The Harmony SST-688 remote packs an incredible amount of system control into its stylish silver case (also available in black).

We?ve all seen cases of "remote control overload" — maybe even in our own homes. The coffee table is cluttered with remote controls, and changing inputs and functions on your A/V system resembles a juggling act worthy of the circus. There may be one remote for the TV, another for the TiVo®, a third for the home theater receiver, and others strewn about for the DVD player, satellite receiver, cable box, and VCR. That?s a lot of remotes, and a lot of hassle!

Even worse, in many homes there may be only one person who knows how to operate this jumble of controllers. If it's like that in your house, you know the frustration that can develop for everyone involved. After all, all you want to do is watch a movie, not earn an advanced degree!

There are solutions to this problem. There are plenty of universal remote controls available, many with the ability to control "macros" — programmed strings of commands that provide one-button convenience for common tasks like watching a DVD, viewing TV, or listening to music. But the prospect of having to program these remotes is not something a lot of people look forward to. The more powerful the remote, the more programming you may have to do to set it up properly. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to program these remotes, but it doesn't hurt!

The Harmony Remote™ — a new approach
When I found myself in the same fix, it was time to do something about it. Harmony remote controls offer a new approach — put the power of macros (Harmony refers to these as "activities") into your remote without requiring you to make a major investment in time and possible frustration. Harmony has combined the functionality of a powerful remote with an easy-to-use internet interface that does the programming for you. Rather than spending your free time with your remote?s manual, tapping in access codes and setting up macros, Harmony remotes are programmed through their website, reducing the amount of time, expertise, and frustration required.

This sounded like a great idea to me, so I took the plunge, bought an SST-688 Harmony Remote (at $200) and gave it a try. Here's how it worked out for me.

Getting started
There?s nothing very daunting about the SST-688 when you open the box. Just the remote, batteries, a USB cable, a CD-ROM, and a slim manual. When even inexpensive universal remote controls often come with a 50-page manual, this is very refreshing!

No hefty manual to wade through with a Harmony remote! The key to setting up the remote lies in the USB cable, included software, and your internet connection.

I flipped open the manual and followed the instructions. With a Harmony remote you simply write down the model numbers of your equipment (a page is included for this in the manual), install the included software onto your computer (quick and easy), and connect the Harmony remote to your computer using the included USB cable. Using your internet browser, you enter Harmony?s website, set up an account (free), enter in the information on your gear, and answer some questions on how you use your system (for example, do you control the volume through the TV or through your receiver). The Harmony website then programs the remote for you, using the USB connection. It?s an easy, quick process — it only took me 15 minutes to complete the entire process!

But the real difference goes deeper than the method used in programming the remote (though that?s pretty cool by itself). Harmony's remote control database is on the web, so it can be constantly updated, with new types and models of equipment added constantly. In addition, users can help expand the database. Say you have a piece of equipment that is not in the database. The Harmony remote?s learning function can learn the commands of the remote, then transfer the information to the Harmony database to help program your remote. What does this do for you? Well, since the database is constantly being updated, your remote will never become obsolete!

Putting the Harmony SST-688 to the test
With my remote programmed, I gave it a test run. After turning off all my equipment I pressed the "Watch TV" activity button. In a flash, gear began to click on, and within a few seconds the TV, TiVo, and home theater receiver were working together perfectly. I tested the basic functions, like volume control, channel selection, and TiVo menus — everything worked like a charm.

Next up was the "Watch DVD" activity button. Again, no problems — inputs changed, equipment switched on or off, and in a few seconds the DVD player had a movie on the screen. The same results for "Watch Tape" — the VCR turned on, inputs changed, and a tape was playing a few seconds later.

Making adjustments for any specific piece of equipment was simple. I selected the device I wanted to control by using the LCD screen, pressed the corresponding buttons, and scrolled through commands until I found the function I wanted.

A problem?
Just when I thought that everything was working perfectly, a problem did come up. When switching back to the "Watch TV" activity from other activities (like watching a DVD), the audio input on my home theater receiver did not change to the correct setting. I didn?t have any audio unless I manually changed the setting on the receiver.

It was time for the "Help" button. This is probably one of the coolest features of Harmony remotes. If a piece of gear doesn?t turn on, or is set incorrectly, simply press the Help button. The remote then displays a series of Yes/No questions on the LCD screen. By answering them, the remote is able to analyze the problem and correct the settings. In my case, the Help button fixed the problem for the moment, but when I recreated the situation it occurred again. It was time to give a call to tech support.

Problem solved!
Tech support with Harmony was a pleasant experience — really! I called Harmony?s toll-free number and had a tech on the line in only a few minutes. The tech looked up my remote?s settings (they?re stored in Harmony?s database) and diagnosed the problem. In my case the problem occurred because their remote database had an incorrect setting for my receiver. After fixing that problem, the tech had me plug my remote into the USB, connect to the Harmony website, and download the revised programming for my remote. No wading through manuals, punching of buttons, or laborious testing, and my remote worked like a charm from there on out.

It was a very impressive performance by Harmony?s support team. In short, they were professional, courteous, and (best of all) easy to contact!

Get geeky with your Harmony
In my short time with the Harmony 688, I?ve only scratched the surface of what it can do. Harmony?s web interface allows you to easily customize the button functions of the remote, even assigning names to buttons linked to the LCD screen. Since Harmony remotes have a learning function, you can teach them any commands that may not be listed in the web interface?s database. There?s virtually no limit to what you can teach the remote to do, all courtesy of the easy-to-use interface.

Not EVERYTHING is perfect in paradise…
A glowing review like this might lead you to believe that everything about Harmony remotes is perfect. But in fact there are a few small wrinkles here and there.

While the web interface is very powerful, fast, and generally easy to use, its page layout and navigation is somewhat clunky on occasion. The interface could stand a bit of work in making it more intuitive and easy to use.

While the overall style and ergonomic design of the remote gets high marks, the buttons tend to be a bit on the small side. The Activity buttons, in particular, would benefit from being larger and easier to read. I'd also like to see a slightly larger LCD screen. Commands displayed on the screen are often cut off because of the screen?s small size.

Great for the gear head and the casual user alike!
These minor complaints don?t detract from my very favorable impression of the Harmony SST-688. This device is truly an eye-opener. Harmony remotes move the technology and concept of the remote control forward in a way that we haven?t seen before. It?s unique in its appeal to both "gear heads" and casual users alike. You can set it once and forget it, or you can customize to your heart's content. Best of all, you can adjust your settings to new equipment and new configurations of your equipment without even breaking a sweat.

This jumble of remotes, or a single, harmonious remote? You decide.

But perhaps the biggest upside of the Harmony remote is confidence. Not just confidence that it will turn on my equipment when I press a button, but the confidence of knowing that, no matter what I may buy in the future, I?ll be able to configure my Harmony remote to control new A/V gear with a minimum of time and effort. Unlike many products, there?s no "planned obsolescence" built into a Harmony remote. And these days, when new formats, technology, and equipment are constantly being introduced into the marketplace, that?s a valuable virtue indeed.