Review of Logitech Harmony 525 Universal Remote

[Suhit Gupta]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?art=2127' target='_blank'>http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?art=2127</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Logitech has a range of more accessble universal remotes under its Harmony brand and the 525 is its most affordable unit yet. It sports quite a different look to the other remotes in the range, but despite its price it's arguably the smartest of the lot. Certainly it looks eye catching lying on the coffee table. When you pick it up it has a good weight in the hand and is balanced well by the battery compartment at the base, which contains four AAA batteries. A set is already housed inside the unit and a spare set is included too, which is generous. The inexpensive nature of the product is only apparent once you start pressing some of the buttons, most of which are soft and spongy. Some are better, notably the direction control in the middle and perhaps most crucially, the volume and channel changing controls. "</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/2127-10.jpg" /><br /><br />A nice review of the Logitech Harmony 525. I have not seen the device in person myself but it certainly looks cool in the screenshots. It clearly doesn't suffer from the lack of tactile feedback problem of the Kameleon One-For-All 8RF Universal Remote Control that I had reviewed some time back. I have generally been very happy with most Logitech products (keyboards, mice, cameras, etc) but have never used their remotes. What do you guys think of Logitech remotes?

[Jason Eaton]

Currently using the Logitech 659 remote:

http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/productimage/80-100-710-01.JPG

Overall summary is that it is a good all in one remote and truely acts as a gateway to my home theater system. Being task based allows ease of use and setting components to the 'proper' settings with one click was the seller for our household.

However, the path to this remote nirvana was not an easy one to navigate.

Impossible? No. Just not straight forward enough in their set up program. Getting which components you have in the device is simple enough. Just look at the serial number on the back of the each component, go to the website program and punch them in. In my case all the components were already in the database and ready to go. If they weren't the remote can 'learn/mimic' signals from the original remotes with ease.

Once the components are understood you step through a simple question and answer session for each task. Take 'Watch TV' for example, it would ask you what channel should the tv be set to, does the cable box control the channels, what function does the reciever need to be on. (If you only have one type of component it would skip the easy questions, like which tv do you display a picture on). Once done all you do is press the task button at te top of the remote and everything gets turned on and set to the right settings. No fuss no muss.

The drawback? Well not every button can be represented as a hard/physical button. So every task that all your componenets could do with the remote are jammed up into the digital display and seperated into pages. In my case with just three components (TV/DVR-Cable/Reciever) I had roughly 25 screen pages that I would have to flip through to find a specific feature.

This is where the remote becomes make or break in my mind. If you use every single button on your remotes you will get frustrated looking for a command. You will not like the remote. If you can pair down the functions to a handful of things you do most often and still enjoy your experience then there is still hope.

I consider myself pretty basic when I watch a DVD or TV. I don't fuss with camera angles, setting surrond sound setups on the fly, or anything else that my previous remotes would let me do while I am watching something. I set it up the system, and then let it ride. My wife would give me the business end of the back of her hand if I was goofing with things during Titanic. =)

With this mind set in place you can go in and 'delete' all the functions you don't normally use from the digital display and focus on what you what you want and reduce the number of screen 'pages' .

An example for the task of watch TV I would have 'A, B, C, Page Up, Page Down, Live TV' for the DVR, with the rest being handled by the hard buttons. 98% of my watching TV tasks are accounted for and everything displays at once without any pages. Same can be said for 'Watch a DVD' and 'Play a Game'.

The problem is, deleting functions, adding functions, arranging functions isn't as easy as it could be with the HTML setup program, but once you do get it all set up, this remote becomes the only remote you will need... until you want to fiddle with things.

Price is a bit high, but the worth is there once you put some time in. I would say four out of five thumbs up.

[OSUKid7]

Better check out the Xbox 360 Universal Remote Control (http://us.gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-entertainment/xbox-360-universal-remote-control-137037.php) as well. Now that's one fine remote. :D

[sojourner753]

Better check out the Xbox 360 Universal Remote Control (http://us.gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-entertainment/xbox-360-universal-remote-control-137037.php) as well. Now that's one fine remote. :D

Looks like Logitech may make a killing off of this remote with minimal effort. Especially since its nearly the same as the 520.

[PJE]

Anyone know where I can get the 525 in the USA...

I have a philips Hard Disc/DVD recoder that uses the red/yellow/green/blue buttons extensively and it would be nice to have a remote with these buttons.

[sojourner753]

Anyone know where I can get the 525 in the USA...

I have a philips Hard Disc/DVD recoder that uses the red/yellow/green/blue buttons extensively and it would be nice to have a remote with these buttons.

You can get it online from Logitech, Target, and WalMart... maybe others.
Not sure if its in stores yet. I'd keep an eye out for atleast Walmart if you really want a brick &amp; morter.

[Chris Gohlke]

I've been looking for the 525 at Wal-mart for over a month now. Logitech's website has indicates that it is available at the store in my area, yet the store knows nothing about it. E-mails to logitech have not been responded to. I have a feeling I will either love or hate this device, so I really want to go B and M so I can return it easily.

[PJE]

As far as I was aware the 525 is the european version of the 520 which was/is available from Walmat. The only difference I can see is the additional four colored buttons which are useful for all devices for common actions.

I may have to get my parents in the UK to send me one for Christmas :D

[sojourner753]

I just received an email from Logitech stating that the 520 is now available ja couple of days ago. So hopefully the B and Ms will begin to carry it soon.

[PJE]

I've just downloaded from the hi-res pictures of the 520 and the new 360 - and it looks like the 360 is better suited for my use (it has the four color buttons in a larger size at the top, and is available in the USA).

Button counting give the 520 46 buttons and the 360 54 Buttons...

Assuming all the buttons are programable and that the 360's back button can be programmed to be the 520's Guide button then there are four colored buttons and four function (clear/display/title/enter) buttons below the number pad which are added to the 360 remote.