Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler Harmony Ultimate remote, anyone have one?

I've been using the URC programmable remotes for years. I have now killed my second MX980 by drowning. Seems as if the damn things are always in the path of a drink I happen to knock over.... Looking for a less expensive option to replace one now.

I need IR/RF as both my systems have the equipment racks behind the seating. I also like remotes with a charging cradle. This Harmony Ultimate has both.

I also use macro's to turn on and turn off all the equipment with one button push. I also use macros to switch from one source to another and with the MX remotes, I can punch through to any device for any command I want. This is handy for use of a video processor when I want to change aspect ratios.

If anyone has one of these remotes, can you comment on their functionality in comparison to the MX remotes?

I almost bought the ultimate but the most used buttons are above the touch screen and that doesn't work for me. I want the most used buttons to be hard buttons close to my thumb. I was using a harmony 520 which has the best layout imho but I have worn out 2 or them and the dog ate one lol and they are no longer available. I bought a harmony one off ebay and a extra battery with charger for when I forget to put it in the cradle. The one is pretty good , but its taking some time to figure out the buttons without looking.

I have never had a URC remote , the harmony's ive had don't use macro's but they have activities and can be somewhat modified with delays and such. You can switch between activities and devices easily with a single button touch as well as map different device operations to different buttons on the touch screen.

I use both the 900 and the 1100. The 1100 is an acquired taste, but mostly useful if you have a complex system requiring lots of extra buttons. The 900 is really good. Prices on all those remotes seem to have come down quite a bit!

URC wants $368 to replace mine. The first time I did that, I chalked it up to an expensive learning adventure. Now I'm just stupid... Not going to spend that kind of money on a remote again.

URC has also gone completely bonkers with regards to their "professional" remotes. They are stupid expensive, and URC has made it very difficult for end users. They want professional installers to sell, program and support them.

I bought a spare URC MX-500 back in the day. Of course I am now using the spare and wishing I had bought another spare.

I installed several of them for friends and relatives and think it a great remote (IR only).

Hmmmm, the OEM remotes that I use are free & never seem to fail.

For normal TV watching, my Shaw PVR remote runs it & my Sony TV.

For HT, I take my remotes out of a slick holder (that my wife found) on an end table & line them up on my coffee table - 1 remote each for Velo Subs, Denon AVR, Sony BDP or PS3 & Sony TV. No macros or trying to figure out what button does what. When we're done, back they go into their holder completely out of the way.

Works for me & cost effective....

TAM

Mike, the guys at Surf Remote have always been very helpful to me.

I bought a MX-850 off EBay (to go with my 2 MX-700's) and love it. I'm thinking of looking for more of the same. Like Socketman, I'm particular about hard buttons and their placement.

However, since I almost always have my iPad with me at home, I'm thinking about going to the Harmony Smart Control "next time".

This Harmony has a hub of sorts that works with smart phones. I have not looked at that feature in detail. TAM, are your devices in front or behind you? Is your room light controlled?

When in use, my devices are in front of me lined up on the coffee table. My HT is completely dark except for the string of ambiance LED lights attached to the back of the TV that shine onto the wall behind it.

I use a cheap, little LED flashlight to view the buttons on my unlit remotes in the dark if required; however, once it is all up & running properly, my remotes aren't used much except occasionally for the BDP/PS3. The Denon AVR remote is the only one that is lighted...

TAM

Maybe I should have rephrased that... Do you have the equipment your remotes are controlling in front of, or behind you?

In front...

TAM

I use the Harmony 900 along with the Logitech Harmony® RF System to control the equipment in the audio rack set in the wall in the back of the room. TV in the front is controlled by IR, also from the 900.

While not perfect it has worked well for the last year or so.

Jack and I have been using the URC remotes for years and they never disappoint. I have progressed from the MX 500,700 and 850 to my current pair of MX-900s.

Incredibly powerful and flexible. For example, I have put commands to increase/ decrease the subwoofer on each device on the remote.

the Harmony's are Ok, but seem a bit toy -like in relation to the URCs.

+1 on Tom's endorsement of surfremotecontrol.com

I recommend Harmonies for people who need a more user friendly programming experience but the URCs are a superior product IMHO. Even if you can do everything you need to do with a Harmony, I still give the edge to the URCS on thier toughness alone. They can truly take a beating compared to the Harmonies that my friends seem to replace on a regular basis.

I currently have a URC MX450. It's not PC programmable but it's just as powerful and using the built in screen to program is surprisingly intuitive once you get at it.

URC has a water proof remote I might try.

Water proof or wine proof?

Send one of those and a case of wine to me and I'll report back.

Really.

Just send me a case of wine and I'll report 'something' back....

Send me a case of wine and you won't have to hear me report on anything for a while.

I have two Harmony 880's but I just picked up a Harmony Smart Control that is going to retire one of them. I'm not done setting it up (have to route the IR blaster upstairs to my TV) but so far it seems really slick. Having a basic remote for those quick grab standard commands plus the ability to run the app on the phone and tablet is nifty.