Our House Is A Logitech Harmony Remote Zone

December 27, 2009 | In: Electronics, Gadgets

I hate having to play with different remotes to watch television or a dvd, it’s a pain in the butt! My solution has come in the form of Logitech Harmony Remotes. I love these remotes. My house has 4 televisions, 4 Comcast DVR boxes, 3 Sony Playstations, 3 Laserdisc players (yes we have a collection of laserdiscs), 2 audio receivers, 2 DVD players and 1 VCR. That’s a lot of equipment to control and would be a lot of remotes if not for the line of Logitech Harmony Remotes to chose from.

The reason I like the Logitech Harmony Remotes is that I can easily set them up by connecting them to my computer via a USB cable (you need to be running Windows or Mac Ox, sorry Linux users). Logitech has a pretty comprehensive database of audio/visual components so that all I needed to do is enter the product number of my component and so far the device has been in the database, even the laserdisc players! After entering the components the setup wizard walked me through setting up the activities such as “Watch TV, “Watch Movie” and “Listen to Music.” I customized the buttons on the LCD screen for each activity and I was done.

The simplest setup was my living room with my Sony television, Comcast DVR box and a Sony DVD player. For this setup I have a Logitech Harmony 620 Advanced Remote (currently $100 on Amazon). This is a basic remote that controls up to 15 audio/visual components and has a nice layout for controlling my DVR box and DVD player. I did have to assign buttons for Pip Swap, Day Up and Day Down for my DVR box and the LCD screen buttons but that was it. The commands were all in the database so I just had to assign the buttons, not program them. The remote is also capable of learning commands if they are not in the data base or learning a new component.

I was up and running in less than 1/2 hour. That’s pretty good for programming a Harmony remote for the first time. The other remotes that I have set up, 2 Logitech Harmony 890 (currently $180 on Amazon), and 1 Logitech Harmony 880 (currently $125 on Amazon). The difference between these two remotes is that the 890 has an IR extender for components that are outside the line of sight like in a cabinet or behind walls. Both remotes have a rechargeable battery and charging station.

The 880 and 890 remote:

Control your entire home entertainment system with just one button. Effortlessly switch between watching home theater and listening to music, by selecting a single activity button. Colorful icons accompany text on the LCD screen to allow for quick and easy command of home-entertainment equipment and household appliances that may be out of range for a traditional infrared remote (890 0nly).
Integrate up to 15 devices—including lighting and household appliances.
Save energy! Each time a new activity is selected, the remote establishes the proper state of all of the components needed for the current activity, and turns off the components that are not needed.
Set it up in a snap with an advanced setup wizard. The online setup also makes it easy to update a remote when upgrading your home-entertainment system. The Harmony setup wizard does the programming, so you don’t have to. Just connect your remote to your computer and answer a few questions about how you currently use your home theater. Logitech’s patented Smart State Technology® does the rest.
Don’t worry about using up batteries with the rechargeable lithium ion battery. Store the remote on the attractive charging station when not in use.
Easily view and select. Color display icons and 8 on-screen activity buttons make it easy.
Effortlessly switch between watching HDTV and listening to music, by selecting a single activity button.

One caveat for the remotes is that they don’t control the Sony Playstation because the remote needs to connect through bluetooth not IR. Logitech has come out with the Harmony Adapter for Playstation 3 for around $50 which uses the bluetooth link and connects with any of their Harmony remotes, even the older ones that they don’t make anymore. For Christmas I got one for my Playstation and one for the Playstation in the great room. We still need one more but for now we have 3 complete home theater setups using only one remote and without a lot of headaches.

The Logitech website has an assortment of other remotes and a good support section. I would scope out on prices since they sell at retail.

What remote do you use for your home theater? How was the setup? Would you try a Harmony remote?