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Logitech Harmony 670 Universal Remote | List Price: $149.99
Discount Price: $99.99
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Brand: Logitech
Binding: Electronics
Warranty: 1 year warranty
Features: - 1. Easy to set up - Just connect your Harmony remote to your computer and the Web wizard walks you step-by-step through a simple set up. Enter the model numbers of your components, then answer a few easy questions about how you Watch TV or Watch a DVD. Harmony lets you control even the most complex system without the hassle of programming complicated macros.
- 2. Easy to use - The Harmony Remote is the only remote with Smart State Technology. Simply press an Activity button, such as Watch TV or Listen to Music, and your Harmony Remote automatically sets up each of the devices required for that activity.
- 3. Easy to get help - With the Harmony remote, you don't have to know anything about your entertainment system to operate it. No sound? No picture? No problem! There's even a handy HELP button to guide you through simple troubleshooting and get you back in control.
- 4. Never out of date - The Harmony device database includes 5,000+ manufacturers and 175,000+ devices, everything from HDTVs to DVRs, VCRs to lighting controls. It's constantly updated with new components and fine-tuned settings, so your remote will never be out-of-date.
- Backlit keys - Easy to see; easy to use. No more fumbling for the correct button to play, pause, mute or change aspect ratios
Great Remote!! [Posted on 2008-04-02]
Well, first off, let me say that I have the model 620, which is the same as the 670, only in black (and apparently available only at Target, where I bought mine last Christmas). I am basing my review off the 620, which is identical to the 670 except for the color.
PROS:
1. Separate discrete buttons - easy to find!
2. Simple LCD screen - no pricey color LCD icons (a la 880)
3. Replaceable AAA batteries, but will maintain settings when changing
4. Great infrared range
5. Looks sexy!
CONS:
1. Small directional ring at center
2. Center range of buttons (directional/channel/volume) located a bit low on the remote, slightly less ergonomical
The CONS were in comparison mostly to the model 688, which I have used over the last two years.
I feel the 620/670 is one of the best remotes I have ever used. It programs easily, although that's a relative term. People who know what they're doing will tinker with it endlessly to their heart's content. It's VERY flexible in how it allows you to set up your system the way you want.
To elaborate on the PROS: the LCD display is simple and straightforward. You don't need a fancy underpixelated color display. And replaceable AAA batteries are a godsend, compared to proprietary rechargeable batteries which will run down and can be quite $$$. Also this remote has a wide infrared range; you can point it just about anywhere, and it'll work.
My entire family uses this remote. I recommend this remote over the more expensive fancy Logitech units, which I think are quirky, not as ergonomic and problematic to use, based on reviews of friends who bought them.
Hard to set up, but eventually, there will be joy in Mudville [Posted on 2008-04-08]
If you are lucky, and that's a big "if," you might have all your remotely controllable appliances working in short order. The software ambitiously attempts to guide you via wizards to set up every possible device for every possible activity. And if the software that runs on your PC fails to get everything right, the "Help" on the remote tries to correct any errors.
If you manage to get everything working via those two simple activities, you will be one happy camper. But if the simple process fails, you will find that the software is much less user friendly in troubleshooting mode. Here are a few of my biggest complaints.
1. Power on/off problems: I ran into this problem with both my television and with my AC/Heating unit. If the software erroneously thinks your device needs to send a "Power Toggle" command rather than separate "Power on" and "Power off" commands, it's hard to convince the remote to use the "Power on" and "Power off" commands since there is no easy way to delete or disable an extraneous command from the list of commands held in the database for that device. Even more frustrating is trying to use the on-remote "Help" button to correct these errors. When it works, life is good, but when it fails, it goes into an infinite loop of asking "Is the Device On?" then "Now is the Device On?". Well, "infinite" is *probably* an exaggeration (at least, I hope so), but I attempted at least two dozen cycles of that game before giving up. There's no way of knowing whether the remote is trying the same failing command over and over, or whether it is trying new commands every time, but from a user friendliness perspective, I would say the "Help" software should give up after about six failed attempts.
2. It was completely non-obvious which device type I should select to program my iPod docking station. It seems to me that this is one of the most common devices likely to be controlled remotely, yet there is no device type that includes "MP3 Player," "iPod," or "Docking Station" in its name. Eventually, I stumbled across the correct device type, but it should not have been so difficult.
3. When you enter your device brand and model number, it's completely unknown whether or not your device type was matched in the database. Sometime during the rest of the setup, you'll realize the answer is "no" when the software says, "I found a similar device: Acme 123. Is this OK to use?". Whether it helps or hurts to say "yes" for a device type you don't recognize is not clear. If you say "yes," the remote may be programmed to send some commands that are not actually available for your device, and as I mentioned in the "Power on/off" section, having an extra "Power Toggle" command might mean lots of troubleshooting. If you say "no," on the other hand," you'll have to manually "teach" the Harmony 670 every single command by shooting commands at it with the device's original remote.
These were the big hitters that caused me to spend half a day getting my TV, DVD, VCR, CD Player, iPod dock, Receiver, and AC/Heating unit all playing well together. Despite all the initial frustration, however, it truly is nice to have all the necessary devices power themselves on to the correct settings for the various audio-visual activities, replacing the five remotes that used to be required for those same activities. Since I'll hopefully be amortizing that initial pain over many days of happy button pushing, I'll still give this item a 4-star rating.
Perfect for those who don't want a bunch of remotes [Posted on 2008-04-13]
If you are just a little technically inclined and like to tinker, you will have no problems with this remote. I wouldn't ask my parents to set one up, but the software is easy enough that they probably could anyway.
The harmony allows me to go from 4 remotes to 1, and I love being able to press one button to fire up everything and set my favorite channel, or another button to shut everything down. There is so much flexibility that you can set whatever sequences and delays you need to have it work with your equipment.
My only complaint (and it is minor, not enough to take away a star in my rating) is that for the "other activities" they only display 2 at a time on the LCD screen and I can't change what order they come up in. So I have to press NEXT to get to one of my most common "other activities" instead of it being on the first page of choices. Logitech seems pretty responsive to customers so it won't surprise me if they add this capability soon.
I've had this remote for just over a year, and if I lost it today I'd go get a replacement immediately.
No more calls from the wife! [Posted on 2008-05-02]
After years of my wife complaining about having to use 3 or 4 remotes to watch a movie or listen to the stereo, I finally took the plunge and bought the Harmony 670. Now, no more calls asking me why there's a blue screen of death or how to change the inputs. This universal remote works like a charm. I am computer proficient, but not a tech geek and I was still able to program it myself in about half an hour. After initial programming, I tested it and there were a couple of glitches (functions that didn't work quite right) -- I hooked it up to the computer again and followed the prompts. Everything works fine. One of the best features is the "help" button. If a component does not turn on when it's supposed to, pressing "help" causes the remote to start asking questions and going through each component until the problem is solved. We love this remote and I would buy it again.
Not so good. [Posted on 2008-05-11]
The Harmony 670 is not as well designed as the other remotes in the Harmony family. We had the 550, but the screen broke, and we "upgraded" to this model. I find that the operation is clunky. The button layout is TERRIBLE. They are too small, and all bunched around the select buttons. I can't use the remote without turing on the glow feature, which is another small button in the middle of the remote, as I could with the 550. And, it does not have A or B buttons on the actual remote (must get them on the LCD screen), which I use frequently with my Cox DVR. The 550 has larger buttons, which are grouped in a logical way, though it may not look as sleek as the 670.
The only positives I can think of are the color coded activity buttons on top, which are nice. It does control all of our AV components, though selecting specific options on each component is a pain - there is a next button on the devices page, but no back button, as on the 550.
Bottom Line: Unless you need your activity buttons to be color coded, go for the Harmony 550, and save a few bucks. It has a better layout, and it has the same features. I haven't tried the 880/890, but it looks like a better key layout (though more $$$). I expected more from Logitech, because their electronics seem to be of high quality and design.
PS: The programming of the remotes appears to be the same software for all of the Logitech remotes - correct me if I'm wrong. It's complicated, so get a kid to do it.
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