Customer Reviews

Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal Remote Control

5 star:		(988)
4 star:		(492)
3 star:		(157)
2 star:		(121)
1 star:		(179)

 

 

I'm not entirely sure this would be the end-all-be-all of remotes, but it sure comes close. I suspect if I spent $1,000 or more on a Pronto, I'd be a little more decisive, but the Harmony is still an excellent middle-range remote.

Set up was quick and painless. The Harmony knew about all my devices, so I didn't need to go thru the painful process of head-to-head training.

Once my devices were defined, setup walked me thru a wizard which assigned the most logical "activities" to the remote. "Activities" are basically macros - power on the selected components, select the proper inputs/outputs, and assign the buttons.

An example is "Watch a DVD". This powers on the TV and selects VIDEO5, powers on the receiver and selects the DVD/LD input, and then powers on the DVD player.

The wizard asked how I control the volume or channels for each activity. When I watch cable, I use the TV volume; when I watch a DVD, I use the receiver volume; and so on.

This may sound a little confusing, but going thru the wizard takes only about 10 minutes. If you compare this to other remotes, you would have to press about six or seven buttons, and even then, you'd not have full functionality.

If you're not happy with the Activities, you can redefine things. I changed the behaviour of the VCR, which defaults to pressing play when you select "Watch a video".

When you're using Activities, the Device button will still let you fully control any device. I like to watch TV with Closed Caption, and that was actually easier to do with the Harmony than the factory Sony remote!

My only gripe is the physical buttons. They're a little small and placed right next to each other, so it can be easy to fumble. I find that I need two-handed operation when I want to fast-forward my VCR, because the FF/REW buttons are in an awkward location which makes it hard for my fingers to find.

I'm on my 3rd replacemnt 880 since October, but still love it. For anyone having the dreaded reboot problem please read on. The remote will be working perfectly fine and suddenly reboot itself as evidenced by the "Testing" screen appearing before the Acivities screen reappears. The remote now thinks that all your devices that it turned on 10 minutes ago are now off because it has rebooted itself. Tech Support does not know how to resolve the problem except to replace the remote.

After several replacements I have finally learned that the design of the battery compartment is the problem. The battery fits loosely enough in the compartment that it can move slightly away from it's contacts. When this occurs it is the same as quickly removing and replacing the battery, the remote shuts down and then restarts.

Solution: Until Logitech redesigns the battery compartment, here is a simple fix. Take a piece of paper (card stock works well) cut the same size as the battery. Fold one end several times like an acordian and then place that between the lower compartment wall and the battery end. This should act like a shim and prevent the battery from moving away from the contacts.

I've owned the 880 for more than a year. It is the first remote my wife and I have both found simple to use and simple to set up. I could quibble about the buttons being too small, but overall the remote is a good product.

The failing grade is the result of a miserable piece of junk that is called the cradle/battery charger. It is a disaster. If you're lucky, you'll get one that actually charges the remote. Or you might get one that is fiddly and that takes shifting it around until you finally get a charge going.

Or you might suffer through a frequently discharged battery because someone walked through the room with a heavy foot -- and then find yourself with a charger that is dead and not easy to replace if at all. Mine failed completely after making me miserable for a most of the time I;ve owned the 880.

The design concept might or might not have been good, but the execution in any event is bad. You can look on all sorts of forums and you'll find this is a common problem. Among myself and three friends who bought this remote, only one of us received a charger cradle that has worked with some consistency. And it's not great. That's only 25 percent. A local video store says it carries this remote but actively discourages its purchase because of this problem. They do recommend other Harmony remotes.

I also have a Harmony 720, a Costco special. It does most of what the Harmony 880 does, i.e. it has less backlighting and small things. It costs a good bit less. And wonder of all, it has a cradle that at least consistently charges the battery. It works.

In fact, were it not for the 720, I would have had to toss the 880. I use it to charge the 880 battery (the batteries can be swapped between the two). The design uses only two contact points and it does not require a lot of fiddling about.

But I would not buy either of those remotes again despite their capability. The battery charger issue and Logitech's failure to stand behind its products is just too frustrating. This is a competitive field and there are other remotes with better support in terms of quality control.

The only point here is that if you buy the remote, you'll like it. If you're lucky, you'll get a battery charger that works correctly. The 880 is a little like a Ferrari with an empty gas tank and no service station for a thousand miles.

This is the best universal remote control I've ever owned or ever seen.

It has completely eliminated the need for all the other remotes. Even the more advanced/complex functions of a unit's remote can be easily programmed into the Logitech Harmony. And with Logitech's online remote control data base, you just enter the brand and model number of an electronic product and, chances are, it already has all the information you'll need, plus the features you'll most likely want to put onto your Harmony. Some of the default features that it put into the remote for my devices didn't work, however, and I had to adjust them manuaully.

If you want to incorporate all the features of your old remotes into this one and have it work smoothly, it will take some time - programming, testing, reprogramming until it is tweaked to perfection. But once you're there, you'll be set.

CUSTOMER SUPPORT IS EXCELLENT - Logitech has a dedicated department (at the time of this review) for the Harmony Universal Remote. I had to call them twice. The wait time was short and the technicians solved my problems quickly both times.

CHARGER/CRADLE ISSUE: Several reviewers complained about problems with the charger. I, too, have experienced this problem - where the unit would not charge. I called tech support and they suggested I clean the contact points in the cradle. When I checked I saw one of the points was "stuck" and not actually making contact with the unit. Cleaning the contacts fixed the problem. That was four months ago and I haven't had a problem since. I suspect there was a manufacturing problem that left a tacky substance in the contact area that created this big problem. Since I don't see this issue mentioned in the most recent reviews, I assume it's been addressed. I still give this product FIVE STARS.


Lastly, one of the best features of this remote, besides it's true universal application, is that it lights up when you pick it up so you can read everything on it, including the buttons (they're backlit). And it has a clock on the display. Don't forget it has its own rechargeable battery and charger stand.

Great product!

I have been through a large number of universal remotes. This remote is light years ahead of the previous models Harmony has come out with, and really delivers outstanding bang for the buck. I say this from an ergonomics as well as functional standpoint.

The screen is beautiful and highly legible. Icons as well as text make choosing an activity easy to understand and execute. The buttons are extremely solid. Much better than the 688 that I also own. It was quickly relegated to the bedroom system when I saw this unit.

The keys are MUCH better located and logical. On the 688 you had to turn on the backlight to press any button because none were in a position that you could feel your way to them. On the 880 they are pretty much right where they need to be. The 4-way directional control and select buttons are very easy to find in the dark and the function is rock-solid, no question as to whether it's been pressed enough, and the command signals are very strong, so it's not usually necessary to point right at the equipment.

For those of you who have never tried or maybe even heard of the Harmony line, you will love the internet-based simplicity of the programming. This interface has not changed since I first got my 688. To control both remotes, I had to add another userid/password, so I was unable to transfer any of my commands from my previous unit to my new one. This is a small peeve.

Some notes on programming. The initial setup could not be easier, you just type in your equipment model numbers and it adds them to your remote. It found every piece of equipment I own easily, and some of my stuff is obscure. Then, you set up activities, like "Watch TV" and the website creates that activity instantly. Sometimes no tweaking is involved whatsoever, and sometimes you do have to either add or change equipment included in that activity or add a few buttons to the existing commands available when doing that activity. Here is where experience pays off. It's not 100% intuitive how to add soft buttons, nor is it always clear whether you need to train the remote by using the original remote for that command or whether that command is already trained and just needs to be added. Also, I found that often you need to relabel an existing command so that it reflects what is on the original remote, which means that the Harmony database is not perfect.

However, the database gets you 95% of the way there, and after you play around with the website a bit, you start to understand it and can soon get to the point of customizing it exactly as you wish. In the end, I probably spent two hours to get my 880 to operate exactly as I wanted. But I'm pretty picky; many users may be happy with it after the first 5 minutes of programming. You will all be impressed by the enormous size of the Harmony database, and by the simple function of the remote.

It is rechargeable as well. This is a big bonus compared with the previous Harmony 688. Another thing I really liked: even when the 880 is out of its cradle, it knows when you pick it up, and automatically lights up. I cannot hear any type of mechanical sensor rattling around in there, but somehow it knows when it is moved and gets ready for your input. I love this simple feature. Would be interested to know how it does that.

All in all, I say it is probably not quite as good as having a Pronto or other really high end remote, but it is far easier to program, performs perfectly once correctly programmed, and costs MUCH MUCH less than any other remote with its power. The screen is sharp and beautiful, the keys function great. I have nothing but good things to say. I don't think you can go wrong for the price.

UPDATE 4/21/06: On this morning, my remote stopped working. I contacted customer support and was quickly handled. They are going to send me a new remote. Lucky for me, the new one will be able to be completely reprogrammed by connecting it and downloading all my existing codes. I will update again once this is accomplished if there are any issues. Otherwise, I continue to rate this item a 5-star pending the results of this warranty issue.

Update 5/22/06: The replacement remote came on schedule and has been working perfectly. Logitech's RMA system and follow-up were very professional and prompt.

This one Remote has replaced the 6 Original Remotes I had on my end table. I have owned 3 different All-in-One remotes in the past including the Producer 8 with macro, and the 6-in-1. This is the best remote control I have every owned. I bought the pre-release Harmony 880 made by Logitech. This remote is programable/learnable and can operate different functions from all your remotes on one setting without switching to a different remote. The rechargable battery will probably last a week without charging, but if you put the remote back in its charging cradle before the week is up, you will never have to worry about the battery. Bottom line is my end table only has one remote contol on it after all is said and done. For a more detailed review on the Logitech Harmony 880 go to www.tomshardware.com. They just completed a full review on this product. This remote is worth every dollar you invest into it for a product you will probably use every day. You will have to connect to the Harmony web site to program this remote, and use a USB cable to connect the remote to your computer, but this is an advantage to pushing buttons on other remotes numerous times and looking at a small two tone screen. You can program almost everything on a few computer screens. This remote will learn any function from your original remotes and add them to any button or custom name and add it to the display. Plus there are one button functions that will turn on your TV/DVD/Switch/Stereo/ then press the play button and change the channel all at the same time. Logitech has made this remote even better than the $400 dollar models on the market. Thanks for clearing up the remote clutter Logitech. Amazon has a great price for this Remote Control. The pre-release cost me $250, but I could not wait after reading all the reviews.

This remote, when it works, is incredibly good. Now that I do not have it, I miss it terribly. This remote could replace all of your remotes. So when you want to watch TV with a home stereo system, it controls all of your equipment. It rocks. It has a cradle that allows to recharge the system so you don't have to depend on batteries. It is perfect in a perfect world.
In the real world, this will die within a year because the remote's contacts will no longer be able to contact the cradle. Then the battery will slowly die. Then you will have a very, very small brick. Then you will call Logitech technical support and then you will be very, very disappointed. You will wait weeks for an answer. You will get none. You will call them and give Tier 1 all of your information and then give Tier 2 the exact same information. And then you will receive no useful information. And then you will wait. And then you will do it again. And then you will repeat this again and again.
[Update] Second charger dies 6 months later.

I really tried to like this remote. I'm a big Logitech fan (although not too familiar w/ Harmony) and was hopeful that this device would be a continuation of their trend in my book.

Unfortunately, all aspects considered, this remote was very disappointing. Considering the cost of the unit, I expected it to work well, as well as have a quality-feel. The buttons felt flimsy and, like an earlier review, it wouldn't set well in the charger (the charging contacts underneath didn't properly meet). As for operation, it worked only Ok. Yup, just Ok. It did, however control a Sony receiver and Motorola Moxi PVR that no other remote would operate (newer devices) but it had an annoying lag-time in the channel-changing of PVR. Even if I got lucky and got the remote to charge properly, I found myself using my stock remotes because it didn't work the way the original remotes did. Also, the button layout is very poor.

In the end, I can say I really did give it a genuine chance and quickly found it was definitely not worth the inve$tment. It looks cool, but look elsewhere.

I just returned our Harmony 880 after 30 days for several reasons (many are referred to in other posts, but here's my list):
1. Remote won't seat properly in the charger -- lots of fiddling around every time it needed a charge
2. The 880 would randomly forget the state that our system was in, and we would often have to reset its status manually for various components in our system
3. The 880's buttons are too small and close together; even for simple (and common)Tivo tasks like play, reverse and pause; we had to LOOK at it to use it, as opposed to FEELING which button to hit. We found it much less friendly to use than our stock Tivo remote
4. Slow response by our Tivo DVR to this control -- everything took longer to accomplish with the 880 than our Tivo control

I really liked the concept of the simplistic power up and switching for a particular activity. The 880 was a gift, and I really tried to like it, but just couldn't. When a relatively expensive product exhibits such poor engineering and attention to detail, I get turned off. The designers on this product were amateurs. This model has a poor quality design, poor ergonomics, and exhibits erratic behavior.

Two of my TiVo remotes were finally wearing out. Some of the buttons on them didn't work so well anymore, and it was time to replace them. But I decided not to buy another TiVo remote. Nope, I went for the Logitech Harmony 880 Remote. Yeah, baby!

This one remote can control up to 15 devices, which means I can and have configured it for all the remote-controlled devices in my home - all the tvs, TiVos, DVD players, Cable Boxes, and even the surround sound box thing. I have to say, this is sooooo nice! Plus, it is rechargeable, which means no digging for batteries when it all of a sudden runs out.

You connect it to your PC with a USB cable to program it, and it is a snap. If you have the model numbers for your devices, which are usually found somewhere on the device itself, then it is a real no-brainer. Logitech had all of the devices I gave the setup program model numbers for in their database, and it was very quick to set those up. I had one TV that I couldn't find the model number for, so I just gave the manufacturer name, and it asked me if I had the remote for that device. I did, so it asked me to push a few specific buttons on the device so it could learn it, and it had figured out the best model match for that TV within 1 minute.

I love the remote, and so far I think I'll be fine with just having the one, since it is rare I'll be watching TV in more than one room at a time - LOL. Plus, I still have the original remotes that I'll tuck away for emergency use. I won't be at all surprised if I decide to get another Harmony sometime in the future, though.

The best price I found for the Harmony 880 was at Amazon.com. It is currently about $155 there, and has a $30 rebate offer with it. Couple that with my Amazon Prime membership, which affords me free 2-day shipping, and I am a very happy camper!