Logitech Harmony H-659 Advanced Universal Remote Control (Black) | 
 enlarge | Brand: Logitech
Category: CE
List Price: $179.28
Buy New: $69.99
You Save: $109.29 (61%)
New (4) from $69.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  125 reviews
Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 1.3 x 2.3 x 8.1
MPN: 966179-0403
Model: 966179-0403
UPC: 097855028778
EAN: 0097855028778
ASIN: B0003QER82
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Easy to use, easy to set-up |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The Family Remote. If you want your entire family to be able to use the entertainment system to its fullest, the simple layout and one-touch Activity Buttons makes the 659 the ideal choice. Main Features Manufacturer: LogitechManufacturer Part Number: 966179-0403Manufacturer Website Address: www.logitech.comProduct Type: Universal RemoteWireless Technology: InfraredInterfaces/Ports: 1 x USB (Receiver)Dimensions: 8.1" Height x 2.3" Width x 1.3" DepthWeight: 5.8 oz
Amazon.com Product Description
A good universal remote may control an entire home entertainment system, but more often than not, it also looks like the instrument panel of the space shuttle, with dozens of intimidating and confusing keys. Enter the Logitech Harmony 659 remote, which is not only simple to program and use, but also consolidates a user's preferences for watching TV, viewing movies, or listening to music into three clearly labeled buttons. Simply press the Watch a Movie, Watch TV, or Listen to Music button to activate all the appropriate equipment--including surround sound components--and the remote does the rest. The device will automatically switch to your favorite settings for each component, while offering you a host of customized controls on its interactive LCD screen. It's called Smart State Technology, and it puts you and your family back in control of your home theater system. The remote is an ideal choice for families with kids, though in many cases, it's the grownups that will find the simplicity most appealing. Like many other universals, the remote lets you assign tasks to individual buttons. However, unlike most other remotes, it also lets you create new functions to specifically match your component, such as when controlling multi-angle playback or zoom on a DVD player. To do this, merely connect the Harmony remote to your computer through the USB port, install the included CD software, walk through the Web wizard's step-by-step setup process, and start programming. Once you enter the model numbers of your components and answer a few easy questions about personal preferences, you'll soon be able to control a complex home theater setup without any hassles of frustrations. The Harmony 659 also includes a learning port, which picks up commands from other infrared remote controls to simplify setup even further. And should the setup process ever get too confusing, the remote includes a handy Help button that guides you through common troubleshooting steps--the only remote on the market to do so. The Harmony 659 is compatible with everything from surround sound systems to satellite and digital cable boxes to DVD players. As a further enticement, Logitech includes two free months of TV listings. For the computer setup to work properly, users will need to own USB-equipped computers running Windows 98 SE, 2000, Me, or XP or Macintosh OS X 10.2 or later. What's in the Box
Harmony 659 remote control, software installation CD, USB cable, four AAA batteries, quick-start guide.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 120 more reviews...
Great Universal Remote, but w/Lots of Setup Time November 16, 2008
If you do not mind the amount of setup time {reason for 1-star deduction}, this remote is fantastic. ELEVEN items are programmed INCL. a bedrm heater, bedrm fan, lvgrm fan, bedrm macmini, and even a music server to stream from home office pc to lvgrm home theater system {Logitech Wireless Music System for PC}.
Understand folks, ONE remote in household for 11 things.
The software is very easy BUT it is time consuming for initial setup [make sure you are not in a hurry]. As far as batteries, we use rechargeables and only replace, maybe, once per month--if that. The "activities" setup is also quite useful and an excellent feature {think ==> turning on -or- off three or four components simultaneously...does not get any better than that}.
Especially like the ease of button customization. For example, you do not have to accept the default settings. It is very easy to put your frequently used buttons (FUBs)---the add'l ones, as opposed to the standard ones that are physically on an original remote---on the first page [lcd screen] {e.g., power toggle, change dvd<==>hdd for a dvr recorder, commercial skip, etc.}. For each of the eleven components, the add'l FUBs are displayed on the first one-two pages on the lcd screen. This eliminates scrolling thru several unnecessary pages, given the way the defaults for any add'l buttons are initially set up. You can even delete the add'l default setup buttons you will probably never use; hence, some of your components could end up just having two or three pages to scroll thru on the lcd screen {think ==> default might put power toggle, power on, AND power off under add'l buttons which is overkill; ONLY power toggle is used and is simply named power}.
Lastly, you can easily rename your add'l FUBs &/or your components {e.g., InputDVD ==> DVD, PauseLiveTV ==> PLTV -and- DVR-B/DVR-L to distinguish between our bedrm/lvgrm dvr recorders, etc.}.
We have had the h-659 for nearly four years now...NO complaints. Overall, a terrific product, and do not see the need to ever upgrade. Thx-
Great remote - easy to use October 6, 2008
I have three different Harmony remotes -- I'm a big fan. In fact, I pre-ordered this remote when I read an article about its upcoming release, because I was so excited about the prospect of a universal remote that actually worked. This remote has lived up to its promise.
First, as I indicated above, I'm a big fan of Harmony Remotes. You can program them to do everything that any of your devices' IR remotes can do. In general, the dedicated buttons on the remote are enough to handle the tasks that you do 90% of the time. Less frequently used functions can be configured to appear on the LCD screen, which displays 4 (or 6 - it's configurable) items at a time, and can scroll. For really seldom-used functions, everything that the device's remote can do is accessible in "Device" mode.
I have never had any trouble with the website's programming applets. Some folks hate them, but I'm not one of them. There have been occasions where I have had to try a configuration, and go back to tweak it, because it wasn't working exactly the way I wanted it to. I would rather do this on my computer, using the website's huge database of devices and IR codes, than to try to program it manually, the way I used to have to do with older universal remotes.
I also do not have the problems that some other folks complain about where the device state gets out of sync. I always program my devices using what they call "discrete codes", where there's a different command for "On" and "Off", instead fo a single "Toggle Power" command, and different commands for TV input selection. I never have to try to find the discrete code settings, even if they're not provided by the device's original remote, because Logitech's online device database already has all of the discrete codes for all of my devices stored and ready for me to use.
The Harmony 659, in particular, is a solid performer. The button layout is a little bit odd, in that the transport controls (Play, Stop, Pause, Rewinde, etc.) are all located all the way on the bottom. This can be a little awkward, but ithasn't really caused me too many problems. Also, they are laid out such that I don't have to think about which button is where - the button I'm looking for is always right where I think it ought to be, even though it's a bit of a reach for my thumb. This model does not have all of the buttons that are available in some of the more expensive models (when I was trying to use this for a DVR, I missed the "Skip Fwd" and "Skip Bkwd" buttons), but where I'm using it right now, it has all of the dedicated buttons I need.
Overall, this is a solid remote, at the inexpensive end of the awesome Harmony line. I've recommended Harmony remotes to everyone who's faced remote problems. If your usage patterns require additional buttons that aren't provided on this model, there's almost certainly a model that has those buttons. For the room where we use this remote, it works great.
 FANTASTIC!! September 8, 2008
This remote does exactly what it promises. It took about 25-35 minutes to completely set up and there was no "pairing" of remotes required (all done via internet). My wife even loved it and now my mother, mother-in-law and other old relatives will be able to watch stereo TV and movies without having to write a book to tell them how. My wife, who is usually the naysayer on all electronic products, wants to get another one for the bedroom as well. Great product!!!
 Hunk of Junk July 13, 2008
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is an absolute hunk of junk! After wasting hours with what should have taken minutes I am sworn off of any Logitech remotes.
Here is what I sought to accomplish: a single remote that controls my DirecTV DVR (channel up/down, menu, select, etc.) and my Yamaha amplifier (volume up/down, mute.)
However, this was not a simple task. The Logitech software requires that you identify such processes as what devices are to be engaged to make this task happen. What tasks? I just want the power on! I don't need to change the TV's input, I don't need to turn on or off the power of other devices, I don't need to think of it as my "TV Sequence."
All I wanted to do was map the functions either intelligently by assigning the IR values of each remote to the button on the Logitech, or just learn the individual IR values with the device's remote aimed at the Harmony. Neither of these options proved fruitful on this over-thought, over-wrought, hunk of junk.
The software application that runs on your PC to control this device was not written by someone who has a basic understanding of the end task. All it did was get in the way.
Rather than purchase the Logitech Harmony, you are better off holding a representative value of dollar bills out the window of your car to let them pass with the wind, as it will be less frustrating than attempting to program this device.
Now, to "Office Space" it.
Works Great,BUT July 4, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The Harmony H-659 is very user friendly and does the job very good for my family BUT, this is my second purchase after about two years. The first one i satrted having problems with the OFF button that you would have to press it 5-6 times before it would turn off the devices and then eventually the OFF button would not work. I am hoping I get more than a couple of years out of it this time but it does works great.
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