New Remote control

[wrupp]

I picked up a new "Universal Remote" from an online dealer. Its a Harmony 768. Its a model that is programmed via the USB port over the internet.

It's the coolest remote I've ever run.

I love how it handles my system. I a odd mix of components and the remote knows how to handle them all. It gives the option of "Watch DVD"... You select this and it automatically sets the TV and stereo to the proper inputs and sets the remote up to the appropriate play menu for a DVD. It does this for the DVD, VCR,CD,HDTV,AM/FM or TiVo all very easily.

It does take a while to set up but isn't too bad. :)

The real selling point is that this is the first remote that my wife can actually run! Well worth the price. ($200 online)

Take a look at it at www.remotecentral.com

[Steve Mann]

I've been researching this remote a bit... I see they refer to the remote's owner needing to be a 'member' on their web site for programming the remote. I'm assuming there is no membership charges?

I'm really considering a new remote and this one looks mighty tempting. Let us know it continues to work for you.

Thanks for posting.

[wrupp]

They don't charge for the programming website.. You can create an account and try out the software before you purchase it. It will give you an idea of what they have for the stock codes. That's how I decided to try them out. If you decide to buy I highly recommend the 768 over the older model which has fewer buttons. More buttons are better..

Good luck.

[R1CK]

I have the rca touchscreen and it works great at a low price of $89.but you know what,you will still end up using factory remotes,almost guaranteed.sometimes too much thinking with the (ONLY) remote.

[Ron Pollitt]

Bill,
Thanks for the tip on the remote. I counted that I am up to six remotes counting the one that controls the antenna. Its a mess, fumbling thru them to go from OTA to Cable to DVD and back. My wife won't even try!
Maybe this is the answer.
Ron

[mr_yeti]

I have a suggestion. I just got a Philips Pronto 1000 (found it on eBay) for $111 shipped. They don't make these anymore, but there's a great online community at www.remotecentral.com that can help you program it, and it does everything I need it to do. It's touchscreen, and almost infinitely customizable. I really love this thing, and its got that coolness factor that will satisfy most any gadget freak. Worth checking out before you spend $200+ on a remote.

This remote replaced my RCA touchscreen, which decided to die recently. Anyway, I like this one much better.

[sp44again]

Do you use it on your 3100HD box from TWC?

[mr_yeti]

If that last question was directed at me, yes i do. The Pronto can learn from nearly any OEM remote, and learned everything on the TW remote flawlessly (actually, I had to do '8' twice, as it didn't register the first time). Additionally, I have it set up with icons for channels I watch frequently, and it does all the keypresses for me when I touch the icon of the channel I want to watch. Every button can be set up as a 255-step macro, not that you'd ever do that, in ProntoEdit, the excellent editing software available at the site I mention above. Go to the reviews section of remotecentral and read about it -- the best deal going right now for a remote that can do pretty much anything you ask of it.

[wrupp]

I've tried a number of touch screen remotes and I just like the hard buttons better. Actually.. The harmony does most of its navigating using a "smart wheel" on the side of the remote. It's like a mouse wheel that you can push to click.

Really works well. I've also found that the customer support is pretty good. They actually have responded quickly to my emails with questions. How unusual it that!

Unlike other remotes this remote takes macro's to the extreme. You don't select devices as much as decide what you want your system to do. It just runs everything smoother. I find myself using things like the FM radio far more often now that I can actually get to it from the remote easily.

[mr_yeti]

Yes, it's a matter of personal preference as to touchscreen vs. hard buttons. I like the fact that I can design my own interface, with few limitations, and I have mine set up in an activity-based format as well. I work my way through, at most, two menu screens to get things rolling, no matter what I want to do. The "smart wheel" you're talking about sounds like a useful innovation.

I especially like the macros. Incredibly useful. Now I just need a remote that responds to voice commands!

[GJC]

For good bang for the buck, I really like my Sony RM-VL900 universal/learning remote. Any button can be learned and there are several buttons that can do macros. I've been able to do at least 90% of what the original remotes for all my components can do. Sometimes I run out of buttons, though. I think I paid about $40 for it somewhere online.

[wrupp]

Wow.. I just looked into getting a second one for a friend from the same place I ordered the first.. They raised the price to $265! I wondered why my order shipped so slow when they said they had it in stock... I guess someone must have screwed up.

Time to search for another dealer now..

[2thdoc01]

The Harmony is sweet! I love mine!

[Steve Mann]

Just ordered the Harmony SST-768 (silver) this afternoon. I should have it around Wednesday of next week. I'm currently using a Sony RM-AV2100 so it will be a bit different (not being a touchscreen and all), but I think once I'm used to it, I'll like it better.

[Steve Mann]

Great. Of all the online places I had to choose from in which to order this remote, I chose one that's in New York City which is currently buried under 2 feet of snow. This should add at least 2 days to the delivery time. :bang:

I HATE waiting.

[2thdoc01]

It is worth the wait!!

The only thing that has a drawback to this remote, is that it does too much!! Some of the options are tedious to get to if you want to use the LCD. But you can program the Hard buttons to do certain functions in each "mode". I am sure you will love it! The customer service and support is the best I have encountered!

[sp44again]

Anybody have a Sony VL-1000 remote? I can get a good deal on one.

[Steve Mann]

Originally posted by 2thdoc01
It is worth the wait!!

Well... I was surprised this morning. I called the folks out there in New York (http://www.zalmar.com) to see how long a delay I might expect and they told me that they had already upgraded the shipping to second day and that it would ship today. Good deal. Looks like I won't be waiting to long after all.

[Steve Mann]

This is a sweet remote. I received it yesterday and have loved it since. I did have a bit of a problem getting everything configured on the web site (my SAT-T60 didn't appear to be listed, but it was indeed in the database), but a simple call to their tech support and all was well.

It makes this SO much simpler. It's a great product.

[wrupp]

It's taken me a while to get it set up JUST the way I like it but now that it is... I love it.. I can't name any other product that can do what this does.

[Joseph S]

Originally I thought the remote was the limited button harmony. This one looks great and will likely replace my Pronto in the near future. The pronto is nice, but I still find myself using other remotes with the lights out because I know what to hit based on hard button shape or location.

The only hang potential hangups are:

1)Can I add extra inputs such as Use HTPC, Use TheaterTek, use ZoomPlayer, use HiPix, Watch LD, Watch DVD on the LD/DVD combo, Watch Cable Analog, Watch OTA?

2)Can I set a TV/Video button for use with all/most inputs?

3)Does either the "+" or "E" button act as a shift/modifer key?

4)Blue?Gray? or Red? :D

[wrupp]

1) Yes - It is easily customizable to as many components as you have. If they don't have it in their database It's easy to make a new component. You can download the software and set it up before you buy your remote to see what devices they have already.

2) Yes - My tv (a Mitz) allows each tv input to be addressed individually. This takes a bit more work to set up but wasn't that hard to do. My JVR stereo rx works the same way. You select the IR command from a select list to tell it which you want it to do.

3) No- They can be customized for any function though.

4) Grey/Silver

[Joseph S]

Order placed for the silver model. Should be here on Tuesday. :D Hopefully, they get the Mac OS X support done soon. I'm not sure what the problem is though considering the files are only .xml and the transfer method is usb. Fourth XP install this year last week on the same machine, woohoo.

(I got free overnight shipping on the now $269 price)

[Steve Mann]

That's the same price I paid, but I didn't get free shipping. Cost me 15 bucks for 2-day. Where did you pick it up at?

[Joseph S]

I ordered from Bluedo.com They're on the list of authorized dealers, though I never bought anything from them before.

http://harmonyremote.com/dealers.htm#web