Smart Home Blog

Recently I bought universal remote control. I chose One For All URC 7556 Digital 5. That remote is simple and cheap (just 32EUR). But it offers a quite acceptable set of functions. First of all the remote supports up to 5 devices. I found codes for my TV and DVD easily. I just re-mapped a few buttons to support missing functions such switching between TV inputs or opening DVD tray. To replace iMON PAD remote which came with Silverstone case (I hate its PAD!) I learned its commands and assigned them to the Sat button. That’s it. Finally instead of three remote I use only one.

The URC 7556 Digital 5 offers a few simple but useful functions. For example, you can increase or decrease volume during watching DVD without pressing button TV. It’s done by defining special command. In that case if you press volume button the command will be sent to TV regardless what device you use at that time.

The remote supports macros. This means that you can assign sequence of some actions to one button. For example, switch on TV, switch on DVD, switch on amplifier, switch to DVD output. In addition the URC 7556 Digital 5 looks stylish, plastic has good quality and it’s handy.

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Lantic Systems tries to bring its wide yacht automation experience in the smarthome area. The whole details are unknown. But at least we’ll be able to use a fantastic round remote control. It has just eight buttons plus 5 from the navigation pad. But using them it allows to users navigate through on-screen menus for entertainment, automation, surveillance, photos, and other options typical of higher-end control systems. The remote uses RF instead of IR. So, the commands can go through walls.

The similar approach was offered by Savant Systems for its Rosie automation and entertainment system. But Lantic’s remote seems more handy. In any case, it cannot be used as standalone remote. To use it you should by a whole home automation system from Lantic.

[via CEPro]

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Mavromatic made good video review of Logitech’s Harmony One Remote Control. The remote looks nice. It includes a 2.5” color touchscreen LCD and can be easily connected to PC for update its database of IR codes. The database is very huge and includes all known brands. The preferences of remote can be stored online using Logitech web service. So, you won’t loose them or will able to access them from any PC.

Now fly in the ointment. The combination of hard keys and touchscreen doesn’t look handy. It’s impossible to perform all operations using only one hand. Because the price is not cheap the Harmony One Remote Control seems an appropriate solution only if consumer has a few A/V or other IR controlled devices which are not connected to any home automation system. Otherwise it might be more efficient to use something like Nokia Internet Tablet with integrated smarthome interface.

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A new model of luxury remote with touchscreen NevoS70 was announced on the CES 2008. Its features include:

• Non-line of sight control using Z-Wave(TM) bidirectional wireless communications to ensure reliable command execution and to show the power status of entertainment equipment in the home
• Extended battery life and broad home coverage
• Connection to the home network for multimedia control with industry standard wireless technology (802.11g)
• Ability to view and control any device that has a compatible embedded web server, such as many web-based cameras and media servers
• Control for many home automation devices
• Access to web-based services to deliver real-time information such as news, sports and stock quotes

Together with a NevoConnect NC-50 base station, NevoS70 provides non-line of site IR control, serial device control and power sensing for efficient macro programming and control. NevoS70 communication is based on industry standards—WiFi, UPnP and Z-Wave—to ensure compatibility with a wide range of devices in home entertainment, control, and networking.

Sounds amazing! Looks also. To get NevoS7 in your hand you should just wait a bit and pay $1,199. This is a tiny cost for such perfect device.

[via CePro]

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Today I found that analog of FiireChief for LinuxMCE - remote control with built-in gyration. It looks very close to FiireChief except the three buttons for UI2 and “Follow Me” to transfer media. People on the LinuxMCE forum confirmed that that remote works fine with LinuxMCE.

The price of Gyration Media Center Vista Remote is £109.99 (including wireless keyboard) and it can be ordered in Europe.

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