Harmony Learning Remote 655

I have been searching for that remote for a while and was looking at the top of the range Sony and Philips remotes with buttons. I prefer them to touch screen because you don't have to look at the remote, it fits nicely in your hand and you can ˇ§feelˇ¨ the controls.

After browsing a few forums, Harmony (ˇKwho?) came up a few times with very good reviews. More important, it seemed to be the remote that does it all. Well, it sure does...and more.

You set it up via the net, device by device, assigning the keys as you wish (there is even a screen where you can assign more functions, very good).
You select your equipment and go through how they are connected and what should be on/off when you watch TV or listen to CD, play game or what ever else you do. Although it does not mention macro, the whole process actually creates all the macros you need (called activities).

Once your configuration is set up, it is stored on Logitech's site so that it is always there should you lose or replace your remote!

Although it is easy to set up, it may take some time to get it right: re-configure on PC and try and re-configure and try again. This is the only drawback but donˇ¦t let that put you off, it actually is a good way to get to know your remote ş

I tried Logitechˇ¦s customer service by e-mail and by phone. There are very, very good: detailed e-mail providing solutions (they even changed some functions themselves) and the person on the phone was very nice and helpful. All that for free.

What a wonderful package! The flexibility is fantastic, assigning, tweaking delays, adding functions, rename labels, learn/teach, all the info/layout is displayed on you PC screen so you can see what does what and 1st class customer service. Superb.

So shop around and/or visit Logitech for info and competitive (lowest actually) price.
Donˇ¦t pay more than £99.

I don't know how anybody could have problems setting up this remote though! The website is incredibly intuitive and even though I haven't had to use their tech support yet I have heard nothing but very good reports. If you do have difficulties however, stick with it because once the harmony has been set up I personally don't think another universal remote comes close under the £500 mark.

The initial set up of inputting all my devices and telling the website about my viewing habits took no more than about 15 minutes and I was suprised at how much the remote had got right straight away! A couple of tweaks later and within 1/2 hr of taking the remote out of the box I had it working exactly how I wanted it. If anybody has any experience of setting up macros on other remotes the equivelant to what my remote does now would of taken about a day! I wouldn't say my set-up was the most common either with a thomson 52" RPTV and a remote controlled sub-woofer.

I think that the biggest recommendation for this remote however is the wife factor. It is incredibly simple to use and at a touch of a button my wife can get everything working instead of calling me when the "sound isn't working" (reciever on the wrong input usually) or something similar. I can't recommend this excellent universal remote enough!