Best Value Universal Remote For Under $100

[CCRider]

I am looking at replacing my damaged universal remote and looking at buying a new one for under $100.

Which one out there is the best value for money?

I've read that the logitech harmony 525 is a good economical unit to buy. however is it capable of learning the from my Philips DTR 7200 hd stb remote which my previous one couldn't cope with.

[Guest magiman05]

I am looking at replacing my damaged universal remote and looking at buying a new one for under $100.

Which one out there is the best value for money?

I've read that the logitech harmony 525 is a good economical unit to buy. however is it capable of learning the from my Philips DTR 7200 hd stb remote which my previous one couldn't cope with.

officework one time offer $99 for 525, which is value for money, as i know logitech harmony capable over thousand of brand, include china brands....

check this out,

http://centre.net.au/Remotes_0008XY.html

http://www.cpl.net.au

http://www.shopferret.com.au/buy/remote_co...ilters-684.html

[diesel]

is it capable of learning the from my Philips DTR 7200 hd stb remote which my previous one couldn't cope with.

It has a learning port so I would think that even if the Philips was not on the web database of supported products, you could learn from your Philips remote.

[achjimmy]

It has a learning port so I would think that even if the Philips was not on the web database of supported products, you could learn from your Philips remote.

And i would be suprised if the phillips 7200 wasnt on the web site. You used to be able to take a setup test drive on the logitech site?

[Guest EZYHD]

You used to be able to take a setup test drive on the logitech site?

That is correct, go take a test drive.

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products...US/EN,CRID=2080

[CCRider]

officework one time offer $99 for 525, which is value for money, as i know logitech harmony capable over thousand of brand, include china brands....

check this out,

http://centre.net.au/Remotes_0008XY.html

http://www.cpl.net.au

http://www.shopferret.com.au/buy/remote_co...ilters-684.html

Firstly thanks to all for the replies.

JUst phoned offce works here in Adelaide.

They have 525 @ $170 and 520 @ $97.

Told by salesbod that diff is 525 is the xbox360 model.

I am a bit too old for xbox games (bore me).

Is the functionality between the two despite xbox similar becauseI am now warming towards 520 because of price alone.

[Guest EZYHD]

Firstly thanks to all for the replies.

JUst phoned offce works here in Adelaide.

They have 525 @ $170 and 520 @ $97.

Told by salesbod that diff is 525 is the xbox360 model.

I am a bit too old for xbox games (bore me).

Is the functionality between the two despite xbox similar becauseI am now warming towards 520 because of price alone.

All Harmony Remotes have the same functions, the only differences are some have 4 coloured buttons (useful for STB use), some full colour screens and others have additional buttons in the viewing window and some have Lithium chargable battery and base. The 520 IMO is an absolute bargain, battery's last months too.

[mello yello]

If its price Dr Teal I use a Zensonic Z150 universal learning with a backlight and macro programmable.

Aussie brand retails between $60-$70.

I feel I have come full circle..it was one of my early posts when I joined up

Ill see if I can find the links to reviews etc

Its still going strong, easy to use and Ive dropped it quite a few times...sturdy case

[drkrac]

Hey magiman05, great heads up about the harmony 520.

I wasn't really in the market for one at all, but couldn't pass it up at that price. Went down to my local Office Works, grabbed the last one off the shelf, came home, programmed it and all is working great. Heaps better than the universal remote that came with my Denon AVR.

[CCRider]

Hey magiman05, great heads up about the harmony 520.

I wasn't really in the market for one at all, but couldn't pass it up at that price. Went down to my local Office Works, grabbed the last one off the shelf, came home, programmed it and all is working great. Heaps better than the universal remote that came with my Denon AVR.

I did exactly the same thing today despite the 40 plus temps in Adelaide(hate driving in heat even with a/c car) . Got it for $93(used coles myer card) and it was the last one on the shelf from local office works.

It is definitely a bargain and exudes with quality.( it also includes enegizer alkline AAA batteries.)

Love the pacific blue backlight and blue lcd screen as well as the help menu on the unit.

The programming was all done on line and I was very impressed with the whole setup.

PS love how it learns commands from your other remotes using usb port. I am realy impressed with the technology employed with this remote and recommend to anyone who wants lots of features at a great price

[norpus]

Hey magiman05, great heads up about the harmony 520.

I wasn't really in the market for one at all, but couldn't pass it up at that price. Went down to my local Office Works, grabbed the last one off the shelf, came home, programmed it and all is working great. Heaps better than the universal remote that came with my Denon AVR.

Thats good drkrac. I currently use my 3805 universal remote but it doesn't do foxtel or the vp30. Maybe one of these might suit me

[Wing Nut]

I am a bit too old for xbox games (bore me). Is the functionality between the two despite xbox similar becauseI am now warming towards 520 because of price alone.

I understand the 525 and XBox are essentailly the same apart from the case colour and location/size of the coloured buttons. In fact, I think I'd rather the XBox Harmony to my 525 since the coloured buttons appear easier to use - I'd rather the grey case though. Functionality is generally the same throughout the Harmony range. The 520 doesn't have any coloured buttons, however any button/function can be created on the LCD.

[boric]

I understand the 525 and XBox are essentailly the same apart from the case colour and location/size of the coloured buttons. In fact, I think I'd rather the XBox Harmony to my 525 since the coloured buttons appear easier to use - I'd rather the grey case though. Functionality is generally the same throughout the Harmony range. The 520 doesn't have any coloured buttons, however any button/function can be created on the LCD.

I have the Xbox 360 version. The coloured buttons are in a much more useful position near the middle of the remote and not at the bottom like the 525. The Xbox version also glows radioactive green - not particularly pretty but doesn't bother me much (I don't like blue glows either - what is wrong with just faintly glowing white?). I quite like the white colour of the remote - when it's not glowing and making my coffee table look like a radioactive dump site.

Electronics Boutique had the Xbox version advertised at $99 earlier this year, not sure if it is still that price. You can also get it online for around $120. If you can live with the green glow and the white remote I think it is better value than the 520 (4 colour buttons) or the 525 (coloured buttons better positioned)

It took me a while (and one support call, logitech support is very good compared to most I've dealt with) to get the remote configured just right - the harmony software correctly configured my TV, topfield and mediagate but the commands for my stereo, wintal, and dvd player were poor and I had to relearn many commands for these.

[Wing Nut]

My most used functions worked fine straight off, but occasionally I discover a few not often used LCD items don't respond at all. I should start writing these little issues down because they're usually forgotten by the time I have a real need to connect the remote to the PC and alter something.

I'm not sure how the 'function list' is created for each brand/model of TV, etc, but am I right in assuming the button edits and corrections I make to my remote are added to a common log somewhere? There seems little consistency in spelling, capitalisation and often repeated button names/commands. Is it a bit like Wikipedia?

[diesel]

I'm not sure how the 'function list' is created for each brand/model of TV, etc, but am I right in assuming the button edits and corrections I make to my remote are added to a common log somewhere? There seems little consistency in spelling, capitalisation and often repeated button names/commands.

Not sure they would do this as different people would use different naming protocols for the same function. I notice in the manaual they try to tell you how to "name" functions but for me personally, I need to name them so my family can understand.

[CCRider]

Can anybody offer some advice.

I own the 520

I have my stb connected to TV via HDMI 1.

When I use the "watch TV" option the harmony 520 turns on STB and TV.

The TV starts of at HDMI 1 as it is the default connection for the stb.

The TV works fine until the 520 flashes again and changes the Input to HDMI 2. Hence get no Pic.

I initially used the help button to fix the problem but created a HDMI 1/2 button on the LED screen to fix it.

Seems that if you return back to the same "activity" that you were using ie "watch TV" then using 520 toggle button .. turn everything off. Then selecting Activies "watch TV" later the selection of av input jumps from hsdmi1 to hdmi2.

any suggestions would be appreciated.

PS checked my settings and HDMI 1 is the selected av input for TV via stb

[czzer]

Can anybody offer some advice.

I own the 520

I have my stb connected to TV via HDMI 1.

When I use the "watch TV" option the harmony 520 turns on STB and TV.

The TV starts of at HDMI 1 as it is the default connection for the stb.

The TV works fine until the 520 flashes again and changes the Input to HDMI 2. Hence get no Pic.

I initially used the help button to fix the problem but created a HDMI 1/2 button on the LED screen to fix it.

Seems that if you return back to the same "activity" that you were using ie "watch TV" then using 520 toggle button .. turn everything off. Then selecting Activies "watch TV" later the selection of av input jumps from hsdmi1 to hdmi2.

any suggestions would be appreciated.

PS checked my settings and HDMI 1 is the selected av input for TV via stb

It sounds like the remote thinks the command for HDMI1 is a discrete, when it is in fact a toggle command that switches between HDMI 1 and 2.

Go to device mode for the TV and try all the Input commands to see if any of them do in fact act as a discrete for HDMI 1. If you find one, go to "Adjust Inputs" for the TV device and make sure that command is set as the command to use for HDMI1.

[CCRider]

It sounds like the remote thinks the command for HDMI1 is a discrete, when it is in fact a toggle command that switches between HDMI 1 and 2.

Go to device mode for the TV and try all the Input commands to see if any of them do in fact act as a discrete for HDMI 1. If you find one, go to "Adjust Inputs" for the TV device and make sure that command is set as the command to use for HDMI1.

Thanks will try your suggestion when I get home tonight.

[CCRider]

It sounds like the remote thinks the command for HDMI1 is a discrete, when it is in fact a toggle command that switches between HDMI 1 and 2.

Go to device mode for the TV and try all the Input commands to see if any of them do in fact act as a discrete for HDMI 1. If you find one, go to "Adjust Inputs" for the TV device and make sure that command is set as the command to use for HDMI1.

Thanks for the great advice Czzer.

I played around with the commands and did find discrete commands for HDMI 1 as well as 2.

I made the changes as you suggested for both TV(HDMI1) and also DVD (HDMI2)watching and it works a treat.

I'ts official....I now love this remote.

[4Eyes]

Thanks for the great advice Czzer.

I played around with the commands and did find discrete commands for HDMI 1 as well as 2.

I made the changes as you suggested for both TV(HDMI1) and also DVD (HDMI2)watching and it works a treat.

I'ts official....I now love this remote.

Hmmm... I too have one of these but find flipping thru 24 pages of 4 commands each to find a function way down the alphabet a major pain... read "too much hassle".

Does anybody know how to re-order commands?

Regards,

4Eyes

[Jaybee88]

Back to the original post, I purchased the Harmony Xbox version for 79 bucks from cworld.com.au 2 weeks ago. They have increased their price since. Best 79 bucks I spent for a while.

I have mapped the play/pause/ff/rew buttons to the PVR number keys. Works great !!

[diesel]

Does anybody know how to re-order commands?

Just retype them in the order you want or better still only keep your most used ones and get rid of the rest

[CCRider]

Hmmm... I too have one of these but find flipping thru 24 pages of 4 commands each to find a function way down the alphabet a major pain... read "too much hassle".

Does anybody know how to re-order commands?

Regards,

4Eyes

Yes

But it will require a bit of effort.

If the 24 pages is on the device this can be easily fixed.

From my memory

Select device then select customise buttons.

The "physical" buttons plus commands appear on the first page.

Select additional buttons- these will be the pages that appear on the LED screen

in the order they appear.

Make a list on paper of the name of the button and associated command you prefer upfront or more likely to use ie your "priority buttons."

Then replace them in the order you prefer by writng over the keyname in say line 1 of box1 and using the drop box select the command.

You can decide whether you want to retain the commands you have erased..if so you can add them at the bottom of the page. but don't forget to write them down.

I have done this excersise and removed buttons and commands I am not going to use. got my a/v receiver to 5 pages and thinking about erasing few more buttons don't really use.

Back to the original post, I purchased the Harmony Xbox version for 79 bucks from cworld.com.au 2 weeks ago. They have increased their price since. Best 79 bucks I spent for a while.

I have mapped the play/pause/ff/rew buttons to the PVR number keys. Works great !!

that's a great pricefor the 525. Best i have seen them for in retail outlet in Adelaide is $131 at Advantek computing

[KOAZ]

Back to the original post, I purchased the Harmony Xbox version for 79 bucks from cworld.com.au 2 weeks ago. They have increased their price since. Best 79 bucks I spent for a while.

I have mapped the play/pause/ff/rew buttons to the PVR number keys. Works great !!

Tecs Computers Megastore in 305 Latrobe St. Melb. are selling the Logitech Harmony Advanced Universal Remote for Xbox 360 for $89. Not as good as $79. This was about 3 weeks ago.

Considering the Logitech Harmony Advanced Universal Remote for Xbox 360 sells at JB HiFi for $189.

[4Eyes]

Yes

But it will require a bit of effort.

If the 24 pages is on the device this can be easily fixed.

From my memory

Select device then select customise buttons.

The "physical" buttons plus commands appear on the first page.

Select additional buttons- these will be the pages that appear on the LED screen

in the order they appear.

Make a list on paper of the name of the button and associated command you prefer upfront or more likely to use ie your "priority buttons."

Then replace them in the order you prefer by writng over the keyname in say line 1 of box1 and using the drop box select the command.

You can decide whether you want to retain the commands you have erased..if so you can add them at the bottom of the page. but don't forget to write them down.

I have done this excersise and removed buttons and commands I am not going to use. got my a/v receiver to 5 pages and thinking about erasing few more buttons don't really use.

that's a great pricefor the 525. Best i have seen them for in retail outlet in Adelaide is $131 at Advantek computing

Dr Teal,

Made a mistake. I have a 520 not a 525. Hopefully it's close enough that your suggestion will work.

Um... r u referring to the software rather than the remote itself?

Regards,

4Eyes