Best Universal Remote for a Smart Home

Logitech Harmony

Harmony, by Logitech.

Spent about $300 for a Harmony a few years ago, at the time it was like am I really spending this much on a fricking remote? But it's great.

Didn't see it posted.

Logitech Harmony

I think I'm the only one who hates Harmony. I have an elite and find it to be a pain in the arse and generally more trouble than it's worth

quote:

---

But in terms of DIY universal remotes, I don’t know of anything easier since the removal of IR blasters on android cell phones

---

You could always opt for the really DIY method and put together an ESP IR blaster for dirt cheap. Commands can be issued via http, so you can control via app, alexa, web page, command line, whatever.

quote:

---

You could always opt for the really DIY method and put together an ESP IR blaster for dirt cheap

---

And for nearly as little, you could buy a used GlobalCache device ($30-50 on eBay fairly consistently) where you could bring your own control app (there are probably 20 compatible ones, ranging from cheap to Control4) and get nearly as much control/customization options with far fewer headaches (I would bet).




There are a handful of cheaper, adequate options. But if we factor ease of use into it, I really don’t think Harmony is capable of being beat.


I actually bought a GlobalCache gc100. Something like 2 serial ports, 6 individual IR (and you can set it to fire out of a single port, and I believe you can even set it to receiver triggers in the IR port to trigger actions, but I didn’t have the need) and a pair or so of relays/contact triggers. I tend to think of myself as fairly adept. The device was easy to set up. It worked pretty reliably. The control app i set up to use it (myuremote) even gave the option for IP control from the app (rendering the blaster device unnecessary for some devices but keeping a unified interface for control of everything).
The problem? You haven’t met my wife. App-based products with a dedicated device that stays in that room (it was an old cell phone. It stayed charge. The UI was not slow) were inadequate for her. So now there’s a second Harmony Pro upstairs.

quote:

---

doesn't really look like it suits my style.

---

I figured the contact closures would intrigue you a little bit (you have to use their software and define the trigger and time to close/open the circuit). There are actually lots of people using these for garage door openers, though they’re pretty “dumb” as far as that goes.


ETA- I heavily considered rigging one of these to tie my fireplace to my universal remote system, but the wife needs/wants a physical remote, and the only way to rig that together would include one of the high-dollar dealer solutions unfortunately, so i haven’t played with that portion of it essentially at all.