jjbwljn2's Full Review: Logitech Harmony® 880 LCD Remote Control
Price:
I got my Harmony 880 at Best Buy in Feb. 2006 for $249 and it came with a $25 Main-in rebate. After researching on-line that was in-line with most retailers. I did not want to spend that much initially, but it is well worth the money to take the three other clunky remotes I was using (Samsung LCD TV, Bose 3.2.1 A/V Receiver & Toshiba Tivo DVR)and throw them in a drawer for emergency purposes only.
Set-up and Functionality:
This is where the timid will need to be patient. Others have knocked the web based set-up, but I applaud it. It is difficult enough to consider all of the possible set up options for all of the combinations of equipment, so to expect that to be handled on the remote itself or even on your PC locally is wishful thinking. A web based interface allows Harmony to provide constant updates without the need for the uses to constantly upgrade their software.
You load the Harmony 880 software on to your PC, plug in the remote via the supplied USB cable and viola!, you're connected to the remote. Now you go to the Harmony web based set up automatically. You enter the model number (not serial number, just model number) of the equipment you have and the website walks you through step-by-step the myriad of setup options. What you will have to know is how all of the inputs and outputs are setup on your equipment. I was luck in that I had just purchased the Bose 3.2.1 and the Samsung TV so I recalled easily what inputs I used for the various components. Generally you can also tell by what button or setting you need to set your current equipment at to get it to work (e.g. Setting an A/V receiver to "Aux" to play your TV through the receiver or pressing "Video1" on your receiver to watch a DVD, etc.).
Once you go through all of the set-up you disconnect the remote and go to the TV and try. I will tell you that I did not get my setup right the first time and had to come back to the web interface and tweak two settings, but it was very simple make the changes on screen and then "Update" the remote control programming. I also like that you can set a color scheme and add your own pictures to the remote as a "slide show" for when it is charging. Even after the web setup process is done, if there is an "Activity" that was not recommended (the interface recommends "Activites" and that is how the main screen on the remote is organized with icons for each; e.g. "Watch TV", "Watch DVD", "Listen to Radio", "Listen to CD", "Watch Tivo", etc.) you can set one up manually, which is not a difficult as it sounds.
Once I corrected everything I tested it again and it was flawless. I pushed "Watch DVD" and the Toshiba Tivo DVR shut itself off, the Bose 3.2.1 set itself to "DVD" and the TV set itself to the "Composite" input source, which is the input source on the back of the TV to which I connected the S-video cable from the Bose 3.2.1 system. It was amazing. I tried other things like "Watch TV" and it worked as programmed. All functions worked. When I was all done I pressed the "Off" button at the top of the remote and everything shut off at one time. Absolutely the best!
Conclusion:
Absolutely worth every penny. If your wife is tired of trying to figure out which remote to use and what button to push and if the kids are always trying to figure out how it all works then this one is for you. The look on my wifes face when she pushed one button and the Toshiba Tivo DVR, Bose 3.2.1 A/V Receiver and Samsung LCD TV all came on at the same time and with the correct input settings automatically appearing on each without the need to push any other buttons...that was priceless. Well worth the $249.00.
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