All-In-One remotes

[virtuo]

Since I've had my home cinema set up, I've been very happy with it, and the only major problem I now have is that the mrs is struggling to understand how to get it to do things with all the remotes and options.

I was thinking an all-in-one remote could simplify it. The only ones I've really heard of are the Logitec Harmonys, but there are loads of them.

I checked the site and they only have 5 "current" models. I checked eBay and there are too many to choose from. I liked the look of the Harmony 1000/1100 as it has a pretty fancy "tablet" form factor, but it's pushing 7 years old now. The Harmony One/One+ seemed pretty good as well but I don't want something that's going to have a lot of buttons that I won't use.

Has anyone here got any recommendations? Doesn't have to be Logitec.

I'll be using it to run the Panasonic TV, Yamaha Amp, Linux HTPC (with IR receiver) running XBMC and possibly the PS3 bluray player. Also going to be installing a network music streamer in the near future, but not sure which.

[b0redom]

Harmony One was awesome. I had 2. Unfortunately I also have 3 small kids who drop heavy toys on the touchscreen

So I'm in the market for a new one too. It seems that the Harmony One has been replaced by the Harmony Touch. If it's as good as the Harmony One, you'll be laughing. You program a button which appears on the touch screen which says: 'Watch Humax' or similar, and it sets the correct input on the TV, amp, surround sound settings etc and sets up the correct buttons on the remote for play, stop, pause etc.

I'm not sure if you need a IR/Bluetooth converter for the Harmony Touch, you do with the Harmony One, but it's only about £20.

[GoNz0]

The harmony one has just enough buttons :-)

[jonathan_phang]

I have a Harmony 600, which is an old fashioned button remote, rather than full touchscreen but I couldn't imagine life without it now. I run TV through a Media PC with 7MC, with audio handled with an dedicated amp, so the one touch turn-on-in-a-specified-order functionality is brilliant. Best thing is the all off button. One touch and then everything is off - its great

Well worth the money, the product database is huge, and the software let you configure each device as you want. The more time you put in up front the less you will need going ahead.

Worth having a look

[acluacs]

Having had a touchscreen one, I'd say I prefer the button based ones because you don't have to look at it to use it once your fingers have learnt where to go. I too have a harmony 600 series and it's just about perfect. Easy to setup and good support if you need it.

[scottyman]

I had one of the old philips fully programmable ones, it was great, but too large - and too complex to program
I like the new Harmony Smart units - the outgoing model is on special in Aus/NZ for $125 which includes a couple of IR blasters
It's also got Bluetooth control for PS3 and an RF relay too, but the cool part is that you can use your iphone (or android as well I think) to drive the app
The Harmony touch looks pretty good as well, but it's a lot of money to add a touchscreen
At least with the harmony range, it supports basically everything and macros are much easier to build than previous releases - even the 600 mentioned above seems to have a huge amount of flexibility!

[shaithis]

Logitechs all the way for me. The software is amazing for them, so easy to setup, easy to use.

[Smudger]

Can you not program the Yamaha remote to function with everything? We got an Onkyo amp and we could set the remote up to do the telly, Tivo and Blu-Ray, although I didn't try it with the PS3...

[virtuo]

Cheers all, I'm still undecided, I think for the pretty steep price of an all-in-one I'll just put up with having 3 remotes doing different things. I will keep an eye out for a bargain though, the Harmony 600 sounds plenty good enough.

Can you not program the Yamaha remote to function with everything? We got an Onkyo amp and we could set the remote up to do the telly, Tivo and Blu-Ray, although I didn't try it with the PS3...

Unfortunately not, my amp is a pretty basic model and doesn't have a smart remote

[jonathan_phang]

I'm thinking of trying to get a 700 just to get as many devices on as possible for future proofing, but did see a 650 for not too much IMO

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-dvd-...04427-pdt.html

JP