Logitech Harmony 659 Family Remote Control

Logitech Harmony 659H

Strengths: Easy to use. Help button & screens fix most problems effortlessly. Can (still) use individual device remotes when occasion arises.

Weakness: Effort & time consumed to setup. Two ways to program (PC app & web or web only) unnecessarily confuses user.

After switching to HDTV, it was difficult for my wife to use our hodgepodge of AV devices of various vintages. She is happy now thanks to this programmable universal remote. We're both very pleased with our present setup thanks to Logitech's Harmony phone & web assistance. I'm in the USA and used LogiTech's 1-866 toll free line for two calls (to Toronto, Canada) that lasted a total of 3+ hours....

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Your wife and visitors will love you

Strengths: One remote, one button! I have purchased the more expensive Harmony remote after owning this one for two years and sent it back. My wife and friends loved the ease of use and setup.

Weakness: Tech support is outsourced :-( , but they do answer quickly and resolve ANY questions. Also, for DVR users, the record, FF, RR, and stop are located at the bottom of the remote.

Although on the weaknesses I stated the button locations, they did move them up to the center in the next models up. I didn't like the location of the other buttons on those remotes though. After entertaining at my house, Three family and friends purhcased the same remote.

Logitech Harmony 659 Family Remote Control

Strengths: Fully customizeable, great layout and feel, controls everything you can throw at it

Weakness: Font of function labels on LCD display too large - hard to differentiate similar functions

I have tried a bunch of affordable universal remotes over the years, and have dumped every one of them because none of them controlled every function of every device I use. Even if they had learning functions, it was too much of a hassle to program them, and then I would forget which custom key controlled which new command. The Harmony Remote is the best universal remote system ever, in my...

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Logitech Harmony 659 Family Remote Control

Strengths: Extremely strong web support and setup. Excellent instructions and customer service is awesome.

Weakness: None that I can think of. This remote rocks.

I had my entertainment system setup in about 20 minutes after answering the questions. I would advise anyone buying this remote to not load in the CD and just go to the website and download the necessary program, since the CD included is already outdated. Works like a charm and excellent battery life unlike my Kameleon battery-aholic.

Logitech Harmony 659 Family Remote Control

Strengths: So far, seems to work exactly as we wanted. We needed all controls on one remote and one that no one could mess up. A Help button is available and programs the remote.

Weakness: There doesen't seem to be any

On our current surround sound system with about 8 components, we had managed to reduce 4 or 5 remotes into 1 remote, but one still had to know the procedures in order to change channels, music, dvd, etc. My son recommended the Harmony as one remote, user friendly, and almost impossible to confuse anyone. My husband has used it exclusively since my daughter and I programmed it (Christmas gift) and...

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Logitech Harmony 659 Family Remote Control

Strengths: So far, seems to work exactly as we wanted. We needed all controls on one remote and one that no one could mess up. A Help button is available and programs the remote.

Weakness: I gave up on programming after spending 3 hours. My college-age daughter worked for a couple of hours and also worked with the tech team. It was easy to reach them and they are very helpful.

On our current surround sound system with about 8 components, we had managed to reduce 4 or 5 remotes into 2 remotes, but one still had to know the procedures in order to change channels, music, dvd, etc. My son recommended the Harmony as one remote, user friendly, and almost impossible to confuse anyone. My husband has used it exclusively since my daughter and I programmed it (Christmas gift)...

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Logitech Harmony 659 Family Remote Control

Strengths: This is simply the best universal remote that I have ever owned, and I have owned many! It controls all of my devices without a problem, and it is user friendly enough that even my in-laws can use it

Weakness: My first unit had a glow light out, but Harmony took care of it without a hitch

If you are looking for a remote control that is easy to program and easy to operate, then look no further! I love this thing. It has made life so much simpler for my hi-tech,home entertainment system. It does great with TIVO. Their customer service dept. is second to none! They are the best that I have ever dealt with.

Logitech Harmony 659 Family Remote Control

Strengths: +Activity-based organization of remote +LCD screen for custom of buttons +Retains up to 2 weeks of TV listings for display +Backlight +Utilizes punch-through technology +Internet set-up of IR cod

Weakness: Haven't found any

I have owned many upper-end remote controls including the Sony 2000 and the HomeTheatreMaster MX-500. This is the best by far. AND, my wife actually likes it too (that says alot!). All buttons and configuration of the remote are done over the internet using a very friendly wizard. Type in the Make and Model number of ALL of your components and the correct IR codes will be downloaded!!! PLUS, it...

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Logitech Harmony 659 Family Remote Control

Strengths: Extremely simple to use. Painless to program. Easy updates. Your configuration is stored on the website for easy reprogramming. Buttons light up, and can be turned on and off with a button press.

Weakness: Can't tell if your components are on or off, but their method of synchronizing the power states is really nifty. Just press HELP and it makes it's best guess, which somehow has been right every time.

I really like this remote. I've seen the more expensive ones, and they're neat too, but this one is much cheaper and does a great job, and it's easy enough for the family to use. It's super easy to setup and program. Their website walks you through a series of questions that completely eliminates the old process of creating macros and programming specific buttons. It couldn't be easier. And the...

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Logitech Harmony 659 Family Remote Control

Strengths: Remote controlled all of my devices right after the first upload of codes.

Weakness: None so far.

I just purchased this remote last week. So far I cannot find any problems. The remote operated all of my devices right after the initial programming. This included my Linksys media adapter. It did require some tweaking through the help menus on the remote and through the online programming. After about an hour I was able to get my most used buttons and commands available adn up front. Once I got...

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