Editors Note: If you own a Harmony and have IR blasters on hand, they work with the Sofabaton X1. Another option is, try and get hold of just the Harmony Hub (without remote) and then hook it up to Home Assistant. The Logitech Harmony Elite is still the best universal remote weve tried, even though it will no longer be made after 2021. I just got mine form Amazon today. Once a device is loaded into the app, youre given the option to customize the buttons. It may take them a bit to get there, but I am confident they will get there. - 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 better ones can also control gear via Bluetooth and sometimes Wi-Fi. If you use it with an Alexa device, you can control your home entertainment with your voice. sofabaton r2 programming. The X1 has a built-in battery, but it wont need to be charged for weeks. A remote that can juggle at least eight devices at once should cover the average audio/video enthusiasts system. It often disconnects and cannot reconnect. It has a small indicator LED on the front. I have been a cord-cutter for at least four years now, so this doesnt bother me. I hope it gets better, but my recommendation is not to buy one until some of the show stoppers get fixed. To program the U1, you need to use the free SofaBaton app for iOS and Android. Press and hold the button for at least 3s, Received a command fromApp or X1 -Remote. I wish it had a small cradle for charging, which would make things a little bit easier. Its fine if it takes some time, but their communication people have burned a lot of their credibility. The hub randomly locks up requiring power cycling by unplugging it frequently for many people on the forums (leading to Lost hub messages on the remote). With the Harmony, you could very easily change buttons to cycle inputs, or switch to that device and control it. www.sofabaton.com NekoFever. But a lot of people still only think in terms of the old universal remotes, where you just chose one Device at a time. REVIEW: Sofabaton X1 Smart Universal Remote - Control Everything? The mobile phone and the HUB need to be connected to the same router. But it cant control Wi-Fibased devices, so you cant integrate smart-home lighting or temperature controls. My current Harmony 525 would have become unusable five times over by now if it had a non-replaceable battery. Ok, so the remote is still not perfect. Universal remotes are still made by a few companies. UPDATE: Here are my thoughts on the remote as of April 2022 As the pioneer in smart universal remote is the market, have you analyzed the Sofabaton remotes. But it lacks backlighting and activity buttons, and programming advanced tasks can be challenging. AKA Richard46 Sony OLED KE48A9BU; Yamaha RX A2A; MA Bronze BX2 & Radius 225; SVS 3000 Micro;; Goodmans Maxim2; Sony BDP-S1100; Manhattan T3-R 1TB. A clear and bright screen that wont consume a ton of battery power, so you should be able to go a long time between charges. Only Activities can be controlled by a third-party smart voice assistant such as Alexa. So I can confirm that the finish on the remote is tough as nails. Step2: Search for brand sofa action on the skill page. And, though archaic, the ability to program the remote manually may actually be welcomed by people who dont own a mobile device and therefore cant program their remote using an app. I dont see a way to select the various inputs that wouldnt confuse anyone but me, let alone control a second zone or control audio modes . Speaking of macros, the process of creating them, though logistically simple in the app, will be more mentally taxing than some people will tolerate. Ive been using this for a few months and it is still a love-hate relationship. Many cheap universal remotes require that you press a certain combination of buttons and then input manufacturer codes for each AV device until you find one that works. The remote itself is a manageable size thats not too wide, long, or heavy; even with my small hands, I could reach all the controls with my thumb without having to shift the remote around in my hand. Easy to tweak with delays, discrete power codes etc. The One For All URC7880 Smart Control 8 is a simple, affordable remote for people who can control all their gear via infrared (IR). In years past, if you wanted an advanced universal remote that you could program yourself (as opposed to models that are sold exclusively through dealers, like Crestron and Control4, that program them for you), you had many choicesfrom brands like Harmony, Sony, Pronto, URC, and UEI. It cant control Bluetooth-based devices like the Google Chromecast or Nvidia Shield TV, but it will work fine with the majority of AV products, including most cable and satellite boxes, Blu-ray players, soundbars, gaming consoles, and AV receivers. Super useful! However, learning commands is still not perfect, and it requires you to play with the remote positioning. It can control up to 15 devices, including both infrared- and Bluetooth-based AV devices. If it cannot be connected, please restart the power of the HUB, open the APP and search for the X1 HUB again. Step3: Verify that all devices are powered on. As far as the skipping goes, remotes like these often have an option for how many times the command is repeated per button press. If Im way off base, you have my apologies! please turn off the HomeShield Pro function or authorize X1 access. Or both. The good news is that a universal remote will work with any TV sold today. I tried it with my LG B9 and my Pioneer Elite CD player and could not get either to register a command with the Sofabaton. 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. Its common for lower-priced universal remotes to work only with IR devices. Lets discuss! You might still find these remotes in stock for a while, but no new models are being manufactured. Found 1 Back command which works. The app uses Bluetooth signal to communicate with the Sofabaton remote control, giving access to the full database of IR code for home entertainment devices, such as TV's, SoundBar's, DVD's, etc. Because of this, a One For All universal remote is a good and affordable way to replace a single remote or combine multiple remotes into one. Required fields are marked *. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); As an Amazon Associate, we may earn income when you click on an Amazon link. I do love that there is a find my remote function. I didnt encounter any connection issues between the remote and the app, and when all was said and done, the U1 successfully controlled both of my systems the way I wanted it to. Your email address will not be published. Setup is done using an Android or iOS app on your phone or tablet. And if youre willing to buy a used device, like a Harmony remote, it will still work well. One-Click Activity: Select an activity such as "Watch Movie" to automatically turn on the power and switch the device to the correct input. 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. And the fact that the remotes programming mode times out after a few seconds means you must act quickly and deliberately. The remote communicates with the app via Bluetooth, so the first step in the setup process is to pair the two. Is there any other manfature that will produce a product like the harmony remote controls, There is also https://www.yio-remote.com/. You can also share a hotspot with another mobile phone, use this hotspot as a router, connect both the HUB and the mobile phone to this hotspot, and then see if the HUB can be found. Top Sellers. 3. Sure, you can still find a ton of low-end replacement remotesmodels whose primary purpose is to replace the one the dog chewed up and do little else. 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. Im thinking Im sending mine back. At the top of the remote theres a simple OLED screen that shows the model names of the devices youve added, with a scroll wheel to quickly select the device you want to control. If youve never programmed a universal remote before, or youre used to the Harmony setup software that figures out the main steps for you, the learning curve for a more complex AV system will be high. Anyone with experience using the Softbaton with an Xi6-T? Rest assured, we will continue to update the X1's firmware to be compatible with more routers. I placed my hub on top of my AV rack in front of my Xbox Series X. I had no issues with it controlling any of my devices, so I didnt have to connect the IR blasters. 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 . In fact, Ill bet youre super confused from what I just wrote! Maybe an X2 will have real numbers. Sofabaton covered the remote in a black matte finish that resisted marring and fingerprints. They fixed that! Free shipping for many products! If you have a better solution, please leave a message to help more users. Even used models can cost up to or more than $400. I expect Sofabaton will follow the same trajectory. They have a looong way to go to catch up to Logitech! Tony spends much too much of his free time on Twitter, reading speculative fiction novels, playing video games, and reading comic books. Make sure that this fits by entering your model number. And it isnt anywhere near as useful and intuitive as Harmonys Help button. TVs are made for great pictures, so we recommend the best ways to get great sound too. Recognized all my devices. Seemed like they were saying create a macro what for every 1 2 3 and 4 digit channel number? Read more about Disclaimer. It seems, Sofabaton is neither responding here any more, nor did we see any improvement lately. IMPORTANT: Your first post will be checked for appropriate content. I Dont Have Perfect Placement And I Dont Care! Anyway, I dont like the buttons as they are very plasticky and I always pick it up upside down for some reason, so ergonomics could be better. No one button activities and weaker basic remote functions. Step2: Make sure your phone's Bluetooth is on and the phone is connected to your home Wi-Fi. The King is Dead! Thats not a surprising omission for something in this price range. Thanks for your first-hand report. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. So I will be honest, I was not expecting a lot from a Kickstarter, but I was pretty impressed with the exterior and interior packaging. You can search SofaBatons database for the models of your devices, and if theyre there, it only takes one tap to add them. You can still find some older DIY URC remotes online, but at elevated prices. If the remote still executes the command, then its using Bluetooth or RF signals.). Once its set up, it works well. No command is sent. From the Kickstarter: Does X1 support local API to integrate the remote control into a home automation system without going through the cloud? I was able to get it to operate both my LG Nano TV and my Yamaha amp as well via IR. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Was a Kickstarter buyer figured, what the heck. Theres always going to be a bit of a learning curve with any desktop or app-based software, but if you need a certificate in C++ to program your remote, thats too difficult. Anything on top is just not working as it should. Less buttons than the U1. (If you want to hide your gear away in a cabinet, youll need to pick up an IR repeater kit like this one.) 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. But if you set it up for someone, and then teach them about Activities, the Off button, and the Screen Back button, its impressive for a 1st gen. One thing not mentioned in your review: there is no Help button right on the face of the remote like there was on Harmony remotes. The SofaBaton U1 is special because it can control up to 15 IR and Bluetooth devices, but it only costs $50. And then you can start adding your devices; this is a straightforward process in which you can choose from a list of preloaded devices (including Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Nvidia, DirecTV, and Xfinity) or enter the manufacturer and device name. Thats a tough one. The technical name for this bundling of commands is macros, but remote-control manufacturers usually call them activities or scenes. Connects up to 40 devices in your home including TV, DVD, Blu-Ray, TV & cable boxes, gaming consoles, Apple TV, Roku and more. Todays home entertainment equipment delivers more functionality in fewer boxes. You started your Watch TV Activity, but your AV Receiver didnt turn on? That would FIX IT, right?. Im pretty sure you and I are in agreement about pretty much everything with this remote. SofaBaton X1 remote is universally compatible with virtually all brands of audi and video equipment. Setting up Activities is also frustrating. At that rate, I can just sell it on Ebay if I don't like it. Its not really a universal remote because it can control just one or two devices: a TV and a set-top box. The hard truth is, with the death of the Harmony remote line, consumers have been left with a smattering of universal-remote options that all have notable flaws. So, a couple of clicks later, we both backed it and eagerly awaited delivery. Also, since this hub can send commands to devices using Wi-Fi, IR, or Bluetooth signals, you can control your devices even when they are behind closed doors or cabinets and use home entertainment services like Netflix and Hulu. Plus, its a real pain to have to wake up your phone or tablet and wait for the app to reconnect with the system whenever you want to change the channel or the volume. It lacks backlighting and a Help function to fix any messed-up commands. You can program this remote using a convenient mobile app that makes adding, removing, and changing devices easy. Thank you!! The more a remote costs, the more flexibility it should have to control different kinds of devices. But, I think that if you arent ready for that, you should wait and let us nerds work with Sofabaton and fix all the bugs. Your email address will not be published. Will it be the new must-have remote? The SofabatonX1 universal remote has been specifically designed to provide an easy way for you to control all your home entertainment devices from a single controller. Then go to Set, then Fix, the scroll to your AVR, and then click the wheel until Off is highlighted. 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. Adrienne Maxwell is the supervising editor of Wirecutter's audio/video team, covering everything from headphones to TVs. SofaBaton claims its code database includes 350,000-plus devices and 6,000 brands. We recommend that readers conduct their own research and seek professional advice before making any decisions based on the information provided on this website. If you want to change the behavior of buttons, fix codes that arent working, or build macros, you have to do it directly on the remote (you can add devices manually, too); this involves pressing the Magic button to put the remote in programming mode and then pressing a lot more buttons to accomplish a certain task. But, I could see this being a deal-breaker for someone who uses the number pad for TV channel input vs. the on-screen menus. There were a few quirks but to be honest not any more than you would encounter with a complex Harmony set up. Sofabaton X1 universal smart remote control works with all your entertainment and home devices, and it also supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. I don . And the number pad may prove essential for cable/satellite customers who have lots of channels to navigate. And it relies on a mobile app for setup. So fix it! All of the customization of buttons and choosing which commands show up on the screen is really only in Activities, anyway. The u1 is limited in functionality but the X1 should fix that with activities, Bluetooth and the hub. He also enjoys reading video game manuals. 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. I have the harmony 680 or 650 or something and they are starting to get worn out. If you cant locate the URC7880, you can press a button in the app to make the remote beep. We plan to support our Harmony community and new Harmony customers, which includes access to our software and apps to set up and manage your remotes. But lets not mince words here. With support for eight AV devices, the URC7880 can accommodate a pretty extensive home-theater system. The system consists of a. We independently review everything we recommend. 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
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