Logitech Harmony H-659 Advanced Universal Remote Control (Black)

Average customer rating: 4.0

Works, but has lots of fine tuning challenges.
Great remote for about a year
Love the remote... when it was working!
A Lifesaver
A Truly Advanced Product

Similar Items:

Harmony Universal Remote Control - SST-659
Hot Link Pro Remote Control Booster System ( 8225P )
Logitech Harmony 676 Universal Remote Control
Monster Cable THX-Certified Fiber Optic Digital Interconnect Cable (4 Feet)
Logitech Harmony 880 Remote Control

Logitech Harmony H-659 Advanced Universal Remote Control (Black)

Manufacturer: Logitech
Product Group: CE
Binding: Electronics
ASIN: B0003QER82

Related Categories:

Remote Controls

All Logitech

| Logitech | Brands | Electronics Features | Electronics

Harmony Remotes

| Logitech | Brands | Electronics Features | Electronics

Product Description

The Family Remote. If you want your entire family to be able to use the entertainment system to its fullest, the simple layout and one-touch Activity Buttons makes the 659 the ideal choice.

Amazon.com Product Description

A good universal remote may control an entire home entertainment system, but more often than not, it also looks like the instrument panel of the space shuttle, with dozens of intimidating and confusing keys. Enter the Logitech Harmony 659 remote, which is not only simple to program and use, but also consolidates a user's preferences for watching TV, viewing movies, or listening to music into three clearly labeled buttons. Simply press the Watch a Movie, Watch TV, or Listen to Music button to activate all the appropriate equipment--including surround sound components--and the remote does the rest. The device will automatically switch to your favorite settings for each component, while offering you a host of customized controls on its interactive LCD screen. It's called Smart State Technology, and it puts you and your family back in control of your home theater system.

The remote is an ideal choice for families with kids, though in many cases, it's the grownups that will find the simplicity most appealing. Like many other universals, the remote lets you assign tasks to individual buttons. However, unlike most other remotes, it also lets you create new functions to specifically match your component, such as when controlling multi-angle playback or zoom on a DVD player. To do this, merely connect the Harmony remote to your computer through the USB port, install the included CD software, walk through the Web wizard's step-by-step setup process, and start programming. Once you enter the model numbers of your components and answer a few easy questions about personal preferences, you'll soon be able to control a complex home theater setup without any hassles of frustrations. The Harmony 659 also includes a learning port, which picks up commands from other infrared remote controls to simplify setup even further. And should the setup process ever get too confusing, the remote includes a handy Help button that guides you through common troubleshooting steps--the only remote on the market to do so.

The Harmony 659 is compatible with everything from surround sound systems to satellite and digital cable boxes to DVD players. As a further enticement, Logitech includes two free months of TV listings. For the computer setup to work properly, users will need to own USB-equipped computers running Windows 98 SE, 2000, Me, or XP or Macintosh OS X 10.2 or later.

<b>What's in the Box</b>
Harmony 659 remote control, software installation CD, USB cable, four AAA batteries, quick-start guide.

Customer Reviews:

Works, but has lots of fine tuning challenges........2007-05-20

I bought this remote as a gift for my Dad to replace the four remotes he currently uses. I read numerous reviews online, checked the Logitech website and even called Logitech customer support before I bought it to confirm that it would work with my Dad's equipment. The unit is easy to program, very simple, just have a list of your equipment and their remotes before you begin. Follow the on screen promts the and your done - almost. The inital programming is fast and easy, it is the fine tuning that will drive you crazy. I programmed in only four items, an HD ready TV, DVD player, receiver, and an over the air HDTV tuner. I spent five (5) hours tweaking, changing, reinstalling, testing, changing some more, researching to get the remote to operate correctly 95% of the time. My problem was, when switching from one activitiy (watch TV) to anther activity (watch DVD) the previous device work not work correctly, hence the need for fine tuning. The biggest challenge was learning, on my own, that you must program the remote with the exact sequence that each device follows for input (i.e. tuner, av1, av2, etc.) There are no user instructions beyond how to install the CD into your computer. There is a help button on the remote itself, and it will walk you through the problem and fix it, BUT it is only fixed while you are in that current use session, meaning, if you turn off the device or switch between mutliple activities, the fix is gone and you have to the same problem again, the help button does not realy fix the problem in the programing. To fix the programming you have to constantly go from the device to where your computer is, hook it up and run through the programing sequence again, each time you find a problem. I was unable to use tech support, since it was Sunday afternoon and Logitech tech support is EST, I live in PST and they were closed. After my five hours fine tuning, everything works, except it will not turn off the TV, I gave up, left Dad with the 800 nuumber for Logitech and drove home. Dad has not yet called Logtech as of this posting, so I am not sure if they fixed the last remainig issue.
Overall, it is nice remote and it functions perfectly for each device, but the programing is a nightmare, have plenty of patience.

Great remote for about a year.......2007-05-15

It worked great for about a year. It was easy to set up and covered all my components, even a 10 year old Quasar VCR.
I had the same problem as the review below. The left "soft keys" next to the display started getting harder and harder to use until they finally stopped working. Also, the volume up button stopped working.
Others have had this problem, check the Logitech forums.

Logitech tech support follows a standard checklist and they made me update the firmware, and install 26MB worth of stand alone programming software. None of which helped. I finally convinced them to send me a new remote and they took all my information. We waited and waited but it never came. A subsequent call revealed that the warranty had expired and they simply dropped the case. To Logitech's credit, they said that they would send us a new remote anyway but we are still waiting. It should come this week.

It also eats AAA batteries for breakfast. I use name brand alkalines and they last 4-6 weeks with light usage. I will try some NiMH replacements if they ever send a new remote.

Love the remote... when it was working!.......2007-05-13

I loved this remote for all the reasons listed by others. It's easy to program, easy to use and a great, small erogonimic design. My only problem with it is that the top optional buttons around the screen have given up. They gradually became harder and harder to push to make work until they stopped working altogether. Logitech's support was completely unhelpful in resolving the issue. The remote is pretty useless now, as the buttons that work the TiVo are no longer functionaly on the remote. Very disappointing. I hope that the higher end models do not have this problem as well.

A Lifesaver.......2007-05-12

I have a neighbor who couldn't seem to understand how to change the inputs on their TV when trying to watch a movie on their DVD player. Over the years I have gone over to their home countless times to reset their equipment so that they could watch TV. Then I thought about this Harmony remote. I bought it for them for his birthday. I've had peace ever since. I liked it so much that I got one for myself as well to make it simpler for my wife to watch movies, turn on the home theater receiver etc. This remote is a miracle.

The remote, programmed off of my PC, makes everything simple. Push a button and proceed with that activity. Nothing could be simpler. This is a great unit and at a great price.

A Truly Advanced Product.......2007-05-08

I purchased this product for my father, who had a real mess on his hands. He used the DISH Network remote for his HD satellite but his TV was too new to be supported so he had to keep its remote around for On/Off and input switching. His Sharp theater surround system was incompatible with either remote so he kept its remote handy for volume control. Finally there was a remote for the DVD player, and the occasionally used VCR. That was 5 remotes, of which 3 were needed any time he wanted to turn on and watch TV!!!

The Logitech Harmony is the only product I've ever seen that was able to successfully eliminate the remote-juggling mess. Every device was fully supported and the Logitech software allowed us to map functions just the way we needed them: vol up/dn controls the receiver, ch up/dn controls the satellite, EVERYTHING powers up with the touch of a button! Mom loves the "DVD function" that automatically switches the audio and video inputs and sets their system for DVD viewing with a single button. Equally impressive is the device's built-in help which allows dad to correct typical problems (such as a device not turning on) with easy to follow instructions. I was afraid I would forever be "Logitech Tech Support" for dad, but the remote even does that perfectly. This truly is an advanced product, that I believe to be an excellent solution for most people with the same problem my dad had.

P.S. While I made the purchase on my account, dad actually paid for the device. While they were initially taken back by the price, mom and dad both agree that this remote was worth every penny.

Electronics:

Electronics

Electronics