Disaster recovery and virtualisation

[CatmanV2]

You lot are more likely to have a view than most I know. Our much used Logitech Harmony is (not so) slowly dying.

And Logitech have discontinued the entire line.

And no one else appears to be making something similar.

Was going for a Sofabaton X1, but no numeric keypad. Sofabaton U1, but no favourites.

Anyone got suggestions?
Needs to have those features, oh and not be only a phone app.....

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[Pabla]

This may not be super helpful… but to avoid this exact situation I am stocking up on Logitech harmony devices that are being sold second hand. I haven’t found a single universal remote that comes close to Logitech Harmony line up. Maybe try your local marketplace?

[CatmanV2]

@Pabla No it's not a bad idea. Just not keen on buying one that might be in the same condition. Prices have gone bonkers as well

There's the other issue that Logitech will eventually stop making the software, and then your stock may well be little more than paperweights

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[Pabla]

@CatmanV2 said in OT: Universal Remote:

There's the other issue that Logitech will eventually stop making the software, and then your stock may well be little more than paperweights

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I don't use their cloud thankfully and have them locally connected with HA so I hope they don't completely brick these devices

[CatmanV2]

That's interesting. I thought the cloud was the only way to program them now? Or are you using the Elite or something?

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[Pabla]

@CatmanV2 Hmm on second thought programming new devices will be interesting without the cloud. Maybe they'll just shutdown cloud access for controlling your hub when your not home?

[CatmanV2]

@Pabla no idea. I know that my IR ones can't be updated without the cloud. Always the way. Bring back the Pronto!

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[RogerO]

Since I have a bunch of Logitechs as well, I backed this on kickstarter. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/flirc/the-skip-1s-universal-remote-control-by-flirc/description Should be shipping soon I think. This is their commercial webpage: https://flirc.tv/products/skip1s-remote?variant=43489094729960

[Pabla]

@RogerO this actually looks promising. Only issue I see is that the remote is what communicates to the devices not a hub. I enjoy having all my devices hidden in a cabinet since the harmony hub is sending the IR signals.

[a-lurker]

@CatmanV2 said in OT: Universal Remote:

Bring back the Pronto!

Probably not quite what you're after but there is a Vera-virtual-pronto-remote plugin.

Just need some sort of IR transmitter(s).

I use a couple of minimotes to turn on/off the source equipment, operate volume, pause, mute etc. You can use luup code to set up complex sequences.

[CatmanV2]

@RogerO Thanks. No favourite channels though

At least it's a reasonable price

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[CatmanV2]

@a-lurker Thanks, no. Not fast enough IMHO

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[therealdb]

I'm mainly using my Harmony Remote via the hub (so, voice commands via Alexa and scene) and the remote is in fact in a drawer since we moved to the new house (5 year and a half). Since I've added the SkyQ box in my setup, the SkyQ remote is enough (they have apps directly integrated into the box, so no need to use the TV remote anyway and no need to switch outputs). In other rooms we have Fire TVs, so we're already covered. Today I'm just using the hub when we (rarely) watch live TV on Sky in other rooms (thanks to a distribution system mapping HDMI outputs to DVB-T channels) and to automatically turn off TV when leaving the house (ie: kids stopped playing at xbox seconds before we're heading out and forgetting to turn off TV - I have TV on when turning on xbox, but I prefer to turn if off). I have spare IR emitters that someday I'll repurpose. I'm just using command from MSR to home assistant to send codes and I'm not using presets anyway.

I guess the future is in no-remotes setups - even TV manufacturers have started to remove buttons from their remotes

[CatmanV2]

Yeah. Being old we tend to watch live TV. So we actually control the cable box more than the TV

[therealdb]

@CatmanV2 I'm not that old but yes, kids (well, I'm still calling them kids even if they are 23 and 15 ) are watching TV with me just for football (and there I mean the real football played with foot ) and the trend is probably more about casting to your TV and using your devices as the remote than needing a remote.

Looking at my previous setup (and the one I started in this house), I have completely removed scene controllers (I still have one and that's used only by my wife) and remotes and have more automations/voice commands in place.

[CatmanV2]

@therealdb we are that old

Why one earth would I want to cast from my Tivo to my TV when there is already a perfectly good cable? And why would I want to open an app to chose channel on Tivo?
Have exactly this issue with my Streamer (until I got it upgraded to take a remote)
Listening to music
Phone rings
Can't hear caller because of music
Need to come out of call, open app, turn down volume, return to call.
Just (and I will sound like a luddite) cannot see this is as a great experience
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[therealdb]

@CatmanV2 oh, we're definitely not automated/integrated everything, and things are a little bit weird ATM. that's why I told my wife we will build a new house in 10 years, so I could start from scratch and really choose the best tech after all these esperiments (LOL) and I hope than in 10 years (I'm looking at your, matter) interoperability will definitely improve things like the one you mentioned.

[CatmanV2]

Just to close this off, I managed to get a Harmony Elite and Hub from ebay. Lightly used at a reasonable price.
God knows why they are pulling out of the market. First impressions is it's an ace bit of gear. Didn't realise quite what the hub could do and am thinking of getting another to replace my Broadlink in the cinema.

Thanks, all

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