Side by Side Comparison of: RCA vs Logitech

I purchased this remote because my mother in law needed a new one ( we just got her a digital
antenna because we are cutting down on cost by removing cable from our home) . I like that
the numbers are big and that it will fit well in her hand. This remote is simple. The one we
had before had like 45 buttons that we only really used 7 out of on a daily basis. My MIL
only uses like 5 of the buttons to be honest. On and off being the main ones, lol. Anyway,
I was the one who set it up for her on her TV set. It was very simple. I tried to use the provided code, but
it did not work in that way. It was easiest to just go through the codes one by one with the set code/ pick devise/
then hit power as many times as needed until TV shuts off/ then click enter. She has a giant Sony so it only took
about 30 to 40 clicks until it located the code. Piece of cake. Price is a steal. I bought one for my office to replace
another one we dropped (it was broken). If you are needed a cheap universal remote, go for this one. It works great. Easy
to set up , and price can't be beat. I recommend it hands down !

Works just as it should. Please be aware if you are like me and didn't read enough, the remote does not ship with batteries. But that does not take away from the product just wirth a trip to the store before your package arrives.
The remove came in a shipping envelope and then packages in what I would call standard remote packaging. I cut open the people proof plastic and I was set.
The programming was easy enough. It has two options, an auto search and a type your own code method. After fighting with the auto search (I should have read the whole page first) I gave up and switched to the self input. This was easy and the remote was set up in under two minutes.
This remote was two replace a lesser used tv remote but so far it has been perfect for that need.

I bought this for my girlfriend because she broke the remote to her TV. She doesn't need to control a receiver or anything fancy, so this remote was more than capable. I programmed it within minutes to activate her TV and cablebox. Unlike the Sony remote I use in my bedroom, you cannot program this remote to turn on multiple devices simultaneously or perform a set of consecutive actions. Sony's standard universal remote would suit you better if your setup is that complex, but for the everyman this RCA remote is the ticket.
There's nothing more to say other than it's a remote and it changes channels and navigates menus. I haven't tried it with a DVD player or VCR but I'm sure it would work just fine. For less than $7 I can't really see a reason not to get it. In my opinion this is a perfect replacement remote for any device.

Being a senior myself, I have limited use for the remotes that seem to have enough buttons to launch the space shuttle and must be, at least, a foot in length. For my day to day use, I prefer something much more simple and smaller, with large displays, easy to operate buttons and generous spacing between the buttons. I have had several universal remotes before and RCA seems to make one of the best. This remote was the easiest to program of all that I have had. I purchased three of these, two to operate the same set of equipment (one by the sofa and one by my lazy boy) and one to operate a different set of equipment in another room.

Super easy to program, both my old TV and newer DVD player worked with the first code I tried for each brand. So happy with this purchase. I can finally use the sleep timer function on my TV again. TV brand was Toshiba, DVD player Sony - tons of other brands listed in the codes list that came with it.

My husband and I love this remote. The buttons are easy to understand and making changes to the functions of each button are so easy. We have 6 devices (tv, 2 dvrs, dvd, sound system, and raspberry pi). The hardest part was finding the model number on each device and we had to do that from the device itself or it's booklet..not the Harmony remote. And, all devices were listed in the Harmony software so it was easy to program, once we got the hang of it. If you have only ONE remote, and I recommend the Logitech Harmony, it all becomes so easy. The associated software gives you full functionality. If you have 2 remotes, as we decided to do, then it is difficult to use the great activity function of the remote because it remembers what you did last and if 2 people are operating the remote then one remote does not tell the other one *grin*. So, we solved that problem by just selecting each device separately (tv, sound, dvr) instead of having an activity that turns on or off all three devices with one button. Not a big deal for us. Bottom line, I am so thankful for this device and I am over 70 so if a senior can operate this, than anyone can *smile*. Thank you Logitech for another great product.

Exactly what I was looking for! One remote that controls all of our living room devices.
We currently have it controlling our TV, Direct TV cable box, and Sound bar ~ Got rid of three remotes, down to one!

Set up was easy with my laptop and I especially love the one-touch buttons!
Watch a movie = turns on our tv, switches the tv to HDMI 2, which is our Amazon Fire Stick and turns on our sound bar.
Watch TV = turns on our tv, switches the tv to HDMI 1. (sound bar programed not to turn on)
Listen to Music = turns on TV and switches the TV to HDMI 3, which is our PS4. (I programed the remote like this)

Overall very satisfied! Easy to see in low or no light and programing to work with all of our different devices worked flawlessly.

My previous universal remote was the "Re," which is basically software plus an infrared blaster that attaches to an iPhone or iPad. I loved it, but programming it was an intense affair which involved a lot of trial and error. I ended up with a brilliant remote that did everything I wanted it to, so when my spouse dropped the iPad and bent the IR blaster, I was fairly devastated. I was sure nothing could ever work as well.

So I was very pleasantly surprised to discover that the Logitech Harmony 650 remote could do everything the Re could do, but with far less setup time, and much fewer headaches. You'll start by recording all the model numbers for your equipment, as well as figuring out all the appropriate settings on your receiver for each component that attaches to it (and in my case, the devices that plug into my standalone HDMI switcher), as well as which inputs on your TV your devices plug into. Once you know all this information, you'll download the MyHarmony software from their website. You begin the setup process by attaching the remote to your laptop via the provided USB cable and inputting all the information you've recorded. As you record the model numbers for each of your components, the software lets you know if the device is found in their database. The Logitech database of known IR device codes is quite extensive, and included all my equipment, some of which is getting rather long in the tooth. My receiver, for example, predates HDMI, so I need to use a separate device to switch between all of my HDMI devices. Thankfully, the database includes the IR code for my Monoprice HDMI switcher as well. Once you record all your equipment, the software prompts you to list each device used for a particular activity. For example, to watch Apple TV, I use my Apple TV device, my receiver, my TV, and my HDMI switcher. Once you've input all this information, you sync the remote to your laptop, and with any luck, you're ready.

The first time I tested the remote, the HDMI switcher didn't respond at all. So I pressed the "Help" button. The Logitech remote asked (via its LCD screen) if a device had failed to respond, and I said "yes." It then correctly guessed that the HDMI switcher was the weak link, and tried a different code. The switcher powered on, and then the remote asked, "Is it working now?" I said "yes," and everything has worked perfectly from then on. Super simple!

I have not fully tested the remote, but what impressed me most is that when you switch activities, say, from listening to music to watching Apple TV, it turned on -- and off -- all the appropriate components. With the Re remote, I had to create a separate button to switch from one activity to another, since the steps are different when switching between activities, compared to powering up an activity from an all-off state. The Logitech just worked! The remote also provides the ability to individually control any devices used for an activity. So if the activity is to watch Apple TV, the remote turns everything on, and then allows you to control settings on your receiver, your TV, etc. I haven't yet tested that functionality, but this is the one area where the Re remote was superior, since it created a virtual remote on the iPhone screen which resembles the remote for the device you're controlling. Perhaps the Logitech remotes that include idevice apps do this, but I'm not familiar with them, so I can't say.

In any case, this remote is easy to set up with minimal leg work, and works well. At the moment I recommend it highly, but I will certainly revise my review if I find that fails to deliver in some other area.

I originally purchased both the Logitech Harmony 650 Remote and the NextGen RF Remote Extender together. For those unfamiliar with the latter, this is a very clever device that replaces one of the AA or AAA batteries in a conventional IR remote with a special battery/RF transmitter. This device senses minute fluctuations in power during IR transmittal, and converts them to an RF signal, which is received by the NextGen and converted back to IR by means of an IR blaster. I've used the NextGen in the past (with a TiVo box remote) and it worked great. Sheer genius.

Unfortunately, the combination of the Harmony 650 and NextGen did NOT work, and after some troubleshooting, I determined that the 650 and the NextGen weren't communicating. The clincher came when I tried the NextGen's special battery/transmitter in an ordinary remote, and it worked fine!

Next, to the internet for some research on compatibility of the 650 and NextGen. Alas, it turns out that the 650 is NOT compatible with NextGen and won't work (as well as a number of other Harmony models - I've read that the LCD screen somehow interferes with the NextGen's ability to sense the IR signal being transmitted, and hence either doesn't detect it at all, or transmits the wrong information).

UPDATE:

Because the NextGen and the Harmony 650 were incompatible, I packed up the NextGen and returned it.

However, I decided to keep the Harmony 650 because I really liked it, and hoped to eventually be able to use it as a "single remote control" for my entire system. Fortunately, I have been able to successfully integrate the Harmony 650 into my system, and I really love it.

It works great, is fast and responsive, and the buttons have a good tactile "feel" to them. Setup was a snap, using Logitech's website, and I was able to configure the 650 to do all the things I need it to do (I use it to control a Samsung TV, Sony SoundBar, Sony BluRay disc player, and AT&T UVerse Motorola VIP2250 STB/DVR. It works flawlessly with all of my devices, including the UVerse box, which often exhibit compatibility issues with so-called "universal" controls).

I like the fact that the remote uses ordinary AA batteries - the battery is not "proprietary" and I don't have to worry about recharging the remote's batteries; just replace 'em when necessary.

My only concern is that this remote has been discontinued by Logitech; they've come out with a LOT of models and variants over the years, and have now narrowed it down to a handful of products that are currently produced and supported, giving more attention to the "home control" and automation market, in addition to A/V equipment only.

Long story short, I'm very happy with this remote. For the price, it's a good value, and I hope it lasts me a long time.

UPDATE 6/2/2016:

I've been using the Harmony 650 control with my Living Room setup for some time, now, and it has performed flawlessly.

In fact, it works so well, that I bought a second one for my wife's office, where she has a Samsung TV, AT&T cable box, and a Sony DVD player. Of course, wives don't usually like dealing with multiple remotes, or having to push several buttons to switch from TV to DVD and back again.

So the Harmony 650 is the perfect solution. Logitech, in my opinion, has "solved" the problem of multiple remotes and complicated key sequences once-and-for-all with their online remote control database. You create an account (free), log in, and tell it what device(s) you have, and define one or more "activities", such as Watch TV, Watch a Movie, etc. Then you download the defined profile into the remote, using the supplied USB cable. Their software (also free) works with both Windows AND the Mac (the latter is very important to me, because I have only Macs in the house).

Now, my wife just presses a *single button* on the remote to either watch TV (cable) or play a DVD. No multiple remotes (TV, cable box, DVD) to deal with, and no complicated key sequences to enter! The remote takes care of configuring the setup for the desired activity (turning on the required devices, switching to the appropriate inputs, etc.) Needless to say, my wife is a happy camper with this setup. ;-)

To sum up, Logitech does remotes the way it *should* be done. One remote to rule them all, and a single button press to configure all devices for a particular activity, such as watching TV or playing a DVD. Highly recommended.

Over the past few years I have owned a Harmony 890, 880, and now the 650. I started with the 890 and loved it. It controlled everything I wanted it it plus features that I didn't use. The buttons on the 890 started to wear out. I bought a used 880 and it worked ok, but the volume up button stopped working. I finally decided to buy a new 650.

My main reason for purchasing the 650 was due to the fact I hate the newer Logitech remotes that use smart phones to work. I want a remote, not a smart phone to control my equipment. I downloaded the software, hooked up the remote to my Macbook, and was able to load the config from my previous remotes into the 650 with no problems. Took a total of 10 mins and I had a fully configured functional remote. I control a Toshiba TV, PS3 (through the adapter), Phillips DVR, Panasonic 5 disk DVD, & a Denon receiver. Before I purchased it I was concerned that the smaller screen would be a problem, but it turns out that the hardware buttons on top make up easily for the smaller screen. The remote works great for what I use it for and I would recommend it for anyone that is looking for a remote to replace their older Logitech.

received a free older LCD tv without a remote. I was having trouble getting the TV to operate without a remote control. I bought this and was able to navigate the menu just and I wanted to but it turns out the TV wouldn't work when simply hooked up to coax and an antenna. I have now re-programmed the remote as a 2nd remote for our camper so I can keep this one by our bed and the other other one closer to the TV to control the DVD player for the kids.

For only $5.52 for the four device model, a great bargain. Works very well, although it's not a direct replacement for the original remotes and lacks every function on the original remotes.

The only reason I didn't give it five stars was because of the aforementioned limitations.

You do have to follow the instructions exactly regarding setting the codes.

Overall, a great way to combine the control of four components into one, or to replace a faulty remote.

The battery leads weren't lined up correctly and took a few sheets of paper as a shim to get the remote to even turn on.

It was a little tricky to program and requires a bit of thought to use. The menu button is used to switch functions on the 4-way direction buttons, which isn't mentioned anywhere in its manual. It also sends a "menu" input to the TV/DVD/Blueray/whatever device, so you may find yourself pointing it away, pressing menu, pointing it back at the TV, pressing left or right, then pointing it away and pressing menu to restore the buttons to their normal assignment. It's as intuitive as changing the clock on an old VCR.

That said, it worked with an old Vizio TV and a Panasonic Blueray player from the HD-DVD-war era, so I can't complain too hard.

I needed new remote controls for a long time for my bedroom tv and DVD player, and kept forgetting to buy one. Finally took a chance with this one since it is so inexpensive. It is small and lightweight. It works great with my tv and DVD player. The only problem is, there is no function such as left and right arrows to allow me to choose episodes through the DVD menu. The arrows only control the volume on the tv, even when I have it on DVD and VCR settings. I'd like to be able to go through the menu using left and right keys. But other than that, everything else works.

I am using this with a Verizon FiOS Motorola DVR box and a Vizio TV. It works fine, although there are a few FiOS remote functions missing, like Prev, Next, and Fav. On Demand and Guide displays, like Fav1 and Fav2 can be accessed with about 3 presses using the Menu function. It automatically uses the FiOS box to tune channels while changing volume and Muting on the Vizio, which is what you would want it to do. I am, however, disappointed in the layout of the device, since the Enter button is in an awkward location, and Play, Rew, and Fwd are near the bottom, instead of in the middle, where frequently used buttons should be. If the buttons were laid out logically, which would not cost the manufacturer a penny more, I would give it 5 stars, since I feel you could not expect a simple universal remote at this price point to be a complete replacement for a dedicated remote.

Took a half-hour to set up initially, another hour to de-bug, and then two hours to figure out how customize the buttons & screen. Now works well. If you spend the time and know what you are doing, it works GREAT. The inital set-up is via software downloaded onto your PC/Mac, and is ridiculously easy IF you know exactly how your entertainment system is wired. Figuring out the wiring may be beyond many American over age 35.
You'll need to crawl behind your entertainment system to trace wires with a flashlight. Luckily I took notes when I set my system up years ago, so using Harmony's initial setup software was amazingly simple and effective.

However, there were flaws that needed to be de-bugged, and some annoying things that needed to be customized (like the remote buttons I actually use were buried 12 clicks deep in screen menus while other unused ones are on the 1st screen). To de-bug & customize takes some guessing and experimentation to find out what setup functions actually do in the setup software (naming & buttons are far from intuitive!). But when figured out, the changes transfer to the remote flawlessly I've found. So other than the user-unfriendliness of the set-up software AFTER the initial setup, I'd give this 5 stars.

The Logitech Harmony 650 Universal IR Remote workes great for me except for one minor flaw - the input switching logic for my Toshiba 32C100U TV is apparently incompatible with the automatic switching performed by the remote. My TV has 6 inputs that are accessed via a Menu - they are numbered 0 thru 5. To switch inputs you bring up the menu (via the INPUT button) and press the input number - a single digit. The Harmony 650 numbers the inputs 1 thru 6 instead of 0 thru 5, and it also seems to be sending out two-digit numbers (i.e. 01 thru 06). This causes my TV to always switch to input zero (Satellite) because it ignores the second digit. After much experimentation I found a way around this problem by turning the automatic input selection off and programming the remote's blue button so that if I'm watching TV it will run a macro (INPUT followed by 0) and if I'm watching a movie it'll run a different macro (INPUT followed by 3). This works fine for me. Other than this snafu the remote works perfectly on all 3 of my devices (other two are a JVC DR-MV80B DVDR/VCR and a Dish Network Model 625 DuoDVR Satellite Receiver). The only other real problem I've encountered is with the MyHarmony desktop software - sometimes the Sync button doesn't bring up the Sync dialog window no matter how much you click it. Sometimes I have to shut the MyHarmony software completely down and bring it back up before it'll properly sync to the remote.

I will admit that I tried to avoid buying this at first and go with a cheaper brand however that didn't work out - not only did the cheaper brand lack the features I needed but it just didn't work that good.

In the end I went back to Logitech and I'm glad I did. Although the setup is a bit of a pain (you must use a computer to do the setup), once you get through that step it's relatively painless.

I like the number of devices it can work, the backlight keys, the ability to modify keys, and to set macros (sequences)

What I don't like is that you can't modify the labels for they keys so if you forget what you entered you are pressing blind.
Other than that it's good

The Harmony 650 Remote is one of the basic devices in the Harmony family. I like it because it allows me to tap into the huge list of compatible devices Logitech provides for Harmony devices and because it is inexpensive. In fact we have been using a 650 for our bedroom TV/Audio/Blu-ray setup for some time. The unit was so inexpensive we bought a second one recently so we have one on both sides of the bed. Logitech is constantly updating its software to accommodate new devices, so your remote is future-proofed. I have set up activities with obscure devices like off-brand HDMI switches from China with no problem. If you have a model number, Harmony will find it and load the device in your remote.

This remote allows you to set up all your devices on the remote and even create custom buttons for special features of the device. Once you have set up the devices, you can create "Activities" or shortcuts for specific functions like "Watch TV" or "Watch a Movie." My TV has internet access, so I have created specific activities for Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Pandora. If I want to use one of those services I can get there with just one click and don't have to bother going through layers of menus. It is very convenient.

The only limitation I've found with this remote is that it controls devices with infrared signals from the remote to each device. There is no RF capability or internet connection. Therefore, it only works if you point the remote at the device(s) you wish to control and have a clear line of sight path. The remote will not control any devices hidden in a cabinet. You need to go to one of the more expensive Harmony remotes for that capacity. Secondly, when you set up an activity, you are actually creating a sequence of commands for the devices involved in the activity. As long as you keep pointing the remote at the devices until the sequence finishes, everything works fine. However, if you stop pointing the remote as soon as the devices come on but before other commands are sent such as inputs selected, etc., the activity will be incomplete. This is easy to avoid by simply holding the remote in position until its LCD screen reports that commands are complete, but the less technical members of my family do not seem to be able to remember this and sometimes have to go back to manually issue one or more commands through the "Devices" menu.

In conclusion, I don't think you can beat this remote for a simple, inexpensive way to control multiple devices in your video/audio system. If you need to control devices enclosed in an equipment cabinet, or you are one who forgets to give the remote time to finish it's sequence of commands, then one of the more expensive Harmony remotes is for you. Either way, you are buying a remote that will continue to serve your needs as you replace components in your system with newer ones.

I would have given it 5 stars if the documention for upgrading from Harmony 510 to Harmony 650 was accurate. The 510 used prior Harmony desktop software (V7) and the 650 documentation indicates you can sign in to your account via the internet and tell it to replace the 510 with the 650, but if you do, you can't add more than 5 devices (the old limitation). If you download the new software, the old software will interfere with the new, and you can't complete the upgrade. So, go access your old logitech account, write down the brand and model # of all your devices, then completely uninstall the old Harmony software, install the new myharmony software, go through the setup instructions adding back in all your devices and actions (e.g. "watch tv"), and you are good to go! Once I got it properly active, I love it. I have an old a/v receiver with only one HDMI input, so my roku has to connect directly to an hdmi (2) on my TV which means I need to have the tv, not the receiver, control sound when watching through roku. The Harmony 650 correctly shifts sound control to the tv when I select roku, and correctly shifts sound control to the reciever for cable tv, dvd and music.

This works well with my RCA TV. But not perfectly. It will turn on and off the TV. But Whenever I use it to turn on the TV it activates other TV features that I do not want activated at the time. So I use the TV's power button to turn it on and only use this remote to turn it off.

This remote is deceptive. It says it can be programmed for DVD players, but there aren't any arrow keys for navigation. What's the point if there aren't any arrow keys on the remote? Any DVD player remote in the last 20 years has 4 arrow keys. In my case, I couldn't control my 4 year old Sony Blu-Ray player. Spend a few bucks more if you need to control any modern device.

These work well until they don't but for the price, a good deal. There seems to be an issue with the battery door wearing out, batteries get loose and unit looses its memory. I keep buying them though even with this flaw. Easy to use and program.

The remote is twice the thickness of all my other remotes and is wider than all but one. The net result is that its very uncomfortable to hold in my hand. Its amusing it says "palm sized" - maybe palm sized for Green Giant. I also don't like that the texture is rough, not smooth, but that's a minor quibble - its the dimensions that are awful. They have a code for my old Zenith digital to analog converter box, and it worked, so was happy with that. LIkewise, they had a code for my old Toshiba analog TV - again, happy with that. I was unable to decrease the number of remotes though as I intended because this rca universal remote does not have buttons and features that my zenith box has - ones that let me see what programs are on each channel. In addition, the source button on the rca universal remote does not work to switch between TV, video 1, video 2, etc., so I must keep that one around too - end result is I now have to have 4 remotes for one TV! One original for TV that lets me use the Source, one zenith original that lets me see what programs are on, one Roku player remote which this will not take over, and this new universal remote. I got and use this for volume adjustment since that died on my old remote, plus sometimes for channels, which is dying on one of my other remotes. Glad it worked on my ancient equipment, so am keeping it, but I really hate when i have to use it.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this remote for use with an off-brand TV, but after my original remote went dead, and reading online that Samsung codes should work for my iSymphony TV (iSymphony LED42IF80 42-Inch 1080p LED TV), and seeing this remote for under $10, I decided to give it a try.

It's working okay, but with some quirks. For instance, when I push "source" to change the input, the up/down arrows (channel +/-) won't initially work. I first have to press "menu" (brings up my TV menu), then press source again, and now my up/down arrows will work to change the input.

However, after using that incantation to make the channel +/- buttons function as up/down buttons, I can no longer use them to change channels (I haven't figured out a reverse incantation to restore this functionality, but it usually reverts back after a while).

And sometimes, after pressing the menu button, the TV menu will keep popping up every minute or so (because the remote is continuing to press its own menu button...?). If it really bothers me, I just take the remote's batteries out, and the problem is solved.

So, not super great, but I feel like I got what I paid for.

This remote was purchased to replace a 14 month old failed Logitech remote. After a long process the 650 remote was able to do all the tasks we required. Set-up time was way too long due to lack of information. Be careful, read each set-up task fully before beginning. I found it best to back out to the log-in page when making changes more than one time, also turn off all the devices with the remote after programming. It seems to lose its mind if you make some changes, try to SYNC it and download it more than one time without backing all the way out to the log-in page. So far it is working OKAY, at times it does seem to have issues requiring me to shut down everything and restart. I will use it until it quits, maybe by then another remote will be available.

Unfortunately it won't control my Amazon Fire TV stick, which has a newer bluetooth or WiFi interface.

The evolving consumer device space complicates the universal remote scene. While remote this may be adequate or good for people who only have IR remote controlled devices, IR (Infrared) alone is not good enough to cover the gamut of newer media devices. So I returned it. If I get a remote I will end up paying more for one that covers more devices. Unfortunately the 'ideal' solutions in this space aren't still completely mature yet, and the really good ones push up between $200-$300. And my requirement is to have two remote controls even if I have one that is a central hub.

This was to replace a previous 650 whose buttons were getting difficult. At first, I tried to update the remote using our laptop running Windows 10 and a USB 3.0 port. It seemed to work, but got to "rebooting remote" and hung. After that, it was no go. After much trying and frustration, I found and article on the web that said this has issues with USB 3.0. Fortunately, this laptop still has a couple of USB 2.0 ports. I tried one of them and, lo and behold, it updated just fine. I don't know if this is a Logitech issue, or a Windows 10 issue, but it seems inexcusable that Logitech has not made this work with USB 3.0 on Windows 10, so three stars. The remote, after getting the update to work, operated just fine.
If you have ONLY USB 3.0 ports and run Windows 10, I would stay away from this remote. I've also read that this is an issue with Windows 8 and 8.1. Don't know about Windows 7 and earlier for sure, but I used to have Windows 7 and don't recall having any issues updating.

I wish one could give two reviews. For the remote - 5 stars; it can do anything I needed including "teaching" it new commands using the equipment remote. Only "wish" is they would change the "watch a Movie" & "listen to Music labels" to more generic like "Device 2" & "device 3". On my system. "Watch a Movie" is the Apple TV & "listen to music" is the Roku Box.

Second review for the software - 2 stars. I used a windows 10 computer. Two main problems:
USB driver - you sync the remote with the Harmony software via a supplied USB cable. I did not work reliably. Many times, including my initial sync, it stopped at 99%. A Google search shows this to be a common long running problem.

The sync problem led me to the 2nd problem - support. I found it to be very confusing. There is old & new software & when searching for the 650 in the help site one gets links pointing to some older desktop software. It would have made things much easier if Logitech would only show links that reference the current software. Also, much of the information is old. I tried to call them, but gave up after holding for 20 minutes. This makes it extremely difficult to tap the excellent capabilities of the remote.

Ok, I started the reviewing giving it only 1 star because the software would not recognize the device no matter what I did. I followed all the troubleshooting tips on the Support page provided by Logitech and nothing worked. I called Support and had to wait 45 minutes before a person answered the phone. After going through a number of troubleshooting steps to no avail the Support person asked me to place the device in "safe mode". The process to do that is: Hold down the power button, while holding down the button take out the batteries, wait a few seconds then place the batteries back in (while still holding down the power button), the screen should turn on and indicate the device is in "safe mode", at that time you and release the power button. While the device is now in safe mode plug the USB in the computer and initiate the setup process. The software finally recognized the device and I was able to set it up.

Now as far as the product is concerned, I love it so far. It works very well and very easy to configure and customize. Having to dig up all the model numbers for the units you want to control is a pain but a necessary evil in order to properly configure. I have been able to re-sync the device with the software with no further issues. The support documentation with Logitech needs to indicate how to go into safe mode as an option to troubleshoot the "no device detected" problem when first setting these devices. For all of the hassle I went through, I am giving it 3 stars as opposed to something higher for a good product.

Tried to use on a SANSUI SLED3900 and 2 of the codes partially worked. 0463 and 1892. The remote works for channel, volume, Mute, source selections, sleep, Back. The issue is the remote does not control anything once the menu mode is selected. You select menu and the menu comes up but you are unable to use the channel up/down or volume up/down to move the cursor. If you try to use the volume or channel buttons once in the menu mode it either blinks the LED on the remote continuously and hangs up the remote until you press the TV button or it jumps out of menu mode and changes the channel. Not sure if it is a bad unit, bad software or what is wrong.

The source button does not work for my Sceptre branded TV. I've tried all of the Sceptre codes. Also, the red LED sometimes blinks, and we're not sure which button we pressed to make it happen, and we're not sure which button turns it off. In the dark, it's difficult to determine if we're holding it backwards, and we can't see the button labels in the dark. For a cheap remote, it's acceptable, but not having a functional source button means I have to keep the old failing remote around just for the source button.

RCA Remote Control with 4 FunctionsITEM:I chose this remote as it lists Digital Stream in its compatible item list and another reviewer stated that it worked for their Digital Stream digital converter box. Unfortunately, this is false - it does not work with my Digital Stream DTX9950 digital converter box. The reviewer didn't state their model id so perhaps they had tried it on a different model...or didn't try it thoroughly enough and only tried the power on/off button that works.After inputting code 2303 for Digital Stream (for my DTX9950) as listed in the code list, the number buttons, enter (info), channel up/down and last channel do, indeed, work. Sadly, volume control/mute are completely non-functional.In addition to that, hitting the 'menu' key causes the remote to get confused - it will bring up the menu, but it also causes the remote to lose the programmed device code and locks up with the red light constantly flashing. I need to re-input the code again and turn the device off and on to get the menu screen off. As no controls work within the menu when it is up even after re-inputting the code, the menu is worse than worthless. I need to be careful not to accidentally hit that menu key due to it being positioned up by the channel and device keys or I go through the whole thing again. I'm stuck with whatever the settings are currently at as the menu is inaccessible with this remote.As the converter box has its own volume control function that is not recognized by this remote, to work the volume I needed to also tie this remote to my Sharp TV to then use the TV's volume control instead of the Digital Converter Box volume control. This meant that I had to manually crank up the volume on the converter to max and then use the TV's volume control for volume up/down and mute.I've tried running through dozens of other digital converter box codes and entering them manually in the hope that one of them might allow the vol/chan/menu keys to work, but none would work. I even tried the code search option and spent a long time cycling through all of the codes to see if any other code would work...none did.If I picked this remote up locally at a store I would be taking it back immediately and demanding a refund due to the package info lying, but as this was delivered from the entire other side of the USA to where I am, it's really not worth the hassle of packaging it back up and sending it back in the hopes of maybe getting the $5-$6 refunded when it wasn't the seller's fault that the manufacturer lied about compatibility with the device. I'll steer clear of RCA completely now for any and all electronics. If they so readily lie about compatibility for a remote, what would they not lie about on their products.SELLER:Was brand new as described and undamaged. Very fast shipping! Chose free shipping and received the tv remote a full day before the delivery window dates (ordered on 3rd, shipped on 4th, received on 8th, was set to be delivered 9th-15th).I would buy from ONE STOP SHOP again in the future.

We purchased this remote to do the following:
-TV control
-Apple TV control
-DVD player control

The price was right. The setup was easy. But there were two problems that drove us almost to the brink: after connecting this remote to our components, every time we turned the volume up or down, other settings would be affected, too (search, channel, etc.) made the volume go up and down. Aaarrgghh. Imagine watching a YouTube video: you turn up the volume, and while the volume DOES go up, the "search/skip" feature kicks in and skips ahead in the video. The same kind of madness happened with every Apple TV app. Conversely, the DVD functions did not work, so we could only PLAY or STOP a DVD. We could not use the arrow keys to choose different parts of the menu.

This volume/other control disaster even crossed over to our TV remote and our Apple TV remote, which made this mama and her children growl and groan every time we used the TV. My husband, who is usually the tech-problem fixer, could not find a remedy.

After months of this, hubby did finally get our volume to be ONLY volume, and we trashed this remote. Maybe you won't have this same problem, but I cannot recommend this product. Ugh.

This Remote has a fairly nice feel, and controls the Sound Volume and Channel number of my RCA Flat Screen without programming.
However, there is something going on with the battery compartment. About once a day I have to unlatch the battery cover, and move
the batteries and retaining springs to restore normal operation. If there is a fix for this, I would like to know about it.

The remote hardware is good, appears to be well built. The software is another story. I tried using the MyHarmony app in two different laptops, a Macbook Air, and a Lenovo X series. USB connectivity between Windows 7(64 bit) on my Lenovo and the remote was variable, worked 60% of the time. On the Mac it only worked once after rebooting the machine. So, if I had the patience to reboot every time I wanted to sync new changes, it would sort of work. Could be an issue with the remote, but I am not willing to give it another try (I tried using different cables- made no difference). I also found the new app itself to be buggy and less usable - it crashed twice on my Mac and made it hard to program certain power-on sequences that were easier to do in the old software (the app appears to use Microsoft Silverlight on the Mac - that was an odd choice for an app in 2017!). So... I will keep my 8 remotes, thank you very much.

I was hoping this would solve all of our families problems with having three remotes, but i would say it actually just created a new more complicated issue. The volume button never "always" controls my amplifier, i have to actually select amplifier then change the volume. Ok well you can sit here for hours trying to program it and maybe it will mostly do what you want to do. I cant get it to make Roku navigation simple at all, when the actual remote has only a few buttons.

My wife who is technology challenged cant even figure how to to play a show in Netflix, which should be extremely simple and it is much simpler with all three remotes.

I own a Logitech 550 and found it a God-send, and quite easy to setup using the 550's website.

But, after purchasing the Logitech 650 I've learned that the 600 and 700 family of Logitech remotes use a whole different website to setup the commands. So, I just wasn't able to get a particular command I needed into this 650 remote. I spent about 3 hours dinking-around with the 650's website less flexible website to modify a particular start-up sequence. I just couldn't do it. (Though I could do it on the 550 model... because it uses a different website's software setup package that offers more customization of the commands.) So, I'm not able to use this 650 remote for my particular application.

I wish I'd paid the extra and gotten the 550 again, it's better looking, has a better layout and it's software's website is more intuitive and powerful. I guess there's a reason why the 550 sells for a higher price than the 650.

First, I basically love Harmony remotes. The new Windows software is easier than the old version. And their tech support replied to my emails and helped me with a few things. That's why I'm giving this 2 stars, rather than a 1 star (despite my remote being unusable after 2 months).

All of my problems are with the remote's hardware. Maybe I received "a bad one," but here are my symptoms:

1. From the beginning, the buttons were hard to press reliably. They're "gooey." I could never get to the point where I was sure a button would engage after I pressed it (although I had pretty good luck pressing the OK with my fingernail rather than my fingertip).

This is a real problem when, for example, the TiVo is speedsearching through commercials and I want to stop it real quick as soon as I see the show come back. That delay of "Oops, my first button press didn't work; I'd better try again" overshoots the show by so much that I end up seeing what's coming for the minute or two after the commercial while I slowly work my way backwards to the commerical-end point.

2. "Resets constantly." I have to assume that I got "a bad one" when it comes to this happening. If this happened to everyone, there wouldn't be a single review over 2 stars.

This started happening about 2 months after I bought it. I suppose it's possible that at some point the remote fell the 2 feet, or 30 inches from the couch to the carpet below. Maybe that's what started it?

But now, as others have said, it resets constantly. If I come to a commercial while watching TiVo, and grab the remote, the remote is about 70% likely to reset to the "All devices are turned off" state. That means the Mute button won't work (since the remote thinks the TV is turned off), the Pause and Speedsearch buttons won't work (since the remote doesn't know it was on the TiVo Activity).

The lid to the battery case feels a little loose, as though it's not quite on correctly.

Again, if this was the result of the remote falling to the floor at some point, it couldn't have fallen more than 30", and onto soft carpet. I'm sure our 9-year-old Harmony 550 has fallen that far many times, as have iPhones, Kindles, other remotes, etc. It shouldn't have been enough to make the Harmony 650's battery case feel loose, or for it to contantly lose battery power (or whatever the heck causes it to reset).

We have completely given up on this 650, and downgraded ourselves back to the old 550 it was supposed to replace. The couple of problems we have with our 2007 Harmony 550 are nothing compared to the problems with our December 2015 Harmony 650.

This is my first universal remote, so I can't compare it to others, but I'm amazed by how well it works. It has its quirks and it doesn't always do what it's supposed to do, but I happily take this over having multiple remotes. The Help feature on this remote is amazing and while others might consider it a nuisance to have to rely on it, I think it's a blessing. Setting up the remote was complicated at first, but I was able to figure it out after a few tries without reading up on it, though there are still a few functions I'm still not clear on. Logitech customer service is also great. The only device I've tried that this device isn't compatible with is the Amazon Fire TV. You'll need a hub-based remote for that functionality. The learn function also works well. The remote itself is fairly lightweight and feels comfortable. Keep in mind that you have to sync the remote after any change you make to the settings, and syncing isn't wireless. The included usb cable is required. It only gets tiresome if you're constantly changing the settings or configuration of your home entertainment setup.

Edit 9/20/15: Unfortunately, I have to change my good review. After a few months, this remote has become increasingly frustrating. It was at the point where I couldn't do anything at all without the help button. It wouldn't switch to the correct devices. It even stopped turning on my TV. I finally spoke with a tech support person who spent a lot of time fixing the issue. It's now better, but still has its glitches. I wouldn't recommend.

Dysfunctional product: None of the manufacturer codes work, and I had to run the automatic code search several times before it found a working frequency. It works for about a minute, all buttons, then suddenly stops working for no reason. Run the code search again a couple of times, it finds the correct one, TV responds to all commands, then a minute later nothing works.

It worked for about an hour and then broke on me.
The batteries were brand new, so if I had to assume, I'd guess the control is made out of such cheap material it probably couldn't last that long packaged/ stored away.
At least you get what you paid for. I'd recommend to just spend the extra $10 on a better universal controller.

It took me a while to get it working with my TV (I bought an RCA remote because my TV is RCA and other remotes NEVER work with these TVs) when it finally worked it stopped working, all of the sudden it just stops working and you have to take out the batteries and re program the remote and that takes a looong time for every time you want to turn on or off the TV or raise the volume! sucks!

Initially it seemed to be working fine. But when I try to use the menu button it just starts flashing a light over and over again and I can see it when I use my camera to confirm that it's flashing and IR signal over and over again. It ends up changing channels messing up the input i was on. All other buttons act okay but the menu button, that i need often, spazzes out and competely inturrupts the TV viewing experience.

I have a sharp TV DVD combo and this thing is not acceptable. Perhaps someone can explain:
I am confused how to program this. The manual says: "To program the DVD·AUX key: Press the DVD·AUX key. The indicator light continues
to blink until you select the component you want the DVD·AUX key to control. To control a DVD, press the VCR key. To control a TV, press the TV key. " blah blah blah" ... The indicator light stops blinking and remains lit.
Using this logic if I hit the DVD-AUX to control the TV, then next time I want the TV I would press the DVD-AUX button...!. In the end, I got both DVD and TV working but the code was lost after a few times switching back and forth, so that was a waste of time. There are too many functions that don't work (like the most important for me, the MENU option so I can adjust the TV.... ) And there is nothing in the manual about what the light means during operation; sometimes it starts blinking and does not stop. What does that mean? It is obviously some sort of feedback that might even be useful if they bothered to document it. Too bad the owners of the RCA trademark let any hack develop products and license the name. RCA has no quality aspect to it, but is just a recognizable brand name slapped and cheap products made overseas. This incarnation is way CHEAP, it does sort of work (just not for me), but I am sending it back to find one that is documented a little better.

If you own a MAC, beware! The MyHarmony application is works poorly at least it does Sierra 10.12. They don't appear to test their software very well. The remote is fine, the website and software need improvement. One would think Logitech would be better than this.
I have now had this piece of junk for a few months now. DO NOT BUY. The remote is junk but their customer service and their software was developed by morons, it is abominable. The worst I have seen in 40 years in the business. Logitech - do everyone a favor and go out of business!! DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY.

I purchased a refurbished 1and it only came with remote and cable nothing else. I went to harmony website and downloaded software and hooked it up and it wouldn't conect at all so I can't program it. I guess this means it wasn't fixed. Not sure what to do now. I hope I didn't just buy a dud if I had it to over I would just buy a new one. There was scotch tape all over it. I finally got it to program and the screen and all top buttons don't lite up. Not sure what to do I live in mtns and there's no ups anywhere aound me.

I wish I didn't buy this remote. It is extremely slow when switching activities. Tweaking the timings does not help at all or makes it stop working all together. If you switch activities and want to adjust the volume you have to wait 10-15 second even though the devices are already on the inputs they need to be on. They need to make it faster or add another setting to remove the unneeded delay that is built in. The color screen is useless. They should have used an e-ink display to save power and make it cheaper. There is absolutely no need for a color screen. The MyHarmony software is slow and crashes on Mac (probably because it uses Silverlight which is a Microsoft product).

Pros:
- Can control multiple devices
- Activities are nice

Cons:
- Overpriced
- Slow (button press response time, and switching activities)
- Too many built in delays which are unneeded
- Color screen (should be e-ink to make it cheaper and more efficient - there is no need for a color screen)
- MyHarmony software is slow and clunky (sometimes crashes, sometimes fails to program, sometimes get stuck in a weird state)

As an installing professional, I am absolutely disgusted with the support availalable for this product. Not an issue with Amazon delivery or product description. I called Logitech because after installing and enabling "Silvelight" one more piece of Microsoft garbage, on both my Mac and windows machines and enabling it for the browsers that I am using, the Harmony setup site still did not see it as functioning. Since they say that they charge for any support phone call, I went online and searched for a call in number. Although Logitech does not list any free support telephone numbers on the Harmony site, they do exist. Using that free phone number ( I found it at "get human"), I discovered that they only answer between 7AM and 10 PM. I called them at 7 PM so I was puzzled that the response was that they are closed. I had heard that setup can be cryptic and confusing but I had expected something approaching responsible in terms of support. There was No Email Address that I could find either. I have had better luck with URC devices and used them exclusively in the past but the great price sucked me in. I will return these products since I can not use them. As I mentioned, I do Home Theater installation and integration (advanced remote programing)to make a living so I should be able to do a basic setup of a simple remote. Maybe they (Logitech) are truly irresponsible.

I'd been searching for a device like this and everyone I spoke with mentioned the Harmony series by Logitech. I'm as tech savvy as they get, I'm an engineer in electronics by trade. I opted for this model as the more expensive Harmony 1 uses rechargeable batteries and I read where they don't last long and are expensive to replace. This model is supposed to be the same logic just limited to 5 devices. Set up was pretty easy and I was impressed at how the software was able to program all my devices into the remote. The way this works is you set up "batch" commands called activities. The software walks you through it. So, you set up "watch tv" and it suggests that it turns on your HDTV, selects the right input, turns on your home theater and selects the right settings, turns on your cable box etc...at first I was amazed, it worked perfectly. Then suddenly after 2 weeks, it started seriously malfunctioning. It would turn on everything but the cable box, or turn off everything but the tv. You need to keep the remote pointed at your components as it literally does one at a time in a batch processing kind of sequence. But that didn't help. I reprogrammed it but still no luck. Now every time I use it, something doesn't turn on or off (usually my HD cable box). The remote is smart enough to know if something didn't work and it actually has a help function that tries again and asks you if that worked etc... and when it does says it fixed the problem but it happens again every time. And by by the time you go through all this, you could have just grabbed the 3 or 4 separate remotes you need and do it yourself the old way. It's frustrating and there doesn't seem to be a lot of troubleshooting help in the software or online. So I give this thing 1 star and do not recommend it.