That may not be good enough for those looking for a plug-and-play solutionyet. I have since decided to create a dedicated basement HT (in progress) so will use my extra Elite for that set up. Universal Remotes; Useful Links. The Sofabaton X1 relies on WiFi and the app for setup and function. SofaBaton X1 Universal Remote with hub and app, . You started your Watch TV Activity, but your AV Receiver didnt turn on? As we mentioned, the URC7880 can only control IR-based equipment, so it needs to have line-of-sight with all your gear. But nothing happens. But it lacks backlighting and activity buttons, and programming advanced tasks can be challenging. There is also an LCD screen to help the user figure out how to use it. However, with the curtains open at certain times of the day, it seems the brightness of the room can impact it. If you dont have that second code, you can press the same number continuously for hours and the box would never respond past the initial press. SofaBaton X1 Universal Remote Control with Hub - All in One Smart Remote Control with Customize Activities for Bluetooth IR 2.4G Devices Compatible with Alexa (Charge Plug Included) Brand: SofaBaton 11 ratings 24999 FREE Returns Size Name: With Plug See more About this item Therefore, after creating an Activity, it is not recommended to switch the power supply of the device or switch the source position in the device model, to avoid an error with the information recorded in the Activity setting, as well as potential confusion of functions.IMPORTANT, Cox Universal Remote Control User Manual - Optimized PDF Cox Universal Remote Control User Manual - Original PDF, Smart IR Universal Remote Control Product View Product installation instructions Plug the Smart IR Controller USB-A into, Your email address will not be published. Eventually, I figured out the quirks with my settings, but I would assume that the novice would get frustrated quickly and give up. Lots of potential, quite nice to use once you actually have it fully set up, but the setup process is not for anybody who is impatient! Yes, there is a free One For All setup app for iOS and Android, and yes, it pairs with the remote via Bluetooth and lets you add your devices by inputting the manufacturer name and model number or testing different codes. Samsung Roku Alexa Apple Philips Logitech Tcl Vizio LG Hisense Tivo Sharp Nvidia XBOX TOSHIBA NETFLIX Directv tv remote. Eight pre-labeled devices are listed at the top, with one device button to scroll through them all (a button for each device would be faster). As with most things, little quirks show themselves over time. And it relies on a mobile app for setup.. Speaker Package Deals - Good Idea or Waste of Money? They found it very easy to set up (it took about one minute), and they thought the instructions were easy to understand. Compared to the URC remote, setup for my system was a breeze, and the remote works perfectly. Any idea if possible ? But I am happy to say they now work! Let us know if that works. Step 1: Select the device you want to use for this Activity, Step2: Confirm the input source.If you are not familiar with source configuration, please follow the instructions on IV Configuring the source in an Activity. You can search SofaBatons database for the models of your devices, and if theyre there, it only takes one tap to add them. The FAQs do touch briefly on the use of the IR blasters, but I find it inadequate. Im confused by your update. After searching on the web, I can see that the brand new Sofabaton X1 is the best replacement for Logitech Harmony remotes. On the plus side, the URC7880 does have an activity button that can scroll through five activities (TV, movie, music, game, and custom). I am hopeful that they will continue to improve the experience. This is an universal home theater remote for home cinema which is targeted at multi-devices scenario-based Activity control, while adding a wireless Hub,which we believe can better meet the needs of power users. sofabaton r2 programming. I expect Sofabaton will follow the same trajectory. If they listen to users and make changes based on our feedbackthen yes, I think it will be a great remote. It can control up to 15 AV devices, including both IR- and Bluetooth-based devices, which covers most of todays AV equipment. Step1: Search or select your device in the list. So I was pretty impressed with the Sofabaton X1 because my Harmony hub needed two blasters to control devices, not the Sofabaton! Hi Chris. The SofaBaton U1 Universal Remote Control is a well-designed universal remote that offers a lot more features than you might expect for $50. Required fields are marked *. Add in the lack of backlighting, and we think this one will be a bit more challenging to use in a dark room. Disappointing and waste of money. The U1 lacks backlighting, which, combined with this remotes black-buttons-on-a-black-shell design, makes using it in a dark room somewhat more challenging. After deleting all my devices and activities and then redoing them, they seem to work. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sofabaton/sofabaton-x1. I currently purchase this SofaBaton X1 to replace my Logitech Universal Remote with Hub, I was very impressed when I unboxed this remote. Sofabaton X1 - The Newly Anticipated Replacement For The Logitech Harmony Hub Has Arrived! Remote is still note usable beyond the set of features a 25 USD universal remote is providing. Top Sellers. For an attractively low price, the SofaBaton U1 Universal Remote Control combines the essential elements of a universal remotea good physical design with the necessary buttons, the ability to control many (and a variety of) devices, and the option to create shortcuts to launch activities (such as Watch a Movie) with a single button press. www.sofabaton.com NekoFever. Decade long AV technician here. After what seemed like an eternity, I finally was able to get my hands on my new Sofabaton X1, set it up and give it a real test to see how it fared against my beloved Harmony Ultimate. Your email address will not be published. You can create your own activity button that does what a Watch TV button would dolike turn on all the necessary devices, switch to the correct inputs on your TV and receiver, and perhaps launch a menu. I recently got a new puppy, and he has had my Sofabaton X1 in his mouth several times with nary a scratch. I had 3 Harmony Smart Hub for many years and really liked them. Features: -Online access to cloud-based database of Infrared Device -Universal search by device brand or type -Automatic setup on the Sofabaton remote using Bluetooth technology -Support both IR and Bluetooth remote protocol -Requires a Bluetooth Smart capable phone more What's New Version History Version 3.2.8 1. During that time, I have reviewed numerous audio and video products, including virtually every major DIY universal-remote platform. To program the U1, you need to use the free SofaBaton app for iOS and Android. Off: Power off all Activities.Return: Return to the previous menu of the XI-Remote display.Wheel: When the X1-Remote screen is locked, click or scroll to light it up.When the screen is lit, scroll up and down to switch menus, as well as click to confirm.Non-global keys:These keys have no default values and need to be defined on the device or while in Activity mode. For example, when you need to learn a command, the Sofabaton will direct you to point the IR sensor of your devices remote at the circular icon on the top of the hub and press the button for 3-5 seconds. So I wish Devices on the X1 screen could just be hidden entirely. In recent years, smart home technologies have been getting better and more popular, and universal remotes are also being changed to work with a variety of smart home devices. With support for eight AV devices, the URC7880 can accommodate a pretty extensive home-theater system. You and I have wildly different experiences. I refuse to feed scalpers anything, so I decided to start searching for a new solution just in case my beloved Harmony chose to kick the bucket or Harmony (doubtful) suddenly cut support for the database. Home Theater Accessories. Step3: Use the original remote control to pair the device with Sofabaton X1 via Bluetooth. If you use it with an Alexa device, you can control your home entertainment with your voice. Right now, there is a lot broken. Nor does it support Wi-Fibased smart-home devices, which is not at all surprising for a remote in this price range. Maybe im doing something wrong. We dont recommend this approach, however, because using your mobile devices touchscreen as a remote requires you to look away from the TV screen and down at your deviceto search for the right part of the screen to touchand this makes channel surfing and volume tweaking cumbersome. So, a couple of clicks later, we both backed it and eagerly awaited delivery. From the Kickstarter: Does X1 support local API to integrate the remote control into a home automation system without going through the cloud? So I am not going to lie; I was very disappointed when Logitech finally announced it was killing the Harmony line of remotes and hubs. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for sofabaton u1 universal remote Harmony replacement (infrared, bluetooth) at the best online prices at eBay! Make sure you add a set to your shopping cart. Eliminate clutter and enjoy convenient control. Can I Put My Subwoofer On Top Of Furniture? So I think its 90% to where it needs to be. Given that it will be a bit of work to learn all command, I am looking at a way to configure that Back key into my original Samsung TV remote. There are no options for brightness (yet), so its a one-size-fits-all solution. So even if I have to charge once per month, thats pretty impressive. Member. But some universal remotes only work with the power, volume, and channel up/down buttons on your TV. If it cannot be connected, please restart the power of the HUB, open the APP and search for the X1 HUB again. Seleziona una pagina. Or both. But the U1 has some drawbacks. Amazon had a 10% off click to add coupon and I read in Facebook group that emailing [emailprotected] and asking for a discount code they would give another 30% to stack on top. Hi noob to this really confused if I give the model number of tv shouldnt the program already assign all buttons without all the intervention of asking what each button should do? So when youre trying to add a Bluetooth-based source, you have to unpair the remote from the setup app to test the device control, and then re-pair to the app to keep going with setup. I'm definitely waiting. The Sofabaton looks to me like it's the same team that created the Harmony remotes, or at least there's something going on there. I tend to agree with you. Seamlessly switch between devices via scroll wheel with 20inch display and enjoy convenient control with ease entertainment. But there is a Fix function within the Set menu. Its IR window was a bit wider and more robust than that of the SofaBaton, so I didnt have to be quite as direct in my pointing. Secondly (according to the manual), it will wake the remote and activate the backlight. What the cable box is looking for is what is commonly referred to as a toggle code. Cookie Notice You could say that smartphones have replaced them, but switching between a hundred different clunky apps isnt as elegant as the old Logitech Harmony remote, which is no longer made but still works. There are some very low-budget instructional videos available through the appwith no dialogue, just video of someones hand using the app. If, on the other hand, your home-entertainment system is built around an AV receiver and multiple source components, and sitting down to watch a movie or play a video game requires shuffling among several remotes to switch inputs and control multiple components simultaneously, a universal remote is exactly what you need. Just below its screen is a small scroll wheel that lets you switch between activities and devices. As I said earlier, Sofabaton seems committed to working the bugs out of this remote. Step5: Fill in the Activity name This will complete the activity creation process. Perhaps the company is working on fixes and will reintroduce it at a later date. SofaBaton Universal Remote with Hub, All-in-one Smart Remote Control with Customizable APP, One-Touch Activities, Compatible with 60+ Devices TV/Soundbar/Streaming Players and More, Works with Al*exa SofaBaton U1 Universal Remote Control with Smart APP & Macro Buttons, Harmony Remote Control for up to 15 Home Devices, Compatible 6000+ Brands . Seems very time consuming vs harmony. Ok, so the remote is still not perfect. For proper functioning, the system needs to obtain the following source information for the output device (TV, power amplifier, projector, etc.). Not yet. 2023 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company, Good features and performance for the price, If you need to control only infrared devices, Our pick: SofaBaton U1 Universal Remote Control, Budget pick: One For All URC7880 Smart Control 8, A simple remote we like for those with eyesight, memory, or confusion issues. One For All says you can set up this remote using an app, but thats misleading. A game console or two might also be included. Connects up to 40 devices in your home including TV, DVD, Blu-Ray, TV & cable boxes, gaming consoles, Apple TV, Roku and more. While setting up the X1, the phone and hub must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. This is hardly intuitive. But a growing number of devices, especially game consoles (like the Sony PlayStation 4) and streaming media devices (like some Nvidia Shield TV and Chromecast products), are controlled via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, so youll need a universal remote that supports those technologies. My Harmony Elite died and replacments are not available so I took a shot with the Sofabaton. It may take them a bit to get there, but I am confident they will get there. But the U1s intuitive button layout and the fact that the main navigation, volume, and channel buttons are clearly distinguished by size and shape will help alleviate those challenges. Speaking of macros, the process of creating them, though logistically simple in the app, will be more mentally taxing than some people will tolerate. If you have a deep custom requirement, you can contact our customer services for an API file after receiving the product. On the downside, the remote lacks backlighting and dedicated, clearly labeled activity buttons (such as Watch TV) that make it easier for everyone to use. Plus, the remotes longer, slimmer form makes everything feel a bit cramped, and I had more trouble reaching all the buttons with my thumb without having to shift the remote around in my hand. Will it be the new must-have remote? Non-tech people who have no experience with hub-based remotes will struggle. By contrast, a good universal remote should offer the following features: Although the pickings are slim in todays market, we continue to call in new remotes that meet as much of the above criteria as possible. Step2: Enter the name of the key you want to learn. You can do that with the Sofabaton, but it takes a few more steps, and as you said, its not as simple. I was able to get it to operate both my LG Nano TV and my Yamaha amp as well via IR. Direct from Manufacturer. Logitech doesnt make Harmony remotes anymore, but the company still fixes them, so they are still a good choice. If youre looking for advanced whole-house control, with lots of complex lighting scenes and independent control of different sources in different rooms, youre better off turning to a local specialty AV retailer that can create a more-personalized control system from a company like Crestron or Control4. The Sofabaon X1 promised a hub-based remote that supported IR, wi-fi, and Bluetooth, all a must in todays home theater. Thanks for the heads up! I have a lot of of vintage tech MD player, CD player and VCR that were not in the database. Let's keep checking if you like the idea. I don . - The no-longer-cheap price - heck, my 525 was LESS than the X1 on KS now; the U1 got the price right, but the features wrong - but the X1's price is starting to sting. The Harmony Companion was one of the more affordable remotes to support Wi-Fi, and it cost $150 or more. Tutorial X1 User Guide and FAQ, Continuously Updated Back key cannot be configured on Samsung The Frame 2022, You can press the key to assign Return and Exit on X1,choose the device, click edit---assign key for the X1 remote, then assign the command you like to the physiccal key of the X1. The u1 is limited in functionality but the X1 should fix that with activities, Bluetooth and the hub. The hub has a solid feel and build quality as well. Another option is, try and get hold of just the Harmony Hub (without remote) and then hook it up to Home Assistant.