All in one remote control suggestions
December 8, 2021 7:50 AM Subscribe
My older parents got a new TV and it is great, but the remote is not working like their old one used to and they are back up to 4 remotes. They have an LG TV, Dish Network satellite box, Samsung dvd player, and some kind of sound receiver thing. Ideally, there'd be One Remote to deal with all four items. Better than what they have now would be one remote to power on the tv, do volume, and select channels. Suggestions?
They cannot get either the LG or Dish remote to do both tv and satellite tasks. It certainly could be user error, but they're usually pretty good about that kind of thing.
They cannot get either the LG or Dish remote to do both tv and satellite tasks. It certainly could be user error, but they're usually pretty good about that kind of thing.
The Harmony is cheap enough that it'd be worth buying one from existing stock to see if it works with your existing equipment. They last a good long time.
(cosign GM's rant)
posted by praemunire at 8:55 AM on December 8, 2021 [1 favorite]
(cosign GM's rant)
posted by praemunire at 8:55 AM on December 8, 2021 [1 favorite]
Long time Harmony user. I bought my parents a Sofabaton when Logitech killed off Harmony, but it’s definitely not as nice a software setup -, but hopefully that will improve.
Either or will probably do you, but if you can find a Harmony, I’d recommend that.
posted by backwards guitar at 12:05 PM on December 8, 2021
Either or will probably do you, but if you can find a Harmony, I’d recommend that.
posted by backwards guitar at 12:05 PM on December 8, 2021
Well, you definitely want to turn on HDMI-CEC which lets the TV switch to the Dish signal when Dish is turned on, etc and has many manufacturer-specific names (read the article for full understanding).
There are many universal remotes out there - and I know the Harmony is supposed to be the best, but a resource you could use is Remote Central.
Barring that - if you have an old cellphone around, make sure it, and all of the other devices, are on the same WiFi SSID (network name), and download the apps for the devices (nearly every TV device manufacturer these days offers an app to control their stuff) to that cellphone. It will at least be one device, even if it is four apps.
posted by TimHare at 12:36 PM on December 8, 2021
There are many universal remotes out there - and I know the Harmony is supposed to be the best, but a resource you could use is Remote Central.
Barring that - if you have an old cellphone around, make sure it, and all of the other devices, are on the same WiFi SSID (network name), and download the apps for the devices (nearly every TV device manufacturer these days offers an app to control their stuff) to that cellphone. It will at least be one device, even if it is four apps.
posted by TimHare at 12:36 PM on December 8, 2021
If the old TV worked with all that using the TV's remote and everything was connected with HDMI, it was probably using CEC. I bet turning on CEC in the TV's menu would solve the problem. LG calls it "Simplink", apparently. That should be enough to get volume control on the receiver and channel/directional buttons working on the Dish receiver and DVD player.
posted by wierdo at 1:02 PM on December 8, 2021
posted by wierdo at 1:02 PM on December 8, 2021
Harmony is the best, and since it's discontinued by Logitech, may soon go extinct. There are many different grades and levels, some even let you use your phone or tablet to send commands to an IR tower which blasts the IR remote codes to your devices. They can be updated to work with all sorts of devices, even when you change devices. A base level one can be bought from Best Buy for $100. Upgraded one can go to $150 or even $400.
posted by kschang at 12:59 AM on December 9, 2021
posted by kschang at 12:59 AM on December 9, 2021
since it's discontinued by Logitech, may soon go extinct
Just to avoid confusion: a Harmony remote should continue to work after Logitech ceases supporting it, at least for existing A/V devices, until it actually breaks (I have used mine for years and years without issue, albeit the lower-end, less fussy models). Probably why they're discontinuing them. What's the value in selling the user a product they can just...keep on using?
posted by praemunire at 6:49 AM on December 9, 2021 [1 favorite]
Just to avoid confusion: a Harmony remote should continue to work after Logitech ceases supporting it, at least for existing A/V devices, until it actually breaks (I have used mine for years and years without issue, albeit the lower-end, less fussy models). Probably why they're discontinuing them. What's the value in selling the user a product they can just...keep on using?
posted by praemunire at 6:49 AM on December 9, 2021 [1 favorite]
To hopefully add some more clarity:
Logitech Harmony remotes are programmed via software on your computer (there's a couple different versions; my old workhorse Harmony starting to show its age uses a legacy version that was already starting to concern me before Logitech announced unwelcome news about terminating the product).
That software use itself is a factor to consider for non-technical users: parents in this case would need to be able to think in terms of the "activities" use frame the remotes use (what devices, what functions, in what order; sometimes some timing adjustments depending on complexities) and on top of that navigate Logitech's software UI which...has some opportunities for improvement as just kind of their thing.
The software support is the main point of concern with the Harmony line itself being shuttered. I believe they've stated they'll continue to support it, but support for older software without new shiny hardware attached is always a precarious thing, and prone to the deal suddenly being altered (capitalism!). There's the risk that one day, or one particular change of computer setup, and the programming software will just stop functioning, and that's that. Whatever's already programmed into the remote is all that'll ever be programmed into it. Not necessarily a problem...but if a TV gets replaced (lightning strike. Visiting family small child got overstimulated and whipped a toy at precisely the wrong angle and wrong time. Act of cat. Whatever!) if it's not exactly the same make and model, there's no reprogramming the remote to accomodate.
posted by Drastic at 9:24 AM on December 9, 2021
Logitech Harmony remotes are programmed via software on your computer (there's a couple different versions; my old workhorse Harmony starting to show its age uses a legacy version that was already starting to concern me before Logitech announced unwelcome news about terminating the product).
That software use itself is a factor to consider for non-technical users: parents in this case would need to be able to think in terms of the "activities" use frame the remotes use (what devices, what functions, in what order; sometimes some timing adjustments depending on complexities) and on top of that navigate Logitech's software UI which...has some opportunities for improvement as just kind of their thing.
The software support is the main point of concern with the Harmony line itself being shuttered. I believe they've stated they'll continue to support it, but support for older software without new shiny hardware attached is always a precarious thing, and prone to the deal suddenly being altered (capitalism!). There's the risk that one day, or one particular change of computer setup, and the programming software will just stop functioning, and that's that. Whatever's already programmed into the remote is all that'll ever be programmed into it. Not necessarily a problem...but if a TV gets replaced (lightning strike. Visiting family small child got overstimulated and whipped a toy at precisely the wrong angle and wrong time. Act of cat. Whatever!) if it's not exactly the same make and model, there's no reprogramming the remote to accomodate.
posted by Drastic at 9:24 AM on December 9, 2021
Wirecutter recommends the Sofabaton U1, with some reservations, but note that there is a new version coming out in January (the X1) that appears to address at least some of their "flaws but not dealbreakers" points (lack of dedicated activity buttons, need for line-of-sight) but not others.
posted by Preserver at 10:01 AM on December 9, 2021
posted by Preserver at 10:01 AM on December 9, 2021
After reading this nice person's Ask and the answers, I bought a Sofabaton. It's pretty decent and programming was easy. The only feature it couldn't do was the voice search button.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:07 PM on January 20, 2022
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:07 PM on January 20, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by General Malaise at 8:31 AM on December 8, 2021 [4 favorites]