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home theater remote control

ChuckBecker

ChuckBecker

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Joined
Oct 30, 2004
Location
On the gravy train
Moto(s)
FZ-07
Name
Chuck
Kind of long and boring, but thought I'd share in case anyone is ever in a similar situation....

We're in Virginia for a one year job so we're not making a "total move", just setting up an apartment here for the duration. But we're spoiled when it comes to tv, etc, so I set out to put together a cheap, simple home theater system. Little did I know...

Costco helped out with a Vizio 37" lcd tv ($800). The Philips DVD player with HDMI interface was easy ($80). Cox cable provided the combo cable box + pvr (plus internet for $130/mo). Right around there it started getting complicated. The sound was definitely lacking, even for an apartment.

So poking around the back of the tv, I found it has "line audio" outputs. Ahhha! Just got a set of Logitech Z-2300 THX-certifed 2.1 pc speakers ($100) and the sound was great. Only problem was, no remote volume control.

Well, my wife has an 60GB iPod, and Altec Lansing makes an iPod docking station with auxiliary in, headphone out, and a remote control, model m602 ($100). TV to the aux in, speakers from the headphone out, and it was all working. Now, the only problem was four (4) remote controls.

So yesterday I got a Logitech Harmony 550 programmable remote control and I have to say, it was money ($116) well spent. The remote plugs into Mac or PC via a USB cable, all programming is online and on screen. Best Buy offered to send someone out to program it for another $100, but a couple hours of my time and it's working perfectly.

This turned out being not as cheap, nor as simple, as I thought it would be, but the result has been very good considering the money spent. Harmony 550 remote control highly recommended. I know there are better remotes, but not being ready to spend > $200, I'm very happy with the result.
 
Wow, looks really cool! I'm so tired of "learning remotes," but then again I've not remote shopped for 6 years. Glad to know there are new products coming out!
 
paroxysm said:
Wow, looks really cool! I'm so tired of "learning remotes," but then again I've not remote shopped for 6 years. Glad to know there are new products coming out!
Click to expand...

Yah, you're online while doing the setup. Logitech's database already knew about all the above equipment, so never had to resort to "learn". The learn function is there if you need it, but my experience is that you probably won't.

Biggest hurdle for me was getting to understand the concept of "activities" (watch tv, record video, etc). Very powerful, allows you to configure your whole system (I'm sure it's been done before, but this was my first experience).
 
Yeah, I use the Pronto remote with the touch screen and graphical soft buttons. The macro feature makes it easy to turn on all of my components with one button. Well over $300 but worth every penny to me.
 
I've got a Harmony 880 (amazon has them on sale for around $120 every so often) and have been really happy with it...i figured spending money on something like this would be necessary as the whole media convergence thing comes together...
 
I've got an older Harmony 520 that I love!!! Well worth the $$$ for any of the Harmony remotes.
 
I used to have a pronto touch screen, now I have had a Harmony 880 for about a year and love it.
 
I've had the 880 for almost a year now and it works great. I do need to replace the battery though, it goes to the red indicator within a week now instead of every 2 weeks.
 
ChuckBecker said:
That's quite a price considering I just paid $116 for the 550. I don't know what all the 880 does that the 550 doesn't, but at this point I'm getting everything I need for our simple system from the 550.
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The only obvious difference to me is the color lcd screen, the novelty of which kinda wears off quick...I think the pictures also make it slightly more gf-friendly...and it's cool when it turns on as you pick it up...
 
Good write up. I have been looking to get a universal. I am sick of having to play with 4 separate remotes.
 
The 880 is a good one to get, our various friend-babysitters have no problem using it. There isn't much of a gain with the 890 though, it's RF-based instead of IR. Nearly worthless if you have all of your equipment in plain view vs. behind cabinet doors. That plus our mini-me would probably try to eat all of the 890 IR blasters, lol.
 
a pic

cardinal03 said:
Pics of setup! Cool write-up.
Click to expand...

Here it is (not sure where the attached picture will show up, or how it will look):

Top to bottom: Vizio VX37L ($800 at costco), Logitech Z-2300 THX certified 2.1 speakers ($100), iBook on top of Philips DVD player ($80), Altec Lansing iPod dock ($100) on top of Motorola cable box/pvr + network crap. Subwoofer is behind (fake potted palm on top ;) Logitech Harmony 550 on the coffee table in the foreground.

If I can make this remote work, anyone can.
 

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Chuck that looks like a badass little setup u got there! i used to be in the home theater industry, so i feel pretty at home in this topic. Im a big logitech whore, so im glad to see their products in ur home! just throwing it out there, for someone who's looking for another universal remote option. a company called, u guessed it, " universal remote control ". they specialize in mostly in RF technology, which means you can hide your components behind things that normal remotes cant signal to.
 
Thanks, for a smaller living room, it is definitely sufficient! (as in, the bass is rock solid and we can't come near maxing out the volume).
 
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