Harmony Ultimate One Remote

[ComeFiesta]

Thinking about getting this for my dad for Christmas. My parents have a hundred remotes sitting on their coffee table with masking tape on them and labels like "DVD" "Volume" etc. Seems like a universal remote is the ticket. This one is a couple of years old so I'm worried about the quality of the touch screen.

Arak, tjc, thoughts? Can relatively old people who usually use reading glasses figure this one out?

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Harm...qid=1448318975&sr=1-8&keywords=harmony+remote

 

[BCHoopster]

Years ago I bought the Harmony One remote. I had universal remotes before, but my inlaws would always screw up the TV. Since then, having a button that says "Watch TV" or "Play DVD" seems to work out for them. I'd suggest you do the setup, and just let them use it once it has been configured.

 

[HereComeTheCats]

I find that universal remotes that run specific task macros (Watch TV, Play DVD) inevitably get screwed up once the device power cycles or TV/Receiver inputs get out of sync.

Is that an issue with the Harmony One?

 

[NovaHoops2002]

I find that universal remotes that run specific task macros (Watch TV, Play DVD) inevitably get screwed up once the device power cycles or TV/Receiver inputs get out of sync.

Is that an issue with the Harmony One?

Not really. There is a help button that you can press (if you don't know what you are doing) and it will basically get everything back to normal for you.

 

[NovaHoops2002]

Thinking about getting this for my dad for Christmas. My parents have a hundred remotes sitting on their coffee table with masking tape on them and labels like "DVD" "Volume" etc. Seems like a universal remote is the ticket. This one is a couple of years old so I'm worried about the quality of the touch screen.

Arak, tjc, thoughts? Can relatively old people who usually use reading glasses figure this one out?

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Harm...qid=1448318975&sr=1-8&keywords=harmony+remote

I'd highly recommend. It's very easy to use - might be harder to set up for them, but it is easy for anyone who is tech savvy.

 

[BCHoopster]

I find that universal remotes that run specific task macros (Watch TV, Play DVD) inevitably get screwed up once the device power cycles or TV/Receiver inputs get out of sync.

Is that an issue with the Harmony One?

Sure, my kids will aim the remote and hit a button, but then will put it down before it finishes cycling. Personally, I can fix whatever the problem is simply by changing device. But the cure-all is to simply hit that Power Off button and start again. That's the brainless way of doing it, but it's effective.

 

[ComeFiesta]

Sure, my kids will aim the remote and hit a button, but then will put it down before it finishes cycling. Personally, I can fix whatever the problem is simply by changing device. But the cure-all is to simply hit that Power Off button and start again. That's the brainless way of doing it, but it's effective.

My parents do this now with the cable remote that is partially programmed to also control the receiver. They think that just hitting the "all on" button will turn everything on. I can't tell you the number of times I have told them you have to wait a second for it to send signals to both components. And also, don't use that button if the cable box is already on, since it will just turn it off. In one ear and out the other.

 

[kmill14]

I bought one for my parents and they let the battery run out and went back to their 5 remotes. Creatures of habit like all of us.

 

[HereComeTheCats]

Sure, my kids will aim the remote and hit a button, but then will put it down before it finishes cycling. Personally, I can fix whatever the problem is simply by changing device. But the cure-all is to simply hit that Power Off button and start again. That's the brainless way of doing it, but it's effective.

Yep - that's exactly what happens with my parents.

 

[tjc3844]

Thinking about getting this for my dad for Christmas. My parents have a hundred remotes sitting on their coffee table with masking tape on them and labels like "DVD" "Volume" etc. Seems like a universal remote is the ticket. This one is a couple of years old so I'm worried about the quality of the touch screen.

Arak, tjc, thoughts? Can relatively old people who usually use reading glasses figure this one out?

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Harm...qid=1448318975&sr=1-8&keywords=harmony+remote

As an old person who uses reading glasses and has a Harmony remote, I'd say it would be a great gift for your parents, CF. If you program it for them, I'd have at least one of them sit with you when you do it so they have some idea how it works.