[loki993]

Ok I have my sony HDTV a-2020, and onkyo 605 ans a dish 722 dvr, I need a remote that will control all of these. The dish remote does an ok job, but Its a bit confusing for people and im constantly having to explain to people hot to turn everything on, plus its just kind of a pain in general. So I need a remote with macros.


Now when we had cable the cable remote had a macro to turn everything on and off, but I didnt like it. 1 it was slow, there was a decent delay with turning on earn component and if you moved the remote during the process something wouldn't turn on, on to problem 2 once that happened it would be out of sync, you would hit the button again and of course it would turn on what didnt cone on before but it would turn off the other device.


With the logitech remotes can you program each button individually? There was a time when I used the onkyo remote for the cable but it was a bit chunky with the guide. Could I get away with on of the cheaper logitechs, like the 50 dollar refurb on amazon, if their still there? is there a different brand that in over looking. I would figure what I need is very basic.

 

[Jim Burns]

I use the MX350, it works well is easy to program and has an optional RF base station if the equipment is in another room or not in direct IR range.


Call us if you would like more information.

 

[mdavej]

A refurb harmony would also be a good choice. You CAN program each button individually. And it would solve your power sync issue since harmony either uses discrete power commands or tracks the state of your devices automatically. However, you still have to keep the remote aimed until the macro is done (although the power stuff at the beginning goes pretty quick). If necessary, you can tweak the delays yourself with the harmony software. If you get a next gen RF system to go with it, or the URC with RF, you wouldn't have to aim at all, and that part of the problem also goes away.


To save even more money, on the dirt cheap end, many one-for-all and radio shack remotes (all made by UEI) have great macro and advanced programming capabilities. You can also solve the issue of power getting out of sync with those remotes by simply programming your macros to use discrete on/off codes (all the devices you listed have them, which I can post if you go that route). That way, no matter how many times you run your "watch tv" macro, it'll only try to turn your devices on, and never toggle back off. Then you'd have a power off macro just to turn everything off. With discretes, they won't toggle back on or get out of sync. All your devices also have discrete input codes, so your macros can go directly to specific inputs without having to cycle through a list. However, without the LCD found on harmony or URC you'd still have to tell people which button runs your "watch tv" macro.

 

[loki993]

I think im leaning towards the logitechs. Where the best place to get reburbs?

 

[loki993]

also the biggest problem I had was the stuff getting out of sync and not the delay really. If I could hit the button again and it would turn on what didnt come on it would be fine.

 

[mdavej]



Quote:
Originally Posted by loki993 /forum/post/16829553


I think im leaning towards the logitechs. Where the best place to get reburbs?

There have been quite a few on Amazon lately. I watched Slickdeals.net until a $29 Xbox 360 harmony came up on Amazon and grabbed a couple. That one is almost identical to the 550 but with color buttons added, so it's a great fit for my DVR. I think it's back up to $49, but that's still pretty good. The $29 deal was dead within a day, so you have to watch closely and act fast to get the best deals. The refurbs come straight from the factory, so they're really like new.

 

[loki993]

Ill check that site. Heres what im seeing right now:


670 59.99

550 79.99

520 39.99

659 44.99

720 69.99


which one of these is the best deal?

 

[mdavej]

If by deal you mean biggest markdown, you'll just have look up the retail prices and compare. The ones in your list are all fairly old. The 550 is probably the newest. You'll just have a look at them and choose the buttons, styling and layout you like best. They all program the same. Some have more buttons and devices than others and different layouts (transport keys in the middle, versus on the bottom, etc.). It mostly a matter of personal taste. Remotecentral.com has lots of pics, discussion and reviews of harmony's. In your case, I think a 520 would be fine. Do a little research on remotecentral and see if you like it.

 

[loki993]

Ill check, but there isnt one there that is all that much better than the other?

 

[mdavej]

Well, yes. The more expensive ones are better. For example, the 550 is newer and has more buttons and better backlighting than the 520. You'll have to decide if those differences are worth $40 to you. Besides, I think that 550 is overpriced for a refurb. I suppose the best of the of those you listed is the 720, with it's nice color screen, more activity buttons, and rechargeable battery (will a refurb have a new battery? I don't know). It sells for $150 new, so $70 is pretty good. The Xbox 360 harmony didn't make your list, but it's still the best bang for the buck at $49 IMO (it was a steal at $29). I'd say it's a bit better than the more expensive 550 but not as nice as the 720.

 

[loki993]

I do like the 720. I also like the 550. I found a refurb 550 on newegg for 59.99. You think the 360 remote is better than the 550 though?? The reason I had dismissed it was because 1 I couldn't find a decent priced refurb ans 2 I didnt like the color of it that much, but I guess I could deal with it well looking at it now I guess the color isnt bad. I dont have a 360 can I assign the xbox buttons?

 

[mdavej]



Quote:
Originally Posted by loki993 /forum/post/16841736


You think the 360 remote is better than the 550 though?? ... I dont have a 360 can I assign the xbox buttons?

They're virtually identical, so no worries either way. But the 360's colored buttons make it better in my book, plus it's only $50 shipped on amazon. I don't have a 360 either, but many of my remotes have colored buttons, so the 360 is perfect in my case. You can assign almost any button (including the colored ones) to any function.

 

[loki993]

So I do like the extra buttons on the 360 remote, but I do not like the fact that it doesnt have a page up and down buttons. We use that alot in out guide. Ive seen that the channel up and down buttons can be use ad page up and down. do they have to be set to do just that or will they "know" somehow that there in the guide and page up and down, but still work for channel changing when not in the guide? I guess I could always set two of the colored buttons if the channel ones wont work.

 

[mdavej]

The LCD has as many pages of 4 buttons each as you like. I would put my Page+/- buttons on the first page of those in my "Watch TV" activity, but you could put them on any of the hard buttons as well. If Ch+/- works as Page+/- on you original remote, they will work the same on harmony.