The most common reaction I get when I tell people I invested in programmable remote control is laughter. "Why?" they ask. Then again, most people do not have electronic components stack 4 feet high to control.

Even so, the problem is more common than you might imagine. Think about it: You have a CD player, a DVD player, TV, cable box, stereo, and a device for recording (DVD recorder, PVR, video, whatever). Sometimes you have all this and more. It is even a remote-controlled blinds, and lights, if you really in the home theater. This is a lot for the remote control!



This image illustrates the problem - ignoring useability aspect you physically got to find space and batteries for that little lot.

Then the fun begins: You got cable TV connected via hifi get cool surround sound films, so watch the film becomes:

Turn on TV
Switch to cable input
Using remote stereo, switch to the stereo inputs for cable
Using the cable remote, turn to the right channel
Use all your other remotes shut down the things that are not required…
Then you need to adjust the volume - this is a stereo remote. Change the channel - on the cable remote (or the TV remote it?). And so it goes.

So you can see why programmable remote control is beginning to look better and more toys you get more attractive it becomes.


There are many very good products there (Welcome to Remote Central: Universal Remote Control Reviews & More! maintains an excellent database of reviews), but Logitech Harmony 885 received my interests above all others for these reasons:

Versatility. It can control up to 15 devices. Not so much as "unrestricted" higher end products, but more than enough for my needs.
Cost. I will not say "price" because it's still not cheap, but it's easily the equal of products valued at twice as much or more.
Hard buttons. This is a personal choice. I have previously used the Philips Pronto, for many years, which was basically a touch screen that you set up as needed. Very individual, but after a while I began to long for the tactile sensation of the buttons again especially for the "stick" style navigation. Your mileage may vary on this issue.
The number of hard buttons. He not only received the hard buttons, but he got them to cover all eventualities. Especially important for European users, he received a color "teletext" buttons used to Sky + remote. This may seem silly, but I believe that the killer feature, if you are in the UK.
Although she has many buttons, it is difficult to have one set of programmable buttons set against color screen, so you get the best of both worlds.
Rechargeable batteries. In 885 features internal battery and comes with a nice recharge cradle for the participation of the remote when not in use, so you never run out of power. The remote shows the cradle here
The physical design of the remote is one thing, but Logitech / Harmony stars also done work with the programming aspect. In other remotes need to "teach" your new remote each team needed him to learn by clicking each icon existing remote controls and reporting on the new "study" the signal. This is very tedious work, and that before appoint new functions to buttons on your remote learning, which can literally take days to file to get right.


In contrast, the 885 is programmed using a web site. You go to the site and register your remote control. Then you say that you get a kit site by typing in the model number. If he could not find the exact model (and she knows a lot of them), you will be given the best. Of the model number, it can get all the remote control codes applicable to that device, and apply them to 885.

You can then assign that function buttons on the remote control via a simple wizard interface, as shown.

Of course, if you have something really esoteric and unknown, you can "teach" your remote commands in the usual manner. Once you have done so to return results on the web site for everyone else to use that database just continues to grow.

Once you 885 stated that it should control you, a number of "events". These measures basically: "Watch TV," "Listen to Music", "Play xbox" or whatever. Events link devices together and work automatically, you need to do in order to do all this.

An example is "View Cable TV" activity, which will do the following:

Turn on TV
Turn it to the cable input
Switching to a hifi to enter the cable
Turn off everything else.
Set the volume buttons on the remote control to control the stereo
Set channel up / down buttons on the remote control to control the cable box
Assign custom button to control the proportions of the television

This screen shows an example of a page on the site, in the list of devices you want to control, and events defined by you. Activities handled by the wizard interface hides that complexity behind simple questions, such as "What TV channel should be on this type of activity"

Finally, when your actions have been established teams are loaded on the remote. It takes a few minutes, after which you are ready to go.

From unpacking use remote took me about 4 hours (which, believe me, this is a very short period of time as compared with conventional distance learning that the authorities), and most of that time was small tweaks to the interface between devices. I could work it for 30 minutes with the less complicated system.


The result is that at the top of my TV now looks! So, what do not like? Not very many. You will not get some of the more advanced functions of the other macro marks, but then again you are in great need of them because of the way the 885 works. I think that the biggest annoyance is that when it comes to recharging cradle he insists on playing a slide show of photos, which you can not turn off. Why did they decide to do so, I do not know…

We have no official rating system for reviews here in the CC, but, taking into account the entire range of software capabilities and price, I give a 885 Harmony "is recommended." If you are in the market for such a device, you need to make sure to give it a look.


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