June 26, 2019
#316
Gentle reader,
How many remote controls clutter the various rooms with devices designed for your entertainment do you have?
In our bedroom, we have a small flat screen TV our daughter bought for us a few years ago. Attached to it are: A Blu Ray player, a Roku streaming stick, an HDMI switch and a Verizon Fios non-HD cable box. And a row of five remote controls. It's no wonder we almost never have any of it on.
NOTE: If you are viewing this on a computer, clicking on any picture will open a second window over this one. You can click through or use your right and left arrow keys to look at the photos. They will be larger than seen here. If you are viewing it on a device such as a phone or tablet, I do not know if that works the same way.
How many remote controls clutter the various rooms with devices designed for your entertainment do you have?
In our bedroom, we have a small flat screen TV our daughter bought for us a few years ago. Attached to it are: A Blu Ray player, a Roku streaming stick, an HDMI switch and a Verizon Fios non-HD cable box. And a row of five remote controls. It's no wonder we almost never have any of it on.
NOTE: If you are viewing this on a computer, clicking on any picture will open a second window over this one. You can click through or use your right and left arrow keys to look at the photos. They will be larger than seen here. If you are viewing it on a device such as a phone or tablet, I do not know if that works the same way.
Do you see all of the components on the shelves above? You'd think one would need a plethora of different remote controls to operate all of them. You would be correct. And incorrect.
This is the very first Logitech Harmony remote control I ever had. My ever-thoughtful daughter (the same one that bought the bedroom TV) bought it for me some years ago. It is a model 650.
At first I wasn't seeing the need for it. I mean, we had all the remotes for the entertainment devices, all in a wooden holder made for them. But that was in the living room. However, as I came across and bought obscure stereo components for my listening room system, I realized it might be JUST what I needed.
Now, "universal" remote controls have been around for many years. In the beginning, one had to look at the long list of manufacturers on the instruction sheet and try EACH code number listed under that brand, keying each number in, until finally finding the one code number that gave a response from the: TV, VCR, Cable Box, etcetera. That process had to be repeated for EACH device! What a pain in the fingers! And don't lose your place in the list. You'll have to start all over.
As more and more electronics which utilize remote controls were introduced, it soon became clear that no direction sheet list could ever keep up. Something had to be done.
Logitech (a company I do and have owned a number of products from, but with which I am NOT associated in any fashion) came up with the answer.
Their idea: Universal remote controls with which one can DOWNLOAD the codes from their web site directly into the remote via a USB cable. Brilliant! One chooses the brand, the type of device, the model number and hit's enter. Then once all components are entered, you answer questions Logitech asks regarding your preferences for each devices usage. Then all that information is downloaded right into the remote. You are instructed to test each thing and then hook it back up via the USB cable to confirm all is well, or correct what is not. It's easy.
They have been able to gather ALL of the remote control codes for hundreds of thousands of components from countless manufacturers. They are all readily available via their site, accessed with the application for each Harmony remote they have made.
The same photo as above, but smaller. I have components from: 1990's Dynaco (out of business), OPPO, TDK (I didn't even know they made components) Nakamichi, Adcom and JVC. Plus the Denon turntable and a few other things which do not use remote controls.
There was no way that I could find a remote control for the TDK dual-tray CD recorder (I was able to download and print out the manual, to my delight) or for the Nakamichi CD changer. Fortunately for me, soon after the very rare Dynaco (top right) PAT-6 preamplifier arrived, another seller on eBay listed the owner's manual and remote control for it. But I PAID dearly for them, knowing full well that I'd never see another of either. The OPPO universal player came with a remote. But I don't use it, I don't need to. Not since I put Harmony to work.
This remote does not have a touch screen nor rechargeable batteries. It is designed and laid out so that all functions used by any of the factory remotes provided to the original buyers of the equipment, are duplicated by it.
The numbers on the remote's screen above: "1/9" are page numbers. You use the left and right arrows below the screen to flip through the screen's pages and the four buttons adjacent to the screen's four labeled squares are pressed to activate each item. They are things that are special and for which a button is not included on the remote.
The buttons are logically laid out (they ARE named Logitech) and easily read so that one can quickly find and activate each.
I have been happily using this remote control for years and come to think of it, the first set of batteries are still viable.
Next, let's take a look at the living room's audio/visual equipment from four different manufacturers.
The HDTV (not shown) is an LG unit. A Samsung smart Blu Ray player is next, I added those feet to it as the Motorola Verizon cable box below it gets warm whether it's on or not. At the bottom is a SONY home theater receiver.
The tasks of the Harmony ONE remote (below) are far more complex than the model 650 remote's are.
This is the newest and most complex of our family of Logitech Harmony remote controls. It does have a touch screen and based upon the fingerprints by the OFF button, it gets used often.
Watch TV. Seems simple enough. However, the remote must: Turn on the Motorola cable box. Turn on the LG HDTV. And assure that the Input on said TV is set to the correct HDMI input from the cable box.
Watch A Movie has even more complicated requirements. It must: Turn on the SONY receiver and make sure the receiver's input is set to the output from the Blu Ray player. In this case, LD/DVD Digital Coaxial input. Turn on the LG HDTV and choose the correct HDMI input from the Samsung Blu Ray player. Turn on the Samsung player and examine it to see if it has a disc loaded.
Caveat, there is one thing this remote does not do that the factory Samsung remote does, at least, I haven't found it yet: When streaming with the player, it's return button, located below the channel +/- buttons, does not take one back to the previous screen. Perhaps newer ones do. That's the only time I reach for an original remote.
This remote has a charging platform and rechargeable batteries. It has performed flawlessly.
Next, let's go down to the family room, one room that is almost never used since all the kids stopped moving back in. All of the equipment is older down there.
Our first flat screen TV, a Samsung, which is actually a monitor, as no TV tuner is built in, is seen below. The single HDMI input stopped working some years ago. So it is strictly analog audio and video inputs.
The wide black object below the TV is a very early soundbar. Made by Pioneer, it has a separate subwoofer with a ten inch driver and amplifier in the sub's cabinet. They were a thrift store find and use two separate cables to tie them together, one of which was missing. Pioneer was the only place that had the missing one. I paid more for that cable than the rest of the components. It's face can be seen below:
Below, something most homes do not have, a VCR, this one a good one with six heads. The more heads, the better the picture and sound. It also plays DVDs. Is a remote control available for either of these devices? Not on your life.
Atop the RCA unit is one of Verizon Fios' non-HD cable boxes. I added those feet too. Makes it look like it could go off road, or take off like a drone.
This Logitech Harmony remote is a model 890. It is in the middle of the age range of the three we own. It too has a touch screen and charging cradle and rechargeable batteries.
See that it has THREE choices of activities. The RCA DVD/VCR has two sets of outputs, one for the DVD and one for the VCR. The Samsung HDTV has several analog audio and video inputs to accommodate various devices that might be vying for your viewing/hearing attention.
The remote's tasks are as complicated as the one in the living room. Since the sound bar has built-in amplification, there is no receiver. The remote control must: Turn on the TV, turn on the cable box (if that is one's desired source) and choose the correct input on the TV for the output from the cable box or the RCA player. In this case, the remote's volume switches controls the TV's volume.
For watching either the DVD or VCR, it must: Turn on the Pioneer sound bar, turn on the RCA player, choose which player is to be played. Turn on the TV and choose the correct input for whichever format of recording is to be played, and once all that is done, control the various devices.
Again, it does it flawlessly. One's only responsibility is that the remote remains aimed at the electronics until each is on and set to the proper everything.
It works and boy do they make it easy on my wife who resorted to making labels for each remote control as to what they are for and she still gets confused sometimes. So, I patiently point out the Logitech Harmony remote and it's screen choices. "Ah, well that's a lot easier."
And like the "Hokie Pokie", that's what it's all about. (If you don't know what that is, do a search. It'll date this author, but I don't care.)
While I would love it if I got a kickback from Logitech for every remote that you buy as a result of reading this article, that is not the case. Sigh.
No, I am merely doing my civic duty passing on what I have learned by buying and using these wonderful remotes.
It is still up to you to OT lose the remote, regardless of who made it.
Thank you SO much for taking the time to read my humble words and viewing my images. Your kind words and comments are what keeps me putting out these articles.
Scott
June 26, 2019
#316
The numbers on the remote's screen above: "1/9" are page numbers. You use the left and right arrows below the screen to flip through the screen's pages and the four buttons adjacent to the screen's four labeled squares are pressed to activate each item. They are things that are special and for which a button is not included on the remote.
I have been happily using this remote control for years and come to think of it, the first set of batteries are still viable.
Next, let's take a look at the living room's audio/visual equipment from four different manufacturers.
The tasks of the Harmony ONE remote (below) are far more complex than the model 650 remote's are.
Watch A Movie has even more complicated requirements. It must: Turn on the SONY receiver and make sure the receiver's input is set to the output from the Blu Ray player. In this case, LD/DVD Digital Coaxial input. Turn on the LG HDTV and choose the correct HDMI input from the Samsung Blu Ray player. Turn on the Samsung player and examine it to see if it has a disc loaded.
This remote has a charging platform and rechargeable batteries. It has performed flawlessly.
Next, let's go down to the family room, one room that is almost never used since all the kids stopped moving back in. All of the equipment is older down there.
Our first flat screen TV, a Samsung, which is actually a monitor, as no TV tuner is built in, is seen below. The single HDMI input stopped working some years ago. So it is strictly analog audio and video inputs.
The remote's tasks are as complicated as the one in the living room. Since the sound bar has built-in amplification, there is no receiver. The remote control must: Turn on the TV, turn on the cable box (if that is one's desired source) and choose the correct input on the TV for the output from the cable box or the RCA player. In this case, the remote's volume switches controls the TV's volume.
Again, it does it flawlessly. One's only responsibility is that the remote remains aimed at the electronics until each is on and set to the proper everything.
It works and boy do they make it easy on my wife who resorted to making labels for each remote control as to what they are for and she still gets confused sometimes. So, I patiently point out the Logitech Harmony remote and it's screen choices. "Ah, well that's a lot easier."
And like the "Hokie Pokie", that's what it's all about. (If you don't know what that is, do a search. It'll date this author, but I don't care.)
While I would love it if I got a kickback from Logitech for every remote that you buy as a result of reading this article, that is not the case. Sigh.
No, I am merely doing my civic duty passing on what I have learned by buying and using these wonderful remotes.
It is still up to you to OT lose the remote, regardless of who made it.
Thank you SO much for taking the time to read my humble words and viewing my images. Your kind words and comments are what keeps me putting out these articles.
Scott
June 26, 2019
#316
Thanks for your feedback. I'm glad the article was helpful.
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