Universal Remote

[dwrufus53]

It's been several years since Logitech pulled the plug on the Harmony remotes. I have three remotes (Harmony 665) that I've been nursing along, but all are showing signs of their age.

I've been looking for something to manage my modest theater system - a Samsung TV, a Samsung soundbar, an Apple TV 4K and a DirecTV satellite box. After reading many of the product descriptions and, more importantly, customer reviews, I am incredibly disappointed in the offerings. In general terms, the prices seem to be quite high and the shortcomings plenty.

What are you all using for universal remotes for your home media setups?

 

[Audit13]

I'm still using a Harmony 700. I also have a Harmony One that still works as a backup.

 

[erihp]

My harmony remotes are still kicking. Even recently expanded by adding some more Harmony Hubs. Will work with paired remotes or from Harmony app. Who knows for how much longer but it sure is nice having multiple Harmony hubs places in various rooms to be able to control anything with support for Activities. Additionally you can integrate them with HomeBridge. What more could ya want?

 

[goodthymes]

I still check out the universal remote scene every so often and I end up on ebay buying an "open box" or close to new Harmony 650/700 as another backup to my backup. Surprisingly no company has really stepped up to competently take over where Harmony left off.

 

[PhoenixDown]

My Harmony Elite is still going strong but I've been keeping an eye on SofaBaton. Sofabaton had some issues out of hte gate but it looks like things have gotten progressively better and the upcoming Sofabaton X2 looks like good.

 

[retiredatty]

Still using harmony 650. Works great since 2017. We have spectrum cable box, a recent atv, Sony dvd player, lg soundbar and lg tv. Great product

 

[Ruggy]

It depends which model Samsung remote you have but the one that comes with most of their smart TVs is already a universal remote.
It obviously works with the TV and should work with the soundbar. Apple TV works with most remotes reallywell and your DirecTV satellite box should work with it.
You don't get 100% full function on any universal remote however.

Use a Samsung universal remote to control devices connected to your TV

Samsung Care is here to help. Get started, find helpful content and resources, and do more with your Samsung products.

www.samsung.com

 

[dwrufus53]

It depends which model Samsung remote you have but the one that comes with most of their smart TVs is already a universal remote.
It obviously works with the TV and should work with the soundbar. Apple TV works with most remotes reallywell and your DirecTV satellite box should work with it.
You don't get 100% full function on any universal remote however.

Use a Samsung universal remote to control devices connected to your TV

Samsung Care is here to help. Get started, find helpful content and resources, and do more with your Samsung products.

www.samsung.com

We have 3 Samsung smart televisions in our home, and unfortunately, each one came with a different remote from the others. They all do seem to control the television(s) and soundbar(s), but not the other equipment (AppleTV, DirecTV box). One of them has a remote that matches the soundbar remotes.

So, whichever is the remote you are speaking about, it's the one that came with 33% of my Samsung smart televisions.

It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world out there.

 

[dwrufus53]

It depends which model Samsung remote you have but the one that comes with most of their smart TVs is already a universal remote.
It obviously works with the TV and should work with the soundbar. Apple TV works with most remotes reallywell and your DirecTV satellite box should work with it.
You don't get 100% full function on any universal remote however.

Use a Samsung universal remote to control devices connected to your TV

Samsung Care is here to help. Get started, find helpful content and resources, and do more with your Samsung products.

www.samsung.com

Love the instructions in the link provided. Go through the steps, and then #5 on the list says:
"Occasionally, the device may not respond after it's registered. To make sure the connection is made, you will need to re-register the device."

So, jump through these hoops and maybe it works, maybe it doesn't. How awesome.

 

[erihp]

It depends which model Samsung remote you have but the one that comes with most of their smart TVs is already a universal remote.
It obviously works with the TV and should work with the soundbar. Apple TV works with most remotes reallywell and your DirecTV satellite box should work with it.
You don't get 100% full function on any universal remote however.

Use a Samsung universal remote to control devices connected to your TV

Samsung Care is here to help. Get started, find helpful content and resources, and do more with your Samsung products.

www.samsung.com

yeah, what this can do on its best day is nothing compared to what a Harmony (or other macro/activity based remote) can do.