Logitech Harmony® 880 LCD Remote Control

This is the perfect remote if you have multiple devices and even better if you have several different ways to use your devices. Using the included software I was able to find and setup all my devices with ease. Planning activities took a little longer but but all of it works flawlessly. After the software finds the codes for your devices it will recommend different activities and then help you set them up. Now when I push "Watch Tv" on my remote it turns on my Dish DVR, my surround system and my TV all by itself. If push "Watch A DVD" it will turn on the DVD Player, switch the inputs on the surround system, change the input on the TV and cut off the DVR. The only way it could be easier is if you could just think the commands. The 880 is also able to learn commands for devices it does not have codes for or learn commands for special functions. It can control just about anything that uses an IR remote. The built in help system on the remote itself is very intuitive and can help you correct any problems just by asking a few basic questions and then it will offer suggestions or in most cases it will fix the problem on it's own! The only way I could like this remote more would be if it had a touch screen.

I'm on my 3rd replacemnt 880 since October, but still love it. For anyone having the dreaded reboot problem please read on. The remote will be working perfectly fine and suddenly reboot itself as evidenced by the "Testing" screen appearing before the Acivities screen reappears. The remote now thinks that all your devices that it turned on 10 minutes ago are now off because it has rebooted itself. Tech Support does not know how to resolve the problem except to replace the remote.

After several replacements I have finally learned that the design of the battery compartment is the problem. The battery fits loosely enough in the compartment that it can move slightly away from it's contacts. When this occurs it is the same as quickly removing and replacing the battery, the remote shuts down and then restarts.

Solution: Until Logitech redesigns the battery compartment, here is a simple fix. Take a piece of paper (card stock works well) cut the same size as the battery. Fold one end several times like an acordian and then place that between the lower compartment wall and the battery end. This should act like a shim and prevent the battery from moving away from the contacts.

Also:

1) While I really appreciate that you can use a Mac to set this up, the interface is not at all intuitive if you want to do anything beyond the most basic functionality. Little things like making the "guide" button bring up a guide is a relatively arduous process, and changing backgrounds / channel icons / etc. is pretty well hidden.

2) While it looks a lot like a TiVo remote, it feels much cheaper. I expected it to feel much more substantial than it does. Luckily, I don't have kids. If I did, I'd take this back immediately, because it feels like it wouldn't take much to break the plastic (or worse, the LCD). This isn't the sort of remote that you'd want to toss off to the side of your couch after you've picked a channel.

3) The charging dock is terrible. We're talking $29 cordless phone terrible. Nothing seems to keep the remote in place, and there's no way to mount it to anything. Basically, you need to have a table or other perfectly flat surface within 6' of an outlet. I hate the thought of having to buy an end table just to make the charger work.

Summary
This did a good job of getting rid of all my remotes. It is not cheap regarding MRP, but I bought on ebay and it is ok about price. Being a blond girl My complaints about the remotes being too complicated are gone at least. With the remote, complexity becomes much easier to manage.

Ignore any naysayers about this remote! It's the perfect remote if you want one that has the power to be simple to operate and program. It's also high end enough to satisfy the "techies" in your home theater. It feels great in your hand, asks you questions to help you figure out if you set it up wrong for your system and it's very simple to set up, you do not need to be good with electronics. If you have a basic system with a Tivo, DVD, VCR, TV and Receiver it can be programmed in 10 minutes. If you have the oldest componenets driven by squirrels, it has your unit pre-programmed into the database. That means if you lost your original remote for any piece, you won't have to teach the remote commands, it's already there, just punch the model number in at setup, it does the rest. Don't know what a "bitmap" is, how to create one to make a "watch a flick" button? This is your remote. I bought my second one last month. You can own this powerful and very stylish $300 remote new for about $110-$150 if you look around. I've owned the Pronto and a Sony, this blows them away, especially if you prefer to use it with one hand. You won't be disappointed.

I have bought this remote about 3 months ago or more. It took me about an hour or two to get it completely set up. I have a pretty big system to make sense of with a dvr, dvd/vhs combo, old 6 cd changer, and a new sony surround sound reciever. Not to mention my tv. I also have my computer connected to the reciever and stream movies to it. this remote was incredibaly easy to set up because of logitechs software. I just recomend downloading the newest version from their website. It has a very nice base that charges the remote. On the front of the remote you can see a activities butten where on my setup it lists watch tv, watch vhs, watch dvd, listen to radio, listen to cds, view computer. The beuty of logitechs software is that almost everything about that is customizable and makes so many different commands work with only one button, For example, If you are already watching tv, and choose to watch a dvd, you click the activities button, and choose watch dvd... the remote turns off my cable box/DVR, turns on my dvd/vhs combo, switches it to dvd mode, and switches my imput to video 2 on my tv.

My only con to this is that is only ir. If you are not aiming the remote to the devices it might not completely start up your system. but that is hardly a con because all you have to do is go back and hit activites and do it over. It turns on the things it missed and does not turn off the things it didnt. I really like this.

Sooner or later i may buy a rf extender for this remote. It allows you to place everything in cabinets or in another room yet still work through walls and cabinatry.

I would recomend this remote a lot. It cost much less than the harmony one and is still really easy to use.

This product has eliminated the need for several remotes handling every function of your tv/tv's and entertainment system. Once you learn how to download items, the operation is basically easy. We have programmed two television sets, the radio, two home entertainment systems, DVD etc. operated by one button. How easy is that????? I can't compare this product to others because I haven't tried any. However, I can compare it to handling several different remote controls. Having the use of one control compared to many controls, makes life much easier and less time consuming.

Great full function remote. Easy to setup. Great tech support if you have any problems. I have bought several of these and installed them.

Love it that it controls everything and also every aspect of everything. The only issue is that if you manually turn on a device, the remote wont recognize that it is on, it still thinks it is off and therefore wont control it, until you turn it off again. So, you have to turn off your devices to turn them on, (basically).

Logitech's Harmony 880 remote is by far one of the best Universal Remotes in manufacture att, the others that are in the same class are Logitech's other Harmony units. With the online database of codes it sets up quickly and easily. The software allows you to rearange and add/delete special functions to each device control with absolute ease. Was able to setup by TV, Amplifier, Cable and Satilite PVRs, configure and customise them in about 30 minutes and they work perfectly.

Ignore the claims that the Philips Learning Universal is a better unit. It's not even in the same school much less the same class as the Harmony line.

If you have multiple device, up to 15 in most models, from multiple manufactures in your entertainment center the Harmony 880, or any of it's cousins, is the remote for you.

This remote is simply awesome. You can program every piece of AV gear in you home and control all activities with the touch of one button. I would recommend this unit to anyone especially the not so savvy folks. My wife loves hers. Even my 6 yr old can take command of the home theater with ease.

Logitech Harmony 880

The good:
Web-programmable, universal learning remote; activity-based programming and usage; DVR-friendly button layout; backlit keys and color LCD; compatible with Windows and Macintosh machines; rechargeable battery and docking station included.

The bad:
No RF support; Web interface may frustrate some users.

The bottom line:
Designing its first universal remote, Logitech takes a nice step forward with the Harmony 880.

Specifications:
Remote control technology: Infrared ; Supported devices: Audio/video components , VCR, DVD, satellite receiver , Home control , Audio system , TV ; Remote control features: Multi-brand compatibility , Learning , Glow buttons , LCD backlight , LCD display

I love this remote, easy to use when it is properly installed and can handle and control a lot of electronic gadgets. Very handy.

This is one universal remote that is actually ‘universal’. Very easy to set up and simple to use, the LCD display is easy to read. Its functionality is only as good as the set up – so don’t guess the model numbers!! It trouble shoots and fixes macros when they are executed. Well worth every penny.

* This is really a great product. Logitech's easy walk-through software makes
the setup on this thing a breeze.
* Every aspect of the remote is customizable to either make it easier to use,
or to give your remote your own style.
* The rechargeable base makes this remote always easy to find.
* One touch activities. Press a button and let the remote do all the work, not
only does it turn everything on, but it knows what you use to change the
channel and what you use to change the volume, even if you use different
machines for everything.
* This remote really does rule them all.

Get this remote!
I have two of them and love it! Very simple to program via online and works with every device - except for bluetooth enabled devices like PS3 and Wii.

This remote took about fifteen minutes to fully function every piece of A/V equipment (6) I have hooked up. It even works the DVR with my cable box as well as every other function on the factory remotes. The screen also has a wide range of customizable features. Excellent product!!

This is the best universal remote ever for the money. Very easy to set up. Very easy to create different viewing scenarios such as watching TV w/surround sound or without. You can customize scenarios for example to start the TV on a specific channel or at a certain volume level. It controls my TIVO box, even providing the thumbs up and thumbs down buttons. It will REPLACE all of your remotes and truly give you the functionality provided by the remote from the device manufacturer.

This is the second Harmony 880 I've purchased. This one will be used to control some older stereo and tv equipment in my workshop. Despite the age of the equipment, the remote was easily configured via the website and works very well. It eliminated my stack of remotes and now it's easy to select an activity like 'watch tv' or 'listen to radio'.
Consumer electronics manufacturers should really consider making these remotes an option when purchasing a tv, sat tv receiver, etc. Their usability and configurability makes them vastly superior to most product-specific remotes. Plus less worthless remote manufacturing is better for the planet.

I purchased this to make my life easier, but it has not. The function screen is worthless. It is hard to see and difficult for me to make out which function is back lite. The volume and chanel buttons are way too small. Instructions are hard to understand, but the online setup was easy. It would not program with my first Motorola cable box. Had to get a different cable box. I wish I bought a different model with more convential design. The unit sacraficed sytle for fuction. I bought it to make it easier for my wife, but she won't use it.

I just won a 50" plasma TV and decided to install the full home theater system along with the TV. One of the best things I did was ask a consultant what I needed and he recommended several things, to include a Harmony remote. I wanted a basic remote not with all the bells and whistles, but once I did some research I did upgrade. The consultant wanted to charge me $130.00 just to program the remote, but the online instructions are so easy to follow just hook up the usb cable and it is very easy. I highly recommend this remote for anyone that has more than two remotes sitting on there couch. I went from five to one. I don't even have to change inputs or anything, it is already programmed when I set up the remote.

I'm very happy with my purchase of the Logitech Harmony 880 remote. After watching a YouTube video on how these Harmony remotes operate I felt reassured that this remote would operate my A/V system the way i wanted. This one remote has taken the place of three. I believe the 880 can control 15 different components. Setup is simple using the Harmony software and USB cable. The one draw back is that it will not operate a PS3 without a $60 adapter. However this is true of all Harmony remotes right upto the $400 Harmony 1100.

The remote worked great for 2 years. Suddenly the signals from the remote weakened to the point where it needed to be 2" from the devices to work. Battery shows full 4 bars but wouldn't work from across the room. Tech support said out of warranty and offered 50% off newer products. I got a refurb'ed 880 cheaper than 50% off the newer more expensive Harmony One.

This is one of the easiest remotes to program. All you need is a internet connection. Download and install the software and tell the program what kind of equipment you have and you are done. You don't need to try fifteen different codes to find one that works. If you need a function not currently in the database, you can setup the 880 to learn the function from your original remote.
And it reduces the number of remotes you need. For instance, I would need to use one remote to turn on my TV, another remote to turn on my stereo and put it in the right mode and a third remote to turn on my DirecTV DVR. With the Logitech Harmony 880 remote I just tell it I want to Watch TV. Then all I have to do is select the channel and adjust the volume.

very easy to use, extremely compatible, great value, i would recommend this product to anyone with way too many remote controls, it simplifies everything in one touch and makes tv viewing fantastic again!