Universal Remotes: Get With the Program

If you’re looking for the perfect universal TV remote, keep looking. My search goes back at least 15 years, and I’m no closer to finding one remote that will control all the features of my LG TV, Apple TV, Roku, , Yamaha sound bar and AT&T cable box. The HDMI cables connected from my devices to the four HDMI ports on the side of my TV look like a bowl of prehistoric spaghetti.

Some remotes control on their own devices. These include the Roku, Apple TV, Yamaha sound bar and the LG TV’s own remote. They come free with the device they control. Some have backlit keys, which I find nearly useless because they’re so dim.

Universal remotes cost as little as $10 up to more than $400. And it’s not a matter of getting what you pay for. Some models in the $20 range can control several devices, but they’re tricky to set up.  Others, in the $50 to $75 range, can control many devices with some serious limitations, and others priced from $75 to $400 will control almost all TV devices.  If almost all isn’t good enough, you’re going to be disappointed at any price.

So here’s my roundup of remotes in all price ranges. In this review, I’ve concentrated only on devices connected to a TV set. More expensive remotes are able to control thermostat, lighting and other smart home tasks.

Original TV remote: The LG TV remote that I have comes programmed with Netflix and Amazon Prime channels. An input button lets you switch among all your devices. For example, if your Apple TV is controlled by HDMI 1, you simply press the input button and all the devices they control will flash on the screen. (HMDI is a term for unique ports on the back or sides of most TVs). Using the up-down arrows on the remote, devices can be selected. It also will control volume and channels on the cable box. But it has some limitations, such as its inability to fine-tune such features on the sound bar as surround sound and bass-boost. For a review of the LG OLED TV, click here.

Roku: The model I have, for its upscale 4K box, is designed specifically for Roku. It has pre-programmed buttons for Netflix, Sling, Hulu and HBO Max. It’s perfect for controlling all the features of the Roku box, but nothing else. A new model, which I haven’t tried, has voice control powered by Amazon’s Alexa. If all you want to control is your Roku box, this is your best bet. But keep in mind, you’ll need a bunch of other remotes for your other devices. And, of course, it’s free with the Roku device.

Apple TV: This sleek space-age remote controls only the Apple TV. It has Siri’s voice command, play and rewind and up and down sound buttons. When I travel, I take my Apple TV 4K box and the remote with me, hoping for wifi at my destination.

Note: All the devices need wifi to operate.

Yamaha Sound Bar: This smallish free remote controls the sound bar only, and it has buttons for such features as surround sound, clear voice and bass extension. If you want to fine-tune your sound bar, this one is essential. However, some universal remotes such as the Harmony 665 will let you program those features, but that process can be too  complicated for most home users.

Cable box: I have AT&T’s DirecTV Stream service, which requires only a wifi connection, rather than a direct cable. (In a future column, I’ll tell you about my findings on cable and streaming services.)  The free remote will change channels, but it does not control the sound bar, and switching among inputs failed miserably. If you have DirecTV Stream, this remote is a one-horse pony. The remote that comes with Spectrum cable service is leagues ahead of the DirecTV remote.

So much for the free remotes; now for some bargain universal remotes.

Both the One for All and the Inteset universals have been virtually unchanged in the last few years. They have, however, expanded their list of compatible devices. Both are hefty, are backlit and feature a full variety of keys. But each device has to be programmed from a list of tens of thousands of devices in their data base. For example, to use a button for a cable box, you have to determine if it’s supported. If it is, the listing will include a numeric code that is assigned to a key that will control a device. If it works, press the assigned button and your device could turn on. I had a hard time getting it right, and decided to get on with my life. These and dozens of other programmable remotes are available on Amazon for as little as $1 and up to $25 and more. There are dozens of this kind of universal remotes on Amazon. Trust the star ratings; some show that the device is useless. Many are.

If you’re willing to spend some serious money, I like the Logitech lineup of universal remotes.

I’ve been going back and forth between the $70 Harmony 665 and the $149 Harmony Companion for several years. I like them both, but for different reasons.

The Harmony 665 is a standalone remote with every function key imaginable. It resembles a cable remote, but with a big difference. Programming the remote is done on the Harmony website. Attach the cable that comes with the remote and plug the cable into a USB port on your Windows or Mac computer. (You’ll need a USB 3.0 to USB-C adaptor for the Mac. Adaptors cost about $5 on Amazon.)

The free Harmony program walks you through the programming process. You’ll need to know the make and model number of the device you want to control. Next, you’ll decide which HDMI port the device is on. For example, in the Add Device part, you enter Apple TV 4K. It’s connected to the HDMI 1 port on the TV. Next you’ll choose an activity for the Apple TV. You’ll choose turning on the TV, the sound bar and the Apple TV itself, and assign it to a key. Up to 10 devices can be controlled. The buttons are backlit, and if a problem arises, press Help, and the remote will try to fix it. Those problems could involve devices that don’t turn on or off the way they’re supposed to. It even lets you customize the sound bar (goodbye Yamaha remote). I haven’t found another remote that will do those functions such as bass boost and surround sound as well as the Harmony 665.

For what it does, the Model 665 is a bargain at $70. Logitech is out of the 665s, but you can find it on Amazon and eBay for huge markups. Best Buy sells it for $100. It’s still worth it, even at that price.

Most universal remotes look about the same as the Harmony 665: clunky but with easy-to-decipher buttons.

Then there is the Harmony Companion. It uses a hub that is the brains of the remote. The remote itself is small, easily customizable and can be programmed either on the Harmony program on a computer or with a smart phone or tablet. Like the 665, the setup is straightforward. I use the PC-connected setup Harmony program, because for some reason, the hub can’t find my wifi network when I try to set it up on my iPhone.

The Harmony Companion works with more than 270,000 devices and can be programmed to operate six devices, probably more than anyone will ever need. It will control infrared, wifi or Bluetooth devices, which covers any device I can think of. There are more expensive Logitech remotes that will control such tasks as adjusting the thermostat, and they can work with Amazon Alexa.

The Harmony Companion also comes in a model that doesn’t use a hub. Programming is done on the Harmony smart phone app (available on Apple’s app store and Google Play for Android devices).

If you’re remotely interested in a model that controls everything except for the steady drip of your kitchen sink, you can find dozens of models on Amazon. The cheap ones take more work to set up than the more expensive one, but even those models can do the job of the table-full of remotes I used to wade through.

Harmony Companion

Harmony 665

Summary
The Harmony 665 or the Harmony Companion are smart choices for universal remotes. The Companion remote is sold out at the Logietceh website, but is available for outlandish prices on Amazon or eBay.

Tech Specs
Windows 11 or Mac running Monterey Free Harmony app for both Windows and Mac