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 FeaturesManufacturer: 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.
Customer Reviews:
One remote to rule them all.......2007-12-21
I purchased a large, flat screen TV last year and I received a free Harmony remote as part of the deal. Unfortunately, one of my three kids flung the remote off the back of the couch onto our tile floor, and broke the remote. My wife and kids were lost trying to manually turn on the correct audio and video inputs without our Harmony remote.
I liked the remote so much that I ended up buying a replacement. It does a great job of identifying all your devices and the combination of audio and video inputs you need when you want to turn one of them on. I thought the Web-based program that helps you identify your devices was quick and easy to use.
A little too much.......2007-12-21
I just received my harmony universal remote. It is a nice remote, I like the fact that you can use the usb to connect it to the computer and you punch in your components model numbers, and it pretty much sets up the remote for you. I had a problem with one of the settings, and try as I could, I had a real ahrd time finding directions to correct the problem. The directions are online, and they are not that great. I just kept playing around with it for over an hour and I managed to make the
settings pretty messed up. Though it seemed like it was going to be a hit because it did control all my components, the fact that I couldn't find some basic simple instructions was sort of a turn off. I wish it was just a little easier to navigate, or I would have kept it, but for $89.99 I need something that is less likely to cause a headache trying to figure out. I consider myself pretty resourceful, and can figure most things out without needing instruction, but I guess I just couldn't tackle this one. I did return it, but it is a really nice remote if you have the patience.
Logitech never quite gets it 100% right..........2007-12-09
...and this is the most painful example.
First of all, I am a big fan of Logitech's remote programming style. It is a very good idea that lets you get most of the way there, in terms of programming, just telling the web site what equipment you have, and then it allows button tweaks to get the rest of the way. Nobody has a better approach.
Where they ALWAYS mess up is in what buttons are there or the feel of the buttons or their location.
The 659 has excellent tactile feedback. You can always tell when you pressed enough, but you get no silly/annoying "click" feedback (like with the 5xx series). All but four buttons are there, those two missing being the begining/end of recording buttons and the page up/page down buttons. Worst of all is that the transport buttons (play/stop/pause/record/etc.) are all located at the bottom of the control where they are very hard to access one-handed. Extremely poor ergonomic choice. Extremely. Should have left the number pad there.
Other than that, the 659 is an excellent remote. However, the less expensive, earlier, 628 managed to have the transport buttons in the right place (while having some other buttons missing), so why did Logitech regress?
Maybe they really want you to buy their over $100 remotes some of which do a better job of button choice and placement. Some.
Remote control for Dummies.......2007-12-05
We've had our Harmony for several years and frankly I think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. I've often felt like I needed to go back to college and get an engineering degree to learn how to work all the new-fangled electronic equipment, but the Harmony is easy to program (and I'm no computer whiz by a long shot!)and even easier to use. Contrary to another review I read, the batteries in ours last a looong time and my husband is a channel-surfer, so no issues there. It didn't take but a couple times to teach the grandkids how to use it. Whenever a problem is encountered, just press Help and it fixes it. What more could you ask for? It's worth every penny and I can't recommend it high enough.
Inexpensive and awesome.......2007-12-02
I now have three of these remotes. They are very easy to program and very reliable. I have quite a few devices to control with each and their data base has the codes for everyone. And, for tougher challenges, their free tech support line is awesome. I highly recommend this product.
Average customer rating:
- Seller Review
- Logitech Harmony SST-659 Remote Control
- Great, but buttons wear out.. Here is how to fix them for cheap!
- It's good enough
- Harmony remote
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Logitech Harmony SST-659 Universal Remote Control (Grey)
Manufacturer: Logitech
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics
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Audio & Video Accessories
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Product Features:
- Easy to use; the remote can automatically set-up your entertainment systemin seconds
- Updatable via community-driven database together with IR learning
- Works with all standard stereo and TV devices, plus TiVo, HDVCR, HDTV, Projectors, lighting control, satellite radios, amplifiers, and more
- Select TV shows, movies or music titles from the interactive display
- USB plug and play
ASIN: B0000TNZDK
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Amazon.com Review
If you've got a stack of remote controls, each with enough buttons to control the space shuttle, the Logitech Harmony H659 remote may bring some sanity to your coffee table. The H659 offers an innovative, web-based solution to corralling all of your remote functions into one device. This remote exceeded our expectations, even when it was asked to control a wide range of old and new devices.
The "Activity Remote"
Universal remote controls have been around for years, promising to simplify things for home theater or stereo users. The problem with these solutions, however, is that they are largely "dumb" devices, meaning they can only be programmed by pointing them at the another remote and pressing buttons on the old remote until the new one "learns" all the functions of the old. The Harmony H659 makes this hassle a thing of the past by placing 2 MB of solid state memory in the remote that can be updated via a PC USB connection. The information stored on the H659 is updated via an Internet connection and Logitech's (www.logitech.com) Harmony web site. The web site contains a database of virtually every electronics product under the sun that's capable of receiving signals from a remote control. The web interface walks users through a series of steps before uploading the proper controller interfaces to the H659.
Explore all the features of the Harmony 659 remote. |
While there are other web-enabled universal remote controls out there (most of which are more expensive than the H659), the Harmony H659's unique role as an "activity remote" is what really impresses. Instead of controlling each device independently, the H659 intelligently groups remote functions into activities. Each activity--which is granted a colored button at the top of the remote--corresponds to a grouping of devices. For instance, the "Watch TV" activity does more than turn on your TV, it also turns on your A/V receiver and digital cable box-- anything you have defined as integral to watching TV. And because the H659 knows everything about all of these devices, it knows how you want them to interact with each other. Want your receiver to control volume instead of your TV? Based on the settings you made in the web interface, the H659 knows this and promptly pumps up the volume on the receiver when you hit the volume button. It's this kind of intelligent control of all devices in, well, harmony that really places the Harmony H659 in a league of its own.
Design
The H659 is well-designed and the buttons are logically laid out. The remote fits comfortably in the hand and is well balanced. The all-important activity buttons arrayed at the top make it easy to trigger groups of devices that work together to perform a single function. The directional buttons at the center of the button are handy for DVD menus and digital cable interfaces. The LCD, which simplifies navigation through device functions, is clear and bright when the backlight is on.
Setup
Once we installed the included Harmony Remote software on our computer and connected the remote via the supplied USB cable, we went to the Harmony web setup interface. After filling in information about our home theater equipment (brands and model numbers) the interface prompted us to make selections about how we wanted our devices to interact. When the selections process is complete, the web interface packages the completed settings into a file that is uploaded to the PC. The update file is then used by the Harmony Remote software to load settings onto the H659. From start to finish, the entire settings and upload process took about 20 minutes-- a pretty painless experience. One note of caution for Mac OSX users: unlike Windows, the Mac OS will not automatically launch an executable that has been downloaded to the desktop. This can confuse the Harmony web interface, which depends on this functionality to upload and verify downloads to the H659. Fortunately, we found that we could trick the web interface into working properly if we manually launched the update executable on the Mac desktop. Better software integration on the Mac side would be a welcome improvement.
In the Den
We spent some quality couch time with the H659 and came away impressed. We were delighted by how much more control the unit gave us over our home theater. In many ways, we felt like we were waving a magic wand, turning on whole sets of equipment and firing up movies and CDs with a single button press. For more precise control of each device we could easily navigate to that device in the LCD menu and tinker with more specific settings. We also liked knowing that we could customize the remote for more advanced needs via the web interface. The basic settings were powerful enough, though, to offer the simplicity and control armchair commanders crave.
Pros
- Excellent integration of functions across all device types
- Easy setup and customization via web interface
- Up-to-date and accurate database of all devices
Cons
- Mac OSX compatibility could be better
Product Description
HARMONY SST-659 -- Is your family struggling to use your increasingly complex home entertainmentsystem? The SST-659 is so easy to set up and use, you'll soon wonder how you got along without it. Simply plug the remote into an Internet enabled computer, and follow the step-by-step setup process. Your whole family can control the entertainment system with the press of one Activity Button, and the SST-659 takes it from there. Amazing and affordable -- a winning combination, indeed! OS Compatibility - Windows 98SE / ME / 2000 / XP or Mac OS X with Safari 1.0 Requires USB port, 10MB hard drive space Dimensions - 6.1 x 2.1 x 1.3 Net weight - 4.5 ounces Package includes installation CD, USB cable, 4 AAA batteries, Quick Start Guide
Customer Reviews:
Seller Review.......2007-12-14
Twice I have tried to order this product from DBRoth. Both times the product has been in stock. Each time, 2 days later I receive an email stating,
"We're sorry, but the following order from DBROTH has been canceled.
We apologize for any inconvenience."
Huh? The remote was part of a much larger order that went through without problem. Only this seller canceled my order... TWICE. Since I cannot leave seller feedback because you must actually purchase a product to be able to do so I am writing this. It is the only way I can try to inform others.
Good luck getting your remote. If you really need it. Order elsewhere.
Logitech Harmony SST-659 Remote Control.......2007-11-21
The Logitech Harmony SST-659 is a great product. Eliminates the need for multiple remotes. No more fumbling around to set the correct video input, receiver input, VCR, etc. Setup on the PC was easy. My wife was against buying it saying it cost too much (about $100). Now she wouldn't give it up. Would recommend to all. May need to look at other Logitech models if you have a satellite dish or DVR. Other models are designed to handle them better. Would definately buy again.
Great, but buttons wear out.. Here is how to fix them for cheap!.......2007-08-10
This is a great product, but as many have noted, the buttons tend to quit working.
I have two of these and after about 2 years, 5 buttons on one of them quit responding. The fix is very simple. The bottom of the rubber buttons (which contact the circuit board) have a conductive carbon coating on them. This coating wearing thin/off is what keeps the circuit board from registering the button presses.
Fry's electronics sells a button repair kit that essentially allows you to repaint the carbon coating onto the bottom of the buttons.
You will have to take the remote apart, but it is simply 4 screws holding it together (2 on the back and 2 in the battery compartment). After taking the 4 screws out, the 2 halves of the remote need to be gently pulled apart (they snap together). Then you will find 2 more small screws that hold the circuit board to the top half of the remote. Remove these. All the keys are on a single rubber piece. Clean the bottom of the rubber keys and the circuit board contacts with rubbing alcohol. When it is dry, follow the painting directions on the kit.
The name of the repair kit is "Caikote 44" and the part number is K-CK44-G. I bought it at Fry's for $5.99. You can order it directly from the manufacturer for $7.99. There is enough paint in the kit to repair a lot of remotes, cell phones, basically anything with rubber keys.
Just Google "Caikote 44" and you will find the manufacturer site easily.
Don't throw away an expensive remote that you can fix for $5.99 and a few minutes of your time!
(and no.. I don't work for Caikote)
It's good enough.......2007-07-10
I bought it because it was being offered at a great price. The remote works well to control all my components but it has its quirks. I find myself having to press the help button often when the remote forgets to shut off the TV. Though, I have been too lazy to call up Logitec's customer service to see if there is a more permanent fix. Also, it would have been nice to include designated DVR buttons like the higher end models, but it isn't too much of a pain especially considering the price I paid ($50)
Harmony remote.......2007-07-03
This was the least expensive remote ($60 on sale)I could find to operate my new Viewsonic 32" TV (n3251w) as well as the Direct TV R-15 DVR. The TV was the issue as new Viewsonic have a unique code.
Anyway the remote works well. Online setup was simple and straight forward. The buttons I use the most are relatively small and grouped fairly close together. I've had it for over a month now and ocassionally I still need to still push the light key to see the button and push the right key. Also, I hardly ever watch live TV and use the DVR to playback my shows. The buttons to work the fast forward, rev, pause, etc., are located at the very bottom two rows of the remote. Bad place for these keys, it's almost a two handed operation to push them.
Product Description
MODEL- 966179 VENDOR- LOGITECH INC FEATURES- Harmony 659 Remote Control- Black 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 make this remote the ideal choice. Includes Remote control Software installation CD USB cable (4) AAA batteries Quick start guide.* USB Plug 'n Play After completing the Web Wizard set-up program the remote by simply connecting the Harmony Remote to your computer with the supplied USB cable.* Help Button One touch help for any problems you might encounter.* Activity Buttons Easily start your favorite Activities with just one press of a button!* Interactive Display Easy to read interactive display keeps you in control and informed of what is going on.* Backlight Glow Backlighting makes the buttons and interactive display glow brightly for easy use in the dark.* Learning Ports Just point your original remote at the Learning Port to capture and use any infrared command with the Harmony Remote. -- SPECIFICATIONs -------------------------------------MEMORY - 2 Megabytes Non-volatile flash memory. HARDWARE - Backlit LCD 84 x 48 pixels 51 top mounted hard buttons Infrared sensor USB communication Speaker. INFRARED (IR)- 3 wide dispersion high power LED's Range > 40 feet Sending frequency > 60 kHz Sensing frequency > 60 kHz.REQUIRES - PC with USB port Windows 98SE/Me/2000/XP or Mac OS X with Safari 1.0 Internet access 10MB free hard drive spacePOWER- While connected: USB power from PC when not connected: 4 AAA 1.5V batteries.SIZE - 8.1" x 2.3" x 1.3" WT.- 5.8 oz.
Product Description
Is your family struggling to use your complex home entertainment system? The Harmony Remote SST-659 is so easy to use and set-up that your family will love it. Set it up by simply plugging it into an Internet-enabled computer, and follow the step-by-step set-up process. Your whole family can control the entertainment system with the press of one Activity Button, and the SST-659 will take care of the rest. You'll be amazed.
Product Description
MODEL- 966179 VENDOR- LOGITECH INC FEATURES- Harmony 659 Remote Control- Black 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 make this remote the ideal choice. Includes Remote control, Software installation CD, USB cable, (4) AAA batteries, Quick start guide. After completing the Web Wizard set-up, program the remote by simply connecting the Harmony Remote to your computer with the supplied USB cable. One touch help for any problems you might encounter. Easily start your favorite Activities with just one press of a button! Easy to read interactive display keeps you in control and informed of what is going on. Backlighting makes the buttons and interactive display glow brightly for easy use in the dark. Just point your original remote at the Learning Port to capture and use any infrared command with the Harmony Remote. -- SPECIFICATIONs ------------------------------------- MEMORY - 2 Megabytes Non-volatile flash memory. HARDWARE - Backlit LCD 84 x 48 pixels, 51 top mounted hard buttons, Infrared sensor, USB communication, Speaker. INFRARED (IR)- 3 wide dispersion high power LED's Range > 40 feet Sending frequency > 60 kHz Sensing frequency > 60 kHz. REQUIRES - PC with USB port Windows 98SE/Me/2000/XP or Mac OS X with Safari 1.0 Internet access 10MB free hard drive space POWER- While connected: USB power from PC, when not connected: 4 AAA 1.5V batteries. SIZE - 8.1" x 2.3" x 1.3" WT.- 5.8 oz. MANUFACTURER WARRANTY:nbspnbsp1 YEAR MODEL- 966179 VENDOR- LOGITECH INC FEATURES- Harmony 659 Remote Control- Black If you want your entire family to be able to use the entertainment system to its fullest, the sim
Customer Reviews:
Nice Looking but useless to me.......2007-11-05
First: it is unfair to rate the quality of this item. It is further unfair to say anything bad about this product because I cannot get it to work. That said, let's begin. I bought this in September 2007 and so far I can get it to turn on and that's it. On several calls to Logitech's support staff (SS) I have been told several different stories about what I need to do to my computer to get it to work. Nothing that I have been told by the SS has even come close to working. When you are ready to use this device, you have to download the supplied disk so that you can access Logitech's website so they can provide the tools that you need to make your devices work, i.e., TV, DVD, Cablebox, etc. When nothing works, Logitech says it is because my firewall is blocking access to their site. After disabling ALL security blocks it still will not permit access for downloading. Discussions with the SS continue to be a waste. I wrote two letters to the Senior VP and have yet to even recive the standard automatic response. They need to see how the real pros at Amazon do it. So here I sit with a useless hunk of brand new $130 junque. Any suggestions?
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