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Logitech Harmony 900: The last remote control you'll ever need
Radio Frequency (RF) technology is one of the best things a remote control can have. Since it doesn't need a line of sight to your equipment (like infrared does), an RF remote will let you control your system from anywhere in your home. RF is to infrared as DVD is to VHS — a clearly superior upgrade. Yet RF has been around a long time, and the tech hasn't trickled its way down through consumer electronics like you'd expect it would, pretty much staying confined to high-end gear and custom systems. For most brands, remotes are accessories, commodities, add-ons — not worthy of the latest and best.
Most brands other than Harmony, that is. The Harmony 900 remote control, which Logitech unveils today, is the only off-the-shelf remote control I've ever seen to include an infrared (IR) blaster system, which lets you use the through-walls magic of RF tech with your existing gear. Even better: The remote is as simple to set up as any other Harmony remote, since it uses the same Web-based setup system. All this, and a sleek touchscreen to boot.
I've been using the Harmony 900 for the past week and can honestly say it's the best remote control I've ever used, and that includes a couple of touchpanels. Read my hands-on impressions after the jump, and find out if it's really worth it's sticker-shocking $400 pricetag.
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$400? Really?
Four hundred bucks is a hell of a lot to ask for a remote control, but the same was once said about a certain phone. And you get a lot in the package: a sleek remote, plus not one, not two, not seventeen, but three IR blasters to control your equipment. These are those little oblong thingies (check 'em out in the gallery) that you put on the shelves with your gear. When they receive an RF command from the remote, they'll "blast" it out over IR, since that's the only language TVs, Blu-ray players, etc. typically speak.
Setting up the IR blasters was the only really annoying part, but only because my equipment rack is a little inconvenient to add anything to. It's super-simple on paper, though — just plug them in and plunk them onto the shelves with your gear. Once they're in place, they're pretty unobtrusive and work extremely well.
Setup and Torture Testing
I've used Harmony remotes in the past, but that was years ago. It was interesting to revisit the Web-based setup, which has been vastly streamlined and works better than I remember. The last time I used it, I needed to tweak for an hour or two to get all the buttons doing the proper things. This time it set up the 900 perfectly on the first try. Button assignments are logical, even on the touchscreen, though it's no iPhone — you sometimes have to tap it a couple of times for it to acknowledge a hit. But once it does, it's quick to respond; any delays are extremely minimal.
My torture test for any universal remote is my old Philips AV receiver. It has many annoying control quirks, chief among them the requirement that you can't just press On to turn it on, you need the press and hold On for a second or two. The Harmony 900 handled my fussy old receiver like supernanny putting a toddler to bed. Top marks.
Best Practices
Why is the Harmony 900 the best remote control I've ever used? The lack of intimidation. The 900 looks like what you'd expect a remote control to look like, which does wonders when someone else, like my wife, needs to use it. After picking it up and turning on our system for the first time, a big smile appeared on her face — no other remote had set up everything so well before. Would she have said the same thing about a big touchpanel, with stock quotes and sports scores streaming across the screen? Doubtful.
And that demonstrates exactly who this remote is for. Sure, there's more sophisticated stuff out there, and if you're doing a whole-house system, this isn't the remote for you. But for anyone with a moderately complex home theater who's ever wished they could turn up the volume while in the kitchen, the Harmony 900 gives you everything you need in one package. And did I mention it works?
Via Logitech
By Peter at 5:14 AM ON 08/11/09
isn't that the Harmony One with a couple of RF receivers
By LuuDee at 5:28 AM ON 08/11/09
I have the Logitech Harmony One remote, and can not recommend
it. The setup is a nightmare. Once you have finally managed to
set it up, you have to fight with the small buttons, that after
a while need to be pushed very hard to register.
I have retired that remore to my bedroom now, and got a philips
pronto (tsu9400) instead. It's scriptable, much easier to setup
(but still a difficult task). Biggest thing for me is that the
philips is MUCH easier to use. The layout of controls is in my
opening much nicer, and the fully customizable touch screen is
awesome. It is however more expensive.
By Amnesiac at 6:35 AM ON 08/11/09
Like LuuDee I have both Pronto (which has had built-in RF for years) and Harmony...
Harmony device is OK is but the software (sadly like every Logitech product I've owned) stinks and especially in comparison to the Pronto. Plus it requires you to have a web connection to work (which I can only assume is a convenience for their marketing dep't not you). It doesn't learn IR commands properly etc etc.
The Harmony is barely acceptable if you have simple needs and un-complex set-ups, but even then I have it running just a TV and cable box in the bedroom and despite the database "knowing" both devices I needed to have learned commands and customise the buttons around - which is hard work using their software.
Its a shame as the hardware seems great, its just a shame its humbled by Logitechs shambolic software.
By Ziggytek at 8:53 AM ON 08/11/09
I've seriously considering getting a Logitech remote, so this review might help push me to get it. The thing that's always scared me was the price, paying so much for just a remote. I understand the argument that it's a wonderful remote, and a lot of phones are in the expensive range but a phone has much more value than a TV remote control. http://ziggytek.com/
By brucev at 10:19 AM ON 08/11/09
I have to disagree with the Harmony naysayers. I've had a Harmony 670 and a Harmony One and really like them.
Setup is easy. Yes, sometimes there are too many steps to go through, but it's very instructive and usually pretty quick. I really like the IR learn feature that the Harmonys have, too.
The only complaint I have is durability. Get an extended warranty from a retailer such as BestBuy, just in case.
By Simple Tech Guru at 11:20 AM ON 08/11/09
Hands down the Harmony One has been the best remote for any neophyte I have ever recommended it to. It looks like they have added the RF to it. W00T! W00T!
Great post Peter. Simple for people to understand. Thanks for letting us in on it.
By Rainner at 3:44 PM ON 08/11/09
I just use my pocket PC. browse the web and send IMs while flipping channels. =)
By A-Bomb at 5:47 PM ON 08/11/09
for $400 I would buy a child and train him to push the buttons on the units.
By Token at 7:04 PM ON 08/11/09
To correct the author. This is not the first remote to include IR blasters. Harmony released a remote several years ago which also included IR blasters in the box. This is really nothing knew, just a new version of their remote.
Also, RF isn't all it's cracked up to be. There is a bit of a delay when using it. For example, when fast forwarding those pesky commercials in one of my shows I DVR'd there is a delay from the time I hit fast forward to when it begins. The worst part is I hit play when the commercial is done and I'm already 10 seconds into the show again by the time it stops fast forwarding. This is true with any other button I hit. While the RF feature is nice, I'll stick to IR for now.
By MLSCHO at 9:16 AM ON 08/12/09
The Harmony 890 Remote came equipped with IR Blasters and RF Receiver. That remote hit the market around 4 years ago. Works terribly too.
By PeterPachal at 10:36 AM ON 08/12/09
I stand corrected on the 900 being the first remote with IR blasters, though I did say it was the first I personally had seen.
@Token: I agree that delays are bad, but I'm not sure if it's the RF that's the problem. The last Harmony I used, the 880, had the same delay problem that you describe, and that model was purely IR. And as I noted in the 900 review, the delays are surprisingly minimal.
I suspect the 880/890 design had some software/processor issues, which have been upgraded in the One/900 generation.
Thanks for visiting the site and joining the discussion!
Pete Pachal
By Jens80 at 9:34 PM ON 08/14/09
hahaha, can design be more ugly?, Logitech is number one plastic junk nightmare company. preferred brand for people without taste.
By Nunyafb at 9:48 PM ON 08/26/09
I own a Harmony 720 it's a great remote and until recently I didn't need a sleep function. So I went to the setup software to add this basic button. to my surprise no such function exists. This is as basic a function as you can have in a universal remote. I've seen posting for workarounds but they leave your remote out if synch. I've seen post extolling the NEW HARMONY 900 which has this function WOW $400 to add 1 function that should have been there already. Let me say I could build a single purpose robot that could physically push the power button for $400. If Logitech wants to charge everyone for this programming then do so I’ll pay $10 to get something I should already have but if that’s what it takes so be it.
In “Their” defense there is nothing on the packaging that’s says this function is available, then again there is nothing that says it not, this is because I as well as many of U expected the function to be there in the 1st place. I may buy a new remote and it may cost $400 but it won’t be a Logitech if they won’t stand up and make right what is clearly a wrong.
Normally I would recommend that if you feel as I do that this function should be there you should send them an email requesting politely that a firmware upgrade B made adding a sleep mode function to all their existing remotes that have internal timers (they all do). Include in the text that they clearly already have the programming code (from the HARMONY 900) and modifying it for the existing remotes would be very easy. Like I said NORMALLY that is what I would recommend except I can’t find anywhere what the customer support email address is. I even tried Googling to find it but no such luck I did find a toll free number for sales it is 800-231-7717 call them and again respectfully request the firmware change. If enough people call their toll free number (Call often) they may get the hint. I’m sure they will delete this message soon so please take action now.
By nexus7 at 10:48 PM ON 09/10/09
Up until now, a PS3 required it's own (RF) remote. If I upgrade this new one, will it integrete all of my IR home theatre setup and the PS3?
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nexus7:
Up until now, a PS3 required it's own (RF) remote. If I upgrade this new one, will it integrete all of my IR home ...More »