You have not met a true universal remote control until you have been introduced to Logitech’s Harmony line of remote controls. We’ve had a Harmony in our house for several years, and I will say that the first time I touched the remote it changed my life! The reason is that you have no idea how badly you needed this remote until you start using it.
The way our home theater system is set up in our family room is extremely complicated. We have several systems attached to the TV (DirecTV, Xbox, PS3, Wii, DVD Player, Audio Receiver and an HDMI switcher!) Needless to say if we had to use a separate remote control for each device there would be several to choose from, and we’d have to have a sheet of paper laminated and posted near the TV to try and explain it all.
We recently purchased a new TV for our bedroom, which already had DirecTV hooked up to it, and brought our extra DVD player upstairs to hook up to it. It’s a much simpler setup, and yet I find myself completely frustrated with having to constantly push either “dvd” or “TV” at the top to either change the volume or pause the show. It wouldn’t need a diagram like the downstairs system would, but now it’s just annoying, since I know how much easier it can be.
So what makes Harmony so great?
First, is the setup. When you open the package it comes with the remote, a cable and software. You install the software onto your computer and plug the remote control in with the included USB cable. Next you will enter the devices you own. You need to look on your devices and write down the model numbers of each device. This information is typically located on the back of the machine. Once you have entered each device (TV, DVD Player, Cable box, etc), then you set up different activities. When you create an activity such as “Watch TV” the software will ask you what you want to happen. It will ask you which devices will be used for the activity, and which devices will be used for the various functions. Such as “which device do you use to control the volume”. Once you have created the various activities, you only need to synchronize the remote control. Now your remote is ready to get to work!
This is SO much easier than trying to find different codes for each system, which is how most universal remote controls receive their information. They come with a large book of codes and you have to guess which code to use for each device. Setting up some of the other universal remotes could take HOURS to setup. Once you get them set up, it’s still going to make you select which device you want to control, which you will have to constantly change as you switch devices.
Not only is the initial setup of the remote super easy, upgrading the remote has been even easier! We had a Harmony 880, and when I received the Harmony Onefrom Logitech in the mail, my husband said “Have fun setting it up!” I informed him that I really didn’t have to do anything to set it up except for plug it in and click a couple buttons. I plugged the remote into my computer, and clicked “upgrade remote”. It took all of the settings I already had and loaded them onto the new remote control. It really could not have been more easy, and the new remote was up and controlling our family room in literally MINUTES!
Now that the setup is completed, controlling your home theater setup is so easy. My babysitters love me because I just tell them to push what they want to do. If they want to watch TV, then push “Watch TV”. The remote will do all of the work for you. As soon as “Watch TV” is pressed it will turn the TV on, turn the DirecTV on, and turn the Audio Receiver on. It will then make sure that the TV is set to the HDMI 1 input, and the receiver is set to CBL input. When I press the volume up on the remote it will change the volume on the receiver. When I press guide it will bring the guide up on the DirecTV. I never have to press a button on the remote to change which device I’m trying to control. It will automatically control exactly what I want it to control!
We gave our old Harmony 880 to my Mom and Step-Dad. I went to their house to set it up for them. My Mom had a list of instructions from her husband on how to control the TV/DVD/Cable. I looked at the list and set up the remote according to the specifications on the list. My Mom, who had given up trying to ever watch a DVD if her husband wasn’t around because it was too complicated for her to figure out, now has freedom to watch a DVD whenever she wants! She simply presses “Watch DVD” on her Harmony and she is set to go! She has been raving about it ever since.
With one touch of the remote control it can change everything in your setup, and help you control it without pressing additional buttons, or trying to figure out exactly which buttons need to be pressed. So with one touch of the Harmony Remote it will also change your life and you will say “Where have you been all my life!” The Harmony One is rechargable, and feels GREAT in your hand!
Here’s the GREAT news! Logitech was kind enough to provide me with a Harmony One remote control to facilitate my review AND one to give away!
I will also be having a Twitter party this Wednesday about Kids and Entertainment! Come and sound off your opinions on Kids & TV, Games, Music and Computers! If you participate in the Twitter party you will be entered to win a Harmony 300!
To enter to win the Harmony One ($249 value!), simply comment on this post. To be in accordance with FTC regulations there are no other methods of entry, and you are limited to one entry per person! Good LUCK!
Giveaway will be open until Sunday, August 29th at 8 PM MST.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive compensation if you make a purchase using the links.
We love our Harmony One so much…that we have 2. One for the living room and one for the man cave. My Mom was actually able to turn the TV on and off. 🙂
I would love to get this I think this would make a great gift for my mom.
Would love to win this!
Would love this!
Ok, THAT is smart! There are literally 5 remotes in our family room. I’d love to be able to simplify all that confusion.
Our remote is 4 years old and falling apart… I need to move to the future – and would love to win this:-)
Such a lovely remote. Want!
this sounds fantastical! This would be a welcome addition to our technology family!
i would so love to win this. i’m always going on a search and rescue mission for all the remotes. please enter me.
Ooh, I want to check this out!
You have all three systems on there, wii, ps3 and xbox. wowza! Looks like a good remote, great review. Will now definitely look forward to Mondays a little bit (they ARE still Mondays)
Awesome contest! I want one!! PLEEEEEASE!
I would love to win this as our 880 has just gone kaput!
Thanks,
Lea
Consider this an entry. I wonder if tech4daddies is giving one away too. 😉
I love this remote. I have been drooling over this for a few years now. Good Luck everyone.
We have 57 remotes in this house I swear lol. I always joke that we need a remote holster to keep track. Thanks for the chance!
Wow, this is very cool. I’ve been looking for a remote that will do it all, including operate my xbox 360 and my PS3. Looks like this is the one!
I had an older model Harmony remote to make my overly complicated TV setup easier, but alas having just finally set things up again in our new home I found the Harmony had been ruined by a pair of cheap AA batteries springing a leak inside it in the months we didn’t use it! I’ve got my fingers crossed, my wife is none too happy with juggling remotes for the TV, Receiver, DVD player, and Tivo!
We have an older version of the Harmony and would love to upgrade 🙂
Fancy Smancy, I like it!! Never heard of one you plug into the computer to set up.
I would love to win one. I used to have a harmony 720. Worked great till it stopped charging. Now it is so hard for my MIL when she is watching my girls to use the tv.
Geez, my hubby is going to hate that I found your blog. All the goodies I don’t win I’m going to want to buy. Guess I’ll need to budget in “techie fix” for our envelopes now!
This remote sounds fantastic and I would be grateful to win it!
This is the coolest remote I’ve ever seen. I must tell my husband about it immediately.
Count me in for the giveaway. Because of you, I have two Logitech remotes, one of which our old rescue dog chewed and scratched up.
Would love to stash the other remotes and have just one.
Nice remote, I like that it is rechargeable. I would love to when!!
The Harmony remotes are awesome.
I really hate it when I have to use a remote control, especially in the evening when I am watching a movie and it is dark, and I have five remotes on the table!
Seriously? It does all of that?! Wow!! I must have one! Great review!
I would soooo love to have this remote! Somebody *cough* my dad *cough* dropped ours in the kitchen (why he had it in the kitchen we may never know…) and now the screen is cracked!
I really want one but I dont have the money to buy one 🙁
Sweet Harmony! I’ve always wanted one of these.
Exactly what my family needs! We’ve currently got 3 remotes and it’s a bit mysterious for visitors to try and use them.
Wow that is a fancy remote, be sure not to misplace that one! lol.
I’d love a chance to win. Thank you!
this looks awesome
I think this remote would be great for our family! My 2 year old loves to play with and lose/hide our 4 remotes! And I hate looking for codes!
Would LOVE to win this!!!
used to have one and loved it! need a replacement!
would love one of these.
This remote looks awesome! Would love to win! 😀
I’d love to win this!!! It would really simplify things in my house!! 🙂 Thanks for the opportunity to win!
This would be AMAZING!!! How cool!
OMGosh. Never heard of this but I want one!
Wow! First I’ve ever heard of this!!! Would love to win, I’m sick of calling my husband at work to ask how to watch a movie. 🙂
This would make life very simple! Thank You.
This seems like a great remote. Id love to win it.
This would be an awesome remote,never had anything like it.
This sure would make things sooooo much easier in my house!
AWESOME! How easy for me to keep track of just ONE remote!
OMGosh!!! This would eliminate 4 remotes in my living room alone!! This would be phenomenal to have!! I really hope I win!!!
Thanks for this opportunity!