Logitech Harmony 628 Advanced Universal Remote (Blue/Silver) | List Price: $149.99
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Brand: Logitech
Binding: Electronics
Warranty: 1 year warranty
Features: - USB Plug n' Play enables programming by connecting Harmony Remote to computer with provided USB cable
- Sleek design is easy to hold and features intuitive layout and one-touch activity buttons
- Software compatible with PCs and Macs; includes 2 MB non-volatile flash memory
- Measures 8.1 x 2.3 x 1.3 inches (WxHxD); weighs 5.8 ounces
Good Remote [Posted on 2007-03-07]
This is a good remote. I didn't find the set-up too hard, although it was a little more involved than I expected. The macro functions are outstanding: one button turns on all the right gear.
The battery life is really the only con I see with this remote. I change the batteries every 2 or 3 months it seems, which isn't that big of a deal, just kind of a hassle.
Waste of Money [Posted on 2007-03-29]
Want a harmony remote? SKIP THIS ONE. Pay extra. All this one does is turn on your TV, DVD player, and audio device. Then you have to put this remote down and pick up your TV, DVD player, and audio device remotes to get to half of the things you want to get to. Sure, this remote could change the screen aspect, if I dug through the LCD menu for 5 or 6 screens. Then I could dig through the LCD menu for 5 or 6 more screens to play the things saved on my DVR. 5 or 6 more LCD screens later I could set my tuner to the DVD inputs. Half the time I hit "Watch DVD" one of the 3 devices didn't turn on, so I'd hit "Watch DVD" again, at which time the third device would turn on, but then my TV would turn off.
Assuming you do get everything turned on and get the movie playing, you can fast forward, rewind, pause, play and all that fun stuff.... except for skipping to the next chapter or going back to the previous chapter. This really is a cheap harmony remote, and it shows.
My '3' key also was really warm all the time and I went through batteries like crazy. 100% sure that my remote was defective though.
I have friends with harmony remotes, but they have the more expensive $200+ models which have all the extra buttons I wanted. If you're getting a remote, spend a few (hundred) extra $.
Excellent Universal Remote; good value for money [Posted on 2007-04-05]
I had it luckly. I bought this remote from Amazon about 10 months ago when it was on sale for $49. What a catch.
So far, the remote has worked very well. It's been able to control multiple devices from Pioneer, Onkyo, Motorola (Comcast), Philips, Sony (including an old mini system) and now my macbook, no less (for Front Row). Setting up the remote can be challenging for the average non techie user. However, I found it extremely easy and was also able to play around with some custom settings. The most useful feature is that if you use just this remote, it remembers the state of all the devices you are using. So if you initially choose to watch TV - using your TV, A/V Receiver & Digital Set top box, and then switch to watching a DVD movie - using your TV, A/V Receiver and DVD player - it knows that your TV and A/V Receiver are already on, and all it does is, switch of the digital set top box, start up the DVD player, and switch inputs on the 'on' devices, as specified by you during setup. During setup, you have options like what device is used to control the volume e.g. TV or A/V Receiver. I have the default activities setup - Watch Movie (DVD), Watch TV (comcast), Listen to Music (CD) and other custom ones including - FM Radio, Satellite Radio (from Comcast), iTunes over Airport Express & Front Row from the MacBook. For the Front Row setup, I had to tell the remote that the MacBook was actually a Mac Mini (no big deal, since the functions of the remote remain the same).
The main thing to know up front is that Logitech expects you to know the model number of every device that you plan to control using this remote. Once you choose the manufacturer of the device, it provides you an example of the what the model number might look like.
Also, you have to make sure that you can point the remote in the general direction of all devices in a given activity. Sometimes you might find that one or more devices did not switch on, or some command did not get executed. The remote has a Help feature which asks you some yes/no questions to troubleshoot the issue; that works fine. The more the number of devices and commands in an activity, the longer you have to point the remote at all the devices since the commands are sent in a sequence. For older devices you might have to slow down the commands, or increase the gap between commands - the remote allows you to do this.
Last but not least, a feature I have not yet used is the learning capabilities of this remote. Should you have a device that is not in Logitech's database, you can always teach the remote different functions using the device's original remote and a step by step walkthrough using the Logitech Harmony Software.
I'm thrilled with this remote and would recommend this to anyone.
Great remote, but mine had a memory error. Replaced with the 659. [Posted on 2007-04-06]
I spent 6 hours and 37 minutes on the phone (includeds hold time) with Logitech support to figure out the issues I was having with the remote. Finally at one point it would no longer update. They diagnosed it as a bad internal memory and I sent it back to Amazon.
I ended up buying the H659 and have been happy with it, although the extra couple buttons (compared to the 628) are useless for my setup, so I spent an extra $20 more for nothing. To be fair, the time with support mentioned above included helping me getting minor problems worked out with the 659.
I will say this about Logitech support. I called 4 times, once for something minor, and the folks in their Tier 1 support in Las Vegas ALWAYS transferred me to Tier 2 support in Toronto. Vegas knows little and was of no value. Toronto on the other hand has a very polite and very sharp support staff. Omar and Melissa in particular were fantastic. My only complaint is I waited 2, 26, 42, & 51 minutes on hold waiting for Tier 2 to answer. Actually, the 2 minute wait was nothing, but the wait time averaged 30 minutes on hold over my four calls.
I'm now using the H659 and I'm happy with it's performance. I suspect the 628 could have made me just as happy if I had stuck with it. I think the memory issue is isolated so I didn't kill the product with a poor rating.
Frustrating programming [Posted on 2007-06-02]
Be very careful with the initial programming of this device. If you need to change something later, you're SOL! It's now just sitting in a drawer...
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