All IN One Remote

FRENCH SKY · 06-10-2009, 17:35

I am looking for an all in one remote to operate Sky hd, LG Blueray , TV and Onkyo amp. Anybody have a idea which is the best? Thanks

nobby1963 · 06-10-2009, 17:45

Hi,
I am sure that it is a case of `horses for courses` here and you will get a lot of ideas.

From my own experience of 2 types - all for one & Harmony - there is a clear winner Harmony. My current model the 555 is excellent. If you know about the Harmony remotes you will know that by pressing one button you can turn on your tv & select the correct source, turn on your Sky box and in my case turn on my home cinema system & again to the correct input source.

The Harmony will do all that the origional remote will do and the set up I describe above ( activity settings ) can be set up for all your remote controlled devices.

Good Luck with your choice.

FRENCH SKY · 06-10-2009, 18:22

Thanks Nobby for your speedy input,

martysport · 06-10-2009, 19:15

Where in France are you?
I got an all in one jobby I don't use (has a touch type screen)

FRENCH SKY · 06-10-2009, 20:06

In The Dordogne near Perigueux dept. 24

Pugwash69 · 06-10-2009, 21:01

I bought a Philips Pronto about 8 years ago. I stayed on a shelf for 4 years before I sold it virtually ununsed. Very capable but impossible to used.

I then bought a Harmony 885 and used it for 4 years. It's a dream to set up with any hardware I've owned. It easily replace 6 previous device remotes and is simple to use.
I only replaced it last month with a Harmony One as the volume buttons had become insensitive on the 885 from so much use.

Chris Frost · 06-10-2009, 21:44

I've tried Harmony's and found them to be too limiting. I think it was an 895 - it had an RF receiver so it could work with bits of gear that were out of line of sight.

On a positive note I can see how many people might be impressed by the abilities. It does simple stuff well and is easy to set up.

I couldn't get on with the rather restrictive programming and the small screens. Pronto's are more complicated to program but ultimately far more flexible. I use Pronto's and Nevo's in all my installs, but they are systems where budget is less of an issue and convenience is more of a priority.

What Harmony's have on their side is price. They're very cheap for what they do. Try one either new or second-hand and see how you get on. There's always a good trade in s/h Harmony's on AV Forums

Pugwash69 · 06-10-2009, 21:51

I think my gripe with the Pronto was that after buying it, I wanted more hard buttons. The Harmony has lots of hard buttons and remaps them intelligently. It was an old Pronto so maybe they have improved?

Chris Frost · 06-10-2009, 22:59

The major update to the early Prontos added a cursor keypad, home and function keys, volume +/- etc etc - so I think 19 fully assignable hard keys....and a bigger touch screen area too. It was also the first time that a consumer remote had a colour screen option, and RF as well. Harmony was still a glint in its designers eye

FRENCH SKY · 07-10-2009, 07:38

Thanks to every one for thier comments. Does this mean that the Harmony is IR as opposed to RF ?

Pugwash69 · 07-10-2009, 09:00

Yes, although some more expensive Harmony packages include a repeater. I also bought a PS3 adapter for mine to use bluetooth.

If you want to see if a Harmony would suit you, you can download their software and set it all up for your devices before you buy.

06-10-2009, 17:35	#1
FRENCH SKY Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 266	All IN One Remote I am looking for an all in one remote to operate Sky hd, LG Blueray , TV and Onkyo amp. Anybody have a idea which is the best? Thanks

06-10-2009, 17:45	#2
nobby1963 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 270	Hi, I am sure that it is a case of `horses for courses` here and you will get a lot of ideas. From my own experience of 2 types - all for one & Harmony - there is a clear winner Harmony. My current model the 555 is excellent. If you know about the Harmony remotes you will know that by pressing one button you can turn on your tv & select the correct source, turn on your Sky box and in my case turn on my home cinema system & again to the correct input source. The Harmony will do all that the origional remote will do and the set up I describe above ( activity settings ) can be set up for all your remote controlled devices. Good Luck with your choice.

06-10-2009, 18:22	#3
FRENCH SKY Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 266	Thanks Nobby for your speedy input,

06-10-2009, 19:15	#4
martysport Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Exciled in France Posts: 363	Where in France are you? I got an all in one jobby I don't use (has a touch type screen)

06-10-2009, 20:06	#5
FRENCH SKY Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 266	In The Dordogne near Perigueux dept. 24

06-10-2009, 21:01	#6
Pugwash69 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The Sticks Posts: 3,720	I bought a Philips Pronto about 8 years ago. I stayed on a shelf for 4 years before I sold it virtually ununsed. Very capable but impossible to used. I then bought a Harmony 885 and used it for 4 years. It's a dream to set up with any hardware I've owned. It easily replace 6 previous device remotes and is simple to use. I only replaced it last month with a Harmony One as the volume buttons had become insensitive on the 885 from so much use.

06-10-2009, 21:44	#7
Chris Frost Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Cheshire Posts: 6,462	I've tried Harmony's and found them to be too limiting. I think it was an 895 - it had an RF receiver so it could work with bits of gear that were out of line of sight. On a positive note I can see how many people might be impressed by the abilities. It does simple stuff well and is easy to set up. I couldn't get on with the rather restrictive programming and the small screens. Pronto's are more complicated to program but ultimately far more flexible. I use Pronto's and Nevo's in all my installs, but they are systems where budget is less of an issue and convenience is more of a priority. What Harmony's have on their side is price. They're very cheap for what they do. Try one either new or second-hand and see how you get on. There's always a good trade in s/h Harmony's on AV Forums

06-10-2009, 21:51	#8
Pugwash69 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The Sticks Posts: 3,720	I think my gripe with the Pronto was that after buying it, I wanted more hard buttons. The Harmony has lots of hard buttons and remaps them intelligently. It was an old Pronto so maybe they have improved?

06-10-2009, 22:59	#9
Chris Frost Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Cheshire Posts: 6,462	The major update to the early Prontos added a cursor keypad, home and function keys, volume +/- etc etc - so I think 19 fully assignable hard keys....and a bigger touch screen area too. It was also the first time that a consumer remote had a colour screen option, and RF as well. Harmony was still a glint in its designers eye

07-10-2009, 07:38	#10
FRENCH SKY Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 266	Thanks to every one for thier comments. Does this mean that the Harmony is IR as opposed to RF ?

07-10-2009, 09:00	#11
Pugwash69 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The Sticks Posts: 3,720	Yes, although some more expensive Harmony packages include a repeater. I also bought a PS3 adapter for mine to use bluetooth. If you want to see if a Harmony would suit you, you can download their software and set it all up for your devices before you buy.

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All IN One Remote