I recently added to my home theatre setup and ended up with 6 remotes on my coffee table. Started poking around and came across Harmony Remotes. I bought an SST-659. (Is that a Cummins # or what!) This thing is the cat's butt. You push one button to watch TV, listen to music, watch a tape, record a program from your satelite dish, etc. It turns on/off and sets up all your equipment for what you want to do. It's customizable 6 ways to Sunday. It will control every function of every piece of equipment you have. I got rid of all 6 remotes. Your profile with all your equipment is stored on their website. They have easy to use set-up wizards. They have a huge database with virtually every manufacturer in it. It comes with a USB cable and you just download your setup once you're happy with it. Or change it if you want to add something else. They aren't cheap, I paid $130US off of Ebay. Still saved myself about $100 from the FutureShop price. Check them out at www.harmonyremote.com . This is definately the Cummins of the remote control world. ;D

 

I read the review of it when they debuted production in Electronics House Magazine. It's basically a 2mb PDA with an infared extender to control amps, tuners and such. Very nice lil toy that will help reduce the remote control breeding.

 

Sounds nice. And if the batteries (I assume it has these and is not solar powered) die you don't have to reprogram it. One thing I hate is having so many remotes. Hafta look into that.

 

Mack daddy of remotes,,,,you can write macros on this to control lighting,,hit one button and it will turn on your tv, amplifier, dvd, dim the lights and hit play on the dvd player. ;D

 

[quote author=Gonzo link=board=10;threadid=22360;start=0#msg209100 date=1068690926]


Mack daddy of remotes,,,,you can write macros on this to control lighting,,hit one button and it will turn on your tv, amplifier, dvd, dim the lights and hit play on the dvd player. ;D
[/quote]

Yeah but can you hit fast forward on the wifey when you are trying to go somewhere? ;D

 

[quote author=Lary Ellis (Top) link=board=10;threadid=22360;start=0#msg209112 date=1068692809]
[quote author=Gonzo link=board=10;threadid=22360;start=0#msg209100 date=1068690926]

Yeah but can you hit fast forward on the wifey when you are trying to go somewhere? ;D
[/quote]


Now here is a man who wants to live dangerously! [/quote]

 

[quote author=Lary Ellis (Top) link=board=10;threadid=22360;start=0#msg209112 date=1068692809]

Yeah but can you hit fast forward on the wifey when you are trying to go somewhere? ;D
[/quote]

Turkey Pot Pie..........,,I love that commercial.

 

[quote author=spots link=board=10;threadid=22360;start=0#msg209093 date=1068689995]
Sounds nice. And if the batteries (I assume it has these and is not solar powered) die you don't have to reprogram it. One thing I hate is having so many remotes. Hafta look into that.
[/quote]
I haven't killed the batteries yet. They're supposed to last about 5 months. If it craps out, all you have to do is log on and hit the "Update Remote" button and let it do it's thing.

One complaint I had about it was it was a little slow running through the guide on my dish. I was able to set the remote's reaction time down on the sat receiver and my amp and it works like a hotdam now.

Another neat feature is if you hit the "Watch TV" (or anything else) button and not everything starts up as it's supposed to, you hit the help button and it cycles through all your equipment and asks you if it's turned on or off. You answer yes or no and it sends commands according to your answers until everything is turned on as it should be.

About the best thing I've done with it is set it to tape off of the sat. It turns on the sat and VCR, sets the VCR to line in, turns the amp to Sat and executes the record function on the VCR. Truly one-touch-recording. The wife loves it. And we all know, if Mama's happy, everybody's happy!

 

then again, there is nothing better than looking like you know what your doing with 6 remotes on the couch to the left {since they are free :wink: LOL } in front of the family...


BW

 

[quote author=Gonzo link=board=10;threadid=22360;start=0#msg209100 date=1068690926]


Mack daddy of remotes,,,,you can write macros on this to control lighting,,hit one button and it will turn on your tv, amplifier, dvd, dim the lights and hit play on the dvd player. ;D
[/quote]

Where do you get this remote and how much!?!?!?!

 

That remote kicks some butt. I have the sony version that came out a few years ago. It dosent look as cool though.
Chris

 

[quote author=patriot pearl blue link=board=10;threadid=22360;start=0#msg209152 date=1068701121]
then again, there is nothing better than looking like you know what your doing with 6 remotes on the couch to the left {since they are free :wink: LOL } in front of the family...


BW
[/quote]


What brand of remote is that Gonzo? Looks pretty cool.

Here's a pic of the Harmony model I bought. They have a more expensive model as well. The LCD screen is where you set up your commands for controlling sound and picture and each individual device. The other buttons perform whatever you want them to for the activity you're doing. It will display your TV listings if you input your provider and location in your profile on the website. I'm starting to sound obsessed here, but this thing just works like it should.

 

If you've got a few $$$$ to play with, here's the one to get.

http://www.crestron.com/products/sho...=11&id=207

 

I've had this remote for aboout 8 months, and it's worked great. It has a large touch screen thats backlit, and function learning capability to customize your remote. It controlls everything from my A/V equipment, to room lighting. It is a little pricey, ($199) but I couldn't be happier with it.

Cat Cracker.

 

[quote author=Commatoze link=board=10;threadid=22360;start=0#msg209181 date=1068726242]
If you've got a few $$$$ to play with, here's the one to get.

http://www.crestron.com/products/sho...=11&id=207


[/quote]

If it ever gets to the point that I am THAT much of a couch potato then you have permission to shoot me. Would be cool for bragging rights tho... ;D