Logitech harmony 1100 Remote Control Review
Logitech harmony 1100 is the most advanced and also the most expensive Harmony remote control on the market. At around $400, the remote control is a device in itself and is primarily aimed at the most advanced users. Its predecessor, Harmony 1000, was the first tablet style remote control with touch screen from the Logitech. The Logitech’s aim was to bring professional grade remote control to the home theater enthusiasts that wanted all the features without having to get an advanced degree. The Harmony 1100 is a direct upgrade to the Harmony 1000.
Features
The Harmony 1100 boasts a 3.5 inch color touch screen all in a manageable size that is neither too big nor too small. Like the other Logitech Harmony remotes, it can control up to 15 devices via infrared or RF with optional RF receivers. The Logitech Harmony remotes are very popular due to its simple programming feature. The Harmony 1100 utilizes the same easy way to program the remote control. The Harmony 1100 highly customizable in the way you operate the devices and the overall display. The Harmony 1100 comes with rechargeable battery with fairly decent battery life via docking station. The Harmony 1100 has motion sensor that will power up the remote when you pick up the remote control.
Design
The Harmony 1100 retains the overall tablet shape from the Harmony 1000 model. The LCD screen dominates the left side of the remote control. There are plastic touch guides next to the LCD screen for positioning purposes. These guides are meant to coordinate your touches on LCD screen for easier operation. The right side of the remote contains the volume, channel, audio buttons, and the directional buttons. The channel and volume buttons have changed their positions from the Harmony 1000 model. The overall color changes from solid silver to solid black in Harmony 1100.
Ease of programming
As with all Harmony remote controls, the Harmony 1100 is programmed by connecting the remote control to your PC or MAC via USB cable. The installation of the included software is very easy and intuitive. You can choose your installed devices from the database provided by the Logitech. Afterwards, you simply go through the steps of telling the remote how your devices are connected and how they are to be used within the home theater system. And, you simply program the remote on the activity and what the activity requires in terms of device function. It is very easy to program and very user friendly. There are no codes to input or further programming as the program will upload all the commands and macros to your remote control.
Ease of Use
The Harmony 1100 is very easy to use. Unlike other tablet remote controls like Pronto, most non professional users should have no problem operating the remote control. The few solid buttons on the remote are very useful as most of the time you will only use channel and volume buttons. The operation via touch screen is seamless. The Harmony 1000 had some sluggish performance issues with its operating system. The harmony 1100 is more responsive and faster when it comes to touch screen operation. The functions and operation from touch screen is very easy to use and the plastic touch guides are nice touch.
Overall
This is a nice upgrade from the Harmony 1000 model for people looking for a tablet remote control that is easy to use. The cost might be prohibitive for most users but for those that are looking for the very best remote money can buy; this is the one remote control you should consider.
Pros
- Nice LCD screen
- Easy to use
- Easy to program
- Rechargeable battery
Cons
- Price
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Logitech Harmony 1100 Universal Remote with Color Touch Screen List Price: $349.99 Sale Price: $249.99 Used From: $199.99  |
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Logitech Harmony 1100 Universal Remote with Color Touch Screen List Price: $349.99 Sale Price: $249.99 Used From: $199.99 |
This site contains the personal opinions of various authors and contributors to this website. The opinions in these articles and reviews are offered in good faith, but also come with no guarantees or warranties.
I have had the 1100 for about 9 months. I dropped it and the screen is blank. I have been told that Logitech WILL NOT fix bad units. I will NEVER purchase something this expensive again if I cannot get it serviced. It is now just a damn paper weight!!!! BEWARE!!! It is EXTREMELY sensitive to drops (even on carpet!!!!)
Thank you for posting about this subject I found you on google and I will return back for more info. Keep up the wonderful work.
Harmony Remote 1100
Easy to program, easy to use. Works with everything I own, include the Sattelite and cable boxes.
No macro (sequence) capability???
I’m baffled why logitech would remove sequences from their new models like this one and the 900. This is a big time deal breaker in my book. If you get this remote expecting to be able to program a button to do more than one command, you’ll be sorely disappointed. Imagine you want to toggle captions on your tv, and this take 4 button presses to navigate your tv menu to do it. A simple macro like this can be put on a single button on just about any programmable remote. It is impossible to do on the 1100 unless you make it part of an activity. Something like this was very easy to do on their previous model. Just be aware of what you’re getting and don’t automatically assume newer is better. The pictures may be prettier, but at the expense of important functionality. Don’t be taken in by looks alone, and pass on this major blunder by logitech. Maybe they’ll come to their senses and release a 1200 that is at least as functional as a $10 remote.
Quite possibly the best GPS EVER!!!!!
My boyfriend and I just drove our winnebago from Buffalo, NY to Casa Blanca, NM for a wild and crazy adventure. We ended up getting lost somewhere outside of Nashville. We stopped in a mall parking lot to get some sleep and buy a GPS in the morning. After pricing a few GPS’s at some of the stores we had our sights set on a TomTom XL 330S, but the salesman, William, urged us to buy this Logitech model. William proceeded to tell us that this was what we needed. He said it had all of the features that we were looking for. Ie. Text to talk, bluetooth, AM transmitter, along with maps of the US, Canada, and Mexico.
There was a sign that stated that if we opened a chargecard we would get either 15% off, or one year to pay it off. My boyfriend, being the Jew that he is, decided to open the card and take the 15% off. William showed us a case and a SD card for it also. All and all the purchase was for around $415 after the discount and tax.
We took it out to the winnebago to set it up, but it did not come with a charging adapter or holding dock. So we went back into the store, and William sold us a set of four AA batteries and a high powered magnet. He said that it does not come with a charger, but if we set it on top of the magnet the lithium ions would keep the batteries charged. He also gave us a roll of red yarn to hang it from the rearview mirror.
So we went back out to the car, and still couldn’t figure it out. Mind you, my Jewish boyfriend is a technical genius. We drank gin and tonics and played with it for about three hour , but still couldn’t figure it out. We went back inside to ask william if he could help us with it, and he happily obliged. We offered him a drink, but he declined. I guess he was on the clock and didn’t want to get fired. He was touching all of the doodads and trinkets when he just shoved his whole hand in his mouth. I could see his fingers bumping around inside his scrawny little throat. Before I could ask him what he was doing, he vomitted a boat-load of phlegm right onto our brand new GPS! He wiped his sloppy hand all over the captains chair and smiled. My Jew boyfriend and I were in such disgust that we were speechless. William then ran out of the vehicle yelling horrible anti semitic slurrs.
We went back into the store demanding a refund. We spoke with a supervisor, but he said because it was filthy he would not take it back. He also said that nobody by the name of William worked there. Feeling like we were duped out of $400, we hit the road once again. My boyfriend, copiloting, was still messing around with the GPS. And I’ll be damned, He figured it out. It was just like William had said. He hung it from the rearview mirror in its yarn cradle, and stuck the magnet to the back.
We made it all the way to our destination safely, while This amazing little Logitech system navigated our way. I would strongly urge anybody in need of a GPS to look at this model.
HArmony 1100
Excellent universal remote control. Functions exactly as advertised. Set up was extremely easy.
Fabulous remote!
This was an upgrade from a previous version of a Logitech remote. The touch screen is wonderful and the simplicity of the layout is amazing! This is the remote for people who are overwhelmed by too many options/buttons. The only drawback as far as I can see is the upgrade process from a previous Harmony remote. Most Harmony remotes can be upgraded automatically by the software, thus saving a lot of time and effort in documenting and re-entering all of the information. This one cannot, and it’s not made clear that this is the case in the documentation. However, once you “bite the bullet” and do the work, it is WELL WORTH IT!
Big improvements make this new model great!
We owned the Harmony 1000 remote for 2 years before my son accidentally broke its LCD screen. It still worked, and I wanted to repair the screen, but was told that Logitech didn’t repair them.
I reluctantly decided to upgrade, and purchased the new model, the Harmony 1100. I am so pleased! It was easy for me and my daughter to set it up on our PC, taking about 40 minutes total from opening the box to being finished. My Denon receiver, Wii, PS3, Samsung DVD player, Apple TV, and Sharp TV were all easy to set up (I knew their model numbers). The Harmony 1100 controls everything with ease except for the PS3. I would have to buy the PS3 add-on in order for that to work due to the IR signal it uses, and I have not done that yet.
The best improvements for this remote over the previous edition are its quickness in response time (no more seconds-long lags) and the fact that it does not randomly increase the volume anymore. It also cost less than my first version, even though it is still very expensive.
Finally, a real universal remote that is…universal.
Although rather pricey, the Harmony 1100 hits the mark. I have it programmed to operate my Scientific Atlanta HD cable box (Time Warner), Apple TV, Sony PS3 (with optional sensor), Sony receiver, and Samsung 46″ B8000 LED. Easy to program (via an iMac), very easy to operate and gives all of the features and buttons that the individual manufacturer’s remotes offer. Long battery life (had it for a month of daily use so far and only charged it once). Only 4 stars because I think the device activation speeds (“Activity”) can be improved. Definitely worth the money. I put all of my remotes away after programming the Harmony and have not had to retrieve any of them yet even for those rare “special needs” buttons. Logitech got it right.
Not Worth the Money…
I am reviewing this as a $500.00 remote and for that type of coin {or anything over $150.00 in my opinion} this remote is not worth the money. It has some nice features but the slide show doesn’t actually work. Instead of fixing it Logitech sent me a press release about how the language should have been removed from the box and they were sorry??? There are a ton of bugs on this thing. It took me 3 days worth of customer service calls to finally find out why my $500.00 remote wasn’t pulling up the right favorite channel. Again a known bug that has been in existence since the products inception {but none of the first dozen customer service reps knew about} and Logitech appears in no particular hurry to correct. My button setup has reset twice for no apparent reason, no one at Logitech CS knows why and it takes 30-45 minutes to set up again. Here is the best part, Logitech only supports the product for 90 DAYS!!! This is the worlds most expensive remote with a ton of bugs and after 90 days you have access to their FAQ section {useless} but HAVE TO PAY FOR CUSTOMER SUPPORT! In conclusion there is NO WAY I buy this remote again. It is unsupported by Logitech and a total waste of cash for what you get. There are a lot of cheaper options that will give you basically the same thing. Save yourself some $$$ and stress, buy something else!!!
Great Device but takes patience to program
I needed to control a room with the usual range of devices (flat panel TV, cable box, surround sound, DVD, VCR, Tuner, etc). The only way to do this simply (and avoid driving your wife into the insane asylum) is to use a single remote. 7 years ago, a professional installed a sophisticated Crestron hand panel which controlled everything in all the rooms in the house. But when we switched to a new cable provider and bought a new DVD, the Crestron needed to be reprogramed. Instead of the “few hundred dollars” we were told when we originally installed the system, the provider wanted $1600 – and Crestron would not give me any asistance in reprogramming the device myself since they only work with their dealer network. So I purchased the Harmony 1100 and now it works like a charm.
However, programming it took some patience and a little trial and error (especially getting all the individual remote buttons duplicated onto the single Harmony remote. You don’t have to be a tech-wizard to do it but plan on spending a couple of hours if you have a complex system.
You can also attach it to a Harmony RF wireless extender (which I did) so that even devices hidden in cabinets or around corners can be easily controlled. And it works great too. But again, it needs a little programming time so don’t try to set the system up twenty minutes before the Superbowl starts.
Simply Awesome
Awesome remote and one that I’ve been waiting for that lets me control everything I own. Easy to use and set up, and looks really cool too! Couldn’t be more perfect
Fantastic
This was a birthday day present for my husband and he was thrilled. It is so nice to have one remote and it works with a press of a button, literally. Its easy to program and use. I highly recommended buying it from Amazon.
A little mislead and slightly underwhelmed
I found this product to be ok. Being familiar with electronics but not higher end universal remotes I was underwhelmed by the setup process and somewhat mislead by the functionality.
While the setup software may be perceived as easy with regard to remote controls it was not particularly intuitive. In addition, when I finally called customer support, they were either inexperienced or were looking at a different set of software as they were only moderately helpful.
What disappointed me even more was the fact that the remote DOES NOT SUPPORT RF CONTROLLED DEVICES, IT ONLY SUPPORTS IR. I read multiple reviews which reference this capability and Logitech seems to be silent on the subject without significant digging. Their RF extender is only useful if you want to hide components inside a cabinet without a line of site to the remote.
The basic functionality is fine and easy to use once the device is set up but overall I am disappointed as my expectations were not met.
Perfect Harmony
The Harmony 1100 performs just as advertised and I am most pleased with product performance, tech support, and overall product quality. If there are questions concerning range or enclosed equipment, I suggest adding the RF extender. The two together are an unbeatable pair.
my sophisticated remote control
It’s a nice ( expensive ) remote control. One feature that I like is if u click DVD, it turns on the appliance that’s hooked up to the specific control in one touch of a button, and turns off the appliance that not in use. The battery doesn’t last that long ifits left on a counter and not on the cradle (charging unit). I love it, though.
AWESOME REMOTE!
I ACTUALLY PURCHASED THIS FOR MY HUSBAND FOR HIS BIRTHDAY, OTHER THAN A MIX UP ON THE NEXT DAY SHIPPING WE LOVE THE REMOTE. MY HUSBAND DID THE PROGRAMMING SO I’M NOT SURE HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS, GAVE HIM A NEW TOY TO PLAY WITH. REALLY NICE TO FINALLY HAVE ONE REMOTE!