Customer Reviews

Logitech Harmony 768 Advanced Universal Remote Control (Silver)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As of 2004, new models are available that address the issues I raised in this review when I first wrote it. Also, Mac OS X and Safari are now very well supported by this and newer models.

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I heard great things about the original Harmony Remote (SST-748). But I wanted to be able to access more functions. So I bought the SST768 as soon as it became available.

The Harmony Remote concept is a unique and clever idea in the world of universal remotes. If you have several A/V components and find yourself operating several remotes just to switch from, say, watching a DVD to listening to FM radio, the Harmony Remote will allow you to switch in an instant, and in a very intuitive way. You program it on your Windows PC or Mac by visiting the harmonyremote web site. If your devices are listed in their data base, it takes a quick hour or so to set up your configuration and download it through a USB connector.

The advantages of the Harmony Remote decline if your needs differ from the scenario just mentioned.

You can download a TV program guide into the remote, and pick shows in the built-in lighted display window. But to refresh the guide, you connect the remote to your PC or Mac and visit the harmonremote web site at least once every two weeks. I do not find the guide to be as useful as the on-screen guides provided by TiVO and some cable companies. Fortunately, you have the option of omitting the guide from your configuration.

If you have a device that is not in their data base, you can teach the Harmony Remote using your old remote. Although they have made this fairly easy to do, the user interface is sometimes confusing. If the device is unlike anything they've seen before, the process can add another hour or more to your setup time.

You scroll through choices in the small display by rotating a wheel on the right side of the remote. You indicate your selection by pressing the wheel into the unit. It is not easy to press the wheel without also turning it. Even after considerable practice, I sometimes make an unintended choice.

But the main reason the Harmony Remote is not for me is that I don't use my remote controls solely for standard functions like switching activities and changing the channel and the volume. I am always fiddling with special functions like change-format/adjust-video/PIP on my wide-screen TV, PVR functions on my TiVO, and dimming on my room-lighting remote. My choices with a Harmony Remote are to assign unused keys to such functions or to choose from menus in the small display. But the user interface for assigning keys is frustrating, and I often forget what key assignments I chose. The alternative, getting to and scrolling through a long menu in the small display, is a ponderous process. It is easier to grab the original remote that came with the device.

The good news is that Harmony is continually improving their software. If basic functions are all you need now, then by the time you crave fancier functions, they might by then have made them easier to access. Alternatively, if you are technically inclined and have days to spare, you can learn TiVO's XML-based programming language, join a message board of like-minded souls, and make this device do almost anything you want. Or do what I do: Keep your original remote controls handy to operate those non-standard functions.

In summary, the Harmony Remote model 768 is an easy-to-use product for a basic user in a hurry, and a powerful product for a power user with time on their hands. For people like me who want the flexibility, but don't have the time, it helps out some, but not enough to replace a gaggle of remotes.

I've owned several higher end all in one remotes. The Phillips Pronto being the latest. I've always stayed away from the macro features as they never seemed to function well; leaving some inputs wrong, not turning a component on. Plus I've got an eclectic mix of gear; big screen, projector, Krell, Yamaha, Tivo, Parasound. No remotes in the past seemed to like mixing and matching all these components in a macro event. When I opened up this remote, I was skeptical, actually planning on not liking it and returning it. After the lengthy setup I had it working to about 70% efficiency. Decided to send it back as it really forces you to use macros, in fact there is no real decent way to use it otherwise. But I gave it another try and after some more patient setup and getting used to it's lay out, I say it's a keeper. I'm still amazed that the macro system actually works, and works very well. To watch a DVD on my front projector, I'd have to pick up about 5 remotes and punch a total of about 8 buttons, this remote reduces that to a quick wheel scroll and one push. Amazing. The best all in one I've used. It actually does what it says and I'd give it 5 stars if it weren't from some obvious flaws in working with Tivo (had to go into the internal XML file to get it to change channels correctly). BTW, you can't beat the price on Amazon. Don't know why, but it's [$$] cheaper here than I found anywhere else on the net.

I've owned my share of universal remotes over the years, and in the end none of them have lived up to their promise. My audio/video configuration is "upper end" - a best-of-breed mixture of components from various manufacturers.

Based on reviews I'd seen on this remote, I purchased it from Amazon. Like another reviewer mentioned here, the Amazon price is amazing - don't know how, but makes it all the better.

Finally, with the Harmony, I have found a remote that is truly universal. I have been able to get rid of all other remotes and replace them with one simple, small device.

Basic setup is extremely simple - register and login to the website, enter the make/model of each component, then define the tasks you want to do (eg. watch television, play a video, watch a dvd...). All is done through a series of "Wizards" that prompt you through the process.

If you don't know your make/model number, you can press a few buttons on your existing remote, and let the Harmony figure out what you have.

What makes this remote different? Several things, in my opinion:
1) Task-based menu structure and context-sensitive buttons

Organizes functions into tasks, which consist of the components required, and the actions that will take place. For example, "Watch a DVD" turns on the TV and selects the proper input, turns on the receiver and sets it to DVD mode, turns on the DVD and optionally starts playing.

Each task also defines button activities (for example, which buttons control which component), as well as contexts (eg. control mode vs. menu mode vs. number entry). All very intuitive *** AS LONG AS YOU DOWNLOAD THE USER MANUAL FROM THE HARMONY WEBSITE ***. (The printed manual is way to brief, and doesn't discuss the button functions for each mode.)

You can easily add additional commands for each/any component to a given action (start/stop). And, you can customize menus and buttons.

2) Internet-based setup wizards and remote control learning
You can easily extend the capabilities of the default tasks by learning any additional remote control functions you might want. In this scenario, the web site prompts you through the process, and the Harmony remote reads the remote control commands, storing them on the web site.

3) Internal state variables
Transparent to the user, this allows the remote to remember the various settings a device was in. For example, what input is the TV currently on? Is the receiver on or off? Was a DVD playing or paused?

This provides a significant measure of intelligence to the remote, way beyond what "macros" do. And, if the components get out of sync there is an interactive context-sensitive "Help" button that prompts you through each item (eg. is the TV on? is it displaying the right input? ...) to get things back correctly.

4) XML-based programming for advanced customization
If you have any programming experience, customizing this remote beyond the wizards is a snap. It uses XML tags to embed commands and logic. The Harmony website has a series of detailed documentation on this, although it's not complete in all areas. Tech support for these features is oustanding however, with very quick turnaround to questions.

Support from the manufacturer is outstanding: toll-free phone support, as well as email. They are constantly upgrading their website functionality (unlike another observation here, you can re-run the setup wizards as often as you want). And, they support both Windows and MacOSX!

I have a Home theater system comprising a television, cable box, MP3 jukebox, DVD Recorder, ReplayTV PVR and a Audio/Visual receiver. Only two of these are produced by the same manufacturer (Toshiba, Sonic Blue, Panasonic, Sonic Blue and Denon). Two years ago I purchased a Phillips Pronto remote control but I was never able to set aside sufficient time to program it. Even downloading templates from the Internet did not really help.

With the Harmony remote control I was able, within half an hour, to configure it so that I no longer need to use any other remote control. I was particularly impressed with the configuration for the PVR which was close to perfect.

Two devices were not recognized (the DVD recorder and the Sonic Blue MP3 jukebox). In one case (the DVD Recorder) there was a close analog. Since in the other case there was no close analog I used the learn mode to retrieve IR codes from the existing remote control. This was remarkably easy to do.

However, the controller isn't completely perfect. For example, I need to tweak it a little (I don't want to turn off the cable box when everything else is turned off - the PVR cannot then record programs) and I'm not sure how easy that will be. I also find it surprising that MP3 jukeboxes are not included on the list of devices since they are almost as ubiquitous as multiple-CD players.

It is probably worth mentioning that I have a broadband internet connection - I am not sure how painless this process would be if, for example, I was using a dial-up connection. These tiny issues take nothing away from the excellence of this unit. I highly recommend it.

Now - if I can just get my ReplayTV to work reliably!

I currently own an entertainment system which is fairly complex and difficult to use. (Particularly for other people) It requires the coordinated management of numerous video streams and multiple components.

That is until I purchased the SST768.

The online set up guide for this remote is very comprehensive, flexible, and easy to use. I was able to designate all the necessary functions for all my components (even my NAD receiver) via the online set up program. I can now switch between HD television stations, regular digital cable, DVD playback, etc. at the touch of a button. You can also specify favorite stations based upon the cable lineup offered by your local cable company. All this without writing a single macro.

Highly recommended!

The Good:
When I finally got my remote (SST-659), I spent the first evening getting the basics setup. Perhaps with all new equipment it would not have taken me so long, but a couple of my remotes were not in the system and as such took longer.

Once I got the hang of the web site and configuring, wow! The on screen TV guide makes life so much easier, though the web interface needs some work. Control of multiple units (TV, Satellite, DVD and VCR) is simple/stupid with it.

All in all, aside from a bad experience with the ordering and customer service (see below), it is a wonderful device.

The Bad:
I ordered the Harmony remote directly from them a couple of weeks ago. A week later I was told that they had been swamped with orders, but that they were being shipped in the order that the orders were placed. At the end of that week a fellow employee who had ordered via fax a week after I did had already received theirs.

When I last spoke to them, the owners wife (very rude) essentally told me I'd get it when I get it. When I asked for a tracking number she stated "What do you want me to do? Dance on my desk? If you ordered 20 of them I would get the number for you." Obviously the individual consumer is not of a great concern to them.

If this is how they treat their customers before they get the product, I'd hate to see what will happen once they have your money and you have a problem!

Finally:
Peter Evans the customer service manager called me back and seemed to have a good handle on what customer service is. Following my conversation with him I have high hopes that the problems that I experienced are being looked into and hopefully will be resolved.

This is a great remote, but the customer service was astounding. My 768 was received with a minor glitch. My call to tech support was answered by a live person on the second ring. No phone tree and no wait. He (Patrick) spent a half hour with me. The problem could not be resolved, but it did not affect the remote's basic functioning. Harmony is sending a new unit. Only after I receive it do I need to return this one. The programming is simple and elegant. A very nice purchase in every respect.

THIS REMOTE WORKS GREAT WITH ALL MY COMPONENTS, CONTROLS MY WHOLE SYSTEM WITH A TOUCH OF A BUTTON, THE ONLY THING IS AFTER BASIC SETUP IT REQUIRES SOME ADDITIONAL SETTINGS, BUTS ITS AWESOME, GREAT BUY! I GOT IT FOR 60 AFTER 10 REBATE

Pros: Small size; web interface for setup; stores every remote command in the scroll wheel

Cons: Takes a while to get the remote working exactly the way you want it; each computer update takes about 6 to 7 minutes to upload to your remote (I've already updated mine over 10 times and I'm still not finished;

i got mine last night. Here's a preliminary review:

easy remote setup on their website, i just wrote down the model numbers of my 6 components, and then walked through setup of each one. It took only an hour or so. Once the update was downloaded to the remote, it was a pretty easy process to learn the remote. Within a short time I was able to operate all my components/activities without any problems. Activity based remote use is a godsend!

The only problem i had in setup was some of the ir commands not working correctly, however, that was easily overcome by the easy remote command ir learning process on their site.

I do have a little bit of setup left to do - reassigning buttons/commands to places that are more intuitive for me.. So there will be a bit of a refining process.

So far i love this remote, and the TV Guide feature on the remote is coming in more handy than i thought it would..

So far - I LOVE IT!