Universal remote recommendation for the over 60 crowd

[markd]

I'm thinking that I need to buy my parents a universal remote and I'm seeking some recommendations.  Basically, I keep having to reprogram things due to accidental button presses and things getting all out of whack.  My parents are in Racine so they're not that far away but still.  Sometimes I'm able to help them over the phone (like a few days ago), other times I'm not so lucky and they get very frustrated.

Basically, I'm looking for a simple to use remote that could control their TWC DVR box, a Sony TV and BDP, and a Yammy AVR.  I'm thinking that if I can just get the real remotes out of their hands, I can cut down on the accidental button presses (the other day my father seemed to have some accidentally switched input sources so that cable audio is present only when the AVR is set to DVD instead of DTV, even though I had a "memory guard" setting enabled to attempt to prevent this sort of accident).  While I don't mind helping, they end up getting even more frustrated that I do.

I've looked at various Harmonies throughout the past few years for myself but I've never broken down and gotten one.

Thoughts?  Suggestions?

[brewtownska]

I'm a Harmony owner, and I'm not 100% sure if the settings are stored locally or on the Harmony site.  I'm actually thinking they're stored on Harmony's end, as I did clean install of Windows 7 a few months ago, and when I downloaded the currently software, first time I logged in it still knew what Harmony remote I had.  I think all the device info was there as well, so I didn't need to set any of it up again.

That could be HUGE for you because you could make the needed changes to the remote from your end, then have them plug the remote in on their computer and just hit the button that sends the info to the remote.  So in a perfect world, you don't need to GO there to update their remote.

Of course another option would be to connect to their computer remotely and update everything that way...you'd still just need them to physically connect the remote to the computer using the USB.

I commonly see refub Harmony remotes at great prices, and sometimes Logitech sells "dented box" models which are 100% new, just returned from stores due to cosmetic box issues. I bought one of their more expensive RF models at dented box price, which was more than 50% normal price anywhere else.  So if you're not in a hurry, just keep your eyes open on the sites that post tech deals.

Mike

[brewtownska]

If anything, buy a cheap harmony for yourself...if you LIKE it, then you'll know if that's right for your parents.  If you don't like it, at least you can pawn it off on them and look for something better for yourself
But I think you'll appreciate everything it can do.

Typically the only issues I have are when the wife uses it and doesn't wait for the initial "on" macro to finish before turning the remote away from the devices.  So hitting the "TV" button is actually many commands:
TV On
wait 1.5 seconds
Input change to HDMI 1
wait .5 seconds
Turn on Cable Box
etc...

[markd]

I already use TeamViewer for remote desktop support occasionally so I was liking the fact that I can program via computer (back in the day, I used to have one of those "learning" remotes that copied the IR code basically).

My only concern is really getting them too much of a remote.  They either watch cable or watch a movie via DVD/BR.  They're used to using the "Guide" and the "List" (DVR), etc buttons on the TWC Synergy remotes too so I don't want to confuse them too badly with an overly complicated device. :huh?:

[brewtownska]

The other nice thing on the Harmony I have (most probably have this as well, though I never looked) is a HELP button.  By hitting that, it will more or less walk through each step after turning on the TV and rerunning it, just to make sure it worked...you then hit YES or NO after the step runs to see if that fixed the problem.  That would eliminate the issue you currently have with things getting out of sync, because the remote more or less resets itself each time the system is turned on and off.

I can't say enough nice things about my Harmony remotes.  I recommend them to everyone.  Here and there I read of people online that don't like them, but usually it's because they have some super-complicated system where they feel a different remote will work better for them.  Or maybe they have more than the limit of 12 or 15 devices that the Harmony will work for, so they need a more expensive one.

The other nice thing is that if your parents eventually change their TV service from TWC to something else, you just update the Harmony to use the new device and delete the old device from the list...they still have the security of using the same remote.

I think it's worth you using it yourself for a few weeks just to understand how it works, then install it for your parents.  You have as much or as little control as you want.  For instance, if the default amount of time between the TV turning on and when it will accept the command to change the input is too long or too short, you can adjust that by milli-seconds.  My Sony TV takes FOREVER to switch inputs and show a picture, so I had to adjust that in the remote settings.  But now it works really well as long as the user keeps the remote aimed at the equipment for the 4-5 seconds for the initial turn-on macro to function.

Mike

[markd]

What model do you have Mike?  I've been looking at the Harmony One for myself.  I've seen the 510 pretty cheap in the past.  My buddy has...um....an 880 (?) that used to be da bomb before the One came out.  Whatever model it is, I was looking at that one for myself over a year ago.  I almost bought a 510 for my parents for Christmas but something about some reviews made me change my mind.

[amaroq]

I got my folks (who are 66 and 72) a Harmony 550 a little over a year ago since they were having much the same problem as your parents. They have a combo TV/DVD/VCR and Time Warner cable, as well as an XM radio hooked up to an A/V receiver.  They were having tons of problems figuring out all the settings for the inputs and soforth, and my dad would get frustrated with the XM because he'd have to turn off the TV with one remote and use another to control the XM receiver.

Neither of them was too thrilled to have to learn something new, but once they got a hang of it and realized that the Harmony does NOT work the same way their old remotes did, they both absolutely love it.  My dad can just hit "Listen to XM" and it'll turn off the TV and turn on the XM radio and A/V receiver and set it to the right inputs and he's off and listening.  He hits "Watch TV" and it turns off the XM and receiver, turns on the cable box and TV, and sets it all to the right inputs.  "Watch DVD" changes the TV to the DVD input and sends out the signal to open up the tray to stick the DVD in.  It's got buttons labelled "guide", "info", "menu", and "exit", as well as page-up and page-downm so it was pretty easy for them to switch from their TWC remote.

Once in a while one of the devices misses a signal and things get messed up, but (after a fair bit of encouragement) they've both started using the "Help" button on  the top of the Harmony, which basically makes guesses at what's wrong and asks if it fixed it before moving on to the next possibility.

Now that they understand how it works and how to use the help button, they absolutely LOVE it.  It's made things phenomenally easier for them to use and I haven't had to help them with anything TV-related in months.  Also, since all the programming is stored on Logitech's website, if their dog ever gets ahold of the remote and chews it to bits, I can just go pick up a new one and download the programming to it without having to re-do everything. I'd definitely recommend a Harmony, with two caveats:

First, the Harmony 550 that I got them (on sale for $50) has a crummy button layout.  The buttons are small and awkwardly placed, and probably not optimal for older folks.  My folks have gotten used to it, but if you've got $200 to spare, the Harmony One has a MUCH better button layout.  The Harmony 670 (about $80) also has a much better layout.  

Second, the software for programming the remote sucks.  It's basically a slow, kludgy web-based interface with Logitech's software wrapped around it.  Basic setup is pretty easy -- you just tell it what the manufacturer and model number of your devices is, and it'll set up your activities for you, as long as your devices are in Logitech's database.  You'll probably find that you want to rearrange the buttons on the LCD screen, though, which is pretty cumbersome, and you'll probably have to change the delays that it uses when sending out multiple commands (it tends to make them ridiculously long, so if for instance you're pressing the volume button five times in a row, it'll take a few seconds to send all five commands out).  I'd say that all-in-all I spent six or eight hours at their house playing with it and getting it all set up for them.  Since then, though, I haven't had to touch a thing, and they haven't had any problems that the help button hasn't been able to fix.

[duncantuna]

I bought a Harmony remote a year ago .. I forced myself to use it for about 2 weeks .. absolutely hated it.   The regular TWC remote had far better button placement and it was far easier to use.

Yes, the Harmony can do everything and control 500 devices .. well, when you use 2 devices 90% of the time (TV and DVR) I didn't find a reason to have some super-remote that you had to look carefully at to hit the right buttons.  The TWC DVR remote is far easier to use.

In the end .. I used the Harmony for 2 weeks, and put it on a shelf, never to be used again.

[Rick_EE]

I bought my Mom (65) a Harmony for Christmas a year and a half ago.  She loves it.  When she bought the condo, there was a home theatre installed.  She could never get it to work until the Harmony.

Whenever things get out of sync, the help button always gets things straightened out.

[TPK]

I simply cannot say enough good things about the Harmony remotes....  

I have one myself, and I bought one for my parents (who are, as you say, part of the over-60 crowd)...

Since I bought it for my parents, my life is MUCH more simplified, since now instead of them calling me once a day with questions about what buttons to push to get a DVD to play, they only call me once every few months when they get a new component for their AV system...

When that happens, I tell them which wires to hook up, and then I just log into thier harmony remote site, and make the proper changes to their remote set-up (usually takes me less than 2 minutes), and then I just have them hook the remote into their PC and tell them to hit that "update my remote" button...

.... done, and I don't have to deal with them for another few months....

Costco has the Harmony 880 for $100, which is cheaper than youll find it anywhere online...

The only downside of the 880 is the build quality, expect it to only last a few years with normal use (less with heavy use), but even with these problems, I still cannot reccommend it enough...

[brewtownska]

I originally bought a very old model...can't remember the number, but it was before Harmony sold out to Logitech.  I bought it because it was programmable online, and it was on clearance for liike $70.  I loved the way it worked, but it died after about 9 months.  Luckily, the warranty took care of it and they sent me a 676 (a fairly new model at the time).  That new one was even easier to use and I was hooked.  I still use that one, though about once a year I need to take it apart and clean the contacts after it starts to double the button presses (hit channel up and it will go up twice).

I got a "dented box" of the 890 a few months ago for use with my projector in the basement because I wanted to hide the equipment and use the RF feature.  That was a deal at $100, as it normally went for about double that.

I would guess that your parents don't have much equipment, so you can probably get away with ANY of the models.  So just pick a price point, and when you see one at that price or below, pull the trigger.  Like I said earlier, give it a try yourself at home on your equipment for a few weeks so you get the hang of it, then reprogram it for your parents equipment.  I guarantee you'll be hooked as well!

Mike

[gb4fan92]

I bought a Harmony remote a year ago .. I forced myself to use it for about 2 weeks .. absolutely hated it.   The regular TWC remote had far better button placement and it was far easier to use.

Yes, the Harmony can do everything and control 500 devices .. well, when you use 2 devices 90% of the time (TV and DVR) I didn't find a reason to have some super-remote that you had to look carefully at to hit the right buttons.  The TWC DVR remote is far easier to use.

In the end .. I used the Harmony for 2 weeks, and put it on a shelf, never to be used again.

Well can I have it then since you are not using it??

[Chinatown]

From Amazon. $22.00. Even my wife figured it out.

http://www.amazon.com/One-All-Learning-Universal-Control/dp/B00083ET5G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1267757022&sr=8-2