The home theater should be a cozy, dark, and inviting place. Anyone should be able to sit down and enjoy their favorite shows and movies without needing to refer to a manual and/or a technically proficient family member. Unfortunately, as the home viewing experience has become fragmented with cable boxes, audio receivers, set-top streamers, and videogame consoles, the coffee table has also become a minefield of remotes. Take back control and toss them in a drawer. All you need is one.
The goal here is to fuse all that functionality into a single remote with a simple layout everyone can master - not just the tech savvy. If your home theater requires a five-minute preamble on how to watch a Blu-ray or play a videogame, you've failed. By consolidating all those controls into one device you can decrease the chances a remote will be thrown at a wall (or another person). Who knows, maybe you'll finally get around to watching Solaris (the Tarkovsky version) too.
First off, it's important to emphasize that universal remotes are far from perfect. But they do serve a purpose when set up correctly. The Wirecutter recommends the Logitech Harmony 650 remote. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of its more feature-heavy brothers. But it does have customizable quick buttons for different viewing experiences, and it can be set up via your computer. For a universal remote that's supposed to reduce the anxiety and frustration of turning on a TV and other associated components, that's really all you need.
But while the remote itself is pretty simple to use, the software to set it up can be frustrating. Fortunately there's a robust Harmony software forum on Logitech's site that can help with some of the issues you may encounter. One of the most common problems is not being able to find your exact device while setting up the remote. A quick workaround is to simply choose a similar device from the same manufacturer. For example, if you can't find your Sony TV, choose a TV with a similar model number from Sony.
The 650 also only officially controls five devices. Luckily, it can be hacked to control as many devices as you want it to.
Now if the idea of spending $70 on a remote seems ludicrous, do your homework before bringing home a $20 remote. Be sure to check compatibility and remember that most low-end remotes won't work with RF-controlled devices. Some devices like the TiVo Roamio and the Roku 3 offer both IR and RF receivers. So if you've been using an IR-only remote, be sure that those devices are within the remote's line of sight.
Like the Harmony remote, if while setting up your new remote it's missing your device model, choose codes associated with similar devices from the same manufacturer.
The PlayStation 3 is a whole other problem with its Bluetooth remote. Logitech has an adapter for its remotes. But of course, it only works with Logitech remotes. There is a workaround: Some newer PlayStation 3s feature Control for HDMI. In this mode, the console is controlled via the HDMI port. This feature allows control of the console via your TV remote. Sony says it works with Bravia TVs, but those with Samsung TVs have reported being able to use the feature too. Check in System Settings to see if it's available and works with your TV.
Ideally, all this remote configuration should be the job of the person that set up the home theater. They (hopefully) know how everything works. Just remind them to keep it simple. The universal remote doesn't need to access every feature of your TV, just the basics.
The end game here is that the least technically savvy person in your household should be watching Pacific Rim on Blu-ray with amazing robot-on-kaiju fighting sound effects blasting their hair back without using three separate remotes. Even the home theater snob will appreciate that.
Roberto is a Wired Staff Writer for Gadget Lab covering cord-cutting, e-readers, home technology, and all the gadgets that fit in your backpack. Got a tip? Send him an email at: roberto_baldwin [at] wired.com.
Read more by Roberto Baldwin
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