Which way should I go: Universal remote or IR Blaster?

[pcrosley]

Got my basics working OK, but now I want to get rid of some remotes!

I have a Sony LCD, Sky STB, MediaMVP, and Philips audio amp.

Which is the better strategy, a universal remote (and which one) or an IR receiver/blaster arrangement?

From what I've seen on the threads, a universal (like Harmony?) might allow me to configure it to run each device so I get down to 1 remote, but GBPVR won't be able to "change the channel" on the STB before recording (is that really reliable?).

The IR blaster would allow me (and GBPVR) to control the STB, but wouldn't allow me to control the other devices (or can you get multiple blasters?).

So I'm leaning towards a universal remote because my wife dislikes all the remotes lying around because she doesn't know which remote to use in what order (and I can't blame her)!

[stustunz]

you need both really
ir blaster to control stb so gbpvr records correct channel this can not be done with a remote
universal remote to control everything else

[psycik]

Agree both. Universal remote for controlling everything, but then a blaster to recording off the Sky Set top box.

[rbelisle]

My setup exactly... need the Blaster and Remote. I use the USBUIRT (very reliable) and a Harmony 880. Setup works great...

[soccerdad]

I use a Harmony XBOX remote and Microsoft Media Center remote's receiver. The media center setup comes with 2 blasters (which I don't use in my setup). I then setup the harmony to mimic the media center remote for DVR stuff and put away the microsoft remote. The real cool thing about the harmony remotes is that you only have one remote and can easily reprogram it if you change any of your components. My wife did not have to relearn anything when I went to a client from an MVP or when I changed TVs. All she had to learn is to press TV or DVR or DVD...

[pcrosley]

Thanks to everyone for the advice, I obviously hadn't thought it all the way through!

Is GBPVR pretty reliable for changing STB channels (assuming the blaster is positioned correctly)?

Also, is it reliable if I put my HTPC in sleep mode at night but have a mid-night recording I want to make?

Thanks again.

Edit: Is Harmony 880 the same as Harmony One? Can't see Harmony 880 in NZ web sites.

[stustunz]

PBS just released this http://forums.nextpvr.com/showthread.php...laster+hip
the hip worked fine but could be troublesome to get set up

heaps of people use blasters so they must be
dont see many complaints

im sure the 880 was a earlier model
dont stress to much they all work the same just some have more features
i got the cheaper 525 its ok but i dont like clicky buttons

[pBS]

i made that blaster controller for another reason [permissions issue] but it also works faster and easier to setup...
i only missed about 3 channel changes in the last year with regular hipwsend, so it wasn't a huge problem...plus adjusting the delay on hipwsend fixed that issue anyways...

so yes, very reliable for changing channels...just make sure the little eye doesn't fall off..

windows does the waking from sleep, so make sure windows is up to snuff before using suspend modes...[just try it out on a temp recording]