Great non-Harmony universal remotes

October 10, 2010 5:42 PM

Are there any truly great universal remotes? (Qualification: Non-Harmony, RF-based.)

I have a Harmony 880 remote that I've never really liked. It's starting to die, and I'd really like to replace it with something other than a Harmony (I've played with the newer models and I don't like them much better). I want something RF based so I can avoid the need to aim perfectly to get it to work. I'd like to stay away from remotes that are 100% touch-screen. No touch screen at all would be best, but that seems too much to ask these days... I'm a geek, but I want something *really* easy to use. When I'm watching TV/listening to music, I don't want to have to think about technology. It must "just work" and it mustn't feel like something a programmer designed. (It's ok if the setup part isn't easy, since it only has to be done once.)

It looks like the Philips Pronto line is not being actively developed (or at least the models I've looked up have all been discontinued). What other good options are there? Surely Harmony can't be the best. Can it? (Maybe this is a business opportunity?)

posted by sharding to Technology (6 answers total)

I have owned 2 Universal brand remotes. I tried Harmony on 2 separate occasions and as recently as 2 months ago, when our first Universal was crushed under a couch. How Harmony still stays in business is a mystery to me. From 5 years ago until today, their MO seems to be, "do these simple steps then pray" and then follow our 1 page trouble shooting guide, then return for a full refund. I have really common AV equipment but they never can get the codes in.

Universal does take a little more savvy on the programmer's part, but you can teach it macros and assign buttons anyway you choose as long as you have the original remote. It is not a good choice if you share it a lot with another person who needs something unbelievably simple, because you may have certain keys or macros that are not immediately intuitive. That said, my seven year old has no problem figuring out how to use it. And they tend to be cheaper. My current one is the RF 20.

I use my current one to operate my lights, DVD, av receiver, tv, DVR, a second audio only receiver, and some basic functions on our Mac like silencing iTunes.

Memail me if you want more info.
posted by docpops at 5:53 PM on October 10, 2010

RF remotes only work if the receiver is RF too. Since your existing stuff is probably IR, you would need RF to IR repeaters on every component. I'm not sure if that even exists.
posted by smackfu at 6:39 PM on October 10, 2010

Came in here to say what docpops said. I've had two Universal's too, currently the mx-700. Looks like the mx-850 works with RF base stations, if thats what you're looking for. no touch screen at all.
posted by duckstab at 6:43 PM on October 10, 2010

smackfu, I'm referring to remotes like the Universal and Harmony remotes that communicate via RF to a receiver that then sends out IR. Those IR transmitters are fixed and can be positioned ideally to control the components, unlike a handheld remote.
posted by sharding at 10:06 PM on October 10, 2010

Did you check this out? IR + RF + transmitter + great reviews.
posted by underwater at 9:07 AM on October 11, 2010

There is an Nstinct remote that looks very good, and low cost. I have not used it, and the web site is one of the most horrible sites I have ever seen.
posted by yclipse at 4:52 PM on October 13, 2010