glenhamilton's Full Review: Logitech Harmony® 659 LCD Remote Control
Yes, I must have owned so many universal remote controls over the years that they would cause my coffee table to collapse under the weight if they were all placed on it. I never found one I liked or that was easy to use.
FINALLY! The Harmony. I've used it for about 4 months now and it is simply fantastic. It truly controls everything and is much easier to program than other remotes. I have 3 of them controlling different equipment in various parts of the house.
BUYING IT. No, don't go to Circuit City or one of the other chains. You will get ripped off for as much as $200 or more. Buy it on line from Amazon.com or Buy.com for half the price.
PROGRAMMING IT. These people really have their act together. It is simple to hook up the remote to a USB port on your computer, run their software that connects you to the Harmony web site and lets you type in the name and model number of the equipment you have. It then configures and downloads the programming for you. I have all sorts of equipment programmed in it... TV, VCR, DVD player, Stereo, and X10 home automation control for lights, heating, etc. The one downside and oversight is that you need to connect to their web site to configure and program the remote. It takes awhile to get used to their interface on the web site. I would much prefer a local Windows program with a database that can be updated from their web site. If their web site is down or goes off line, you won't be able to reprogram your remote. Recently Logitec bought the company, so hopefully this won't be a problem.
SUPPORT.
I did have to call them a couple of times to ask questions about some bazzar things I wanted to do with the remote that you would probably never have to deal with. Their support was fabulous and they were very knowledgeable. I wonder if this will continue now that Logitec bought them out. Logitec is not known for their support.
WHICH MODEL TO GET:
I suggest this one... the 659. There is another similar model called the 688. I have it also but I'm not happy with it because the buttons are hard to navigate at night without looking at the remote. On the 688 they are flush against each other and makes it difficult to know which button you are pressing by just feeling the remoter. On this 659 they are separate. I am not sure which unit is the newer one, but if the 688 is newer, then they are making the product worse. Get the 659. It is also very easy to see at night with a pleasant blue backlighting of all buttons.
The company has several other remotes with a different layout of buttons at the top and display at the bottom. I wondered what dingbat came up with that idea. I would never buy such a style as that because instinctively you pick up the remote upside down.
The smart HELP feature of this remote is very cool. Since all universal remotes send a series of commands to your various equipment, there will be a time when you get in a hurry and lay down the remote after clicking the off button. Nothing everything will turn off. Same goes for when you turn things on. If you accidentally cover the IR transmitter or hold it in an odd position, not everything will come on and connect to the proper settings. It does not happen very often, but when it does, I press the HELP button. 90% of the time it automatically corrects the problem and asks "Did that fix the problem?" If it doesn't fix the problem, you enter "NO" and it will ask a short series of questions about what is on and what isn't. My wife really loves that feature as she knows nothing about electronics.
Yes, I had a serious problem with it in that I was sure I properly programmed it to turn off the wife, but no matter how many times I click the off button, she just keeps talking !
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