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Post by leonski on Nov 3, 2023 19:44:47 GMT -5
I'm a current user of Logitech. Have been since I purchased one at the Costco maybe 20 years ago.
Current HARMONY has a couple buttons going south and is maybe a year from a worse failure. Wife is having difficulty making
it work......and THAT's a bad sign.....
So I started doing some looking. I initially figured a 'new' Logitech which these days might be 100$ would work.
Sorry. Not to be. They are OUT OF THE MARKET. Now if you want a Harmony? Go to a reseller and get ready.
Some prices are high. Others are in insult. And NOTHING being made 'new'......Several 'used' items out there and be ready
for problems....Sticky buttons the least of it.
I don't know if the software is still available or access to the database from Logitech. If you can still get at it? Maybe for
a few more years.
REPLACEMENT TIME. Well? Sorry. The new stuff which would seem to be available is in 2 categories.
The 'replacement' remote level. Buy for a specific TV.
OR
'Universal' which has you enter various 'codes' for your gear. Best of luck with THAT and figuring out which of the
85 codes belongs to Your SONY or Panasonic or whatever.
It doesn't appear you can get MACROS, either. My Logitech has a single button press followed by a 'sequence' of on commands
and input setting. Even my New C3 LG OLED TV worked instantly.
So the replacement pool is down to ONE major contender.
SOFABATON. They make 2 models. A basic for <100$ and a 'better' which is in the 180$ range.......
Too bad They all tie you into needing a phone, bluetooth and wifi along with an IR extender and who knows
what else. The one I saw with the most reviews ran 25% ONE STAR which puts it in 'junk artifact' territory.
I'll wait and hope things get better. If not? I'll build a 'remote caddy' for the LR table and stack 'em up......
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Post by emotimmo on Nov 3, 2023 19:54:20 GMT -5
There is also the second-hand Harmony remote market. Easy to migrate to a new device and there are some still in decent shape.
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Post by leonski on Nov 3, 2023 20:54:47 GMT -5
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Post by vcautokid on Nov 3, 2023 21:01:37 GMT -5
I have the SofaBaton and while most of my gear works, functionality is meh. Some key things are missing, and if you don't have the original remote. You're screwed. Their database is meh also. Harmony ones vastly superior. I had a Harmony, but it ate batteries like mad. Only thing I didn't like about it. Yes they are out of the remote control business. Universal Remotes are wonderful, but it requires a dealer code and access to program one. Really Stupid that. So only a custom integrator can do that for you.
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Post by leonski on Nov 3, 2023 21:15:06 GMT -5
My battery usage in my model 650 is 'reasonable'...2x changes a year would be a LOT........My Logitech is used for most of the heavy lifting...
My Parasound P5 is basically on/off and level. I just leave it on the DAC input......and have an external optical 4-way switch......
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Post by novisnick on Nov 4, 2023 0:08:25 GMT -5
Somehow I have a few 650’s and a couple of 700’s. At one time I thought I ahould sell them as my needs had dwindled. At one point I thought to myself that a preprogrammed backup couldn’t hurt. For now I’m good but eventually the world will have voice activated everything. AI is marching forward and Skynet will doom us all! 😳🫣
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Post by leonski on Nov 4, 2023 0:33:05 GMT -5
No such thing as AI.......Expert YES.....Intelligent? NO......
It is questionable that even on the human level 'intelligence' exists......
Want to sell a '650 or so?
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cawgijoe
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Post by cawgijoe on Nov 4, 2023 8:37:04 GMT -5
I’m still using my Harmony One, but buttons are starting to be less responsive. Sucks that they left the market.
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Post by leonski on Nov 4, 2023 15:18:31 GMT -5
I’m still using my Harmony One, but buttons are starting to be less responsive. Sucks that they left the market. It is POSSIBLE to disassemble and 'free' the buttons. Check YOU TUBE for such help videos. I did so with my Direct TV remote (one from LR which gets the most use) and it now is perfect again....... I even rebuilt the remote for my Ceiling Fan which used those 'rubber bumper' / serpentine pattern switches. Just wouldn't work any more after numerous cleanings. Over maybe 15 years. But a trip to the local electronics supply house netted half a dozen miniature / momentary contact switches with 'red' buttons. Some found objects later, hookup wire and time / soldering and I had a perfect replacment which will last a LONG time......It looks like just what it is....INDUSTRIAL ART.....Sipo Mahogany end caps. Thick Acryllic base. I used a plumbers item which just happened to have the size hole and good spacing for the switches. Some drilling and using a Forstner bit (flat bottom holes) and I was done. I even went and got some letter decals and labeled the buttons.......not that anyone READS any more..... Attachments:
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LCSeminole
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Post by LCSeminole on Nov 4, 2023 18:15:33 GMT -5
I've been waiting on the YIO remote, hoping it will be what many think will take the place of the aging Harmony remotes. www.unfoldedcircle.com/ |
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Post by leonski on Nov 4, 2023 21:05:03 GMT -5
DTV remote take apart for cleaning. Easy..... Did I see the right price? WAY over the top......Drop by half and I'm considering. 460$, give or take? Wacky. The use the remotes that CAME with the stuff solution is looking better. I'll stick with my 1/2 of the ask criteria. At that point, they sell a LOT more, which generates MORE buzz which sells even MORE of 'em......And as they produce more (ask the manufacturer) unit price will Drop as well..... If the ask price is firm this builds in a slightly higher profit margin. Attachments:
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Post by leonski on Nov 11, 2023 0:03:23 GMT -5
For those 'in the market'? Numerous YouTube vids on the subject.
Overall decent reviews of the SofaBaton.....but I'll wait for a while yet.....
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ttocs
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Post by ttocs on Nov 11, 2023 8:24:34 GMT -5
I've been waiting on the YIO remote, hoping it will be what many think will take the place of the aging Harmony remotes. www.unfoldedcircle.com/One thing they got right with the design is to have the touch-screen ABOVE the keypad, unlike the Harmony Touch I have, which has the touch-screen between playback buttons and menu nav buttons. I stopped using the Harmony Touch because it was too difficult to avoid the touch-screen in general usage. |
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LCSeminole
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Post by LCSeminole on Nov 11, 2023 12:16:02 GMT -5
I bought one of the Sofabaton X1 remotes about a year or so ago, and found it to be unrefined comparatively so to the Logitechs I’m currently using. It has evolved to some degree since then, according to the owners thread on AVS, but not sure it will ever be a Harmony Elite or even a 650/665. Once my busy season is over(after the holidays), I’ll plug it back in and update to the latest operating system and see for myself just how far it has evolved.
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ttocs
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Post by ttocs on Nov 11, 2023 14:37:50 GMT -5
I've been waiting on the YIO remote, hoping it will be what many think will take the place of the aging Harmony remotes. I checked the forum for this remote. They just started shipping to investors last month, so when those initial orders are satisfied the folks on the wait list are next. The list is a couple years long, so it'll be weeks to months to catch up. The remote has some issues at the moment. The folks who have received theirs are expected to be able to solve their own issues with integration to at least some degree.  Some of the folks on the forum are integrators looking for a better solution than the likes of Crestron, so I found that interesting. Also, I don't recall where I saw this, but I don't think there's a return policy for orders on the wait list. So there's more than one type of risk involved. Still, it looks interesting, so I'm on the wait list to at least have an opportunity to purchase (it'll be just a very short period of time to make a decision) so maybe by that time I'll have better info with which to decide. |
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Post by leonski on Nov 11, 2023 15:06:22 GMT -5
The price of the YIO is daunting at what I remeber to be 460$........A ridiculous sum unless delivered and setup by........well, you get the idea.
Sofabaton SHOULD be improveable. And I don't particularly care about a plethora of buttons......or a touch screen.....
My needs are simple.....and I'd love to simply be able to remove batteries from 4 or 5 remotes and desiccant bag 'em.....for later.....
And to LC? The X1 is the expensive one, right? I'd expect them to do their best work at that level and the device should work properly.....
I only wish I could access the equipment list to see IF what I have in mind is even possible.....
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Post by hulkss on Dec 23, 2023 14:39:26 GMT -5
I just set up a new SofaBaton. I programed it from my XMC-2 and Epson projector IR remotes. It works as expected with no problems. Simple with a lighted display and no need to aim it.
My next step is to program some "activities" that involve multiple button presses.
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Post by leonski on Apr 1, 2024 1:05:56 GMT -5
Which Sofabaton?
X1 is now 160$ and officiall 'marginally tempting'......but I still need to scan reviews for a systemic problem.
OR?
U2, the 'budget' version which I skip........even with my simple requirements.
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Post by LuisV on Apr 1, 2024 11:23:14 GMT -5
I've been waiting on the YIO remote, hoping it will be what many think will take the place of the aging Harmony remotes. www.unfoldedcircle.com/My Harmony Ultimate from 2013 is still working great. but this remote is also on my radar... does anyone know if it's out of Kickstarter yet? www.unfoldedcircle.com/ |
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ttocs
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Post by ttocs on Apr 1, 2024 11:31:04 GMT -5
I've been waiting on the YIO remote, hoping it will be what many think will take the place of the aging Harmony remotes. www.unfoldedcircle.com/My Harmony Ultimate from 2013 is still working great. but this remote is also on my radar... does anyone know if it's out of Kickstarter yet? www.unfoldedcircle.com/I signed up for one quite a while ago, 5 months ago actually, but no email invitation yet. |
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