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Topic:
Harmony Replacement
This thread has 3 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Saturday April 11, 2015 at 12:13
El Gabito
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
February 2014
2
Ok, I'm on my 3rd or 4th Harmony remote. Each time, something stops working, I get frustrated, research alternatives, get overwhelmed, buy another harmony.

This cycle must stop!

I currently have a 900, which I use in IR mode exclusively since the RF is so terrible. My components are all in a cabinet, but I have a HotLink PRO IR kit that's worked flawlessly for the past five years to service those.

So, all I need is an IR remote that's easy for the wife and kids to use that can do roughly what a harmony can do. If programming is a bit more intense, I'm ok with that.

Any suggestions?
Post 2 made on Saturday April 11, 2015 at 14:16
buzz
Super Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2003
4,366
El Gabito,

Do you need a screen? Touch control? What devices are you controlling?

While they don't have many hard buttons (Play, Mute, Volume+, Volume-, etc.) phones and pads are popular with consumers. Is a pad or phone controller attractive to you? Note that you'll need some sort of "box" because phones and pads rarely emit any IR.
OP | Post 3 made on Saturday April 11, 2015 at 19:44
El Gabito
Lurking Member
Joined:
Posts:
February 2014
2
I really like hard buttons. A screen would be nice for custom "activities" or macros or whatever (watch tv, watch a movie, play xbox, etc). Couldn't care less if it's touch screen or not (a la harmony 700, which I used to have).

I've looked at the Harmony Ultimate IR even, but the FF/RW look to be in a terrible position compared to any other remote I've ever seen.


Let's say my budget is $300 or less all-in (the lower the better).

TBH, a Harmony 650 might work, I would love a docking station like the 900, but at least it's "cheap" at $70ish. Any URC alternatives? They seem to have culled all of their DIY line.

I have the following devices, that I wish to control:
TV
PS3/Standalone Blu-Ray (may replace first with the latter)
XBOne
AppleTV/Roku (may replace first with the latter)
Denon Receiver
DirecTV Receiver
Post 4 made on Sunday April 19, 2015 at 12:50
RandyWalters
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
December 2006
97
On April 11, 2015 at 19:44, El Gabito said...
I really like hard buttons. A screen would be nice for custom "activities" or macros or whatever (watch tv, watch a movie, play xbox, etc). Couldn't care less if it's touch screen or not (a la harmony 700, which I used to have).

I've looked at the Harmony Ultimate IR even, but the FF/RW look to be in a terrible position compared to any other remote I've ever seen.

Let's say my budget is $300 or less all-in (the lower the better).

TBH, a Harmony 650 might work, I would love a docking station like the 900, but at least it's "cheap" at $70ish. Any URC alternatives? They seem to have culled all of their DIY line.

If you don't mind working with a pre-programmed Learning Remote, the URC MX-450 is a prime candidate with excellent Macro capabilities and is still widely available. It seems to be the only good user-programmable remote that URC has left. It seems to get pretty good reviews.

I just ordered one to play with as my R40's OLED screen has been degrading over the past few years of daily use to the point that it's now almost too dim to see, which is making it difficult to re-configure (i do a lot of that in my man-room). The MX-450 on the other hand has an LCD screen which should maintain it's brightness indefinitely, i'm not so sure about the longevity of an OLED screen now, so i may end up switching to the MX-450 even though i don't like the ergonomics and hand-feel nearly as much as i do on the R40.
Randy
URC MX-890, MX-780, MX-450, R40, MX-500, Sony XBR-55X900E, Panny TC-P55ST60, Tivo Roamio Pro & Premiere & OTA, TWC Arris DVR, Onkyo 333 AVR, Roku Express 4K, Panasonic Blu-Ray


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