Customer Rating: 
Summary: My retired parents... They really use it!
Comment: Definately recommend this remote. I gave it to my parents for Christmas, and they actually use it! It properly controls their cable box, HDTV, CD player, Radio, and another TV in the kitchen. ...So simple to use- I'm definately getting one for all my gear.
Coolest part, is that there's no control for any of the equipment that is lost. You can find a way to control everything through the intuitive LCD menu.
This is THE most idiotproof gadget I've encountered.
Customer Rating:
Summary: My very first Harmony - conviced me to buy 2 more
Comment: I have three different Harmony remotes -- I'm a big fan. In fact, I pre-ordered this remote when I read an article about its upcoming release, because I was so excited about the prospect of a universal remote that actually worked. This remote has lived up to its promise.
First, as I indicated above, I'm a big fan of Harmony Remotes. You can program them to do everything that any of your devices' IR remotes can do. In general, the dedicated buttons on the remote are enough to handle the tasks that you do 90% of the time. Less frequently used functions can be configured to appear on the LCD screen, which displays 4 (or 6 - it's configurable) items at a time, and can scroll. For really seldom-used functions, everything that the device's remote can do is accessible in "Device" mode.
I have never had any trouble with the website's programming applets. Some folks hate them, but I'm not one of them. There have been occasions where I have had to try a configuration, and go back to tweak it, because it wasn't working exactly the way I wanted it to. I would rather do this on my computer, using the website's huge database of devices and IR codes, than to try to program it manually, the way I used to have to do with older universal remotes.
I also do not have the problems that some other folks complain about where the device state gets out of sync. I always program my devices using what they call "discrete codes", where there's a different command for "On" and "Off", instead fo a single "Toggle Power" command, and different commands for TV input selection. I never have to try to find the discrete code settings, even if they're not provided by the device's original remote, because Logitech's online device database already has all of the discrete codes for all of my devices stored and ready for me to use.
The Harmony 659, in particular, is a solid performer. The button layout is a little bit odd, in that the transport controls (Play, Stop, Pause, Rewinde, etc.) are all located all the way on the bottom. This can be a little awkward, but ithasn't really caused me too many problems. Also, they are laid out such that I don't have to think about which button is where - the button I'm looking for is always right where I think it ought to be, even though it's a bit of a reach for my thumb. This model does not have all of the buttons that are available in some of the more expensive models (when I was trying to use this for a DVR, I missed the "Skip Fwd" and "Skip Bkwd" buttons), but where I'm using it right now, it has all of the dedicated buttons I need.
Overall, this is a solid remote, at the inexpensive end of the awesome Harmony line. I've recommended Harmony remotes to everyone who's faced remote problems. If your usage patterns require additional buttons that aren't provided on this model, there's almost certainly a model that has those buttons. For the room where we use this remote, it works great.
Customer Rating:
Summary: So easy to program
Comment: I've been looking for something like this for awhile. An AFFORDABLE completely programable remote. All you do is plug it into your PC, tell the program the make and model of your devices, and what you want it to turn on when you do an activity like "watch a DVD". Then one button sets everything up for you. Then, if you want, you can customize any button to do what ever you want, even add virtual buttons, all thru the PC using pull-down menus. SO EASY. This thing even works with my 25 year old equipment and my DVD Recorder. AWESOME.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Buyer beware
Comment: I have spent three hours trying to get this remote to work correctly. It will control all your devices, but getting into the menu's and doing things is a whole different story. What a waste of $80, this thing is going in the trash.
Customer Rating:
Summary: make a installer happy quit calling him for instruction
Comment: after I install this for my customers with their home theaters and such, I don't have to go back anymore and explain. Works for young and old. Best remote I've seen yet, simple and beats very high end remotes. Any harmony remote works, this is the one I prefer, good features, simple...
Summary: My retired parents... They really use it!
Comment: Definately recommend this remote. I gave it to my parents for Christmas, and they actually use it! It properly controls their cable box, HDTV, CD player, Radio, and another TV in the kitchen. ...So simple to use- I'm definately getting one for all my gear.
Coolest part, is that there's no control for any of the equipment that is lost. You can find a way to control everything through the intuitive LCD menu.
This is THE most idiotproof gadget I've encountered.
Customer Rating:
Summary: My very first Harmony - conviced me to buy 2 more
Comment: I have three different Harmony remotes -- I'm a big fan. In fact, I pre-ordered this remote when I read an article about its upcoming release, because I was so excited about the prospect of a universal remote that actually worked. This remote has lived up to its promise.
First, as I indicated above, I'm a big fan of Harmony Remotes. You can program them to do everything that any of your devices' IR remotes can do. In general, the dedicated buttons on the remote are enough to handle the tasks that you do 90% of the time. Less frequently used functions can be configured to appear on the LCD screen, which displays 4 (or 6 - it's configurable) items at a time, and can scroll. For really seldom-used functions, everything that the device's remote can do is accessible in "Device" mode.
I have never had any trouble with the website's programming applets. Some folks hate them, but I'm not one of them. There have been occasions where I have had to try a configuration, and go back to tweak it, because it wasn't working exactly the way I wanted it to. I would rather do this on my computer, using the website's huge database of devices and IR codes, than to try to program it manually, the way I used to have to do with older universal remotes.
I also do not have the problems that some other folks complain about where the device state gets out of sync. I always program my devices using what they call "discrete codes", where there's a different command for "On" and "Off", instead fo a single "Toggle Power" command, and different commands for TV input selection. I never have to try to find the discrete code settings, even if they're not provided by the device's original remote, because Logitech's online device database already has all of the discrete codes for all of my devices stored and ready for me to use.
The Harmony 659, in particular, is a solid performer. The button layout is a little bit odd, in that the transport controls (Play, Stop, Pause, Rewinde, etc.) are all located all the way on the bottom. This can be a little awkward, but ithasn't really caused me too many problems. Also, they are laid out such that I don't have to think about which button is where - the button I'm looking for is always right where I think it ought to be, even though it's a bit of a reach for my thumb. This model does not have all of the buttons that are available in some of the more expensive models (when I was trying to use this for a DVR, I missed the "Skip Fwd" and "Skip Bkwd" buttons), but where I'm using it right now, it has all of the dedicated buttons I need.
Overall, this is a solid remote, at the inexpensive end of the awesome Harmony line. I've recommended Harmony remotes to everyone who's faced remote problems. If your usage patterns require additional buttons that aren't provided on this model, there's almost certainly a model that has those buttons. For the room where we use this remote, it works great.
Customer Rating:
Summary: So easy to program
Comment: I've been looking for something like this for awhile. An AFFORDABLE completely programable remote. All you do is plug it into your PC, tell the program the make and model of your devices, and what you want it to turn on when you do an activity like "watch a DVD". Then one button sets everything up for you. Then, if you want, you can customize any button to do what ever you want, even add virtual buttons, all thru the PC using pull-down menus. SO EASY. This thing even works with my 25 year old equipment and my DVD Recorder. AWESOME.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Buyer beware
Comment: I have spent three hours trying to get this remote to work correctly. It will control all your devices, but getting into the menu's and doing things is a whole different story. What a waste of $80, this thing is going in the trash.
Customer Rating:
Summary: make a installer happy quit calling him for instruction
Comment: after I install this for my customers with their home theaters and such, I don't have to go back anymore and explain. Works for young and old. Best remote I've seen yet, simple and beats very high end remotes. Any harmony remote works, this is the one I prefer, good features, simple...
Logitech Harmony SST-659 Universal Remote Control (Grey) Reviews: Page 1 of 14
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