Logitech Harmony 650 Universal Remote - Refresh

There is no point in pretending this is quick to set up. Nor is it especially easy if you're not pretty clear on how your own AV equipment is connected and set up. The manual says to "allow 45 minutes". That seems about right to me (although it is now many years since I set up my very first Harmony). On top of that 45 minutes, you will probably make several more round-trips via your PC to fine-tune your setup to suit you just right (and a PC with an internet connection is COMPULSORY, please note.)

However, it is one of the best gadgets I own - if you are prepared to take the time and effort, the rewards are yours for years to come. This is my third Harmony (they've been around many years now). I would note neither of the previous two have failed - they both gave years of reliable service. Being heavily used, they just got a bit old and tired looking and I find myself looking at a new, shiny model! That means, over time, most of my AV equipment has changed as I went from video-recorders/analogue TVs to Freeview to Freesat, to DVD & then Blu-Ray, to a PVR and so on. So one of the things it may be useful to know is that the lengthy setup time was needed just once, all those years ago. I've long since worked out precisely and exactly how I want my buttons to react and changing one piece of equipment now only takes 5 or 10 minutes. For instance, I recently changed a dead DVD/HD recorder into a Freesat PVR. I think it took under 5 minutes to modify my Harmony. The buttons I use regularly I ensure are are all in the same place (for me, that's stuff like "Subtitles" and - especially - a 10-second rewind & a 30-second fast-forward). It also means my learning curve on a new piece of equipment is very brief, as my remote therefore works the same way and I know where the buttons are in my sleep. Even when I change Harmony, the button layout doesn't change very much, so I'm quickly up to speed. Every piece of equipment I've bought has been in the enormous Harmony database. Occassionally I have needed to "teach" the remote a single command, but that is quick and easy to do. Note that you cannot control a Wii, as that uses bluetooth for communication.

Not only does it allow you to replace all your remotes with a single one, the Harmony allows you to setup what it calls "Activities". I have a TV, a surround-sound, a blu-ray player, a freesat PVR and a Nintendo Wii all hooked up. Part of the initial setup encourages you to setup these "Activities". So, for example, when I want to watch recorded TV, one button press switches on the TV, surround-sound & PVR. Each piece of equipment is automatically set to the right input with that single button press (eg HDMI2 on the TV for my PVR). Then each piece of equipment is entirely controlled via the Harmony: volume buttons control the volume on the surround-sound whilst channel-change and record buttons control the PVR, and so on. All this is completely transparent in use - once set up correctly, it simply works for ever more.

The Harmony 650 is slightly bulkier than either of my earlier models, but is very light and feels very well-made. Button presses are distinct and clear (not like the "mushy" keys you get on some remotes). The button layout has changed slightly from my previous model but I think it is an improvement as different "sections" are more clearly grouped together and slightly separated now from one another (eg the bottom section - as always - is the numeric keypad. Next up Play, Pause, Stop, Rewind etc buttons are more logically grouped together. Above that, another clear group of buttons for the direction pad, volume up & down and volume up & down. It feels clearer and slightly bigger - an advantage for those of us who now use reading glasses! Incidentally, when you swap one Harmony remote for another, you simply select it on the PC and all your settings are transferred to the new remote. The 650 uses ordinary AAA batteries, whereas my last model used a rechargeable that came with its own "base station" for storage and recharge. If you prefer that, you might want to select a model further up the range. In the past I've found batteries last about 9 months. The buttons are backlit - when you pick the Harmony up, they light up which makes life easier if you like a darkened room for viewing. The LCD screen at the top is in colour - these are the main buttons for setting up those specific commands that suit the way YOU like to use your equipment. One thing to note if you're an existing Harmony user is that each "screenful" is 4 items not 6. I haven't found this a problem personally - it just took a little bit of re-arranging buttons to suit me. This remote can control up to 5 items - more expensive Harmony remotes can control up to 15 if you want (for example) to also use it for a hi-fi centre.

All in all, I'm as pleased with this Harmony as any previous model. Maybe even a little more so - it is very comfortable in the hands and the button layout feels a little better.

In conclusion, if you're prepared to spend the time at the beginning of your ownership, I'm certain that you'll be a Harmony fan too! If it feels too complicated or you don't want to have to spend the time, you will probably regret it. A little patience will go a long way and be well rewarded. I recommend this very highly.

I bought this remote to replace an old Logitech Harmony 525 remote, which was looking very tired (button text warn off and silver paint wearing through).

I had looked at the competing One-for-all remote, but it seemed their software was just as clunky at Logitech's and I would have to start programming the commands from scratch. If, on the other hand, I stuck with the Harmony, then the software would allow me to copy my settings over from my old remote. So bearing that in mind, it was an easy choice to stick with Logitech.

...Well that was the theory at least! When using the Harmony's replace remote function I found out that while it would copy across the activities (Watch TV, Watch a Movie, etc.) it would not copy across any custom buttons (such as a DVD players' angle and subtitle buttons for example). I can't understand why not, but at least I wouldn't have to re-do it all right? Wrong! Upon trying to re-program in the custom buttons I kept on having the software display the error message "Unable to Display Content", then all the settings I'd just entered would be lost. Going by Logitech's user forums and internet searches, many other Harmony users are suffering from the same issue too.

I tried multiple suggestions from the forums, but none of them fixed the issue. In the end I bit the bullet and created a new login and reprogrammed the remote from scratch. Thankfully the "Unable to Display Content" didn't resurface. So in summary, don't buy the remote because of the easy upgrade path (the cake is a lie).

The thing is once you have gone through the pain of using Logitech's software (which is poorly laid out and long winded to use), you will be rewarded with a remote that excels in controlling multiple devices and simplifying start up, switching and shutting down processes.

The remote itself is a big improvement over its predecessor, with an improved screen, layout, key spacing and build quality. Where it is a step backwards is in the loss of the glow button that would trigger button back light, which was useful in the dark, and the reduction in the number of devices it can control (down from 10 to 5) which is quite stingy (you only need a TV, amplifier, DVD player, Freeview box and a games console and you are already at the limit).

Overall I think it is a great remote, let down by poor software and being slightly too stingy on the number on devices allowed (should be a minimum of 6), hence the loss of two stars. Even with all these problems, I would still recommend it (until someone else creates something better), just don't expect the setup to be quick or easy.

Harmony 650
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We chose the 650 for its set of coloured buttons and colour LCD which can show Channel logos and is useful to distinguish between Activities with a pink background and blue for Devices. I find the LCD's hard buttons are preferable to a touch screen. The use of 2x AA batteries such as rechargeable eneloops is an advantage because problems have been reported with the special battery used by the more expensive models. Nor do you have to wait for hours or fiddle with dedicated cradles or leads for recharging. However the manual is still too concise and the 5 device limit is a nuisance.

There are plenty of informative reviews here already but if you find the manual confusing, as I did, I hope this helps with the initial installation by bringing things together and, if you own another suitable Harmony remote, to get over the 5 device limit. This is not a 'hack' but rather use of the facility which Logitech has sensibly provided for people who want to upgrade or exchange their old remote while retaining most of any satisfactory existing configuration.

The software (interface/'GUI') program needs to be installed on PC. This is currently Harmony Remote Software v.7.7.0 'HarmonyRemote.exe' which is on the CD and available from the Logitech Harmony website. It is compatible with all models except the 300 and 200 which are confined to the less well sorted and less flexible method at myharmony,com.

The configuration for each remote is stored in its own Account. Unless you already have one which can adopt the 650, or replace the old remote with it,(see below), an account first needs to be opened. This can be done once the remote is connected by USB and gives access to freephone telephone help for the first 3 months. There is also an good support forum at Logitech's website.

Owner's details, 'login ID' and 'Password' are required before the program checks for updates. If the remote's Firmware is out of date it can cause problems straight away so this should be checked and updated if necessary from the download tab.

The software detects the model of a connected remote and records it so the model number appears at the top of the page when the software is opened again, and each account records the configuration for a particular remote. Configurations cannot be copied directly between accounts but an account can be 'cloned', using a modified username, by an adviser on the telephone helpline. If you want back ups without phoning Logitech you can open and configure several accounts.

The 650 and 600 can normally only accommodate 5 devices but accounts previously defined for models such as 655, 555, or 525, and carrying up to 10 or 15 devices, can adopt the 650 by 'updating' with those accounts (upon which the former '655/555/525 account' becomes a '650 account'). Any inherited extra devices can subsequently be modified or removed as usual, but no fresh devices can be added until the existing total is reduced to 4.

If you already have an account for a Harmony remote in the same series, such as 655, then that account and configuration can adopt your new 650/600 simply by updating the new remote, while clearly the sound and picture buttons would not be included. In an old account for a series5 remote, such as 555/525, during updating the option appears to 'replace' it, in which case the customized commands and additional commands revert to the default settings for each device.

The fix is needed to partially resolve the 5 device limit but otherwise the 650's AA batteries and coloured buttons could make it seem better value than the One. If you need more devices without the fix, H700 can carry 6 devices using v.7.0.7 Software or 8 with myharmony,com, rechargeable AA batteries, charging socket, and charger. In addition to sending IR, Harmony 900 can send RF signals to IR emitters in a cupboard or other room.