Logitech Harmony 880 Remote Control Review
Harmony 880 marks a big improvement over the previous models. It is not an incremental improvement as 670 was for 550. The 880 essentially retains all the basic function but improves on the previous model with simpler layout and bigger LCD.
Features
Harmony 880 retains all the great features of the earlier models and adds some significant improvements. The way to program and operate the remote is essentially same as the previous model. The 880 adds larger color LCD with 8 hard buttons to go along with the LCD. The 880 is one of the first Harmony to use the rechargeable system. The 880 comes with built in lithium ion battery and a docking station. It retains all the DVR control function as well as on the fly ratio switching between widescreen and standard 4:3 ratio.
Design
The Harmony 880 takes its cues from the 670 with peanut shape. However, it is not identical to the previous design. The overall design looks sleeker albeit less egronomical than the 670 model. The middle section is more fleshed out compared to the 670. The remote control is essentially split into two parts. The top part is occupied by the large color LCD display and its 8 button to go along with it. Right below the LCD is the directional button and menu buttons. The channel and volume buttons are integrated nicely into bisecting line between the top and bottom. The bottom part houses the numeric buttons and playback function buttons. Remarkably, the 880 houses less button than the previous models. The buttons themselves are made out of hard plastic that fit flush against the remote.
Ease of programming
The 880 doesn’t depart far from its predecessor when it comes to programming. Logitech knows what it has and didn’t mess with the way Harmony remotes are programmed. As with all the previous models, you simply hook up the remote control to you PC or Mac and run the web interface program. The step by step direction is one of the easiest programming interface. You input manufacturer and model number and how the device is used in the home theater set up. You can set up various activities such as watching TV and playing DVD. The Logitech’s database is pretty big and will contain almost every manufacturer and models. As with any other universal remote, there are some trial and errors you will have to go through during the programming. Overall, this is by far the easiest way to set up a universal remote control.
Ease of use
Using Harmony 880 is as simple as choosing activity. Once you hit activity button, all the relevant devices are activated to run the activity. Make sure you charge the unit before programming as battery doesn’t come fully charged. There is motion sensor built into the remote so any movement will activate the remote’s back light. And, it turns itself “off” once there are no activities for set amount of time. This helps to save the battery life which is rated at 1 week usage between full charge. Regardless, you should always place the remote in the charging dock when you are not using it. You have to make sure all three charging contacts make solid contact for charging. If not, the unit will not recharge.
Pros
- New design
- Larger LCD screen
- Fewer buttons
- Rechargeable battery
- Good customer support
Cons
- No RF
- Some charging issue
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Logitech Harmony 880 Remote Control - Refurbished List Price: $199.99 Sale Price: $84.95 Used From: $70.00 Average Rating:   |
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.
Interesting post. Thanks for share
Outstanding
This product couldn’t be easier to setup and use. I was tired of constantly explaining to other family members how to use the TV and the various A/V components. The activity function to turn on the TV/Stereo/DVR with ONE button is a life saver. I no longer have to be on hand anytime some needs to watch the TV. It has also allowed me to throw away the comcast DVR remote wich is horrendous.
Logitech/Harmony deserve rewards for making the web interface and setups so incredibly easy. I have no idea how they accomplish this with the myriad of components and manufacturers, but despite the hefty price tag it’s well worth it.
The only problem I have encountered so far is finding the easiest way to setup PIP w/my Sony Bravia. I have it programmed and working just not sure i have it setup in the most efficient manner.
Harmony 880 Review
Great product and very easy to set up if you are replacing a previously owned or currently owned Logitech remote. I was reluctant due to other comments about the charger, but so far, mine has worked flawlessly. Great value.
These are the BEST
I got this one (880)for my brother and once we got it programmed he loves it just as I expected he would. It has eliminated like 4 remotes to just this one. I originally got and still have and still love my (659) which I have had since 2002. I would definetly recommend any these remotes. THESE ARE THE BEST!
Works but flawed ergonomics
I had high hopes for this remote to empty the basket of remotes next to the media center. Now, it’s just one of the 8 remotes in there.
Pros:
* Seems to work with most devices. Of course, my PS3 and Wii it does not.
* Appearance
* Feel in the hand is great
* Nice charging stand if you have the shelf space. My DirectTV control uses two AA that last a year. I think I’d rather have the shelf space back.
* Has the ability to setup multiple devices with one button push. The neat thing about this is that not only does it power the device on but switches the receiver to the proper input setting, etc.
Cons:
* Layout is horrible. The buttons you use the most (play, stop, forward, etc.) are under the palm of your hand when you hold the device. What were they thinking? You literally have to hold the remote in your finger tips to get at the buttons.
* Charger. My DirectTV control uses two AA that last a year. I think I’d rather have the shelf space back. Yes, the charger is a positive and a negative feature.
* The screen seems like a good idea but not so much. The pictures of this device always show pretty color pictures. Well, that’s only on the main menu, when the pictures make it hard to read the text. Every device menu is several screens of plain text. You have to page through the text looking for the right control. For example, power off is usually on page 3. How weird is that?
* Extremely labor intensive to configure.
* Configuration is tied to their web site. That’s horrible.
* Nobody in the house will use this remote but me because it’s just easier to use the original remotes.
* Power cycling is flawed. The media room devices are left in various powered on states by other family members. The remote has only the option to toggle the power for devices it needs to turn on or off. It makes this decision by what the remote remembers was done last. Therefore, it turns devices off that should be on and vice versa.
THE UNIVERSAL CHAMP OF REMOTES
If you have a home theater this remote is your ultimate solution to solving all your problems with your original remote controls.Yes say good bye to them.This universal remote will take care of all your audio devices up to fifteen units can be controlled with this one remote.It Has really made things easier for me to operate my home theater. One feature that’s nice is that it has A motion sensor,so when you pick up the remote, the colour lcd screen lights up automatically and comes on-no fumbling in the dark! The activitys feature of this remotes allows you to watch tv, watch dvd, or listen to cd and by pressing one button they will all power on and off. No one should have trouble with the initial setup. you need a computer (pc) to configure this remote control it comes with its own software to install on your pc. Write down your equipment model numbers, locate them on the Harmony website, and answer a few questions about your Home Theater configuration and the remote will know what to do! Also for people who need help they have staff on duty to help you set it up . I have been dealing with logitech for many years and this is one of there awsome products. The only thing it doesn’t work is my PS3 because that uses bluetooth. I have a feeling that an aftermarket IR adapter will come out to fix that though. Logitech constantly updates their database for new equipment so the remote won’t become obsolete when you add pieces to your home theater. I absolutely recommend this remote. BUY IT FROM AMAZON THEY HAVE THE BEST PRICES.
Best Purchase in a long time!
I’ve had this item just about a week now, and it’s amazingly wonderful. While this is clearly a complex device, setup is easy. I was a bit confused following the directions at first and called customer support. The rep I spoke with was very knowledgeable, and got me up and running quickly. Based on this experience, I rate their customer support A+. The phone centers in India have come a long way. Go Bollywood! Once the rep got me over the first hurdle, I’ve been able to do complex programming of all my devices, from a 20 year-old Kenwood receiver, to an XM SkyFi unit, to a brand new Yamaha home theater receiver. The web interface is clear and easy to use. Now the Harmony is the only one I use, and I have a drawer full of old remotes! This is one very cool device…treat yourself, you deserve it!
Great Product
I have worked in Home Automation and let me tell you, the Harmony can be a blessing or a curse. There are other companies out there that will give you remotes that do similar things for less, but none are as easy to set up. If you have a simple system and a computer, this remote will knock your socks off. All you have to do is tell it what components you have and it does almost everything else. If you have anything complicated that requires something the software doesn’t expect, you are going to bang your head against the wall for hours. I bought this for my brother-in-law who has one of those DVD/Surround sound in a box things. Well, for some reason during activity changes, it would turn off the Surround Sound. This caused quite a headache and they stopped using it all together. Guess when he springs for real AV equipment I’ll reprogram it. Until then, my sister can’t watch TV without calling him.
Defective Product
I purchased a new remote but the 0 button did not work out of the box. I called the tech support and we remapped the 0 button and found the remote to be defective. I then order a replacement and found the menu key to defective. There were other keys on the remote that would not work unless you pressed them firmly. I think this is a good product but the remote is not a high quality product. The remote should work out of the box!!!
Great
Excellent remote. Easy to setup and use. I
tried a Pronto remote and never had it work as well as this remote.
Easy to use, will eliminate the coffee table clutter
I got this for my birthday, and it’s absolutely great. It takes a touch of tech savvy to set up – mostly to find where on your A/V gear the model numbers are – but it’s still pretty user friendly. After years of not being able to do one function or another on a variety of universal remotes, this one does everything I use in my home theater. The charge cradle means no more batteries.
It’s taking me a while to get used to the lack of raised buttons, which were on every other remote I’ve ever owned, but that’s a really minor quibble.
Useful only in bright light
The design and features are great. You can customize it via your computer. Aside from that the control buttons are hard to distinguish and non responsive for the most part, the numeric pad is equally undistinguishable and the remote has to be recharged almost daily. And if that happens you have to go back to your standby remote. So keep it handy.
Perfect – exactly what I wanted
The 880 does exactly what it’s supposed to and has a nice easy computer based setup. If you don’t get it quite right you can troubleshoot it and the remote has a help feature that will get you to where you need to be even if you didn’t set it up just right. My wife LOVES it and she typically shys away from things like this. No more 5 remotes… Just one and a single button to for each task I want it to do. Make sure you have the model numbers of everything you have prior to setup and also note how everything is setup – then setup is a breeze. BTW – this even controls my XBox 360.
A must have – (But dont spill coffee on it)
Control everything from your TV to your ceiling fans.
Replaced old unit that worked great until the coffee
spill. Connected to website and reprogramed in seconds.
great universal control
this remote is great if u have several components u want to control with this one device. relatively easy to set up. I also have the 890 model on my main home theater and i love them both.
Great remote but not sure how long buttons will continue to work…
I am happy with this remote. It works great. Problem I am seeing after one year of use is, the Channel Up button is not working as expected. I have to press it really hard before I can actually change the channel. And I am sure it is going to happen with all similar buttons such as Ch-, Vol+, Vol-, Prev, Mute.
Fantastic Remote Control!!
This is a great remote. Very easy to program. Saves alot of time when you have lots of components to operate. I definately recommend this to anyone of any age!!
Slick remote control
This one remote contgrol replaced the remote controls for the cable box, HDTV, AV Receiver, Blu-Ray Player and VCR as well as controlling the DVR. One remote replaced five. A really slick product.
was great until…
I loved this remote until a recent software update caused the media function to no longer work. I bought this to control a 400 dvd player and that function is now inoperable. Logitech has said they would restore this in the next software update but it has been 4 months so far without an update. Disappointed.
Universal remote NOT universal
Still have not gotten it to work, even after having a computer service man.Was on the help line with Logitech. No help. Does not do the same thing the original remote does. I’ve gone back to that one. Over $100.00 wasted!
A gadget that does what it’s supposed to
Programming it was a snap, comfortable to hold, works with everything we have. The only complaint is that the buttons controlling recordings (fast-forward etc.) are pretty close and big fingers may push more than one. Otherwise very satisfied with appearance and function.
Couldn’t live without the Harmony 880
I’ve been using the Harmony 880 Advanced Universal Remote Control for the past 4 months now, and it has become an indispensable part of our home theater setup.
The Manufacturer’s Suggest Retail Price (MSRP) is ridiculously high. Even at Amazon’s usually-great prices, it’s still a tough purchase to make for a “TV remote.” But it’s like air-conditioning and peanut butter: you don’t know how much you need it until you’ve experienced it for the first time. If mine ever breaks, I will replace it, even at normal prices.
It took me three weeks to set up the remote; I was making it much more complicated than it really is. To simplify the product and understand how it works, you need to know this: The Harmony 880 works around “Activities.” Examples of Activities are “Watch a DVD,” “Play XBox 360,” “Play Zune,” “Watch TV,” or “Watch Netflix.”
Each device has a default state of either on or off. An Activity will turn on any device needed for a particular Activity and assign the controls to the appropriate device, e.g., volume controlled by home theater system and channels controlled by cable box. Switching between activities is easy, and doing that will turn off any device not needed by the new activity unless it’s an always-on device.
There are five things I really like about the Harmony 880. One is the level of customization.
Each Activity can be customized so that the buttons you use the most are displayed on the main screen. You may have to program some sequences, but it’s not difficult. The Activities that are auto-created do a fairly good job, but the power of this remote comes with its ability to customize it to how YOU use it. For example, I have set up a Widescreen button and a Normal button that change the aspect ratio. On the original TV remote, it’s a three-step process that requires me to press FORMAT, 4, and then EXIT, and it takes about 3-5 seconds. On the Harmony 880, it takes less than 1 second and requires only a single button press.
The second thing I really like is that it can learn infrared (IR) codes for any IR device. If the Logitech Harmony database doesn’t know about your device, use the included software to learn the IR codes. Everything I have, though, is able to work with the Harmony just fine, including my RCA Composite switcher, which makes switching between my N64, Xbox, and DVD player, as simple as a button press in the Activities menu.
The third thing I like about the Harmony 880 is the software. The software and firmware are updated fairly regularly to support new features and new devices. In addition, when installing the software for the first time, you will be asked to create an online account at Logitech. Your Harmony 880’s settings will be stored online, so if your computer ever crashes and your data is lost, you do not have to reprogram the remote to make minor changes. Instead, just download the latest version, install it, and you’re ready to customize.
The fourth thing I like is the back-lit keys and display, which make it easy to use in low-light settings.
The fifth thing I like is the charging cradle. This in itself has many benefits. First, it keeps the wife happy because we don’t have a gazillion remotes laying all over the living room. Second, we always know where the remote is. And third, we never have to replace batteries.
I could go on and on about this remote, and I think I already have, but I can’t stress enough how much easier it is to control our electronic equipment. There’s even a Help button that will ask you whether or not certain devices are on to troubleshoot why an Activity may not be working when it worked before.
I don’t recommend it to people who don’t have a good understanding of technical things. If you can’t set the time on a microwave, this is probably not the device for you. But for those of us who do understand, enjoy this remote. I know I do.
does everything but the dishes
This remote works great. It does a ton of stuff and even though other people said the buttons are too close, I like them. The only small problem I have has so far is it seems sometimes you have to press a button harder than other times. The charging station is a great way to keep track of the remotes location.
If everything was this easy, President Obama could go on vacation.
This is my second Harmony 880. The first, which lasted five years, worked well until someone dropped it and apparantly broke an internal part. The new one, which has an improved charging system, will work… well, who knows? The big thing about the Harmony is that it is a true universal remote that is incredibly easy to program via the manufacturer’s web site. I use it to control our HDTV, DirecTV DVR, tuner, DVD player, to automatically reset everything properly when I plug my iPod in and to dim the room lights! It emulates the remotes for every component in our system so I can use it turn speakers on in other rooms and in our yard as well, change the aspect ratio on the TV when necessary, etc. without having to think about it for more than a second or two. Best of all, it eliminates all those remotes so my wife, who had literally REFUSED to watch TV in our family room because of the multiple remotes, is happy again. (Though she doesn’t always let me watch the Lakers if something is on she’s more interested in.)
Amazon’s price for this item, incidentally, was better than anywhere else I looked.
The only negative (and the reason why I didn’t give it five stars) is Logitech’s customer support, which is non-existant once the product is out of warranty. An item this expensive ($150+) should at least be supported to the point where they would answer an email from a customer.
Excellent product
Coming from the Harmony 676, which took quite a beating for about 4 years, this thing is a nice upgrade. I love the charging dock. Charging/recharging batteries for the 676 was a constant PITA, and they’d always go out just at the wrong time. With this one you drop it on the charger at the end of the night, and you’re set.
Also, I’m hoping the keys will last longer too. The 676’s keys eventually stopped responding. I’m hoping the hard plastic will maintain better response over time than the soft rubber keys of the 676. Only time will tell.
The whole slideshow thing, color screens and icons are all froof that I don’t really care about. The remote performs well and has a charging dock. That’s what matters.
Pretty much does everything I want it to
The Logitech Harmony 880 remote made all my multiple remote problems go away. It has a slick design, the buttons are responsive, and the screen is neat.
It requires a computer hookup to program it, but it’s a fairly basic procedure. I’d say the biggest problem you’re going to have is trying to find what version your device is but that will always be a challenge.
I’d say the only drawbacks is that the battery life is hideous compared to a standard remote, and the charging station is temperamental. Also, the unit is overkill for a setup with less than 3 devices.
Other than that, this is a great addition for a serious entertainment system.