Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Need universal remote recommendation.

I have the G68SL, DSP5500's, Roku, DirecTV and JVC projector .... looking to replace my MX-880 remote because it requires a professional with their software any time you want to re-program or update the system? Any suggestions for remotes that work nicely with Meridian kit?

I find the MSR+ is not bad once it's learned the other (non M) codes.

Harmony Elite with the hub - expensive but extremely flexible.

We have several Universal Remote Genesis around the house.

They run on 4 AA batteries. I rely on my installer to program but I've watched them program the remotes and it seems it's not too difficult. We have the older model but it seems they have a newer one with nicer graphics and finishes etc. Ours have endured years of typical home use dropping on to wood and carpeted floors, even stone floors. Maybe getting a little wet. No problems. Far more reliable than the more advanced remotes like Crestron, which we also have but we really just like the feel of a more traditional "clicker"... And these are far less expensive than Crestron.

Not sure if they are state of the art or behind the times with everything on phones these days but I don't want to use my phone as a TV remote...

Interesting option Jerry.

Has anyone done a serious bit of automation using globalcache devices? i.e. More than a single RS232 connection to a processor controlled by the vMSR; and perhaps using the GC-100 range of products.

I currently use iRule with a GC-100-12 (using both RS232 to my G68 and Lumagen, and then IR to some other devices) and an iTach Flex with the RS232 to the Oppo player. It works very well except I'm sick of a purely touch screen remote, and so I'm currently setting up a Harmony Elite with some hard-wired IR links via a Xantech splitter connected to the Harmony's hub.

It seems none of the hard button remotes are easily capable of controlling all IP devices. The Harmony hub has WiFi but doesn't let you enter IP strings. The URC MX-5000 lets you enter IP strings, but simple HTTP strings need to be fully entered (i.e. the full HTTP header that is sent over TCP rather than just the URL with the remote handling the HTTP protocol) rather than trivially done like iRule. Maybe Neeo will be the one remote to rule them all, if they ever ship!

Thank you all, I am leaning towards the Harmony Elite

I've had the Harmony One and Harmony Ultimate. Both great at replacing multiple remotes and very configurable, but both suffered from a frustrating delay after pressing any button. Is the Harmony Elite any better in this respect?

I've only had my Elite a few weeks but my initial impressions that it is a lot faster than my previous 900. Previously, with my 900 , I spent a fair bit of time optimising the various delay settings and found I could improve it quite a bit. For my 861, I reduced the inter-key delay to 100ms from its default value and the number of command repeats down to 0.

I'd be very interested in the answer to this. Specifically, I have a Harmony 650 which takes ages to start up all the components in an activity (TV, Sky box, video processor, surround processor) during which the remote has to maintain line of site to the components! I would hope that the Elite, with dedicated IR leads can do this more efficiently, if not in parallel.

The Elite works via the hub and can't transmit IR commands directly. You have to position the hub (and its blaster attachments if needed) such that it has rough line of sight with your equipment. I find that it blasts IR (and Bluetooth) over a very wide arc and haven't has any issues in this respect.

Ooooh, Bluetooth. Does it work with the PS3 and, say, the FireTV?