A Swarm of Remotes

[ValarMorghulis]

Hi All,

A big bane of buying a multitude of electronic things is the hassle of shifting between remotes. I have a LED TV, a YHT HT, a BD Player and a Set top box. Each is run by its own remote and since I have connected the TV's audio out through the HT and the USB is inserted in the BD Player at any time I have to shuffle between remotes for any thing.
For eg. To watch a movie or listen to music I have to: Use the TV remote, BD Player remote for controlling the media and the HT remote to control the sound aspects.
This has started to get on my nerves.
Is there anyone who has faced a similar problem?
Do you use a universal remote or a home hub to control them all?
I have Googled and found the Logitech Harmony 650 Remote as a solution, but it costs around 8k (in amazon.in). That's kinda steep.
The other option I found was the Logitech Ultimate, a combination of Universal Remote+Hub that even turns your smartphone in a remote control (unable to find it though online in India, flipkart has a vriant for 31k!!).

Any suggestions? Or should I continue fiddling between remotes?:sad:

 

[anooput]

I use the harmony 650 and can vouch for it.8k is too much money to pay for the harmony 650.I suggest you source it from the US,new or used or even a refurbished harmony 650 , would do the trick

 

[elangoas]

I had Logitech Harmony 700 for close to one year... My brother got it from US for $50... In india it was 8.5K.... So if you can get it from US, in Christmas sale, even better....

On the other note, see if your components like TV, AVR & BD player have HDMI -CEC control... This function will allow you to control devices using one remote AVR... At least the basic functions like turning on them, volume....

 

[Viki]

I have used a Harmony One (screen broke), an 885 (lousy key placement), a 700, a 650 (both great), and now use a Harmony Smart Control, which includes a hub, and an RF remote. It's pretty excellent, and has a very nice remote too. Not available in India, but you can buy it online for $125 plus shipping. You can use either the included rf remote, or any mobile or tablet to control everything. That's a great price for what it does, imho.

Btw, don't try anything but Harmony - I have, and they all sucked, except the really expensive ones. Harmony's "Activity" concept is really easy once you understand it.

 

[Fillmore]

Have you considered Android/iOS Apps ?
These days most of your devices can be controlled by an app.

Option 2 Get the Harmony App if it is cheaper than the remote
Harmony Smart Control - Remote for iPad, iPhone & Android - Logitech

Edit: Correction : I guess the Harmony app works only on the Harmony device