So, my wife decreed to me today that I need to replace my Sony RM-AV 3000 remote that I have, because she doesn't like the way it turns on my home theater system. I know how to turn everything on with the macro buttons I set up, but my wife is frustrated by it, and if she accidentally presses the wrong button, it screws stuff up.


My dad bought a Harmony 620 about a year ago, and had me set it up for his TV, Scientific Atlanta HD-DVR,and DVD/Home Theater system that he has. Well, the wife saw it and was tried it out, and was really happy with it. I already know all of my devices will work with the remote, because when I was going thru setup I plugged in the codes on mine just for fun, and it found them, saying they were all compatible.

My wife likes the 620 because it has a "Help" button and onscreen guidance if something doesn't turn on or change to the correct input. That is a godsend in my mind, because then I don't get a phone call while I'm at work complaining about how she can't turn on the tv without feeling like she's trying to launch a rocket. :)

Here's the problem, though - I found one, brand new, for $100. I can't justify spending $100 on the 620 when it looks like it's an older remote...I wouldn't mind a 650, which looks like the same price, but I'm not sure it's comparable to the 620...

I basically need it to control my Samsung TV (power on/power off/change inputs to Wii, PS3, DVR), control my Scientific Atlanta HD-DVR digital cable box, and control my Yamaha Receiver's volume/changing inputs. I MIGHT buy the IR-to-Bluetooth adapter that Logitech put out to control the PS3, but that's something that can come later as an add-on and isn't needed right now.

So, what it breaks down to is, I wouldn't mind paying around $100 for a new remote, but if there's something newer than the 620 that is comparable and has the "Help" function for the same price, I'd be willing to consider that one...I just know I don't like the RM-AV 3000 that I currently have.

[Link: avsforum.com]

A link to "AVSForum" and their Remote discussion isn't exactly what I was hoping for...Seems that a lot of that website is a lot of the same discussions of what go on here. Substituting one forum for another doesn't exactly answer my question of "should I spend the money on the 620, or is there something better/comparable for around $100 from Logitech/Harmony?"

How about this then:
[Link: remotecentral.com]

You won't find many Harmony lovers that come to this forum to help out others. So, if you are set on buy one, then you will have better luck getting your answer in a forum dedicated to the POS's. That's, I beieve, what Joe was trying to get at without wasting too much of his time.

There is nothing custom about Harmony remotes - in fact, they are as "un -custom" as you can get. Since many of the people on this website are "custom" integrators the general consensus is that Harmony remotes are somewhat insulting in the way they compete and portray themselves to consumers as a way to undercut the custom integrator and provide a level of control that a true control platrom or system would create.

Many of the guys here have an amazing skill set, both technical, creative and problem solving. Unfortunately setting up a harmony remote does not require any of these traits, so it's hard to get help here.