Beyond Logitech: The Sofabaton U2 Universal Remote Review You Need to Watch
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- Опубліковано 10 вер 2023
- In today's video, we dive deep into the world of universal remotes. With Logitech Harmony's uncertain future, many are on the hunt for a worthy replacement. Enter the Sofabaton U2, a potential game-changer in the remote control realm. From its sleek design to its user-friendly app, we'll explore if the U2 can truly replace the beloved Logitech Harmony. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or someone looking to declutter your living room, this review is for you. Don't forget to share your thoughts in the comments below and as always, be excellent to each other! 🎮📺 #Sofabaton #universalremote #techreview
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/ @buzstringer - Наука та технологія
Are we there yet? have we gotten past logitech?
Sofabaton U2 Amazon - amzn.to/3Zatezz
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I Used The Best Universal Remote of 2024 - ua-cam.com/video/zhdf9St3w4c/v-deo.html
A few questions if I may. Can macros be assigned to any button? Can they be compiled in the app so one can be selective and build them just-so? Can discreet input selection commands be piled up in macros? I am trying to find a remote that the wife and kids can simply push a designated button for either TV, DVD, Chromecast, Foxtel or Nintendo Switch and have the devices turned on and the correct inputs selected. This one is looking promising for that role.
You should "pin" your comment so it stays at the top. I think you lose the pin if you edit the comment.
@@diffmull oops, thank you :)
Nope. If you don't have true activities, you don't even compete in the same class. I'd love to see a cheap hub + remote solution that supports activities but it seems that Logitech was closest to that with hub + companion remote but now that Logitech doesn't consider remote controllers worth their time, nobody has even remotely complete library of IR commands for such a many devices. The great part of Logitech's database is that many devices have e.g. dedicated Power Off and Power On commands, as well as dedicated IR codes for switching between devices. The official remote controller of said device rarely has those buttons but the device actually supports such commands if you know the correct IR codes, which Logitech reverse engineered for many devices.
As a result, any system with lesser database and ability to only learn buttons from existing remotes, is going to be much worse.
@@MikkoRantalainen It would be great if we could interest the EU in this problem and get them to legislate for codes to be published by the manufacturers.
3:54 Nice Professor Putricide reference there :)
Just ordered it. Thank God someone came out with a decent (and cheap) replacement for Logi. So weird that there wasn't a race to fill the void that Logi left.
"till it dies!" Sorry, but nothing beats the logitech remote. Its just made for the job. Totally sucks they stopped making it. Should have sold it off or something so it can live forever.
Thanks for the video. And when mine does finally go. I'll have to take a look at this or the U1 (most likely). That other one you showed in another video is not ready and way too much.
I like the handy little prism thing you have on your Samsung soundbar so you can see the menu when sat down. Great idea!
Best part of the whole setup!
Glad you mentioned the macro limitation to buttons only. What confuses me is on the official SofaBaton macro help video it shows a screen to choose from either buttons or full command list.
already got rid of Harmony Remote and Use Sofabon U2 also was a backer for kickstart
Hi, good video, found it informative, I recently purchased the X1 and tried for hours to get it working correctly, eventually gave up and sent it back to Amazon, I came to the conclusion you need a degree in computer science to programme it, I've sent for the U2 today which looks much more user friendly and got it on the black Friday deal for 50 quid, looking forward to your thoughts on the complicated X1, best wishes,SJ, UK.
thanks, and yep! The X1 has a way to go, the U2 is super user friendly. I have tried the X1 and it's not ready yet, the U2 feels a lot more polished and X1 feels rushed. I am holding back on reviewing the X1 properly because I want to give it a chance and and give Sofabaton a chance to address my concerns, but right now, don't buy X1.
Hi with the harmony remote you press one button and you it turns on the required device is this the same with u2 this was not talked in your video
Is the back of the remote made out of this "silk" plastic thing that eventually turns into a sticky mess over the years and must be painstakingly removed with acetone (and the plastic below oiled with mineral oil to avoid white streaks)? You know, like on the back of the Logitech Harmony 1100 for instance.
Interested to know what complicated wizardry you're doing with your setup. The whole home assistant Roku thing piqued my interest.
you made it to the end! :)
I would make a full video about it but it really only applies to the Logitech remotes, and I think we are all trying to move away from them.
But, In Home assistant you can setup a “Emulated Roku” device www.home-assistant.io/integrations/emulated_roku/
You can add this “Roku” to the Logitech remote that has wifi (Like the harmony hub)
Home assistant then listens for “button presses” from the Emulated Roku
You when you press Up for example on the Roku device on the Logitech remote, it can trigger an automaton in Home Assistant (or Node-Red) (I mostly use the Node-red addon in Home Assistant for automations but it works natively in Home Assistant as well)
Of course you can map the “Roku Up button” to any physical button on the Logitech remote and make it do whatever you like in Home Assistant
You can take it a step further, for example I have the “Roku Up button” as part of the startup on one of my Logitech activities.
So if I start the “Watch Movies” activity “Roku Up” is sent to Home Assistant then Home Assistant can dim the lights, Set the TV to correct HDMI and Volume etc…
It also lets you control things that aren’t aways in the Logitech remote, for example there is no dedicated HDMI input button on my TV (I can’t go to HDMI 2 directly for example, I have to bring up the input menu, urgh)
BUT, My TV runs Android so I have added my TV in Home Assistant, and can switch HDMI inputs directly using Android ADB in Home Assistant (similar thing with my soundbar as well for Night mode) community.home-assistant.io/t/android-tv-hdmi/234411
The limitations are that it takes a device space on the Logitech remote and there are only a few buttons on each “emulated Roku” (Home, Rev, Fwd, Play, Select, Left, Right, Down, Up, Back, InstantReplay, Info, BackSpace, Search, Enter)
You can make as many emulated Rokus as you want in Home Assistant, but I think there is a 7 device limit on the Harmony Hub.
Bonus: In node red you can listen for changes to the activity on the harmony remote and launch an automation when an activity starts.
I did lose a few weekends getting everything working but hopefully this points you in the right direction if you want to try it
@@BuzStringer Thanks for the detailed response. Super interesting. I'd have never thought to use HA in that way. Now I've got some ideas that I may lose some weekends to lol
Will you be reviewing the new x1s?
I just got it - utter crap. Buggy and restarts, doesn't have numbers for channel selection - useless. Fails the WifeProof Test miserably.
Can I control my lamp with it? Its remote uses a 2.4Ghz connection.
I just got the X1S and its back in the box going back to Amazon - utter crap.
I didn't like the X1S it tries to do everything and ends up no doing anything very well.
the U2 is a great basic universal remote, if you only want consolidate a bunch of remotes it works great but wont to much more than that.
The X1S REALLY, REALLY misses the mark.
This remote is my daily driver in the living room, but man is it a janky mess at times. I’d say it works just fine about 85% of the time. My wife absolutely hates how clicky it is.
you'll love or hate the clicky, i like clicky things. but i understand why people don't. the App could use some improvements, they seem slow on that.
If you're really lucky you'll eventually lose the clicky... and gain a squidgy mess that only registers half your button presses. I'm on my third replacement from Amazon, Sofabaton were completely non-responsive to emails for support/warranty. Wholly agree on the janky mess though. Buggy as hell app, crap build quality... not so much a universal remote as universally hated. I'm desparately searching for a decent alternative.