Logitech - Harmony 650 8-Device Universal Remote - Silver

I am so happy I finally gave in and got the Harmony 650. It is also extremely easy to set up using the online site. I simplified my tv, Sonos system, cable box, bluray player with smart prog, and an older dvd player. I only have to use one instead of 5 separate remotes. Also the price was a steal at $50.

I got tired of trying to find remotes for each of my devices. I had a unique remote for my Xbox, DVR, av receiver, TV, and HDMI box. I lost one remote, one device didn't come with a remote and finding batteries was a pain. In came the Harmony remote and completely blew me away. Setup via the computer was easy. All I had to do was input the models for my devices and the software set everything up. I subtracted 1 star for the fact that it took several tries to sync the remote the first time. After that it has worked perfectly even with an off brand HDMI switching box and the controls for the Xbox one.

I have three of the logitech harmony remotes 550,670, and now the 650. I brought this remote for the bed room to control the sony blu ray,comcast,samsung tv,apple tv and ilive sound bar. The other remotes i use in the living room and the man cave. I have found that the logitech remotes are the best to use. Set up is great and my wife can use them that there makes this remote priceless.

I purchased this remote to cut down on the number of remotes for my home theater room. Not only have i cut the number of remotes to ONE but the actions that this remote can take with the push of one button are amazing. I can go to watching satellite television to a BluRay movie to using AppleTV with the push of one button for each. The one-button selection changes the audio receiver input and video hardware source. It also powers down the video source that is no longer needed. All with the push of ONE button! AMAZING! When you are ready to let your home theater rest, ONE button powers down ALL active devices. Best of all an onscreen display!

I was looking for a universal remote that would work for every device ever made and this one is the one that will do that . I have devices that I bought many universal remotes for to find out that they wouldn't program to my devices . You also have another one that is the newer version of the one I bought but the price is $150 which I think is way too much for a universal remote . It was priced at $250 when I purchased the one I decided on the day I purchased the one I'm writing this review for . Not to put down Best Buy because I love shopping there but I think $150 for the newer version of the one I purchased from you is almost as much as buying a new TV these days . I still think the one I did purchase is the best universal remote I have ever purchased .

The Harmony 650 is my first Logitech remote. Out of the box, I was able to set it up in about 30 minutes, including downloading the software from the Logitech website. I’m truly using just one remote to control all of my Sony products and the patience trying cable box. The I’m somewhat amazed what the device will do if you take the time to set things up with favorite channels and so forth. All things considered, the price of this remote was worth it. Logitech has me curious as to what all the other pricier remotes can do?

To program the device, you need the make/model of your device, the TV input it is linked to, and a laptop or computer with a USB port that has internet connectivity. The remote has shortcut buttons for key/common devices (cable, dvd, music). It is important to identify the correct TV input for each device, because the remote can be programmed to automatically switch the TV from it's current input to the input you've linked for the shortcut button. Programming occurs via a Harmony website application, and once you go through the initial remote programming, subsequent customization changes are fairly simple to implement. The LED display area is used efficiently, and is the reason the function versatility in this remote is not attainable in basic all-in-one remotes. Device shortcut buttons allow you to link TV functionality with a device type. The remote is smart enough to know certain functions should be linked to the device and others to the TV (ex. using the "Watch TV" shortcut button for your cable/satellite box. Changing channels are linked to the cable box, while changing volume is linked to the TV). However, you are able to switch to device only control if some commands/functions are not available from the device shortcut menu. Once you understand how to access the device specific menu, then the true power and genius of this remote is realized. Don't be surprised if one remote for the living room/entertainment room turns into one remote for each room in the house with multiple remote controls.

Setting up the remote was more difficult than I thought it would be, so I had to ask our son to come over and set it up for me. The prompts to follow were confusing and so he went to a chat room to see how other people set it up. So, initially, to set it up was NOT and easy matter. Of course, once our son saw how others had set it up, he easily completed the task of pairing it with all of our equipment. In the final analysis, it was a SNAP :)