Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal Remote

The Harmony 880 Advanced Universal Remote puts you in control of your entire audio-video system with just one button. It´s home entertainment the way it should be simple.

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• Reviewed by: LloydDobbler

  09-12-08

  Duration of ownership: 2 Years

  Strengths: - Easy to program via web- Versatile - controls almost everything!- Simple to use- Rechargeable batteries are EXCELLENT

  Weaknesses:- Dim backlighting/small button labels- Doesn't connect well with charging cradle- Longevity (or lack thereof)

  Overall Evaluation: Okay, so here's the deal - Logitech's Harmony remotes are incredible electronics. They're key examples of usability - programming your remote has never been this easy!However, there are some issues with this particular model. I bought mine more than 2 years ago, and loved it at first...until about a year in, when the problems started.The issues:1) The remote comes with a charging cradle, but for some reason it's always been hard to get the connection to hold. So to avoid picking up the remote and finding it hasn't charged, you need to fiddle with it for ~2 mins when you put it in the cradle to get a good connection and make sure it's charging. This was frustrating, but not a deal-breaker.2) The real deal-breaker: the buttons. Sure, the remote looks sleek & all...but its hard plastic buttons leave a lot to be desired. To start with, their placement makes it difficult to feel your way to a button. Sure, it's backlit - but sometimes you don't want to take your eyes off the TV to hit 'Pause'.Then there's the working issue. A little after a year into my Harmony 880 ownership (right after the warranty was done, thanks to Murphy's Law), the Volume Up button stopped working. It would only work when you pressed it REALLY hard, and then only sporadically. More often than not, it would turn the volume DOWN. Soon thereafter, other buttons stopped working. I looked around online, and found it was a common problem - apparently the connectors to the circuit board don't work too well with the hard plastic buttons. I've done some hacking to fix it, with limited success.In a nutshell, this is a great idea with poor execution. The way the remote is constructed made me wonder about its longevity when I first got it, and sadly, my fears were confirmed. If you're in the market for this sort of thing, I'd recommend going with the Harmony One. It seems to fix the button AND the charging issues. Heck, I even plan to pick one up...once I get over the fact that this remote didn't last as long as I would expect it to, given the price.You can't go wrong with the idea of the Harmony remotes - just be sure to choose one that has usable buttons that feel like they'll last.

• Reviewed by:

  09-07-08

  Duration of ownership: 3 Days

  Strengths: Good infrared signal; nice 'glow' display; rechargeable; eventually will work decently.

  Weaknesses:Absolute horror to program; didn't load on MAC (had to load on PC laptop); small, VERY SMALL activity buttons; $150 but no user manual? (you can d/l one online though); weird volume/channel controls

  Overall Evaluation: ...you have a LOT of time to program this bad boy AND a very good knowledge of such devices. I'm not a computer geek nor am I a newbie. I've had my share of tough-to-program remotes and equipment but this one is BY FAR the most difficult. I'm now on my 3rd day of tweaking and it's still not acting like it should. The USB-connected program runs you in loops to return to a previous setting, ie, no 'back' option, it asks you questions such as "how do you control your volume on your TV?" then only gives you 2 options--the TV or the AV receiver. Well, I use my CABLE remote for volume, so I had to switch MY gear to accommodate THEIR choices. This isn't the only instance, either. Another issue--I have set the TV up 2 ways; one to play through the surround system and one with just the TV speakers. In order to switch from one to the other you either have to completely shut down everything and restart, or you have to open the 'devices' menu, close down the AV, switch from HDMI to Component connections, the readjust you volume. Granted, not a big deal but certainly not the easy-to-use panacea they want you to think. Moreover, to get to certain areas of the device you have featured--let's say the TV again) you have to scroll across the screen (up to 4 pages) to change things like aspect ratio, PIP, etc. Yeah, it sorta kinda almost nearly makes all your other remotes redundant, but given the quirky nature of this thing I'm thinking it'd be just as easy using the remotes that came with the devices and saving yourself alot of money and frustration. Had I not cut off the UPC code to send in for the rebate I would have sent this back for a refund.

• Reviewed by: mcmeen

  07-10-08

  Duration of ownership: 3 Weeks

  Strengths: Database of products very complete

  Weaknesses:Print too small on screen

  Overall Evaluation: Couldn't get the macro functions to work properly. Device functions need my glasses to read the small type because the most common functions are not grouped conveniently.

• Reviewed by:

  03-23-08

  Duration of ownership: 3 Days

  Strengths: Everything! Concept, screen, setup, etc.

  Weaknesses:Buttons might be a little too small for some people.

  Overall Evaluation: This is the first all-in-one remote I've tried and I love it. It took me 25 minutes to setup and worked perfectly with my system, which is mainly Sony with a DirectTV DVR. This is the best thing I've bought for the house in years! There are 16 favorites buttons that can be customized to the specific channels you want AND you can customize with JPG logos for each channel or just use text. My 7 year old can even use it. I can't wait for my parents to come visit, they had such a hard time dealing with movies for my kids while they were here. Even my mom will be able to use this remote. Thanks Logitech!

• Reviewed by: JKVickers

  03-10-08

  Duration of ownership: 2 Years

  Strengths: Excellent concept...well executed, stylish, versatile

  Weaknesses:A little hard to read display with "old eyes"...

  Overall Evaluation: This product allows anyone to set up and control a complex array of gear with mere patient consideration of what needs to happen. Let's face it, some of this stuff is quite complex; but figure it out once, reflect that understanding in the programming steps, and you are done for life! The web interface could not be more understandable and clear. This well built remote covers all the bases and looks good doing it. After over two years of experience with this remote, I continue to be a very happy owner/user of this fine product.

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