What Universal Remote including PS3?

xanadareous · 14-11-2009, 8:50 PM

Hi

I know there has been a lot of discussion on this but I cant seem to find a suitable solution...

I would like a Universal Remote that can control the PS3 too, but ideally not a Harmony as they are so expensive. Actually, I would have got the harmony but the adapter for the PS3 is also an expensive extra so not happy with that, it becomes way too expensive.

So is there an good Universal Remote that can control the PS3? Ideally it would do activities but if only the Harmonies do these then nevermind about that.

Thanks

Jamie · 14-11-2009, 11:08 PM

Whichever remote you get will need an adapter for the PS3 of some sort.

These range from simple USB dongle that can't turn the PS3 on to fully featured BT devices

Any Harmony will work with any of the different methods of PS3 control, you don't need to buy the HArmony one

xanadareous · 15-11-2009, 8:34 PM

Thanks. The Harmonies are quite expensive with the PS3 adapter, so if they work with a usb dongle that may be the best bet. I dont mind using the PS3 remote to switch it on if its a £40 saving (good thing about bluetooth is I dont have to actually pick it up and point), so happy to have a USB dongle (< £10).

I read the harmony 555 was good, on ebay its about £50 at least. The PS3 adapter is about £40! If the adapter wasnt so expensive I'd get it of course, but me thinks there is a little logitech greed going on, £40 to make a remote work with ps3 is quite a lot.

Are the harmonies the only "activity" remotes? If so, and they can control a PS3 through a usb dongle, then I think the 555 and a USB dongle would be a good solution.

Thanks

xanadareous · 15-11-2009, 9:00 PM

Didnt realise there were so many Harmonies... few people said the 628 was good and its £16 on ebay so gonna give it a go.

**logiciel** · 15-11-2009, 10:40 PM

I'd go for something more recent such as a 510.

metalguru · 17-11-2009, 3:23 PM

Which is the best and most recent out of 555, 525, and 510?

**logiciel** · 17-11-2009, 3:47 PM

The 510 is much the most recent and is limited to five devices. The 555 takes up to 15 and is the same as the 525 except for a split audio-video facility that few users require.

metalguru · 18-11-2009, 4:07 PM

So if I have more than five devices and no need for the split audio thingy I should get the 525?

**logiciel** · 18-11-2009, 7:50 PM

Spot on.

xanadareous · 06-12-2009, 12:15 PM

I have my 628 now... I must say is does everything I expected and is fantastic. This is the only Harmony I have used so cant compare, but for £16 I am well happy. Even the mrs can use it ok

. I think I might get a PS3 adapter now so the total cost is not too high, although not sure yet as its still a rip off at about £45.

Out of interest, what would be the reasons to pay the high prices of more recent models, apart from the look (because I think newer ones look a lot better, the 628 is old fashioned, but it does the job).

P.S. there is just one annoyance and thats the glow light does not turn off after a set amount of time, no matter what timeout I set, and a firmware upgrade does not fix it. So I just leave the lights off.

technogran · 06-12-2009, 4:04 PM

Or of course there's this remote which has the Playstation 3 control built in. It will only control 5 other pieces of equpment though. Take a look. Will retail at £45 pound or so I think.
Blu-Link Universal Remote Control for PlayStation 3 by SMK-Link

TG

xanadareous · 06-12-2009, 5:38 PM

Does it have "Activities" though? Because the Activites of the Harmony I have to say is the best ever feature of a remote I have ever come across!

**logiciel** · 06-12-2009, 7:47 PM

No, it's the tradional one-device-at-a-time type; you can see the separate device buttons.
The next time someone complains about having to use Activities on Harmonys I'll refer them to your comment.

xanadareous · 06-12-2009, 10:56 PM

Have people complained?? I've only had it for a week, a couple of times it didn't turn the Sky on/off so I had to go through the "Help" process but it hasnt happened again. I ordered the PS3 Adapter tonight, I cant wait for that then its all sorted. Just one click switching, fantastic

**logiciel** · 06-12-2009, 11:18 PM

They don't like the Smart State Technology they've paid extra for and want to use it like a one-at-a-time remote.
As you say it's far better and easier to have the SST doing its automatic work for you at the touch of a button.
When you need to use the Help button as a temporary fix you're meant to run the Troubleshoot for a permanent one - or ask here, of course.
Games people seem to think the adapter is excellent, though they had to wait a long time for it to be produced.

xanadareous · 07-12-2009, 12:31 AM

Ah right. Well my 628 does that, I assume the others do, although not as good as if it was dedicated, you have to use the "Device" button, then choose your device, then go through the screen menu to manage the chosen device. Its a little extra fiddly but I am very happy with that too, because the remote can control everything the specific device remote can, because it uses the screen to define all possible commands. So actually thats great too, I dont have to dig out the dedicated remotes to change specific device functions. E.G. my Harmony can swith to the Onkyo AV Receiver and control all the sounds like speaker volumes or sound inputs.

mattrixdesign2 · 07-12-2009, 10:41 AM

Hi

Just a note to say, I have managed to get my new Harmony remote (515) working with Sony Bravia TV / PS3 Slim (both using Bravia Sync) and Onkyo Amp. All of this is working together without a PS3 adapter (either harmony or a 3rd part infrared one)!

It works well, the activity launches the TV, then Amp, switches to "SyncMenu" boots up the PS3, DONE!

The only issues is the button functions are fairly limited, BraviaSync allows me to scroll L&R, Up & Down, select, play, pause, fwd, rwd, stop.

andy1249 · 07-12-2009, 10:58 AM

Yes if you have a Sony TV then the CEC control on the slim is 100% compatible and you dont need the harmony PS3 adaptor , of course that means having an LCD TV , nothing comes at no cost !!

A word about the cheaper Harmonys , I had a 555 for a year , and during that time went through 4-5 sets of Duracell batteries , so while the remote is cheaper , it eats batteries and overall is a false economy , factor in the price of the Batteries and I could have had a Harmony one for less.

I sold on the 555 and now have a Harmony one , much better remote , rechargeable and no battery costs to worry about.
So anyone considering a purchase might want to keep that in mind.

I see the 885 ( no batteries , it has a charging dock like the one ) is very cheap these days also.

mattrixdesign2 · 07-12-2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy1249

A word about the cheaper Harmonys , I had a 555 for a year , and during that time went through 4-5 sets of Duracell batteries , so while the remote is cheaper , it eats batteries and overall is a false economy , factor in the price of the Batteries and I could have had a Harmony one for less.

hmmmm - didn't think about the battery life, is it really that bad? I will see how I get on with my 515 it maybe an upgrade will be worth it one day.

xanadareous · 07-12-2009, 12:44 PM

The battery life on my 628 with glow light stuck on as I mentioned, did drain in a few days. I have had to change the glow light to not come on when you press keys which is a disappointment (the only drawback of my remote right now), but as yet I do not know how long the batteries will last as this was a few days ago.

BUT... I use rechargeable batteries that only cost a few pound more than normal so I just either charge them up or replace them with other rechargeable batteries I have.

**logiciel** · 07-12-2009, 3:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xanadareous

you have to use the "Device" button, then choose your device, then go through the screen menu to manage the chosen device. Its a little extra fiddly but I am very happy with that too, because the remote can control everything the specific device remote can, because it uses the screen to define all possible commands....I dont have to dig out the dedicated remotes to change specific device functions. E.G. my Harmony can swith to the Onkyo AV Receiver and control all the sounds like speaker volumes or sound inputs.

You should only need to use the Devices button on the very rare occasion that you need to test a command from the device storage area. All the possible commands, for each of the devices in an Activity, are meant to be either on hard buttons or on the screen within that Activity. You don't have to drag out the original remotes, OR use the Harmony as if it were a string of separate remotes taken one at a time. It's standard that all the control you need for your Onkyo is available within the Activities that use it - in my case all of them.

You're definitely right about rechargeable batteries - I always used them with my 525 and that was perfectly practicable.

xanadareous · 07-12-2009, 3:54 PM

Quote:

You should only need to use the Devices button on the very rare occasion that you need to test a command from the device storage area. All the possible commands, for each of the devices in an Activity, are meant to be either on hard buttons or on the screen within that Activity

Not sure I understand that... perhaps its different on different remotes. My screen for the 628 has only the colour buttons and a few others like Info. If I click Device, it allows me to choose a Device like my AV Receiver, which THEN shows all the possible functions for that Device. So if I want to turn my Subwoofer down a few DBs, there is no button for that on my remote, I have to press the Device button to access the device functions on the screen. I could probably program the remote to use a button for that instead, if thats what you mean, but I havent as I am happy with the buttons already assigned.

Edit: I'll check my screen tonight to see if all the commands are on there by pressing the Next button, but if not then I assume I could program it to add the ones to the screen I need, and then click Next to get there, rather than going through Devices.

**logiciel** · 07-12-2009, 7:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xanadareous

I assume I could program it to add the ones to the screen I need, and then click Next to get there, rather than going through Devices.

Exactly - that's what you're meant to do, and what most Harmony users do do.

Many of the commands for each device in an activity are assigned to hard buttons by the automatic setup of the activity, and some of the others are assigned to the screen. The idea then is for the user to Customise any further commands that he is ever likely to need from each device, to further screen buttons. The result is similar to what you've been doing - leaving an activity, and going into the device storage area to retrieve a command you need - but without actually leaving the Activity and going anywhere else - much simpler and quicker!

xanadareous · 07-12-2009, 7:54 PM

Cool. I'll look into that. I have only had it a week, and am just using the default "wizard" setup. I knew I could customise it but didnt see a need so far, unless I do this which sounds like a good idea, i always seem to be turning down the sub woofer! P.S. There are no Device options on the screen at the moment, so does like I will have to add them. Ordered a PS3 adapter so cant wait for that.

**logiciel** · 07-12-2009, 9:03 PM

That's OK and it takes most of us a whole lot longer than a week to get to realise what Harmonys can do!
Customising in Activities though is one of the basic functions - that's why the option for it is on the front page.
The number of commands that get assigned to the screen initially varies according to the type and complexity.
In some caes it's obvious that certain commands will be needed, but in others you get a clean slate.
Games people seem to like the new adapter, so you should be fine with it, but feel free to ask here about it too.

happyhiker · 10-12-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattrixdesign2

Hi

Just a note to say, I have managed to get my new Harmony remote (515) working with Sony Bravia TV / PS3 Slim (both using Bravia Sync) and Onkyo Amp. All of this is working together without a PS3 adapter (either harmony or a 3rd part infrared one)!

It works well, the activity launches the TV, then Amp, switches to "SyncMenu" boots up the PS3, DONE!

The only issues is the button functions are fairly limited, BraviaSync allows me to scroll L&R, Up & Down, select, play, pause, fwd, rwd, stop.

Can I do the same with a G10 then as that has Viera Link ?