Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal Remote

I've tried a lot of universal remotes. A lot. And I've been so frustrated by most of them that I was almost tempted to turn off all of my electronics and stumble upstairs from my darkened basement, blinking and disoriented, and actually go for a walk. Outside. <shudder>

But then I got a gift certificate for Christmas last year and bought the Harmony 880. It's a freakin' miracle of a device. It, quite simply, just works. Period.

Here's a few geekified notes to supplement other reviews and the official product description:

- You program the remote via the Harmony website which maintains a database of tens of thousands of A/V products which is constantly evolving and updated by both Harmony and its users, so you'll never find a device without a remote profile.
- Once the remote is set up, you press one activity button (i.e. "Play DVD"), and while you keep the remote pointed at your entertainment unit, it turns everything on, sets the audio and video inputs properly, sets the proper aspect ratio, and presses play. If you have a remote-controlled lighting system, it'll even dim the room lights for you.
- The LCD screen is fully customizable with 8 user-set buttons per page, which you can set to be anything you want.
- How customizable is this remote? For true A/V geeks, you can manually set the delay, in milliseconds, between commands. So for example, if you think that the remote isn't changing channels fast enough, you can lower the delay and it'll send the commands quicker to your cable box.

If you purchase this remote, you won't be disappointed. Unless it's so easy and fun to use that you never leave your basement, you stop bathing and you start storing your urine in mason jars. This remote can't help you with that.

This universal remote is so amazing; I cannot believe it works so well or with virtually any remote system, old or new. I have a:
*Sony DVD Player
*RCA (tube) Television
*Denon Receiver (5.1 DTS)
*Dish Satellite
*Pioneer CD player Jukebox (missing the remote!)

Simply plug the "Harmony" Remote into your computer and download the software. The program asks you simple questions like your Device, Make and Model number. After entering this information, you `update' the Remote. It is that simple! The hardest part is writing down the Model numbers for each device. The Remote sits in a nice sleek holder that keeps it constantly charged. The color `touch screen' is touch sensitive and allows you to control your entire entertainment system in one remote. After you create your "activities" (devices), the same buttons works for all devices. Pick your TV, Receiver, CD player or prerecorded program and adjust the volume, song, chapter, program or anything with universal buttons. You can choose your favorite television channels, pick the ones you watch most often and even add graphics and logos to each channel that will display on the remote. You can program up to fifteen (15) different devices and update your "Harmony" when Logitech sends you a reminder via Email. Logitech really went out of their way to make a Universal Remote that is easy to program and use. Problem is you'll probably never get off that couch!

My husband got an older model for Christmas a few years ago, and it is the best thing ever. Most universal remotes are still persnickety and you have to press "TV" to turn the TV on, press "Audio" to turn volume up & down. Not this baby. If you press "Watch TV", it automatically knows which devices should be on and should be off. And, one of my favorite features is, when you need to adjust the volume, you just hit the vol button or mute etc. No more pressing another button first! It knows to turn your stereo receiver down (or your TV, however you set it up).

You have to be just minorly techincal to figure it out. It's pretty easy to set it up, the most fuss is the first set up when you have to fetch all your devices' information.

We love it. And, if for some reason something doesn't turn on the way it is supposed to (which happens once in a while), you just press the "help" button and it will ask you troubleshooting questions (ie. "Is your TV on") which you press yes or no button to, and if the answer is no, it turns the device on for you.

I'm telling you, this remote is well worth the money.