andrevm's Full Review: Logitech Harmony® 880 LCD Remote Control
I bought a Harmony 880 remote in January...
I have a home theater setup which I enjoy immensely, but the use of four remotes in the dark made it an annoying endeavor. I don’t know what the folks at Onkyo were thinking - the remote on my unit feels and weights the same up-side up as well as up-side down. Having to rotate it half the times I picked it up… argh!
As a result, I spent about two months reading about remotes online, including reviews at Epinions, Amazon, and AVSForum (an audio and video guru forum). I was looking for something universal, like the Sony units at Circuit City, yet something capable and easy to program with custom macros. (An example of a useful macro includes being able to start up the entire system with the press of a single button.) It also had to be easy to use, as I wanted my parents to be able to handle the system when I wasn’t home. Furthermore, an intuitive and ergonomic layout would be nice, wherein I wouldn’t get lost looking for a button in the dark. Finally, buttons with some form of backlighting would make me very happy!
My virtual trek along audio and video web sites led me to a number of remotes, from $75 units with more colors than the Olympic flag, to $800 cubes of brands I never heard of. Having just purchased a new keyboard, G15, and an RF laser mouse, MX1000, from Logitech -- both of which I liked very much -- I could not ignore the positive reviews about the Harmony 880. I bought it Amazon, which had the best deal, with free shipping and no CA taxes.
:-: Best Features :-:
-: The best feature of the Harmony 880 is that one hooks it up to a PC via a USB cable (this is actually required), and sets up the remote settings online. Logitech provides users a searchable database where anyone can find a device’s command settings based on their brand and model name. From there, one configures the device per a designated use. For example, when I want to watch a DVD, I click on “watch a DVD” on the remote, and it turns on the DVD player, projector, and receiver, as well as sets the receiver to DVD. If I had any other devices powered on beforehand, it turns them off. If I want to watch TV on my DirecTV DVR system, I click on “watch TV”, and it turns off the DVD player, changes the receiver to Video 1, and turns on the satellite box. TIVO commands are on the face of the remote.
The registration and macros setup is very easy to navigate, and works flawlessly. If there are any issues, due to signal strength, for example, one can adjust power and delay settings individually for each device.
If you are unsure if your devices are available from the list, you can run a demo of the setup at Logitech’s web site. Just click on “view demo” on the remote’s page. I actually used the demo setup I created for my current configuration, when I received the remote. Logitech saves everything on their server.
If a device is not available, or the settings of a specific feature you want to use are missing, it’s easy to teach the unit a new command. There’s an easy-to-follow wizard that allows you to program virtually any key on the remote to respond like the original remote. I didn’t have to do this, as all the commands I need were transferred fine.
-: The remote has a bright backlit LCD with sharp text that shows a list of macros available for your setup. This screen also shows you additional commands, which are not on the face of the remote. For example, if I want to set the projector to 16:9 in lieu of 4:3, I click on the device button, pick out the projector, and a list of subcommands shows up on the LCD. From there, I can click the screen mode.
-: Another feature I like is that all buttons have backlighting in brilliant blue. They are therefore very easy to find.
While some reviewers complained of the volume and channel buttons being too thin, I found them just right. They are easy to find, as no buttons nearby feel like them.
-: When you pick up the remote, it lights up automatically. The unit is equipped with a motion sensor; hence it’s always ready to go.
:-: Technical Support :-:
I had the unfortunate need to contact Logitech for warranty repair. At first, the unit would reset randomly, losing some data. Then it would not start up, forcing me to do a hard reset (pull the battery). It died within two months.
I contacted Logitech, which has its own support group for assistance with remotes; along with extended hours until late at night. They couldn’t help me, so they offered to replace the unit. There’s a catch: they are located in Canada, and you pay shipping.
The one benefit of the ordeal is that they ship the replacement immediately, and it’s a new unit. There’s also no need to provide credit card information; which I was very surprised.
Their number is 1-866-291-1505. You might need it...
The second unit arrived dead. It refused to charge up, and never powered on outside the charging cradle. Another RMA. Another $8 to ship it to Canada.
The third unit works very well, and I’m glad I have this unit. It’s very easy to use, and lacks nothing in features.
:-: Conclusion :-:
The Harmony 880 remote is easy to use, light, ergonomic, and has its own charging cradle (no batteries to replace!!). It also includes the USB cable it needs, plus some software for easy PC recognition. Cost-wise, the unit is a good value (anything above $240 is a bit much, no?), considering the features it has. Reliability-wise... give me some more time and I’ll let you know!
Any questions? Please drop a line, and I’ll get back to you ASAP.
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