I am looking to purchase a universal remote so that I don't have to use 6 remotes for all of my components. Can you guys lead me in the right direction? Which remote is the best out there? I don't need a remote for any lighting or other devices, only the following home theater items. Here are the components that I currently have...

Yamaha RX-V2700
Sony SXRD 60-A2000
Sony PS3
Direct TV DVR HR-20
Dish Network DVR
Oppo DV 981-HD

I want to be able to use just 1 remote (although I have heard that the PS3 can't be used with a universal).

Any suggestions?

It would help if you posted a budget. The two most popular lines of remotes on this forum are the Logitech Harmony and URC lines.

Cost does not matter. I just want an excellent remote but not too difficult to learn.

Cost does not matter. I just want an excellent remote but not too difficult to learn.

The Harmony remotes are probably the simplest but the URC remotes are more powerful (macros.....)
If you do buy URC make sure it is from an authorized dealer

I think I will look into the Harmony line as I don't want to spend too much time programming macros.

With those harmony remotes, will I still be able to have all of the controls of my yamaha av receiver? There are a ton of buttons for many different purposes. How does that work with the harmony remotes? Same with the Direct TV DVR?

how many of them do you actually use on a daily basis, though?

Receiver, TV to turn on, PS3, DVD for kid, Direct TV

Basically all of them except the Dish Network DVR

I dont want to lose the ability of my receiver remote, as it has tons of buttons that I grew accustomed to.

Sorry, I meant how many buttons on the receiver remote do you actually use on a daily basis.

Just the basics and a couple more. Volume, inputs, audio options (straight or dd), standy mode, power. That's about it. Am I going to sorely miss the receiver remote as well as the Direct TV DVR remote after switching to the harmony?

You won't lose any of the functionality of the original remote. The Harmony can learn IR commands.

Cool, thanks for the help fellas. I am going to look into getting the Harmony 890. I have heard good things about it.

you cant use the harmony remote with ps3..without getting an adapter or something. the playstation uses bluetooth.

and unfortunately no such adapter exists yet either

I, too, was starting to do some research, but went and bought a
Universal Remote RF10 with the Power Blaster (allows RF compnents to be operated from another room) from BB as something to use while figuring out what to buy. It was $124 but if I searched online I'm sure I coud save $, but at that price who cares!

I have to say that this seems to be pretty darn easy. One of the plusses to the other remotes I have heard about is programming on your PC. This programming took about 15 minutes total, without PC, so I don't see where the big advantage to that is.

My biggest concern at this point is that this remote won't control other components that have only RF remotes. If the other component has IR or both IR and RF, then it will work! As I am about to purchase a new AV receiver (any suggestions?) and perhaps a new DVD player, I need to pay attention to that. Do the Harmony remotes learn RF as well as IR?

Just the basics and a couple more. Volume, inputs, audio options (straight or dd), standy mode, power. That's about it. Am I going to sorely miss the receiver remote as well as the Direct TV DVR remote after switching to the harmony?

I'm going to bet that when you use the audio option buttons is when you're changing inputs, correct?

When you program any universal remote you will set it up so that when you go to a certain mode(watch dvd) it changes the receiver to a certain audio mode.

Most of the time yes. I am sure that having a single universal remote instead of 6 individual remote will have far more advantages than disadvantages. Take the very good with the bad I guess. I am going to be getting the Harmony 890 I think. Anyone think I should just get the 880 instead?

Most of the time yes. I am sure that having a single universal remote instead of 6 individual remote will have far more advantages than disadvantages. Take the very good with the bad I guess. I am going to be getting the Harmony 890 I think. Anyone think I should just get the 880 instead?

The 880 and 890 are identical apart from the 890 also having RF ability. If you need RF then the 890 is your only option, if you don't need RF you could also consider the Harmony 720. Some people prefer the shape/layout of this over the 880...all personal preference.

Cool, thanks. The help on this forum is tremendous.

Most of the time yes. I am sure that having a single universal remote instead of 6 individual remote will have far more advantages than disadvantages. Take the very good with the bad I guess. I am going to be getting the Harmony 890 I think. Anyone think I should just get the 880 instead?

I wouldn't recommend the 880 or the 890.

The buttons all feel the same! You have to look at the remote for everything besides channel and volume.

I'd go with the URC MX-850 from Surfremote.com

I wouldn't recommend the 880 or the 890.

The buttons all feel the same! You have to look at the remote for everything besides channel and volume.

I'd go with the URC MX-850 from Surfremote.com

Is the URC MX-850 as easy to set up as the 880 or 890?

Anyone else agree with the MX-850?

i have the harmony 550 and the keys squeak. i returned it and got another one. this one does not have a rubber cover over the usb input at the top of the remote. is this a newer model or older model?

Is the URC MX-850 as easy to set up as the 880 or 890?

Anyone else agree with the MX-850?

IMHO it's easier to program then the harmony remotes.

Just a note: I have a 880. It took me weeks to get it properly setup. The online programming interface sucks.

I installed for tweeter. I could program the 850 in about two hours. Then tweak it to perfection in about 30 minutes to an hour

Is the URC MX-850 as easy to set up as the 880 or 890?



Not in my experience.
I tried to program an MX-850 for my system. Spent hours on it and could never get it working reliably.
I eventually gave up on it and tried a Harmony(659) and had it controlling my setup perfectly in about 30 minutes...couldn't be happier with it.