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“Anyone have recommendations on universal remotes? The Logitech 880 seems to be very common but there are a few that are by the same company, but cost less. Any advice? I'm trying to come up with a gift idea to suggest to my mom and this seems like something that would be nice to have.”

“..and here you expect us to google 'Logitech 880'.
Link man, link! ;-)”

“A buddy of mine receintly bought one of these remotes (not the model you reference).

I asked him to give me a trip report on it after he had time to test drive it. He said these things are worthless. Maybe someone has found one that will work everything, but the few he tried would not control everything.”

“I have the 890.

The Logitech remotes are CRAP.

Let me say that again ... (insert crap here)

If you get it for her, set it up for her, don't let the battery ever run down, expext it to break, and expect her to use her old remotes when you're not looking.

My advice is to instead write down the steps needed to do what she needs to do, if it's a complicated process, or else buy her an expensive remote by a high-end company.

Either that or just get a simple remote by sony or somebody that does not do macros.”

“USD 249.99


Wal-Mart has some for less than $10.”

“THis is actually her hunting for a gift for me. I need one to control a TV, satelite, DVD/CD players, and Onkyo receiver.

So, they're crap, that's good to know. Amazon had it marked down to about $70 after Thanksgiving, but it's crept up to about $140.

That was already more than what I wanted to ask for. For curiosity sake, what's one that would actually work as intended? Info just in case I decide to grab one after I'm not longer concerned with covering payroll for 6 people 8)”

“ps, so the Sony ones will work everything on one remote, but by macros, it won't be like pressing the "play movie" button and have it turn the tv on, the dvd on, turn the tv to HDMI2, etc?”

“For curiosity sake, what's one that would actually work as intended? Info just in case I decide to grab one after I'm not longer concerned with covering payroll for 6 people 8


In that case, I'd either go with a pro-home automation company for a custom job.

Too much - then something like the NevoS70 by Universal, or something along those lines. (still requires custom install - but it may be right up your (dayhiker's) ally.”

“as soon as i find one of the dozens my son has lost you can have one of those”

““ps, so the Sony ones will work everything on one remote, but by macros, it won't be like pressing the "play movie" button and have it turn the tv on, the dvd on, turn the tv to HDMI2, etc?”
dayhiker



Right. (although, they may ATTEMPT to do some of that)”

“$700, dayum, I think I'll push a few buttons


I still need to get my surround sound working. When I play a CD or a DVD it works fine. If I'm watching TV, not at all. I feel like I have the HDMI ports setup right, but am at a loss. I need to call Crutchfield for help. That's where i got the receiver. I had my zone 2 speakers working fine this summer, then when Dish came and changed out the box it didn't work. This was a few months ago, and I haven't fooled with it. I think I just found a project to mess around with over the holidays.”

“I may look into the Sony's then. Pushing a few buttons is no biggie. Keeping 4 remotes is a PITA.”

“By the way, I have not used the Sony's. Like you said, "research". I am not promoting them over others (except Logitech).

Zone 2 - Zone 2 only works with certain inputs. (if I'm remembering correctly, the manual will specify which ones).

btw - you're using zone 2 for surround?????
last edited: 12/11/08 2:09:43 PM”

“Dayhiker. I've had a Logitech harmony,,,, 6 something, for about four or five years now, and it works great.

It's good at turning what's needed on, and you can choose your device from a vast list when you go online to set it up.

It's also pretty good at asking yes or no questions to resolve things if stuff isn't working.

As long as it's set up ok then it's easy to use.”

“H - I was using Zone2 for outdoors only. It will only take an analog signal. I have a fiber cable AND an analog cable going from the DVD/CD to the receiver. It worked great all summmer. I just need to spend some time figuring out what got unplugged when the satelite box was changed out for a HD DVR box. The other issue is that I can't get the satelite to come through the reciever. I just haven't taken the time to call the folks.

Y2 - thanks. The reviews on Amazon seem mostly good, then you'll have basically what Sarge described. It seems like you'd have about 70-80% at 4-5*'s and the rest at 1-2* with nothing in the middle. I guess that can mainly be explained that people having mediocre experiences rarely write reviews. It's the folks with a great or awful experience.

Sounds like I need to do more reading.”

“Yours worked that long? I need a third one in a year to replace the first two that broke.”

“I have the Harmony 659 the one before Logitech bought them out, and I love it. I have one for my HT room and one for the living room. This is the only way Ms. Mocs can operate everything.”

“do you guys really need all this stuff just to watch star trek? ;)”

“maybe the trick is to get one from before Logitech bought them. Logitech sux!”

“I sell and install home Theaters and I have used many kinds of remotes,but the best one that I use is this kind http://universalremote.com/pro/products.php.
you program them on your computer and usb cable. the good thing is you can save the settings on your computer..
later jb”

“

The Remote-n-Go mini keychain remote control is the perfect anywhere/anytime remote. It will control most TVs, cable boxes and satellite boxes. You program it yourself by following a few quick and easy steps

Holy crap, a key chain remote control??!!!...that's some pretty hard core tv watchers
last edited: 12/11/08 2:56:47 PM”

“jb - which one?”

“I sell alot of this 1 http://www.universalremote.com/product_detail.php?model=38
and this 1 http://www.universalremote.com/product_detail.php?model=55
kind of cost alot from $250. to $2000.00
I do alot of high end homes last system I did was about 150,000. in parts only. but look for a dealer near you and check them out . i think best buy sells them also.
last edited: 12/11/08 4:27:51 PM”

“Thank!

I may just get that 850 (or similar)

I need rf, which it has.”

“glad i was able to help..
the people i do work for have deeeeeep deeeeep
pockets when it comes to home audio / video
products. like a $70,000 hd project that comes down from the roof.and the curtain
comes down as well. I have some cool systems out there.”

“Any opinions on the model 350? It seems to be more in my price range and will do DVR's.

My components are:
Samsung HD LCD
Oknyo receiver, I think the 605
Dish DVR
Sony cd/dvr changer

If it'll handle that, I'm good to go.

Thanks for chiming in on all of this.
last edited: 12/11/08 7:10:27 PM”

“I think it will >”

“Any opinions on it? It sounds like it's a model several steps below what you deal with so you probably haven't dealt with it. If this is the brand you're putting in killer systems then that speaks well.

Interesting that if you search on universal remote on amazon all you get is Logitech's and don't even get hits by Universal.”

“ebay deal of the day today is the Harmony 520 for 30 bucks shipped.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Logitech-Harmony-520-Advanced-Universal-Remote_W0QQitemZ230313138022QQcategoryZ61323QQcmdZViewItem?afepn=5335869999&campid=5335869999&PID=1225267”

“HPD - I have a onkyo receiver, 605 maybe driving 5.1 surround. If I_m on DVD or running the satelite through it and get the volume past about 65 or so for very long it just shuts off. It doesn_t do it on zone 2 or the radio. I called Crutchfield. They said I probably had a speaker wire with a stray thread that was touching something and creating a short so the receiver cut itself off to protect itself. I pulled it out, checked all the cords and eased it back in it_s little cubby. Worked pretty good for a while, but it does it now and again. I usually have to get the volume pretty high when watching the satelite and this will happen. My center channel is up high so I don_t hear dialogue well, which is one reason for the volume. I really should prop it up (to clear the molding on the built-in) and angle it down to help. Lately I just turn the TV volume up to supplement the center channel.

Does this sound right? Any other thoughts?”

“Hey day, if HPD can't help you fix this, you should check with JB. He does this for a living.”

“When they shut down its scary because sometimes they will not come back without taking to the factory, by design!! so sing the praises you got it back.

3 thoughts

1. are you certain your speakers are not causing the problem? is the amp too powerful for them?

2. usually the center goes under the screen - can you do that?

3. you shouldnt have to compensate for low volume in specific speakers - have you run an AV tool? I highly recommend it

it sounds like your speakers may be mismatched


by the way, 65 happens to be my typical user controlled upper limit on my 674”

“if JB (who is tha??t) is a pro, check w him. I'm a hobbiest.”

“I got all the whole set from Cruthfield. I emailed them, told them what I was trying to do, and they did the whole recommendation. They were running sales too, so it was actually cheaper than if I got the components through Amazon. All that said, they could be mismatched but I doubt it.

Under the TV I have two slots and one houses the DVD changer and the other the satelite. No other room for the center channel. I want it on the shelf directly over the TV, but the mrs vetoed that.”

“Front left and right: http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/Prodview.asp?i=107RC80I

Rear left and right: http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/Prodview.asp?i=107RC60I

Center: http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/Prodview.asp?i=107csi3b

Sub: http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/Prodview.asp?i=107PSW10B

Receiver: http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/Prodview.asp?i=580TXS605B”

“PS, on the AV tool...they have something you plug into the amp that does a test and adjusts everything. I have done that and it sounds great on music. Maybe I should check to see if you can do it again for dialogue and have a different setting for music than you do TV.”

“different inputs need separate adjustments for audio (and video), although most people don't bother

the speakers look fine to me - check your wires everywhere - even where they connect to speakers - I have noticed the Onkyo is very touchy and one wire off will cause it to shut down. It does not take much.

I'm outtie - going camping and hiking for the weekend - but will check in from time to time to settle my addiction if I can get a signal.

I hope JB checks in, whoever that is.”

“It is probably overheating if it is a "cubby" and only does it at high volume and after extended running. A/V receivers and amps need air circulation to keep them cool and many nice looking A/V cabinets dont allow that.

It doesnt do that on zone 2 or radio because it is only pushing 2 speakers. Fewer speakers means less work which means less heat.”

“It is in a cabinet. It_s a whole wall built-in with cabinets in the bottom. Not ideal I know. I did describie the situation before I made the purchase.


I_ll check the speakers cables again. It_s a pain to get to them for sure.”

“I was thinking less work = less power demand = less likelihood of wigging out on the Zone 2 issue. I wasn_t thinking of the heat.”

“Definitely sounds like a heat issue. Usually shorts cause a permanent fault until you turn the receiver off. Overheating usually clears itself. Looks like all of your speakers are 8 ohm, which is good. Lower impedance forces the amp to work harder (more current flow) and thus generates more heat. Your sub is self-powered, also very good since that takes the load off the amp, so less heat there.

I have the same model and had a heat issue at first since mine is in a tight cabinet. Wanted one of the larger models for the features, but size constraints are what they are. I put a bicuit fan behind mine to force some airflow and no issues since. Also I'm able to stay below the low 30's after running the self-adjustment tool. Sounds better, too.

Is your cabinet usually closed? Try opening it and then run it hard to see if you still have a problem. You may have to cut a hole in the cabinet somewhere out of sight and install a biscuit fan to force cool air in.”

“Thanks for the info. I_ll look for a fan. I have a hole about 4" in dia from the top to where the TV is, but there is a shelf between this hole and the amp. I_m working through lunch but will take a pic over the weekend and put it here.”

“http://skycraftsurplus.com/24vdcbiscuitfan-260cfm.aspx

Is this what you_re talking about?”

“I have one of those "squirrel cage" fans, and I dont recommend them due to their noise. Much louder than a normal computer fan. Ive tried both types to move air around my house when I use my wood stove, and the type you posted lasted about 5 minutes before it came back down.

If noise could really be an issue - maybe the cabinet is close to where you sit - you could try buying a 24 V fan and drive it with 12 volts. I did that for the fan that hung in the entryway to our family room. Still lots of air movement but much less noise.

Now I dont use any of them, I installed a whole-house air exchanger and it does the job as well. If you were close enough I would give you one plus a power supply...

I cant remember if that model Onkyo has a switched outlet on back. If it does, just plug the transformer into it and then your fan will only run when the receiver is on.”

“Could you link an example of what you_re talking about?”

“Maybe something like this: http://www.amazon.com/CabCool-Lite-Cooling-Cabinet-Theaters/dp/B001NJ4J6I/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1258142755&sr=8-3

My problem is that I can_t vent it outside the cabinet. I could vent it to the adjacent cabinet so I_d have 2x the volume though.”

“How the heck do you guys backpack with all this crap?”

“It_s not the speakers taht are the problem, it_s the car battery as a supply source.”

“I just take a full solar panel with me. Doubles as cover in a downpour.

----------------

Im thinking a single muffin fan like: http://www.sciplus.com/category.cfm/subsection/18/category/175

If you dont get one that runs on 120V youll need to get a small transformer to power it - there are many to choose from on that site.

Theres no place you can cut a hole, maybe down near the floor on a side where nobody looks? If you paint/stain the fresh cut it will blend. Getting the temp of the cabinet down will help extend the life of the electronics even if you dont ever overheat again.”