How many remote controls do you have in your house? For my home entertainment equipment I have nine, I’m sure somewhere under the couch I’d find even more. I decided to purchase a universal remote and the Logitech Harmony 655 was my initial choice. Soon after purchasing this remote Logitech released the all singing all dancing Harmony 885. For several weeks I’ve been using the 885 and comparing it with the cheaper 665. This review will mainly concentrate on the 885 but I will be drawing your attention to the differences between each unit.

You’re no doubt reading this and wondering how much one of these would cost? The Harmony 655 retails at £99 and the Harmony 885 at £179 rrp, but both models can be found discounted online.

The Harmony 885 box arrived and looked suitably modern to compliment the remote that can be clearly seen within. The box contents are as follows:

• Harmony 885 Remote Control
• Charging Station
• USB Cable
• Installation CD
• Installation Guide
• Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery

The first task after unpacking the box was to dock the remote control with the charging station and leave it for several hours to fully charge. Thankfully a lithium-ion battery is supplied as standard, which avoids any battery level memory issues and allows the unit to be placed onto the charging station at any time.

Software installation is achieved using the CD provided. This installs a desktop client for the remote which will automatically launch the Logitech Harmony website when you connect the 885 remote to the PC* via the USB cable.

*Compatible with Microsoft® Windows® 98SE, 2000, Me or XP & Macintosh® OS X 10.2 or later

The website is used to setup and configure the remote control for your devices. After you've registered for an account and logged in you're presented with the main setup screen. It's advisable to write down all of your device make and model numbers before starting this stage. I found the setup procedure to be quick and painless. Several devices required me to use the original remote control to confirm the frequency used for each, which was relatively simple. It is also possible to ‘learn’ infrared signals using the original remote control for any buttons that are missing during the standard setup.

Despite the relative ease I had in setting up the remote I do think the setup procedure assumes that the user has a certain level of understanding of both the internet and system settings for their home equipment. Throughout the duration of the test I let my parents use the Harmony 655 and they needed me to set everything up for them, as the task of doing so themselves seemed daunting. This should be considered when considering this remote for your needs. Fortunately Logitech provide an excellent freephone support number and their customer service representatives do a great job of helping to set up the remote if any difficulties are encountered.

Once all the devices have been added you are guided through the activity setup wizard which chains together various commands within one button press. Logitech refer to this as Smart State Technology. Pressing the 'Watch TV' activity for my setup will turn on the TV, surround sound system and Inverto Freeview PVR. Selecting the 'Watch DVD' button will turn off the Inverto and turn on the DVD player. The remote does a great job of remembering which power state each device is currently at.  I chose to setup ‘Watch TV’, ‘Listen to CD's, ‘Watch a DVD’, ‘Play Game’ and ‘Listen to Radio’. After answering a series of questions regarding the equipment used for each of these activities it's time to write the settings to the remote. Time to test it out.

The remote initially assumes that all equipment is currently on standby. If this is not the case then pressing the help button will ask you a series of simple questions to ensure that all equipment is off.  The buttons on the remote control in this mode give me full control of the Inverto’s channel select and pvr commands; the volume control operates the sound system. It should be noted that the 885 signal transmission is excellent and there is no need to point the control directly at any of the equipment in order for it to respond to commands. For Inverto owners this is a huge plus point in comparison to the remote supplied with the unit. The signal transmission works equally well on the Harmony 655.

Ergonomically the remote is great. It rests very comfortably and is easily operated with one hand. The buttons on the 885 are flush to the body of the remote and although I did not find this a problem it may not be to everyone’s liking. The Red, Green, Yellow and Blue buttons may be small and fiddly for some people with big fingers. The 885 has an inbuilt tilt sensor that will automatically illuminate the keypad and screen when you pick it up. The 655 requires a button press in order to turn the backlight on and is styled differently. The buttons have more space between them and are raised from the body of the remote.

Additional setup options include selecting the relevant sound mode the amp should switch to, adjusting the TV input automatically, playing the DVD etc.

Both remote controls can be used in‘Activity’ mode or ‘Device’ mode. Activity mode will effectively provide only the buttons that are required for the chosen activity whereas Device mode will replicate the remote buttons for one piece of equipment at a time.

Conclusion:
After 3 weeks of use I can honestly say that the Harmony 885 has been a pleasure to use and has managed to replace all of my remote controls. Better still I have never lost the 885 as it is always returned to the charging cradle when not in use.

If your budget will accommodate then I’d definitely say the 885 offers enough extras over the 655 to justify choosing it. The inclusion of the colour screen and charging cradle alone are worth the extra expense.

The flush keypad was one feature of the 885 that I felt might not appeal to everyone so I would recommend you consider this before making your decision. My only other concern was the lack of a true macro mode.

Harmony 655 Conclusion:
Two weeks after confusing my parents with this new remote that I asked them to test I now have their verdict. Although initially hesitant to use the 655 remote, in place of those supplied with their original equipment, they are both very happy with the Harmony. They both commented on how much more convenient it is and also that it has simplified some of the more complicated TV remote buttons that previously had them puzzled while using the original remote. When asked if they would rather go back to using the original remotes or continue to use the Harmony they chose the Harmony.

If you have any questions regarding either remote then please feel free to visit the forum where you will find a section dedicated to Universal Remote Controls.

The ownership of incorporated Trademarks, logos, corporate identities and marques reside with the respective legal owners. Photos © Logitech Harmony and Inverto Forum.