All-in-one remote control suggestions?

[QualityChimp]

I feel bad always asking questions on here, but I guess that's what it's here for!

I was just wondering if anybody's got an all-in-one remote that'll pretty much handle anything that you throw at it.

Most tellies and DVDs are pretty easy to find codes for, but what about the PS3 and 360 remotes?

It would make life hella easy having one light to control the telly, DVD recorder, 360, PS3 and even the dimmer switch!

[Rossco]

I had this:

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/devices/375&cl=us,en

The 360 Logitech Harmony Remote which was absolutely ace, it broke outside its warranty so I was screwed and cant use it anymore but it was a great piece of kit and have been wanting one again ever since it broke. Makes things so much easier, had it controlling my:

LG LCD
Oppo DVD Player
Sky +
Denon Amp
360
PS2
CD Player
Lights


So it got rid of a lot of remotes and was very easy to use, takes a while to set it up and put all your hardware into it, but once its all done and set up to your liking, its a breeze!

[QualityChimp]

Ooh, nice one, Rossco!

Any idea if it'll control a PS3 too? I'm guessing so if it's a learning remote.

I get worried they'll learn too much and start changing channels if they're bored with what you're watching...

EDIT: Apprently, the PS3 only works with the official remote as it's bluetooth not infared

At this point you can't use any other remote but Sony's PS3 Bluetooth remote since the PS3 is lacking an IR sensor. Even Sony's universal remotes won't work. I'm sure Logitech and Sony are working on the 'problem' but in the mean time if you don't want to buy the remote, you're stuck at using the controller.

[Brad]

I use a Cambridge one (£20 from richer sounds). Works with everything bar my PS. Philips TV, JVC vcr, Pioneer DVD, Philips Freeview and a Yamaha Amp.

http://www.richersounds.co.uk/showproduct.php?cda=showproduct&pid=CAMB-M1PLUSBACKLIT

Tell them you want it at the VIP price of £19.95

[NecronomiconUK]

Unless you do some crazy stuff using the ps2 remote dongle and a harmony, you won't be able to use one with a PS3. PS3 uses bluetooth for remote control and until an all in one is released with BT included.... it's bodged solutions until then.

[QualityChimp]

well, one remote would've been great, but I guess two is bearable!

Anything's a progression from my old telly where I'd change channels using an old brolly! I was a channel-changing ninja with that thing after a while.

Play-asia don't seem to be re-stocking those Logitech 360 remotes, which is a shame. Some of the other ones seem OK though, like the Logitech Harmony 555 Advanced Universal Remote.

There's something wrong about spending £100 on a remote control though. I guess it's becuase they're normally free with the device.

[NekoFever]

I definitely second the recommendation for a Harmony. I have a Harmony 525 (basically the 360 one without the 360 branding and with a blue backlight) which I've had for about a year now and it's absolutely brilliant. It controls:

TV
Freeview DVR
HD DVD player
Amp
HDMI switch
360
PS2
Xbox
Laserdisc player

In fact the only thing that it doesn't control is the PS3 which pisses me off royally but what can you do. I just use the controller because there's no way I'm spending £15 for another remote when I have a perfectly good £50 universal remote that can control everything else.

It's still great, though. Once you have it all set up (expect to spend an afternoon fiddling if you're as much of a perfectionist with this stuff as me) it just handles everything for you. I press the HD DVD button and it turns on the TV, switches it to HDMI, turns on the amp and switches it to optical 1, flicks the HDMI switch over to the right connection and turns the player on. Then if you change to something else it turns off what you don't need and makes sure all the settings are right. Fantastic stuff.

I bought mine from Komplett and it looks like they're still the cheapest. A better deal than where you're looking, at least.

[amorenod]

expect to spend an afternoon fiddling if you're as much of a perfectionist with this stuff as me

An afternoon? I don't tire of fiddling with the ****er (an 885) from time to time. Can't wait to try the new macro support tonight.

[NekoFever]

True, it's probably optimistic. My old DVD player had some weird timings that I spent days getting right. Thankfully I have my laptop in the same room as the TV setup.

[amorenod]

No, I agree, an afternoon is what I spent setting my father's 659. It's only that I love to play with the thing even more than using it.

[Rossco]

Oh nice find Neko on the Komplett link. I may just buy one again!!

The 525 is identical to the 360 one then isnt it apart from obvious branding and the 4 360 face buttons it had as well which are still there in coloured form anyway!

[huxley]

I had one of the 525 remotes a while back, the software is a pain in the arse you have to register with logitech and make a profile on their web site.
The set up does indeed take a while but if you get it right its good - apart from the times it gets its knickers in a twist and locks up. Expect that often.
The build of the remote is a very fragile to say the least, just pressing buttons makes the thing bend and twist.
Mine ended up back in its box in the end.

[QualityChimp]

Thanks for the continued feedback, guys!

Anybody know the difference between the Logitech 525 and 555? I can't see any difference other than £17 on Komplett.

I found a 360 remote on eBay which had no bids and the seller sold one before with only one bid for £35. Came back to check this morning and there's 6 bids and it's up to £53 already. Gutted!

So on the 525/555 can you program the coloured teletext buttons to act like the 360 buttons? I might as well buy the one off Komplett than the one off eBay if you can.

[peeveen]

Anybody know the difference between the Logitech 525 and 555?

Yes. 30.
(sorry, couldn't resist).

[amorenod]

You can set pages of 6 commands in the LCD screen on both, but the 555 includes 2 buttons, Picture & Sound, for fast access to sound & picture commands, without need to browse through the LCD pages.

The 360 colour buttons can be mapped to the teletext coloured buttons. It's confusing at first, as they're not in the same order.