year or so. Now I'm using a Universal URC-50 and couldn't be happier. It makes the Harmony look like a cheap toy.
http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Remote-Control-URC-R50-Digital/dp/B001KC08AE/ref=sr_1_...4508240&sr=8-1

My wife, on the other hand, needs a remote that works via mind control.

What model Harmony, they have cheap ones and expensive ones. I have an 880 and am pretty happy with it.

[Epicurus8a]

Here's a link to Harmony. I have the 550. The buttons are small and it feels flimsy.
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/&cl=us,en

[Seeker47]

I bought a Harmony 880 quite a few months back, when it was on sale at a very good price.
There was a specific task I had in mind for it -- impersonating a Pioneer service remote --
but the occasion for using that has not come up yet. I do intend to explore its more conventional
uses at some point, though so far I've not gotten around to it. Therefore, this likely qualifies
as an uninformed opinion . . . but my initial impression is that such gizmos fall into a category a
friend of mine likes to call "Solutions in search of a problem." It is a broader and more common
category than you might think.

[TBoneit]

Call me cheap, call me frugal.....

When Dishnetwork came out with it's learning remote I jumped on it. The TV Button controls the TV. I programmed the Aux button to control the sound and inputs on the TV set, The WD TV Media player, and the Surround sound system inputs and volume. I will probably program the DVD button to control the DVD Changer, TV inputs and volume and the surround sound system inputs and volume.

It doesn't handle every function the original remotes handle, it does handle the functions I use. It was $20 + S&H.

I have had several different brand universal remotes over the years. This one is smaller, simpler and does what I need.

Cheers

BTW OT question. Anyone from the UK that could explain about Public school. Dad's Army for example Captain Mainwaring makes disparaging remarks about Sgt Wilson's having attended a posh Public school. Thanks

[SingSing]

Let me count

1. TV and cable
2. DTV
3. Surround sound
4. DVD
5. DVD recorder

Many of my friends have in addition of

6. DVR
7. Pay per view
8. Game console
9. Light
10. Remote to locate the remotes
11. Remote to locate the key-chain
12. Remote to repel the mother-in-law....
13. The RF remote for that missing Black and White 16.67 inch RCA-Victor TV

[KBeee]

Call me cheap, call me frugal.....

<snip>
BTW OT question. Anyone from the UK that could explain about Public school. Dad's Army for example Captain Mainwaring makes disparaging remarks about Sgt Wilson's having attended a posh Public school. Thanks

A UK Public school would be called a Private school anywhere else.
i.e. it's a fee paying establishment as opposed to a free state-run school.

[mshilly]

Logitech Harmony Remotes are controlling everything including the hard to find D-Link DSM-320, Klegg MediaShare (pretty rare), PS3, old PVR-501 and Aiwa 5.1 Dolby Digital Receiver. Oh, It also controls all three of my Camcorders including the new Canon HD-FH100. Wouldn't be without it now.

[TBoneit]

Call me cheap, call me frugal.....

<snip>
BTW OT question. Anyone from the UK that could explain about Public school. Dad's Army for example Captain Mainwaring makes disparaging remarks about Sgt Wilson's having attended a posh Public school. Thanks

A UK Public school would be called a Private school anywhere else.
i.e. it's a fee paying establishment as opposed to a free state-run school.

Thanks. I sort of suspected it could be something like that. Two countries seperated by a common language

[Nitemare]

I use the universal remote control out of necessity. I bought one for convenience, then my obsessively anti-clutter, lovely wife tossed out every original remote in the house.

There are STILL functions on my DVD player I can't access.

[SingSing]

Did I mentioned the famous clapper?



See wiki : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Clapper

Also

I use the universal remote control out of necessity. I bought one for convenience, then my obsessively anti-clutter, lovely wife tossed out every original remote in the house..

With your tooth mark on your lovely wife, I bet she is going to live a long long time.

[edDV]

I use the universal remote control out of necessity. I bought one for convenience, then my obsessively anti-clutter, lovely wife tossed out every original remote in the house.

There are STILL functions on my DVD player I can't access.

Maybe a sweeping of her closet (too many similar shoes?) to GoodWill is in order. Times are tough no?

[Nitemare]

In her defense, it took me almost six months to notice that the other remotes were gone. Obsessively anti-clutter means no extra shoes and a clean closet.

Back on topic... or slightly side topic... I take it the logitech is highly recommended? Any other URCs recommended?

[yoda313]

Did I mentioned the famous clapper?

Well techinically that is not a universal remote in the traditional sense. True it controls on and off but that is hardly "universal".

I take it the logitech is highly recommended? Any other URCs recommended?

Yes I'd recommend a Logitech Harmony remote (do they make any other brands beside Harmony or is Logitech just Harmony in the remote world?).

It is very userfriendly and highly customizeable. I have the older 520 model that works well.

I'm sure there are other good programmable mega remotes but this one works quite well.