Comments on: Logitech Harmony Remote 555 – longterm review

By: mick

mick — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 08:48:50 +0000

can anyone verify if the harmony 555 will work with Bush/Grundig HD freesat box ?

By: Jed

Jed — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 16:26:45 +0000

My 555 Update 14 months later, still working although I never got around to working out the problem with the ACTIVITIES function (see above dated Jan 16th 2009), yes it works okay but I hate the clicky middle buttons, the battery life is quite good, I still prefer the feel of my Kameleon URC8060 but the battery life is poor compared to the Harmony 555 which was the main reason I changed over.

By: Micha

Micha — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 12:06:09 +0000

Just to balance the notes here: I bought my 1st 525 remote ~3 yrs ago; while there have been multiple technical issues along this time – I have since purchase 4 more 555 units for my children and friends and all are very pleased with the Object oriented concept and the vast dB idea. I have used it for multiple complex systems like sony multidisk player, media center and various home theatre systems. the key lesson I got is to understand well the various functions programming options and use them effectively. especially usefull is “learn IR”.

By: Pato

Pato — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:30:06 +0000

Hi bought the 555, and i have the same problem mentioned before, the activities doesnt really switch on the right stuff, the tv and minidvd hometheatre set turnas on, but to the wrong settings, i have my audio on aux opt, but it always turns to usb or something other non programmed thing. very fustrating, i have to use the help function very single time i switch from tv, to dvd, to comp, i check my settings online and they are exactkly like i want, cra crap

By: Long term review: Apple TV and Boxee - blog - James Cridland

Long term review: Apple TV and Boxee - blog - James Cridland — Tue, 26 May 2009 22:35:48 +0000

[...] still, I discover that my Logitech 555 universal remote also talks to my Apple TV, which is [...]

By: James Cridland

James Cridland — Tue, 26 May 2009 21:39:45 +0000

I discover that it copes with my AppleTV, and now that I’m temporarily without my Sky dish (there’s a tree in the way I suspect) I’m rather pleased to simply reprogram my telly to use Freeview instead. This remote makes things simple. (Eventually!)

By: James

James — Wed, 06 May 2009 16:03:59 +0000

Update on my remote not working.
Just been informed that a can of pop
had been spilt on it.after a couple of sprays
with maintenance spray and left to dry
it has sprung back to life.bloody kids it’s as
good as new.

By: James

James — Tue, 05 May 2009 10:55:15 +0000

U should be ok it’s backed up online
So when u login2 ure account all settings
will still be there

By: Adi

Adi — Tue, 05 May 2009 10:36:22 +0000

In next days I must reinstall my computer.
What data I must save of Logitech Harmony 555 setting or I must begin from start, when I add a new equipment.
Thanks for advice!

By: james

james — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:32:39 +0000

This is the second one ive had no problems setting up all
activities working fine.Now comes the but,after around a year of use the problems start.First it starts to freeze
followed by having to keep removing the batteries to make it work.So then i think reflash the firmware that will sort it
but no,im now sat here with the remote plugged in but not picked by software.The pc sees it but the software dont.The thing is once you’ve had one of these you cant do without it.
So looks like im gonna have to make it three.

By: Mark M

Mark M — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 17:53:23 +0000

Adi you need to install the software for your remote on your PC, connect remote to your PC and then set up your remote to suit you, it is easy once you start

By: Adi

Adi — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:18:35 +0000

I buy this Remote yesterday without basic manuals. There is some word about setup.
Where I can find, how to use buttons and theirs functions.
In this momement I am in DARK.
Thanks for any advice about my problem!

By: Mark M

Mark M — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:39:04 +0000

I got this remote, found poor compatibility with my new tv. I phone, freephone, to customer support, wow they were great explained everything and sorted out the glich. Now merrily set up 14 devices and even more activities. My mum can now switch on Cbeebies for my daughter without phoning me at work and even change to the DVD player and back without WW3 breaking out between a toddler and a granny!! I love it. You have to expect some gliches with such a complex piece of kit but customer support is tops.

By: Jed A

Jed A — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 09:27:59 +0000

I agree with all the posts here regarding the Harmony software IT SUCKS although I had the 555 remote operating all my equipment in next to no time and I customised some of the keys so that the TV would always control the volume regardless to which device was selected but as far as the ACTIVITIES function forget it, the first time I allowed the software to set an activitiy it sort of half worked it turned some of the equipment on but not all although using the individual device option I could fully control each device, all I really wanted the Activity function to do was just turn all the equipment on but do you think I could get it to work, NO the only thing that would turn on when pressing the Watch TV or whatever you decide to call it activity was just the TV, and yes following the help function always provoked everything else to turn on but I still to this day cannot get the Activities function to work, I spent almost an hour on the phone the other evening talking to a really helpful guy at Logitech’s support call centre in Holland, he even generated an Activity that he claimed would work with some minor tweeking from me afterwards, I uploaded the Activitiy to the 555 remote and it didn’t even turn the TV on, maybe a HARD RESET will resolve the problem but I don’t recall reading if there is a way to reset the romote although there must be a way to to do it, what can say except don’t buy one of these remotes unless you have alot of patients to get it to do what you want, to be really honest I wish I hadn’t bought the damn remote.

By: micha

micha — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:48:44 +0000

Thank you Yves, you are probably right – the software is now functioning well. It would be, however, expected from Logitech to enable the server to handle all users workload. Do you have plans to upgrade the server capability?

Micha

By: Yves

Yves — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 12:30:57 +0000

I found the software is sluggish when the connection to the Logitech server is poor. I suspect that the Logitech server is overloaded at times.

By: micha

micha — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 10:55:03 +0000

My problem with the software is that it is getting stuck after taking few steps of setting up the device. I used it on Vista to no avail.

any idea?
thank you
Micha

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:05:39 +0000

The hardware build quality is quite nice, but the software the most appalling piece of sh*t. Dismally written, it takes an absolute age to achieve anything.

By: P.J.Denyer

P.J.Denyer — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:47:04 +0000

I am really pleased with my Harmony 555, I have spent quite a bit of time tinkering setting it up exactly the way I want it, but to be honest it was usable after about 30mins, I only think it is confusing if you try to use it like a regular universal remote (ie: Device based), when you accept that it is designed to be activity based, which is a new but really very straight forward, concept it becomes very easy.

At the end of the day this makes using a complex home cinema set up with multiple devices and input switching very simple for the user, apparent simplicity on the serface normally means sophistication and preperation behind the scenes and such is the case here. Take your time, follow the software, use the activity modes and make sure that the person how sets up the remote really understands the home theatre setup and it goes fine. My wife, who after three months still had problems with multiple sources, some of which go through the amp, some direct to the TV could control everything with the 555 straight away, that was worth an afternoon’s setup time.

By: Richard

Richard — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:06:19 +0000

Really surprised to hear of people’s problems with set up.

Where or not it is because I followed the instructions and Neil’s comment about updating the software but I found the set up a breeze and the software easy to use. I had my TV, Sky+, AV receiver and DVD all set up on the remote within 20 minutes without any issues arising.

No sign of the motion sensor mentioned by James, perhaps they’ve discontinued that idea.

True you can bamboozle the device by switching off a device manually but the help button resolves the matter.

I have to say I’m very pleased with it