Customer Reviews

Logitech Harmony 650 Remote (Silver)

5 star:		(234)
4 star:		(149)
3 star:		(51)
2 star:		(32)
1 star:		(90)

 

 

First of all, I would give this remote 4 and 1/2 stars if I could, but 4 or 5 were my only options.

The Harmony 650 remote seems to be a scaled back version of the Harmony One. The main differences are no touchscreen , no rechargeable battery and the 650 can only hold 5 devices in memory. If this isn't too limiting, then read on. Also, if you consider yourself even mildly computer illiterate, perhaps another type of universal remote would serve your needs better. Most of the complaints about Logitech remotes revolve around people's difficulty getting their software to work. (it works, you just need to learn it)

With this remote you can control 5 different devices in any combination you need. You set up 'Activities' based on what you want the remote to control, such as "Watch TV" and the Harmony 650 will control all the functions for your TV, Cable Box or DVR , Amp, etc. (or CD player, or Blu Ray, or... well, you get the idea)

What's in the box? You get the remote of course, plus a quick start guide, two AA batteries and the included micro 'B' USB cable you connect to your computer to program and update the remote settings using software you must download first from Harmony's website.

You DO require a computer and reasonable internet connection to initially set up and use this remote. Once it is set up you are good to go, but over time you will find other things you will wish to customize and then another trip to your computer will become necessary. Also, if you at first have trouble getting things to work the way you want, you will be making quite a few trips to your computer to sort it all out. Do not worry, mastering the software does take a bit of time, more for some, less for others. The point is, it DOES work and once you crack it, it is a piece of cake to operate.

You can customize all of the buttons' functions for each device and each activity so your most needed commands are a quick button press away and exactly where YOU want them to be. Once you wrap your head around the concept you will see all the possibilities this system offers and just how cool it actually is.

Also, not relying on a rechargeable battery can actually be a good thing. My Harmony One requires a very expensive battery and a functioning charging cradle and adapter to keep working. I have had all 3 go out on me over time and these items are not easily had without some wait time, rendering the remote useless. The 650 however runs on just two everyday AA batteries and that really makes all the difference. I do not know if it retains the programming when you change them but it is easy enough to just re synch it with the software settings you made on your computer so that shouldn't be an issue. I bought a Harmony 550 for a backup (it uses AAA) and now wish I could have got the 650 instead as I prefer it.

The build quality seems pretty good, but not near as good as the the Harmony One. It's a bit on the 'plasticky' side, but the keys themselves are a vast improvement over the ones on the 550, at least in layout. The keys are laid out almost exactly the same as the 'One' which is nice and I had no trouble using it immediately after programming. In particular, the layout lends itself to easy DVR use and DVD/Blu Ray transport controls. Everything is right where I think it should be. Good going Logitech!

The Color screen is nice enough to look at, but a 1 color display could stuff have done the job for me. Apparently you can load in favorite channel icons for customized channel selection and they display nicely on the screen. For me that is just a gimmick I don't need. I took the time to program all of them on my Harmony One and I never use them at all. Still, if you want to impress your friends , the color screen is very nice to look at.

The 650 has a few buttons that even the Harmony One does not include. Four color coded buttons are located right under up/down toggle and can be programmed for any function and match up nicely with my Oppo Blu Ray player who's own remote includes just such buttons. Speaking of buttons they are nicely back lit. The only downside to the back lighting is the possible effect on battery life. I have not used the remote long enough to know how long the AA's will last with regular use. It does make them very easy to see and it's a nice touch. Speaking of touch, the buttons themselves feel sturdy and with a semi rubbery feel that is a vast improvement over some of their earlier remotes. They work well and are very responsive and I really wish my Harmony One had these particular buttons as they feel superior to the hard plastic you get with the 'One'. I should also mention they are back lit and that really helps while watching is darkened rooms or at night. Unfortunately the only buttons that are NOT back lit are the help and activities buttons and that is a shame. I also found the remote was set to display the back lighting and display screen for 20 seconds and I went and changed it to stay on for only 10 seconds to preserve my battery life. You can go as low as 5 seconds if that is enough time for you.

I have been using my Harmony One for almost 2 years and everything on it works like the day I bought it. (battery and charger adapter notwithstanding) I see no reason why this remote should be any different, although your mileage may vary. I do feel the 650 is a bit on the pricey side, considering it only has enough flash memory in it to remember 5 devices. I regularly control up to 8 devices in my setup so this would not be a viable choice for my first call remote. However, if your have no more than 5 units to control you could do a lot worse than this one. It is versatile, functional, feels good in the hand and so far works perfectly, at least for me. I plan to keep it on hand for the next time my Harmony One Battery refuses to take a charge.

This is a bit of a unique review - 2 parts, from the viewpoints of the non-techie nursing student wife and also the techie husband.

Wife's review:
My husband was excited to get this remote control. It is fancy looking with a metallic pewter finish on top (black on bottom). The buttons are well marked and the screen is just the right brightness - good enough in bright light but doesn't blind you if all the lights are out. Our TV and movie watching setup is complicated - or at least it was. There were all sorts of buttons to push and settings to change before the movie would play and all the home theater speakers would kick in. Now, I just push one button and that's all it takes.

When I say one button, I mean it. There are some deep maroon colored buttons toward the very front/top of the remote that are the key features. The ones we've put to use are 1) watch TV, 2) watch a movie, and 3) listen to music. How do these work? You have to go on the internet to Logitech's website and program this remote control (it comes with a USB cord that you can use). On the website, you pick your models of TV, DVD, tuner, etc. There are over 5000 in their library, so they claim everyone should be able to find a match to their equipment. The Logitech site prompts you to answer any questions about settings that may need to be turned on or changed in order to watch TV or movies. You don't have to figure it out - just answer the questions. From that initial programming, the remote knows what to do. The quick start guide (which my husband usually skips) was short and helpful so maybe people will actually use it. Dimensions: 9"x 2.5", with an ergonomic rounding at the base.
.
.
Husband's review:
I love gadgets (cameras, computers, blackberry, etc.) so getting an opportunity to own and review a high-tech remote control was a real treat. The Harmony 650 is an advanced, sleek, easy-to-use remote control that lives up to its premium price tag. Are there cheaper products on the market that can consolidate the 5 remote controls sitting on your coffee table? Yes, but not with the technological sophistication of the Harmony 650. In short, I am a fan and would recommend to both geeks and techno-phoebes

What I like:
*Light weight.
*Ergonomic. The device is heavier/thicker in the back and thinner in the front.
*Easy to set up and program. Once the device is connected to the computer, Logitech's device software takes you to a virtual homepage where you can adjust any setting.
*Updates via USB computer connection (firmware, programming).
*One-touch operation (called Activity). For example, if I press "Watch a Movie" the TV and DVD player turn on and play (it even changes from TV to HDMI) automatically.
*You can program custom Activities.
*Motion activated. The device's color screen turns on when I move it and goes to sleep when I set it down.

Conclusion:
I am upset with myself for not acquiring a high-tech remote control a long time ago. I used to have 5 remotes on my ottoman but now there is only the Harmony 650. I will never go back to having more than one remote control. If you are in the market for a "smart" remote then stop hesitating and buy this one because you will love it.

I have remote controls floating all over my room. Three separate ones: TV, VCR and DVD. And in the den, yet another remote for the stereo. I was glad to receive this item for review from the Amazon Vine program, because it was time to consolidate!

Logitech packed everything you need to get going with this remote. The remote, two vacuum-sealed batteries, USB cord & user manual. To get started, here was my experience:

1. Went to the Logitech website at the URL recommended in order to download a simple, free software package to my computer.

2. I plugged into my computer the now battery-filled remote, using the enclosed USB cord.

3. I ran the Logitech software, which took me through the setup process step by step. Before long I was off and running with my multiple-use remote ready to go. All of my equipment was working, even the separate stereo, which isn't connected to my TV/VCR/DVD players.

As this isn't a cheap remote that you'd buy at the grocery store checkout counter, you really do need to allot the 45 minutes that the user guide recommends for setup time. I could have taken less time, but I wanted to get as many devices engaged as I could.

A few tips: Make sure you have the Manufacturer & Model # ready for each piece of equipment you're programming into the remote. Also, while I had no problem getting this set up, this remote is not for those who are seriously technology-shy. The software was easy to follow and laid out really well, but I could easily see my 65 year-old mother having trouble (or at least taking alot of time) to get it programmed. You need to know some techie terms-- for example, is your VCR hooked up via a Line 1 outlet?

And while this is a wonderful product, I felt the $100 price tag (as of March 2010) was a little high. If it could do my dishes and fold my laundry, maybe-- but $100 seems a bit much.

Overall I give this product high marks, and I'm looking forward to enjoying the absence of so many remotes in my room!

Since other folks have gone into the technical aspects in great detail, I will leave that alone. Overall, I do like the remote though it does have issues. The biggest one being the fact that it constantly has to be reset. This can happen up to several times a day making one have to stop, work their way through the menu setting it back up via the welcome message prompts, and then finally have it work again until the next time it decides it has to be reset.

As a result, my sons and my wife have refused to use it anymore because they won't fiddle with it to get it working again. I am still using it.

I certainly would not recommend it to anyone because of this ongoing and annoying problem.

I read owner reviews on this remote that complained of a constant reset issue (touching the remote or remote turning over bumps it out of the current mode - eg Watch TV - resulting in it being unusable for that mode) but figured they just received a dud and mine would be fine (4 out of 5 stars is not bad).

About 30 days into ownership (and therefore too late to return), the problem started. If batteries are not 100% fresh or battery contacts haven't been adjusted recently (see note below), the problem happens constantly.

The up arrow button "sticks" as well - need to press it at least 2x before action registers.

I'm still awaiting word from Logitech but my guess is I'll have to pay to ship it in and this may not be the only warranty replacement incidence needed on this baby.

So... moral of the story is stay away from this model even if the price is attractive.

An aside - Logitech forums and other reviews indicate the reset problem arises from momentary loss of contact in the battery compartment. That makes sense to me. I've very gently bent out the battery contact prongs, which makes the problem occur less often - but it still occurs. If you're stuck with this remote, try adjusting the prongs every time the reset issue occurs. Ugh.

I loved this remote when I first got it. It was easy to set up and I really liked how you can do it all through the Logitech website.

However, within a couple of months, it started to lose its connectivity with some or all of the devices. Usually it was the receiver and sometimes it was also the digital box. This would happen within a few minutes of turning everything on. The only way to get it working again was to turn everything off and back on again.

When I started researching the problem, I saw that a lot of people have the same issue. It is not a battery connection issue like some suggest. There is a design flaw with the remote itself. It should be recalled.

For about as long as I've had more than just a TV I've had a pile of remotes that were necessary because each device had some function that could only be controlled with the remote it came with. Clearly I'm not the only one that's had this problem or these types of universal remotes wouldn't exist. So recently when I was updating my home theater I decided I'd get myself one of these. The Harmony series was immediately attractive, with it's computer programability. You can even go to the Logitech website and check if they have all your devices in their database before you buy a remote (it's the same database for all the Harmony remotes from the cheapest to the most expensive). I spent quite some time drooling over the expensive One and 900. Then I found out about the 650. Despite the weird numbering system of the Harmony remotes, the 650 is one of 3 brand new Harmony remotes (the others are the 300 and 600) released in April 2010. I would have ideally liked something like the 900, because it has a ton of cool stuff but the 650 is much cheaper and maintains a great feature set.

First off this and the 600 are both apparently the same remote, just the 600 has a monochrome screen instead of a color screen, and it's a good amount cheaper for that reason. So you might check that one out too. I had exactly 5 devices I needed control of so the 5 device limit on the 650 was good, although it doesn't leave room for me to add additional devices in the future.

Some places it says the keys on this aren't backlit but they are. They have an orange glow (I wish with all the customizing you could change this cause it's kinda ugly but a small complaint) when the remote is activated. The screen and the backlight turn off when you put the remote down and turn on when you pick it up using a motion detector. This is a really cool feature and you can adjust the amount of time the screen and light stay on after you put it down to fit your needs. Speaking of the screen it's a nice size, easily readable, and seems pretty high quality. You can also see it perfectly even in direct sunlight.

The setup process could be difficult for some non-tech savvy, but really they made it as easy as they could. If you know the model numbers of all your equipment and how it needs to be set (like what input on your tv you need on to watch dvds) then you'll be done with the set up pretty fast. But you're going to want to go back and make tweaks. The remote software (which you download from the Logitech website along with the full manual, neither actually come with the remote, I guess as a money saving measure) is easy to install and allows you to tweak the heck out of this thing. You can add icons for your favorite channels (these are downloadable from various websites but you can also make your own), set delays between commands, set the order things turn on, etc. All the adjustments make it so that this remote will work perfectly on your setup and for your specific needs. For example if you use a certain command more than others you can move it up to be first in the list of commands on the screen, or even map it to one of the hard buttons. That's another thing, every button on the remote can be changed to do whatever you want it to. For example if you have a DVR you probably have a "List" where your recorded shows are. Instead of the list command being on the screen you could set it to be one of the actual buttons on the remote like the # key for example.

Overall I am very happy with this. It's got a little bit of a learning curve, and you can spend days tweaking to perfection, but for the price it's got a ton of great features and if you have 5 or less things you need to control this is the remote for you.

When it comes to universal remotes I'm usually a skeptic; my house is littered with ones I've tried and discarded over the years. Most were in the $20-30 range, but a few were pricey. The one thing they all had in common was they didn't work. Of course, I'd heard of Logitech's Harmony remotes, but their roughly $175 price tag was always too spendy for my taste..

This week I finally saw a Harmony remote priced under a hundred bucks--the 650--so I figured I'd give it a try. In short, I've had a terrific user experience so far. In fairness to all those non-techno people out there, I'm a proficient computer user and this remote must be programmed via an included USB cable and an internet-enabled computer, but the process is surprisingly simple and the software provides you lots of help.

Setup was unbelievably easy--all I had to do was enter the model number of each device (TV, DVD player, etc), and the Logitech software did the rest, automatically programming the functions of my original remote to equivalent keys on the Harmony 650. For the few function keys that might not map the way you intended, you can manually learn them using the original remote.

Of all my devices, none has been more finicky with regard to remotes than my Dish Network high-def DVR receiver. The Harmony 650 is the first universal remote I've had that actually works with Dish receivers. Note: if you have a Dish receiver that is UHF-capable (in other words, the Dish remote can transmit commands through walls using UHF frequencies), you'll need to ensure its remote address code is set to 1. This enables your Dish receiver to receive infrared (IR) commands from the Harmony 650.

Other reviewers will take you further into the technical details of programming, but I just want to say that this remote has finally freed us from the prison that used to be our three living room remotes. Harmony 650 truly is a one-stop, complete solution for all your remote control needs. Add in the superior ergonomic feel and handsome backlit buttons and you've got no reason to look anywhere else. A terrific product that's priced just right and is a pleasure to use!

In trying to find the perfect universal remote, I tried the Harmony One (not compatible with Next Generation Remote Control Extender due to lithium battery); Harmony 900 (expensive, no sequences/macros other than the "Activities" features); Harmony 700 (I don't need 6 devices, limited "inter-device delay" customization) and this, the Harmony 650 (same limited "inter-device delay" limitations as the 700 -- max delay is 2 seconds).

NEXT GENERATION REMOTE CONTROL EXTENDER

I need to have RF capability, so planned on pairing this with the Next Generation Remote Control Extender. I purchased the RF extender a year or so ago for my parents to use with their DirecTV remote, and it has worked very well. However, the extender simply doesn't work consistently with the Harmony 650. It is successful less than half the time with most of my equipment (TiVo HDXL, Denon AVR-1909, Panasonic DMP-BD65) and would not control my TV (Panasonic TC-P46G25) at all. Using the extender with the original remote for each device worked perfectly, indicating a conflict between the Harmony 650 and the Next Generation Remote Control Extender. The Next Generation Remote Control Extender works perfectly with the Harmony 700 (I used alkaline batteries in the 700 rather than the rechargeables it came with). I was surprised by this given that the 650 and 700 are so similar (based on specs and physical characteristics).

HARMONY 650 FUNCTIONALITY

The remote works well for what it is. It's not perfect for my setup, but would work after implementing a couple of work around (aside from the RF extender compatibility mentioned above). The main problem I had was configuring the power up for my receiver (Denon AVR-1909 and the TV (Panasonic TC-P46G25).

There is a handshake that takes place between the TV and receiver, and there needs to be a delay of about 4.5 seconds between powering up the TV and the receiver. Unfortunately, the "inter-device delay" that can be programmed on the Harmony 650 is limited to 2 seconds (unlike the Harmony One, this can not be changed by contacting Harmony support). The way I fixed this was to insert a "TiVo power on" step between powering on the TV and receiver. I also set the inter-device delay on the TV and TiVo to the 2 second maximum. After configuring this, everything powers up properly. Similarly, I configured a 2 second inter-device delay on my blu-ray player and power that up in between the TV and receiver.

The button setup is decent. The only thing I don't really like is having the number buttons on the very bottom of the remote. This isn't ideal, but it works.

NINTENDO WII

Although the Harmony can't control the Wii directly (the Wii is not an infrared device), it can be configured to set the TV and receiver to the proper inputs. However, if this is setup using the default "Play a Game" activity in the Harmony software, you are required to add the game console as a device, using one of the five "devices" available on the remote. The only thing that needs to be done to play a game is to ensure that the TV and receiver are on the proper inputs (and, maybe, change the TV to Game mode). Since the remote doesn't do anything to the Wii directly, I added a new default activity and set the TV and receiver to the proper inputs. Then I renamed that activity to "Play Wii". Doing it this way allows me to have a "play a game" activity without using up a device on the remote for the Wii.

SUMMARY

This is a decent remote if you only need 5 device support and won't be pairing it with a Next Generation Remote Control Extender. If you plan on pairing it with the extender, I recommend the Harmony 700

My setup consist of HDTV, Cable Box, Media Center PC, VCR and upcoming receiver.

Having a Media center PC, I used to have a Gyration Remote which had two advantages. It had a gyro mouse integrated so I could use the remote as a mouse, and it had an RF connection with the PC which was good for me as the PCis in a different room.
The big drawback of the gyration was that it did not have macros so you had to switch the remote between the various devices to set them up one by one depending what you needed to do. The second drawback was the build quality, buttons where small and kind of hard to press, and eventually stopped working.
So I finally decided to try a harmony remote, and I have to say I am only sorry I did not do that earlier.

The build quality is excellent.
Buttons have the right size, backlit and have a nice firm click to them.
The screen is excellent for adding commands that are self explanatory, which is good for people who do not use the remote often and cannot memorize under what button you put a specific command.
It has the right amount of hard buttons, allowing mapping of most of the commands for each device in a place where it makes sense.

Activities Activities...
Of course the strong point of harmony remotes is the Activity based logic. The Harmony 650 has 3 hard Activity buttons, and as many Soft (Onscreen) activity buttons as you like. I personally use 3 activities all the time, and 2 occasionally, which is perfect. Activities are especially good for me having a Media center PC, because now my wife does not need to remember what needs to come up in what order. Press one button, and it will start each of the necessary devices, set their Input, and leave the remote with all the necessary commands mapped to its button so you can control everything you need for your activity. Like cable box if watching TV with the cable box, or the Media center if watching something from the PC or more...

Programmability
The Power of activities is also combined with the power of the programming.
First Logitech has a huge database of devices, so most likely yours will be in. Of course you can also learn any button from an existing remote in case some specific command is not in the database.
In addition to being able to define any activity setup, you can completely customize the hard button of the remote in each activity, as well as add more function using the Soft (Onscreen buttons). The nice thing is that Buttons on the remote can be mapped to any command of any device. The classic example is when watching cable TV, most of the buttons on the remote are Cable box commands, but Sound buttons can be mapped to TV commands.
One negative here, is the Software to do the programming, is not always the easiest to use, and you sometimes have to dig around to make it do what you need. I suggest searching and reading the forum in advance for the devices you will be using, to get as many tips as possible.

Media center PC
The good news here is that Logitech has in its database not only the standard Media Center command set (from the original remote), but it also has extended character sets to send more exotic commands to the PC, like keyboard short cut, function keys, and even mouse commands. Because of that, I was able to compensate for the lack of Gyro mouse. I have an activity for Computer use that allows me to use the remote to switch windows between my PC monitor and my TV, exit any application (Alt+F4), move the mouse in any direction, left and right click....

So overall, a great buy !

I made a Card template for those interested You can customize it as you wish. Download it here.
[...]. see link in the comments

Useful references thread for media center PC users
[...]. See link in the comments