Logitech - Harmony Hub - Black

So while this is a really great tool that allows me to pair multiple smart devices (Hue bulbs, Nest, etc) together, it is complicated. I need to caveat this in saying that I do not yet have a Logitech remote but instead bought the hub to allow me primarily to use my phone as the remote control. For this function, the hub functions fine. However, I had to manually program what certain buttons like my sources (inputs) were actually for. If I were a non-tech savvy person, then this would have been near impossible to figure out in my estimation. With that being said, once you get this setup, it does work as advertised. I can setup routines of sorts to where when I 'Play Movie', it dims the lights, turns the soundbar to a specific sound setting, and does what it is programmed to do. It takes a little bit of time to get this setup, but once it is setup--it normally works. Sometimes if the soundbar is already on when I initiate my Play Movie routine, it can throw it off. With all that being said, I would recommend this if you are tech-savvy and are willing to put the time in to configure everything properly. With my paired devices (Samsung TV and soundbar, Hue lights throughout my house, Nest), it took about 3-4 hours to get everything setup the way I needed it to be. I'm looking forward to being able to turn the soundbar down when it is late at night when the in-laws are visiting and watching movies loudly without having to yell downstairs. Once I get a Logitech remote and use that, I may come back and adjust my rating and review (hopefully to 4-stars).

My entertainment center is built around an HD 7.1 AV Receiver, HDTV, Roku, Blu-ray, and various game consoles. That's a lot of remotes. I've used simpler Harmony IR remotes, which don't work on Wii consoles, but I've always used the Logitech app to list new components, and build macros to switch among inputs with only a few button clicks. Having invested in the Amazon Echo eco-system, research pointed me to the Hub. I had some concerns. How easy would it be to place it where all components could be reached by its signals? Would I have to start from scratch to set it up? Would it work with an Echo Dot? Placing the Echo Dot between the Hub and the Roku, on top of the Blu-ray, on the shelf beneath the TV, above the shelf with the AV receiver was perfect on the first try, without even breaking out the provided IR Blaster. Using the Android phone app, it was easy to set up the Hub and test it, and after that, simple to turn familiar buttons on the remote into voice commands on the Echo Dot. "Alexa, turn on the Game Console" turns on the Wii U, turns on the TV with the proper HDMI input, turns on the receiver and sets input to HDMI 2. If I tell it to watch Blu-ray, it will turn off the Wii U, turn on the disc player, and set the receiver's HDMI input. If everything is off, I can say "watch TV" and get the Roku home screen, or "watch Netflix" or "watch Amazon" and get my Amazon Prime library. "Turn off TV" shuts off everything.

I've owned a few harmony remotes in my life, and was always a huge fan of what they wanted to be, but felt it was always held back by its stone age setup, and slow software. My hopes for the hub were high, I figured as far as everything else has come, this had to come to. Well...not quite. Don't get me wrong, I got this on sale for $50, and I would never return it. But I had a lot of trouble with the setup, and the software is still somewhat clunky. I took multiple pairing cycles to get the initial pair to take place so I could set it up. Once everything was set up I did find a few annoyances. Like for instance, favorites are not stored on the device, but in your online account. So when i would update my favorite channels on my device, nothing would happen. I then had to find out through forum research that you have "sync" your favorites first, so they can be saved to your "online account" which then gets sent back to your device? And if you have alexa, all channels are classified as "scenes." So after doing that, I had to re-enable the skill in alexa, then check all the channels I added, give them voice commands, and run discovery again so it would add the channels to my scenes. Its a very long roundabout way to add a voice command for a channel. However, the hub itself is very snappy and responsive compared to past standalone remotes. And that I am pleased with. After ironing out all my favorites and getting everything set up, things have run quite smoothly.

Purchased this for Xmas as a "family" gift and I had trepidation about setting it up after reading all of the negative "install" comments. Figured, we'd wade through and once it was setup, it'd be great. Well, we had it all setup in less than an hour and had complex devices, so I'm not sure about all the negativity. We even have it setup to run a RasPlex (Rasberry Pi device that runs our Plex TV/Movies). Had to program a few buttons, but it worked fine. In fact, we learned a few things about our Sony home entertainment system and was able to handle the lag time and some of the input cycles. The Activity setup was very easy to figure out if you just read the instructions. Never had to call support for any reason as their website was pretty helpful on how to get the unusual devices to work. Setup: 5 year old Sharp TV, 6 year old Sony Home Entertainment system, TiVo, Xbox 360 and a RasPlex. All iOS 8 devices. We setup the software on an older iPad Mini, a regular iPad and 3 iPhone 6's as well as ran the MyHarmony software on one of the MBP's just to see how that software looked. We created 3 separate "Activities" (Watch TV : Watch Plex : Play XBox) and now everything switches on and setups beautifully for each need making it ready to go with one button click. Remotes work great and the setup was all less than an hour, although we fiddled trying to get it to turn on more obscure devices like our IR fireplace. No go on that one, but we tried. So, I am very pleased with this system and even impressed that we got the RasPlex to work and all for $100 bucks. Can't go wrong with this solution, even if it takes a little setup time, definately worth not having ANY remotes on the ottoman or coffee table. They're all tucked away in a drawer for emergencies.

I have Alexa all over my house controlling my lights, cameras, etc. I bought this unit for the simple reason that I want to be able to say, "Alexa, turn on the TV.." How lazy can I get? Problems started off with setup. Every time you open the app, you have to log in (there's no way to save credentials). That's because every time you have to open the app, it has to "find" the hub...every time. And this is inconsistent, sometimes it finds it, sometimes it doesn't (you have to wait a few minutes). I guess it drops in and out of the Wi-fi Network. Then, it wants you to set up your devices - so I was able to get as far as getting it to control my TV power switch...but getting it to select channels? It gives you this round and round way to select channels and no way to save them so it's a routine. (which is weird because that's supposed to be what it does best). All in all, between having to connect to the hub, to the network and attempting to set it up just to turn on the TV, I spent close to 4 hours...and still not successful. I never got as far as setting up the skill in Alexa (that's because Alexa will only access a pre-setup routine in Hub). You might have a different experience - some people on YouTube certainly do. For me, the headache setup (and my lack of confidence that the product will stay connected tomorrow), the inability to store credentials and the inconsistent Wifi connectivity were enough to make me decide that $12 off the retail price on Black Friday wasn't really a good deal after all. It's going back today...

I have had a number of Logitech remotes, like the amazing Harmony 1100 and more recently, the Smart Keyboard and hub combo. I got this one because I have 2 rooms with an entertainment system and I wanted to control my new Nest thermostat. I find that the Nest thermostat is better controlled by the dedicated app or by it's auto programming. However, I like being able to control my Lutron lights (which I could have done with my last hub anyway). This can control a slew of other home automation items out of the box, which makes it a bit more interesting to me as a future-proof remote. However, the cool stuff like IFTTT and Z-wave control, require a costly addon. Still, the fact that it is expandable means it could operate other platforms in the future with other addons as needed. As it is, there is an OK amount of things it will control. I got this because I needed a second hub anyway for my stereo. If it was all about the home automation, I likely wouldn't have chosen this. It's more like a great home theater remote that will also control some stuff in your house, not the other way around. I got the hub only, as I always have a smart phone or tablet handy, so the extra for the remote is unnecessary and raises the cost. The cost of the hub by itself is very reasonable. I like the ability to customize the screen and layout easily. It seems like this is more flexible than the older versions of the Logitech hubs. It has all the features of the older hubs, but more and with better programming options. So, yeah, a good purchase all and all.

if your like me and have 700 devices all going at the same time. You need this! I wanted one remote to rule them all and I got it...on my phone! Yes you install the hardware and then install an app from logitech on your smart phone and it will control all your devices! I was looking at the other logitech devices that are all in ones and while the prices were fair it was more than I wanted t spend. then I saw the Harmoney....Hmmm install the app and sync all your devices with wifi/bluetooth! SOLD! Now while it works pretty well it could use some refinements, like the volume for my tv does not work so well, but it does work. all other functions work like a charm. It found all my devices and the interface works if not very visually appealing it does work. I would like to see some skins that would change the look and they may be out there I just have not checked yet... it was just under a 100.00 bucks and it took a whole 10 minutes to set it up after I read the instructions. Also its a small unit that is well designed and does not stick out in my stand. I am very happy with the purchase. The hardest part is finding the make and model of your units. If I was smart I would write those numbers down on the users manuals where they give you space to do that! :-) Also this device will control your lights and locks on your house if you have the compatible devices installed. All in all I would say its worth the money as I have only one remote and its on my cell and I dont have yet another remote laying around. And all the device remotes are tucked away nice and neat.

The hub provides a great IR blast radius and the wifi and bluetooth work perfectly. The IOS software for both iPhone and iPad is also pretty well thought out and easy to use. That said I still feel I need to purchase the Harmony Elite or Ultimate One hand held remote controls. The Harmony software seems to be missing control functions which are on device remote controllers unless I have not figured out how to customize the IOS interface. Also, leaving the iPad or iPhone on continuously while watching a show quickly uses the charge even though the Harmony software has been designed to dim the IOS device screen after several seconds. Most problematic (and this is not a Harmony flaw) is you must always refer to the IOS device screen to touch a button as opposed to having a tactile remote that your hand/brain cain learn to operate without looking at it. Example: when I fast forward through commercials during a show recorded on the DVR or when fast forwarding through a DVD. Now the Harmony IOS software does enable you to use gestures so perhaps I could learn to use those rather than the FF/REW buttons. Setting up the hub requires establishing a Harmony account which then lets you enter the make/model numbers of your various AV/Hue Lighting/Apple TV etc. All very simple to do.