Best Remote Controls
A universal remote with a colour screen and one-click activity buttons that bring you showtime in no time. Support for 8 devices is enabled at software setup - replaces up to 8 remotes, reducing complexity and clutter in your living room.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My main reason for purchasing the 650 was due to the fact I hate the newer Logitech remotes that use smart phones to work. Before I purchased it I was concerned that the smaller screen would be a problem, but it turns out that the hardware buttons on top make up easily for the smaller screen."
"You'll start by recording all the model numbers for your equipment, as well as figuring out all the appropriate settings on your receiver for each component that attaches to it (and in my case, the devices that plug into my standalone HDMI switcher), as well as which inputs on your TV your devices plug into. For example, to watch Apple TV, I use my Apple TV device, my receiver, my TV, and my HDMI switcher. I have not fully tested the remote, but what impressed me most is that when you switch activities, say, from listening to music to watching Apple TV, it turned on -- and off -- all the appropriate components. The remote also provides the ability to individually control any devices used for an activity. So if the activity is to watch Apple TV, the remote turns everything on, and then allows you to control settings on your receiver, your TV, etc. I haven't yet tested that functionality, but this is the one area where the Re remote was superior, since it created a virtual remote on the iPhone screen which resembles the remote for the device you're controlling."
"example: when you press DVD ON, understand everything that goes on in order for you to switch from TV watch mode to DVD watch. It could be as many as 4 successive steps with just 1 button being pressed...So, it could take about 10 LONG seconds (I'm used to it now). You have to keep remote aiming properly during this time...So often I have seen people press the WATCH TV button and then put the remote down once the TV turn on...NOPE...thats asking for trouble...you SHOULD KEEP AIMING IT for about 10 long seconds....and hopefully all your components are roughly in the same direction of where u are aiming. Here's what happens and the quickest solution : I'm watching TV (so I'm in the watch TV mode). I drop the remote. Remote then resets (due to the JOLT of hitting the floor) to the main screen (where I choose what I want to do). The remote will not function until I re-tell it to go to Watch TV mode...HOWEVER, since I am presently *actually watching TV* when I press the Watch TV button, its not smart enough to realize my tv is *already* ON...it assumes the TV is OFF, so it sends the power TV signal to the TV...thus turning it OFF. Solution: I hit the Watch TV button while I cup my hand and cover the front of the remote (blocking the signal) so that the "remote" goes into the correct mode, but the "signal" to power the TV doesn't reach the TV....thus I'm back in the correct watch TV mode without disrupting my TV viewing."
The Harmony Hub combined with a powerful app give you personalized control of up to eight devices—even through closed cabinets and walls. Harmony App for easy tap-and-swipe entertainment control using your smartphone or tablet* | RF control of devices inside closed cabinets and behind walls | Controls up to 8 devices including cable TV boxes, Apple TV, Roku, Sonos, Amazon Fire TV, Phillips hue, Xbox One, PS3 and TV-connected PC or Mac | Powerful customization, including 50 Favorite channel icons**, creating one-touch activities and re-ordering buttons | Also includes handheld universal remote for the household | Works with over 270,000 devices | Easy online setup ( *Compatible with iOS 6.0 or later and Android 4.0 or later. Harmony Hub turns RF signals from the remote into IR or Bluetooth commands your devices can understand and can’t see—behind closed cabinet doors or walls. Control up to 8 devices including your PS3, Wii or Xbox One, plus your Internet subscription services, like Netflix or Hulu. Use your smartphone/tablet keyboard or speech recognition capability with the Harmony App to find your content faster on Apple TV, Roku or Amazon FireTV. Simply download the Harmony App to your computer or your iPhone 4S or later or Android smartphone with Bluetooth Smart Technology. This simple all-button Harmony universal remote gives everyone at home easy control of your entertainment system when your smartphone or tablet isn’t handy. Smartphone app includes Swipe and Tap control for one-touch control of your entertainment system, up to 50 favorite channel icons, volume, media playback, and more (Works with iPhone iOS 6.0 or later and Android 4.0 or later).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I do admit, those remotes are wicked cool (Best Buy Magnolia sells them) but they were overkill for the general consumer (me). Fast forward to today, I've read that the Logitech Harmony remotes have come a LONG way from their beginnings. I eventually found out that the setup I had required a universal remote to do BOTH IR (infrared) and RF (radio frequency) control. I investigated the other lines and found that the minimum I could get was the Harmony Hub ($99.99 MSRP) but required an "app" on your smartphone or tablet (no remote was included). Then came the day where there was a sale on the Harmony Hub w/ Remote (which is the item I'm reviewing). I tweaked the macros to just ignore the soundbar functions and let the HDMI ARC do it's job. I modified each action and shaved off a couple seconds and I wasn't sitting there waiting. Took me just 30 minutes to set up my activities consisting of Smart TV, Cable, FireTV, and Radio functions. As I mentioned in my likes points, I no longer have to fish/find multiple remotes depending on the activity I want to do."
"And you may not need to use the mini-blaster if your hub is in the open, I'm just using the hub and the remote. One neat thing: when you update your settings and sync via the app, the hub updates over wifi and then it updates your remote via RF. Anyway, a note about the "Help" feature: First, the remote doesn't have a help button (no display to guide you through the motions), it's only found on the iphone app (or android). This means if you turn off the TV activity, but your cable or satellite box fails to turn off (if you've set everything to turn off), the only way to do it is either at the device or by using the device's original remote. UPDATE 7/6 - I actually emailed the CEO of Logitech about the "Help" issue with the iphone app (it's there when you turn on an activity in case a device failed to turn on, but not there when turning off activities, so what do you do if a device doesn't turn off ? UPDATE 7/28 - Logitech has now updated their app to include the "Help" function when turning off an activity, this was previously missing. Only thing is it appears that the associated firmware update for the hub was probably delayed because I initially had problems with the updated app. However, I tried the app again last night and noticed the firmware update came through, so now the app works like it should."
"I had a Harmony One set up, so once I logged into my Harmony Account; it downloaded my Harmony One set up to the Hub. The greatest thing about this no need fro Windows or Mac OSX to do the set up. I bought it on sale, from Amazon, fro $98.95, which is much less expensive than the rechargable Elite, with an LCD, fro over $300."
Style: Harmony Elite Remote. The box includes Harmony Elite remote (with rechargeable battery), Harmony Hub, 2 IR mini-blasters, Charging station, USB cable, 2 AC adapters, User documentation.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I found that the setup and configuration was pretty intuitive and since I was importing an existing Harmony remote it made the setup that much easier. With that being said, is the remote layout and touch screen a deal killer; no but if you’re used to a particular remote the Harmony Elite will likely take some getting used to. Unfortunately, the lack of properly functioning Amazon Echo integration was the nail in the coffin for me to decide to return this remote. I could have dealt with the ergonomic annoyances I described, but since the main reason I got the remote was for the Amazon Echo integration it didn’t make sense to keep something that didn’t work. So if you’re like me and want to get this remote for its integration with Amazon’s Echo I’d hold off and maybe consider the next smart device integrated remote Logitech comes out with."
"I have rarely had an issue when eyes were used instead of IR blasters. The previous model Harmony Ultimate Home needed a computer for firmware updates. The elite has already had a few updates even though it is just a week or two out in the world. Harmony remotes and hubs often require a reboot to work right after updating. Why this remote is the best harmony to date. 1) control of Sonos playbar over IP not IR! No need to have a blaster semi hidden or an eye stuck to the playbar! I will keep updating this review as I play with it more at home and install the second one next week."
"Overall does what it is supposed to but doesn’t have as easy access to the ‘help’ function used to turn on a device if it somehow didn’t respond in the right timing (something I used a lot with my old Logitech remotes)."
"I still own very expensive Philips units ets but the 900 was clearly the best . Smaller , better batteries, smarter, and one button set up of all your toys presuming you had them set up on a Harmony as I did before."
Best Electric Plugs
Command complete control over your outlets. The Etekcity Remote Control Outlet Switch lets you remotely control hard to reach appliances and devices. A strong RF signal works as far as 100 feet and through doors and walls without interfering with other electronics, allowing convenient control over small household appliances from across rooms or on second floors. With this level of control in your hands, you'll increase the efficiency of your household easily and conveniently. Sync remote outlets together, regardless of frequency differences; Seamlessly expand your system with any Etekcity learning remotes or outlets.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I solved this by marking each unit with a black marker in large numerals. With a little less attention to styling, and more to functionality, the manufacturer could have easily solved this problem."
"These remote control outlets are fantastic! Even though these things work even better than expected, I'm knocking off one point for the two cons below (neither of which is a huge deal, just a little inconvenient): Cons: - These remote control outlets are just a little too big, so if the other plug you are trying to fit in a shared wall outlet is anything other than just a simple plug, it won't fit."
"Although it is possible that I received a different or updated model, I thought I should correct, or rebut, some of the misinformation that I read in other reviews. In another case, I had a three pronged plug that I was using in the spare outlet, which had to be relocated, as it would not fit after installing the remote switch. But, very easy to just add the remote switch into a short extension chord, and the problem is solved. After the Holidays, most of these units will be relocated to my basement workshop where they will be subject to much higher loads and more demanding use. I will use one on a dust collector (about 12 amps draw), one on a vacuum, and even one on a strobe light so my wife can summon me if she needs to, without me cutting my hand off if she yells at me to come to dinner. So now my wife just hits a button upstairs and my strobe light in the basement lets me know she needs me to come up!"
"Additionally beyond that, the remain 4 that were functional out of the first set have been cycling daily (via RPi) for about 4 months now."
"When you plug your appliance into the Etekcity outlet, in this case a lamp, into the front of the Etekcity outlet, the Etekcity body will either cover the top wall outlet when plugged into the bottom of the wall outlet. Or, if you plug the Etekcity Outlet into the top wall outlet you may find it difficult to use the bottom wall outlet if you were to want to use the bottom outlet for something like a Vacuum Cleaner or any other appliance that has a large plug."
Best Electrical Boxes, Conduit & Fittings
Command complete control over your outlets. The Etekcity Remote Control Outlet Switch lets you remotely control hard to reach appliances and devices. A strong RF signal works as far as 100 feet and through doors and walls without interfering with other electronics, allowing convenient control over small household appliances from across rooms or on second floors. With this level of control in your hands, you'll increase the efficiency of your household easily and conveniently. Sync remote outlets together, regardless of frequency differences; Seamlessly expand your system with any Etekcity learning remotes or outlets.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I solved this by marking each unit with a black marker in large numerals. With a little less attention to styling, and more to functionality, the manufacturer could have easily solved this problem."
"These remote control outlets are fantastic! Even though these things work even better than expected, I'm knocking off one point for the two cons below (neither of which is a huge deal, just a little inconvenient): Cons: - These remote control outlets are just a little too big, so if the other plug you are trying to fit in a shared wall outlet is anything other than just a simple plug, it won't fit."
"Although it is possible that I received a different or updated model, I thought I should correct, or rebut, some of the misinformation that I read in other reviews. In another case, I had a three pronged plug that I was using in the spare outlet, which had to be relocated, as it would not fit after installing the remote switch. But, very easy to just add the remote switch into a short extension chord, and the problem is solved. After the Holidays, most of these units will be relocated to my basement workshop where they will be subject to much higher loads and more demanding use. I will use one on a dust collector (about 12 amps draw), one on a vacuum, and even one on a strobe light so my wife can summon me if she needs to, without me cutting my hand off if she yells at me to come to dinner. So now my wife just hits a button upstairs and my strobe light in the basement lets me know she needs me to come up!"
"Additionally beyond that, the remain 4 that were functional out of the first set have been cycling daily (via RPi) for about 4 months now."
"When you plug your appliance into the Etekcity outlet, in this case a lamp, into the front of the Etekcity outlet, the Etekcity body will either cover the top wall outlet when plugged into the bottom of the wall outlet. Or, if you plug the Etekcity Outlet into the top wall outlet you may find it difficult to use the bottom wall outlet if you were to want to use the bottom outlet for something like a Vacuum Cleaner or any other appliance that has a large plug."
Best Remote-Control Extenders
Simply place the IR receiver from the repeater kit where you wish to aim your remote control, run the IR receiver wire from the kit to the distribution block. Now run the IR emitters from the kit to the devices you wish to control and place them over the devices IR receivers, plug the kit into a wall outlet and your all set! 1.9"x4.3"x0.87" & has slots for mounting if desired (screws NOT included). • The distribution block can also be powered by a USB printer cable (NOT included). • The kit contains 4 IR emitter cords to control 8 device & has slots for 2 more emitter cables. 1 Yr BAFX Products® warranty against manufacturing defects! Compatible with all IR controlled devices including formerly incompatible, MarantZ devices!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I'm used to using the Snap A/V units from work (a/v integration company), but this was cheaper than our cost on those units. I extended this unit from my media rack to my 3 tv's after purchasing 2 additional I.R."
"I've never had a single issue so far, and it solved my issue of my entertainment systems doors always being open!"
"This IR Repeater not only enables remote control of all of my electronics behind closed doors but it does it better than before when I had the doors open and had to point the remote control directly at each item."
"I placed the emitter over the IR receiver on the Genie Mini and it worked perfect, first time! As stated in another review, the emitters are identical to the other vendor, the difference is in the computer module itself."
"I am an installer and have been paying three times the amount of money on this exact product from Xantech, Calrad, Channel Vision (all great products)."
"Additionally, this unit will rebroadcast the signal sent from a Harmony IR Receiver through a Harmony Home Hub, if you connect the BAFX receiver input to the Harmony Home Hub blaster output."
"Also keep in mind the receiver can have problems with Plasma TV's, but by moving it around I was able to find a place that allows me to have the sensor to where I can still point the remote at the tv, but not encounter interference."