I achieved several activities: on the TV, play Blu-ray, play Blu-ray with amp, amp with HTPC, HTPC with amp, etc.
Via the supplied remote control, you can define 6 different activities (supports long / short presses on the 3 buttons of activities). You can add more using the Harmony Remote top (with touch screen) or use the smartphone application.
Getting Started:
So here it takes a bit to fend, there really any record, just "install the smartphone application and follow the steps."
The first thing to do is to connect the smart hub to your WiFi network. There first problem can not connect to WPS, the smart hub not able to connect to my network and therefore mobile fails to detect the HUB. I eventually connect it to the computer via USB and download the PC application Harmony to administer the HUB.
The application is in Silverlight (you must install a plugin), it is a little slow but very clear and rather well done. It allowed me to make the first SHIFT internal software of the HUB and everything went fine afterwards: Wifi connection, creating an activity.
Configuration:
Comes the configuration of the hub. You must first list all your devices: Logitech's database is provided, it has the IR commands many devices giving the manufacturer and model of the equipment. All of my devices were found on the first try (except USB IR receiver for HTPC noname but by searching the Internet I found an equivalent model in the database). It is always possible to "learn" commands manually from a non-recognized hardware HUB.
You can now create activities, or from the PC or Smartphone App App. In 2 cases an assistant will explain the steps which devices involved in the activity, which device manages the sound or image (choice of video input), it is very simple and complete! Then affects the activity of a remote control. You can really make all the combinations you want, the wizard adapts to the selected material.
Small flat, whether on PC or Smartphone, it is very slow to load / save configuration, parameterization error and go again for 5 mins.
You can redefine all the buttons on the remote control to a specific activity, for example I have remapped the red button on the "eject" Blu-ray player as there is no eject buttons on the remote control as Logitech on the one supplied with the Blu-ray player. It takes a bit of imagination / memory but the possibilities are truly endless.
The configuration can be quite tedious, but it is to do it once and that's it.
In use:
The HUB is supplied with a remote IR transmitter that allows me, in my case, to control devices that are in a closed TV stand and let the HUB on the cabinet to send the signal to the TV (remote control and communicate HUB Bluetooth)
The remote control is quite compact and well finished, it has additional buttons (such as the "guide" which opens the TNT guide Samsung TV natively) in addition to "media center" buttons / dvd classic. But as previously mentioned it is possible to change all the keys.
You can move from one activity to another, the HUB controls ignition, extinction of different devices (you can define tempos between ignition sequences).
I had 2-3 loss of synchronization between the remote and the hub (HUB unresponsive) forcing me to reset the HUB to going again!.
I have still a problem: no solution to turn a PC! The boot via the USB IR receiver (despite the USB enabled in the BIOS startup that works with a USB wireless mouse) does not. And this is the main flaw of the Smart Hub, it is connected in WiFi but limited to infrared interactions only, why not implement Wake on Lan via the network? Also why not use the software "SetPoint" Mice / Keyboards Logitech order to apply functions / macros to the buttons on the remote via Wifi or Bluetooth receiver (like some keyboard / mouse of the brand), without embarking on the complicated hacks (with EventGhost example).
Autonomy
Pile is the format "shows" (CR2032), it is not usual for a remote control but it allows more compact. Note that I had to download the instructions on the Logitech website to see how the replaced if necessary. It is indicated 1 year of use.
In conclusion,
The pros:
- Good quality of all
- The software bundle and activity creation opportunities are consistent with customizing buttons and activities
- The price, it's still a smart universal remote cheapest I found (I took advantage of -20 in ODR Logitech which brings the price to 55)
- I ordered 4 remote controls!
The -:
- Only infrared, no Bluetooth or Wifi Advanced Compatibility (-1 star), the Wake On Lan and it would be perfect!
- No instructions provided, go the sought on the Logitech site!
- Some loss of sync
- The responsiveness of the assembly during configuration change
I am very satisfied with this remote, it fits perfectly with my use, some improvements including network connectivity part could be welcome.