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Reinstalled the firmware several times with no improvement. It was an okay remote while it lasted. Now it in the waste can.Besides that problem, the screen is really small and the button layout is kinda strange even compared to the other Logitech remote I own. I had it for about a 1-1/2 years where it was lightly used on a bedroom TV/cablebox/DVD player setup. Started getting "Safe Mode" error messages on it that just kept coming back - then it took several tries to turn my TV on. Shop around for something that lasts and is easier to use then this one. You won't be sorry.
R/Y/B/G) that are now popular with Blu-Ray players4) May find you don't have enough buttons to replace certain remotes5) PriceLogitech Harmony is a tough product to review. In my case, I need this done or the entire setup is impossible so I'm forced to contact customer service every time I make a change to my system. I still don't know whether this was a recent addition to the Harmony software or I am just stupid (probably the latter). After a year of usage, I have also noticed the most used buttons, the silver side buttons next to the LCD Display and the (TV) Guide button, are getting difficult to register. For instance, my TV seems to take forever to turn on before it starts accepting commands. In spite of owning this remote for a year, I have only recently discovered the setting which allows the remote to pause after powerup. Pros:1) You really can get all your electronics set by pushing a single buttonCons:1) Steep learning curve for new users (read the manual)2) Most used buttons (metal ones on side) started having trouble responding after a year3) No color buttons (i.e. Unfortunately, a slim remote like this probably needs a single unibody design instead of two halves being put together in order to keep this problem from happening.
Otherwise, I'll need to buy a new remote. It's a very time consuming and frustrating process and frankly I dread the process of setting up a new component because of this.Regarding this particular remote, I liked the thin shape and LCD display but found it creaks a lot as if the pieces weren't solid. Unless I catch this with a really fantastic sale, I will most likely choose one of the larger models, hoping the buttons don't wear out so quickly.Once you figure out how to think like a programmer and work around the idiosyncrasies of your various equipment you will find it useful but the price vs. Plus, even the support staff wasn't knowledgeable enough to help me with this issue; I finally discovered the answer myself (or, again, the software was recently updated). It does what it's supposed to do but there is a steep learning curve and you'll find some quirks that make it difficult to program without some assistance initially. I end up having to mash these a few times before the remote starts working.
In any case, I spent the past year having to redo the settings each time I turned the TV on because the remote used to blaze through the different commands too quickly. What is most frustrating about the software is for some stupid reason, the software will not let you remove some control settings. I may need to take it apart and hope I can clean it out so it works again. longevity of this particular model makes it tough to recommend.
Some universal remotes may be appealing, but can't easily control every component in your home theater system without changing modes or pressing extra buttons. control the VCR or DVD player (or however you set up your components that will be running simultaneously. The remote also has a built in "Help" feature. Using the computer software and USB connection, setup is very easy to control 4 separate devices all at once, or even more if needed (just program more).Just enter the model numbers of your TV, cable box, VCR or DVD player, and home theater system, then answer some questions that the computer program asks about which device changes the channel, etc. Paying a little more for this remote is definitely worth it, since you'd just be wasting your money buying a cheaper universal remote for a more complicated home theater setup. There is no need to enter codes and guess which code will make the product work. We have 4 separate remotes to control everything, but this one remote removes the need to have any of them. If you don't like how the buttons are automatically programmed, you can reprogram individual buttons for specific functions, or buttons that are unused may be assigned a function manually.
The online database of product codes are automatically programmed and all devices will work. Sometimes the first code doesn't work, but just follow the program and plug the remote into the computer again if one component doesn't work.After that, the remote's buttons are programmed in a way that would make sense to any user (channel changes the channel on the cable box, volume changes the volume on the TV, and stop, pause, play etc. If something's not working properly when you select "Watch TV" from the activities list, a short questionnaire asks if certain components are on ('Yes' or 'No') and turns them on if they aren't, and then you're good to go.All in all, this is a great remote. The remote can get confused if you use the original remotes to turn components on, then switch back to this universal remote, for example, it will turn components off when you want them on, but once you go to the "Help" menu, it fixes itself and works perfectly again.
It's just that the remote doesn't feel quite right or balanced in the hand, and generally, when you want to do something with it, you end up having to use both hands. A decent, functional remote that controls a fairly large number of devices (twelve). I'd like it better if you could just have the remote resting comfortably in one hand and be able to do what you need to do without shifting your position and using two hands, ect. It works well, but I took a point off for the lack ergonomics and the somewhat flimsy feel. The ergonomic issue is hard to explain. The 600 series of Harmony remotes (with the peanut shape) improved the ergonomics considerably, in my opinion. The ergonomics issue is a fairly minor gripe, though, especially given the shear number of devices this remote can control.
The user interface of the both the software you use on your computer as well as the Help feature on the remote are amazing. Finally an application that has a great user experience. We use the remote for our TV, cable box, surround-sound DVD system, Wii, and Apple TV.
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