Im thinking Im sending mine back. Use the app to connect to your X-Hub with the following steps: Step1: Open the app and select X1 from the device list. Disclaimer: We want to be clear that the information on Bollyinside.com, including articles, reviews, and guides, is intended for educational purposes only. Super impressed so far for such a new product. On the plus side, the URC7880 does have an activity button that can scroll through five activities (TV, movie, music, game, and custom). Whether you want to shop by size, price, or purpose, we have recommendations. The remote itself has a larger, more customizable screen (with the ability to create activities) but fewer physical buttons. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Let us know what you think. Plus, a press-and-hold of the red power button serves as an all-off for each activity. Fewer people need a universal remote control these days, which explains why the category is dying and great options are hard to find. It will be an absolute non-starter at the "$200 retail" they advertise; if they think they can rob everyone blind after the Harmony exit, I believe they're in for a surprise. Sad day indeed. Download the SofaBaton app and log in, it's very easy to set up and adding devices. Devices can be set up by searching online IR code database or directly learning from original physical remotes. It has some notable flaws, but this model can control a wider variety of home-entertainment devices, and it has a better physical design than its competitors. But its a shame that SofaBaton omitted such a simple and important feature. Makes me wonder what the issue with the previous two versions is. Remote is still note usable beyond the set of features a 25 USD universal remote is providing. Get fast shipping and top-rated customer service. As I said earlier, Sofabaton seems committed to working the bugs out of this remote. I think Sofabaton will make this a great remote, and I recommend that you get one if you are willing to work with the shortcomings now for a great remote later. It has an app to use it with that makes using and programming it much easier than a different model/brand Ive used in the past. Read more about Disclaimer. My excitment for this was tempered by all the mediocre reviews. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Let us know if that works. 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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. (If youre not sure how your device is controlled, try this: Point the remote at the ground in the opposite direction from the device its supposed to control, and then press a button. Take Alexa as an example and perform the following operations:Step1: Open the Amazon Alexa app, and click Skill & Games from the menu bar. Lastly, I wish you could just hide the Devices menu option entirely. 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 . Todays home entertainment equipment delivers more functionality in fewer boxes. A game console or two might also be included. That is an excellent question. Say "GOODBYE" to the intricacies of remote control thoroughly. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. So far this not working out at all. To test the remotes, I set up each one to control two different AV systems in my home: One is a more-basic living-room setup with a Samsung TV, Polk soundbar, and Apple TV 4K media player. Do universal remotes work for everything? All signals are sent from the HUB, and the remote control communicates with the HUB via RF. A remote that can juggle at least eight devices at once should cover the average audio/video enthusiasts system. Any button press will wake the remote as well. 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. Quick Search (Via IR Mode)Here are the steps to perform a quick search to add devices.Step1: Search for the device brand and model in the app. I'm looking forward to it already because right now the U1 is okay, but doesn't really fully replace the Harmony. But some universal remotes only work with the power, volume, and channel up/down buttons on your TV. After deleting all my devices and activities and then redoing them, they seem to work. I ordered it Saturday night. The FAQs do touch briefly on the use of the IR blasters, but I find it inadequate. Nice review, Andrew! I would love to have the remote turn on when you pick it up, it seems to work without having to press buttons twice. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we cannot guarantee the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of any information. 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. You have to now switch to a different Activity, at which point, the X1 will send appropriate commands for you AVR, being aware that it is actually Off when it should have been On. This is hardly intuitive. I still dont have any support for Google Home, and Philips Hue support is still nada. The buttons do not appear to be backlit, unless all your devices are sitting within IR view of the Hub it's useless. Editors Note: If you own a Harmony and have IR blasters on hand, they work with the Sofabaton X1. Lastly, the remote is tough. With a universal remote control, television, music listening and video games can be handled better, as several remote controls are combined into one. This may take a bit of time. Once upon a time, companies made third-party universal remotes that worked with a lot of different devices and let you control them all with one magic wand. Not having to specify what off is off. 2. Anywho, so here we are, and Harmony is no more. But I noted that the instructions had smaller print, so they might be harder to read. There are no options for brightness (yet), so its a one-size-fits-all solution. 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. I have been a cord-cutter for at least four years now, so this doesnt bother me. But lets not mince words here. Unfortunately, it didnt see all my lights. Step5: Send the WiFi password so that the Hub can access your home LAN. Use the app to connect to your X-Hub with the following steps:Step1: Open the app and select X1 from the device list. Step2: Search for brand sofa action on the skill page. SofaBaton X1 remote is universally compatible with virtually all brands of audi and video equipment. Its not really a universal remote because it can control just one or two devices: a TV and a set-top box. After searching on the web, I can see that the brand new Sofabaton X1 is the best replacement for Logitech Harmony remotes. Its rounded out by four programmable hotkeys that map to your chosen functions. I have several components on different shelves. I recently got a new puppy, and he has had my Sofabaton X1 in his mouth several times with nary a scratch. But those remotes arent designed to provide a really intuitive, streamlined, activity-based experience. Although theres a lot we like about the SofaBaton U1, it has a few significant drawbackssome are expected for a remote in this price range, and some are just unfortunate design choices. 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. I am the supervising editor of Wirecutters AV coverage, and I have worked as a writer and editor in the consumer electronics industry for 20 years. We recommend the best displays, sources, and accessories for watching 4K HDR movies and TV shows at home. If you want to hang your flat-panel TV on the wall, we recommend the Sanus VMPL50A-B1 or Sanus VLF728-B2, depending on how much motion you need in your mount. Range is fantastic and set up with the app is pretty easy once you understand the concept of the hub based remote. What does this mean for you? Until then, maybe find a used Harmony and wait for Version 2.0! I didnt notice it with my Harmony however. please turn off the HomeShield Pro function or authorize X1 access. My interaction with Sofabaton support regarding this issue didnt yield a response this veteran IT guy could understand. The X1 has a built-in battery, but it wont need to be charged for weeks. But thats all the app offers by way of setup. First, it navigates the on-screen menus and allows you to select by pressing on the wheel. I have the SofaBaton X1 and I am trying to add a Bluetooth remote and I am having a problem with the directions, I just cannot figure them out. In the initial review you said the Logitech required 2 IR blasters while the Sofabaton required none. Harmony was not perfect when they started. The drawbacks are that this remote doesnt work with Bluetooth devices, the programming options arent as flexible as those of the SofaBaton U1, and we didnt find the button layout and shape to be as intuitive. The X1 features a small, but full-color OLED display that makes using the remote a straightforward process. I don . And dont expect much help from the SofaBaton literature; the setup guide is poorly written and says nothing about macros. The instructions focus heavily on pairing the hub/remote and setting up the devices and activities. If you cant locate the URC7880, you can press a button in the app to make the remote beep. The U1 is powered by two AA batteries, which are included in the package. But do I recommend it right now? Both have six primary buttons for power, mute, volume up/down, and channel up/down, but the Flipper adds a number pad so you can directly punch in a desired channel. Our senior testers generally liked the EasyMote, but they thought the Flippers slightly larger size made it more comfortable to hold. Sofabaton recently launched the crowd-funded X1 universal remote, which costs roughly three times more than the U1. Editors Note: One common complaint that didnt really bother Andrew is that you have to wake up the remote with a button push. Plus, the inclusion of activity controls cuts down on how often youll need to switch between devices. Step 6: The device will a successful connection. Once I had the Activities set up correctly, no issues arose. It seems, Sofabaton is neither responding here any more, nor did we see any improvement lately. As for returning it? If they arent on the list, you can use the U1s learn feature and your factory remote to teach it the commands it needs. These cookies do not store any personal information. Price: (as of - Details) An upgrade from the original Ring Video Doorbell 2, enjoy improved motion detection, privacy zones and audio privacy, and dual-band (2.4 or 5.0 GHz) wifi connectivity.Receive mobile notifications when anyone presses your doorbell or triggers your built-in motion sensors.Powered by the rechargeable battery pack or connects to doorbell wires for [] OK? For example, your AVR is Off when it should be On? The steps are straightforward. We prefer brands that offer setup software, via either computer or app, and keep a database of manufacturer codes. You would THINK that would send a command, similar to Harmonys Help button. SofaBaton U1 Universal Remote Control Good features and performance for the price The U1 can control up to 15 AV devices and supports Bluetooth control. Free shipping for many products! When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. The most important buttons (such as volume, pause, and play) should be easily accessible. So if Sofabaton can get Google Home integration working, I would be willing to unplug my Harmony Hub and move to the Sofabaton X1 full time! Looks like they're aiming for streaming device remote replacement not full AV rack in a closet control. Bollyinside is part of Tofido ltd, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Sound quality is important when youre picking an AV receiver, but its critical to find one with the features you need, so we have multiple recommendations. Step3: Press and hold the button on the X-Hub for 3s to allow the Bluetooth connection. I havent gotten my hands on one of these yet to give any product specific suggestions, but I am talking to the higher-ups in my company about maybe getting one to test out. But you have to figure out the macro (or sequence of steps) and assign it to a random button. Tony spends much too much of his free time on Twitter, reading speculative fiction novels, playing video games, and reading comic books. Also here - not news since almost a year! So I can confirm that the finish on the remote is tough as nails. And if you dont want to read the rest of the update, I will give you the skinny. 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. Maybe im doing something wrong. Step3: Use the original remote control to pair the device with Sofabaton X1 via Bluetooth. Logitech discontinued Harmony universal remotes, the now-discontinued (and more expensive) Harmony Companion, Everything You Need to Watch 4K HDR Movies. But despite these issues, the U1 is the best option weve found for people who have a mix of IR and Bluetooth devices. Press and hold the button for at least 3s, Received a command fromApp or X1 -Remote. Though each remote had its flaws, the Harmony line was still a step above the competition in how many features you got for the price and how much easier the remotes were to program for people with complicated home theater systems. When you press it again, it sends a different code. Under the scroll wheel are standard buttons for back, home, menu, volume, channel up/down, mute, and basic transport buttons. However, HA can respond to selecting an activity (eg. But, as my editor pointed out, this is normal for new devices. It has a lot of buttons that can be programmed to control one or more devices with the push of a button. IMPORTANT: Your first post will be checked for appropriate content. That may not be good enough for those looking for a plug-and-play solutionyet. Oh wow - I hadn't heard about this yet. If Im way off base, you have my apologies! Home Theater Accessories. I wish it had a small cradle for charging, which would make things a little bit easier. The One For All URC7880 Smart Control 8 is a simple, affordable remote for people who can control all their gear via infrared (IR). So the setup of the actual hub is a breeze. SofaBaton X1 Universal Remote Control with Hub & APP, Smart Remote with One-Touch Activities, Compatible with Alexa for Voice Control, Control up to 50 Entertainment IR/Bluetooth Devices Visit the SofaBaton Store 1,021 ratings | 187 answered questions $18999 FREE Returns Coupon: Apply 10% coupon Shop items | Terms Size: X1 Remote with Hub If yes, you can use the hotspot to pair the HUB first. If you are a Harmony power user you will be right at home.