Logitech Harmony 1100 Advanced Universal Remote Control

By admin on February 18th, 2010

Logitech Harmony 1100 Advanced Universal Remote Control

The Logitech Harmony 1100 gives you powerful home-entertainment control through a customizable, 3.5-inch full-color touch screen. Controls are easy to access and are backlit, so you can easily find them in the dark. One-touch, activity-based controls turn on the right devices in the right order with a single command. RF wireless capability lets you control devices without direct line-of-sight, so you can keep components in a closed cabinet or even another room (requires Logitech Harmony RF Extender, sold separately). The on-screen commands are customizable, so you get the commands you want, when you want them. The Harmony 1100 supports more than 5000 brands and over 225,000 devices.

Winner of CES 2009 Best of Innovations Award
Logitech Harmony 1100 Advanced Universal Remote – powerful home-entertainment control through a customizable, 3.5-inch full-color touch screen.

The Harmony remote makes it easy for any family member to use the home-entertainment system without help – and start any activity with just one touch of a button. NO more navigating a variety of entertainment components with multiple remotes and/or a complicated sequence of commands, which often require a set of written instructions.

The Harmony 1100 is a powerful, customizable remote with a stunning brushed metal and piano-black finish. Harmony 1100 – a brilliant addition to your living room.

Technical Details

* One-touch, activity-based controls
* 3.5-inch, full-color touch screen
* Customizable commands, icons and screens
* RF wireless capability. Support for 5,000+ brands and 225,000+ devices
* Rechargeable, complete with charging stand

What’s In The Box
# Package Contents Harmony 1100 remote control
# Charging station
# USB cable
# AC adapter
# Lithium-ion battery
# Installation CD
# Installation guide
# 2-year limited hardware warranty

System Requirements
Windows-based computer
# Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista
# 1 available USB port
# CD-ROM drive
# Internet access

Mac computer
# Mac OS X 10.2 or above
# 1 available USB port
# CD-ROM drive
# Internet access

Logitech Harmony 1100 Advanced Universal Remote Control Review

Great Windows MCE Remote
Bought this remote (along with the Logitech “RF Wireless Extender” kit Logitech Harmony RF Wireless Extender) for use with a Windows 7 64-bit based MCE Media Center. It works beautifully. Compared to something like a Philips Pronto remote, the Logitech setup process is ultra easy. Install the Logitech software, connect the remote via USB, walk through the setup wizard, and you’re good to go.

The (optional – I linked to it above) RF wireless extender lets you control equipment that’s not within line of sight to the remote, such as equipment that’s located in a media closet. I was a bit confused at first, because I wasn’t sure if I needed the RF wireless system from logitech, or the RF Extender. Turns out the Harmony 1100 has the RF transmitter built in, so you only need the receiver to make it work, so the extender is all you need for RF control.

Only nuisance is that Logitech’s pre-defined template for a Microsoft Windows Media Center PC doesn’t include a green MCE button. Thankfully I had an old infra red Microsoft MCE remote laying around, and had the Harmony 1100 “learn” the green button IR code, and added it to the template myself. Worked out ok for me, but if I hadn’t had the old remote laying around, it would be difficult / annoying to control an MCE box without a green button-enabled remote.

Range is excellent, and responsiveness is pretty good. It’s not quite as fast as line-of-sight infra red, but it’s totally usable and only slightly slower.

I was also able to program in my favorite channels. Logitech doesn’t include network logo icons, but you can download really nice ones from the web (iconharmony dot com).

I was worried about the size of this remote, and thought I would miss a more traditional form factor, but honestly it’s just fine. Fits nicely in your hand.