Any idea if possible ? The mobile phone and the HUB need to be connected to the same router. Super useful! This will show up as follows: Step3: Confirm the device information and submit it so that you can download the code to the hub. Our only complaint about the button layout is that fast-forward/reverse and chapter skip share the same buttons by default, but you can reassign those functions to other buttons if you want. The good news is that a universal remote will work with any TV sold today. Lets discuss. 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. Andrew will continue to update this review as time goes on. Its easy to do in the app, but if you have lots of very specific desires for how things ought to work (like I do! All of the buttons are smallish andbeyond the navigation wheel in the centernot well distinguished by shape. Step3: Press and hold the button on the X-Hub for 3s to allow the Bluetooth connection. So its more flexible than many of the lower-priced remotes on the market. The Sofabaton X1 is NOT the heir apparent to the Harmony throne. Plus, the inclusion of activity controls cuts down on how often youll need to switch between devices. I tested both remotes using the internal TV tuners in my Samsung and LG TVs. Easy to tweak with delays, discrete power codes etc. Direct from Manufacturer. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Does X1 support local API to integrate the remote control into a home automation system without going through the cloud? Because the URC7880 is locked into eight device optionslabeled TV, STB, BLU, AUX, DVD, GAME, MEDIA, and S.BARyoure more limited in how you can configure the remote. Once set up, its simple to use the app instead of the remote. If you are finding number or direction commands double-tapping, you should be able to dial it down to 1 or 0 repeats, depending on the limitations of the software. Hi Chris. But youll be draining your battery during the time youre watching a movie or show. Also here - not news since almost a year! I am hopeful that they will continue to improve the experience. The Flipper is an IR-only remote intended for channel surfers who use traditional cable/satellite boxes or their TVs internal tuner. We recommend the best displays, sources, and accessories for watching 4K HDR movies and TV shows at home. Not having to specify what off is off. Like the Flipper, the EasyMote is a large-button remote designed for people with vision, memory, or confusion issues. This is simply misleading behaviour. And dont expect much help from the SofaBaton literature; the setup guide is poorly written and says nothing about macros. Maybe im doing something wrong. SofaBaton is reportedly working on a new remote that will support more than one Bluetooth device, but we dont have any further details yet. The Flipper is a simple, large-button remote designed for people with vision, memory, or confusion issues (or perhaps for young children who are prone to randomly pressing the remotes buttons and throwing your whole AV system out of whack). It seems, Sofabaton is neither responding here any more, nor did we see any improvement lately. Connects up to 40 devices in your home including TV, DVD, Blu-Ray, TV & cable boxes, gaming consoles, Apple TV, Roku and more. Honestly, the remote is as professional as any Ive owned. Recognized all my devices. Finally, all the functions are mixed up on my Shaw cable boxhome is menu, menu is list, etcso their database is incorrect. The remote communicates with the app via Bluetooth, so the first step in the setup process is to pair the two. 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. By just saying "Alexa, turn on TV" , "Alexa, change channel to ABC news" or "Alexa, volume down on . It seems, Sofabaton is neither responding here any more, nor did we see any improvement lately. Overall, though, we didnt find the physical design to be as intuitive as the SofaBatons. So its an Activity-based remote, for sure. Currently, only 3 WiFi devices are supported: Roku, Philip hue, and Sonos speaker. Step2: Search for brand sofa action on the skill page. Hopefully by the time that happens (or Logitech stops supporting it) the Sofabaton will have matured a bit and us HT enthusiasts will continue to have a good option without having to spend a ton on something like Control4 and not even be able to program it without a dealers help. As we mentioned, the URC7880 can only control IR-based equipment, so it needs to have line-of-sight with all your gear. Editors Note: If you own a Harmony and have IR blasters on hand, they work with the Sofabaton X1. Even when the Logitech Harmony was the best universal remotes, it cost hundreds of dollars for as much versatility as it has now. Long Live ThePrince? It took years of work and refinement to get the product they had. There are even a few app-shortcut buttons (including a dedicated Netflix button) that you can program from the device of your choosing. If you want to hide your gear away in a cabinet, youll need to pick up an IR repeater kit like this one. But I manage to configure a new remote from scratch through command testing. If it cannot be connected, please restart the power of the HUB, open the APP and search for the X1 HUB again. I actually have a Harmony Elite I dont use cause I like the hard number keys on the Companion/One remote. Not yet. The remote requires four AAA batteries, and they are not included in the packagewhich is kind of obnoxious. Luckily Rob H from the AV Rant Podcast and I were chatting on Twitter, and we had both heard about Sofabaton dropping a Kickstarter to fund a new hub-based remote. You must use your phone and the app. Still, if you want a universal remote with a lot of features and a lot of ways to use it, nothing beats the Harmony Elite. Once you sync the X1 remote with the hub, you can create activities, bundling different devices /activities gives sequences of orders you can program . Sofabaton is one of the few commercial universal remotes that will let you control a generous number of home theater devices, including your TV, DVD player/recorder, Blu-ray player, and more. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute("id","a1865bd728228e82e73921c5b53f0404");document.getElementById("afe6277d1c").setAttribute("id","comment"); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Super impressed so far for such a new product. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for sofabaton u1 universal remote Harmony replacement (infrared, bluetooth) at the best online prices at eBay! Configuration of devices is pure frustration! On top of the remote is an off and return button. 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 Do universal remotes work for everything? 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. The majority of the programming takes place the old-fashioned wayby manually putting the remote in programming mode and punching a lot of buttons. Amazon had a 10% off click to add coupon and I read in Facebook group that emailing [emailprotected] and asking for a discount code they would give another 30% to stack on top. One For All says you can set up this remote using an app, but thats misleading. Step 6: The device will a successful connection. I don . The Google Home integration is the last hurdle (for me) that Sofabaton needs to meet for me to be content with the remote as a whole. If you cant locate the URC7880, you can press a button in the app to make the remote beep. Ive been using this for a few months and it is still a love-hate relationship. 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. I loaded all of my gear from both of my AV systems into the remote in just a few minutes, since all of my devices were in the SofaBaton database. Its common for lower-priced universal remotes to work only with IR devices. Although a few DIY universal remotes incorporate a bit of smart-home control to adjust your lighting, temperature, or security system, there arent many options that can intuitively perform complex home-automation tasks. And as I said above, learning functions is nigh impossible. After deleting all my devices and activities and then redoing them, they seem to work. This could be true of other remotes as well. Thank you!! And it often times needs to be done for every button on the remote. Had the blasters been necessary, it would have just been a matter of affixing them by the IR sensor of the device I needed to reach and then plugging it into the back of the hub. Being able to see the actual model names is more intuitive than generic device buttons labeled TV, STB, or AUD. 2023 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company, Good features and performance for the price, If you need to control only infrared devices, Our pick: SofaBaton U1 Universal Remote Control, Budget pick: One For All URC7880 Smart Control 8, A simple remote we like for those with eyesight, memory, or confusion issues. After that you need to click on the '+' icon. Once I had the Activities set up correctly, no issues arose. These cookies do not store any personal information. An AV Enthusiast since he was old enough to listen to records, Andrew enjoys helping the novice enthusiast with home theater and AV questions. You might still find these remotes in stock for a while, but no new models are being manufactured. The One For All URC7880 Smart Control 8 is a simple, affordable remote for people who can control all their gear via infrared (IR). The second is a more-complex home-theater system with an LG TV, Onkyo AV receiver, Sony Ultra HD Blu-ray player, Chromecast with Google TV, and Xbox One X. 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. The technical name for this bundling of commands is macros, but remote-control manufacturers usually call them activities or scenes. The app is used to set up and configurate the physical Sofabaton remote. Eliminate clutter and enjoy convenient control. Oh wow - I hadn't heard about this yet. the channel or volume buttons to operate while still holding the remote somehow, - The lack of any actual IR emitters on the remote itself - the IR comes from THE HUB, without which the remote is useless for IR purposes, - The enclosed rechargeable battery which doesn't seem to be replaceable. As with any product, not everyone will have the same experience. The unit has a feature that will confirm actions and take corrective steps to make sure the right things happen. Your universal remote should work with your smart TV as long as it has an infrared sensor. Oct 25, 2017 3,980. You can quickly switch between devices you want to control. None of the product shots show anything but media, so I was skeptical. And if youre willing to buy a used device, like a Harmony remote, it will still work well. The Exit doesnt work. SofaBaton X1 Universal Remote with hub and app, . Even though this isnt a remote control in the traditional sense, the Harmony HUB and smartphone app can fill the void. Their marketing is questionable in that they have 3 versions (apparently all 2021 revisions) of one another) rather than simply updating the firmware? Its not at a point where I would hand it to a non-techie person and say, have at it! without any instruction. If you look at the design accents on the U1 it very much looks like a Harmony Ultimate or Elite handset. And since the U1 is not locked in to a set of pre-labeled device buttons, it can control multiple models of the same typesay, two media players, two TVs, and two audio systems. The remote itself looks nice and feels good to hold, and it has just the right number of backlit buttons. It can control up to 15 devices, including both infrared- and Bluetooth-based AV devices. What the cable box is looking for is what is commonly referred to as a toggle code. The X1 is not out till Nov or Dec '21. Supported brands and devices are subject to change without, After creating an Activity, it is not recommended to switch the power supply of the device or switch the source position in the device model, to avoid an error with the information recorded in the Activity setting, as well as potential confusion of func. I expect many more. SofabatonX1-Most Versatile Universal ALL-IN-ONE Smart Remote Ultra-universal remote control for all your entertainment and home devices. And it isnt anywhere near as useful and intuitive as Harmonys Help button. She has been a writer, editor, and reviewer in the consumer electronics industry for 20 years, and previously served as the executive editor of Home Theater Magazine and the managing editor of HomeTheaterReview.com. After searching on the web, I can see that the brand new Sofabaton X1 is the best replacement for Logitech Harmony remotes. Your time investment will depend on how precisely you want to tweak your controls. You can do that with the Sofabaton, but it takes a few more steps, and as you said, its not as simple. Yes, there is a free One For All setup app for iOS and Android, and yes, it pairs with the remote via Bluetooth and lets you add your devices by inputting the manufacturer name and model number or testing different codes. We think the U1s low price makes some of its flaws easier to overlook than those of its competitors, but you may feel differently. If an Activity fails to start, check whether the device information and Activity information is correct. I went to Amazon but it is not available and doing Google searches I do not find any site selling the X1 currently? DVD, Mac / iOS, PlayStation 4, TV, Universal, One-Click Activity Buttons; Color Display; Interactive Help, A capacitive touchscreen makes it easy to control your devices, Not in production, so may be difficult to find new. Your email address will not be published. The FAQs do touch briefly on the use of the IR blasters, but I find it inadequate. The more a remote costs, the more flexibility it should have to control different kinds of devices. Lets discuss! The frustration lies with the setup process. So here is the biggest complaint I have with the Sofabaton X1. That may not be good enough for those looking for a plug-and-play solutionyet. It has an intuitive button layout that includes most of the control options youll need, and the OLED screen makes it easy to switch between the different AV devices you want to control. 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. The full service launched on July 15, 2020. Step2: Enter the name of the key you want to learn. We hope that future firmware updates will allow the wake up button press and command to happen at the same 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. But, like the Sofabaton U1, it lacks backlighting and a Help function. 2. Like the Harmony, you enter your brand and model number. I have been a cord-cutter for at least four years now, so this doesnt bother me. FREE Delivery Across Mauritius. Unplugged for now, maybe someday (post CableTV) Ill revive. As I said earlier, Sofabaton seems committed to working the bugs out of this remote. Finally, the One For All setup app does have one helpful feature: a remote finder. I'm definitely waiting. I used an early Harmony remote, and it was not good. 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. As the pioneer in smart universal remote is the market, have you analyzed the Sofabaton remotes. Setting up Activities is also frustrating. Sabaton Xi supports using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to turn on/off an Activity. The URC7880 has all the necessary buttons we like to see, and the core functions, like volume, mute, channel, home, menu, back, exit, and navigation, are grouped together near the center. Anywho, so here we are, and Harmony is no more. . I reported that my Sofabaton X1 could reach all of my devices without the IR blasters, which is mostly the case. The screen automatically lights up when you pick up the remote. All I could find was a YouTube video about it. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Overall, we found the basic setup process to be straightforward but not necessarily quick. My family lives with each remote for a while to see how intuitive and reliable each is to use on a daily basis. If they arent on the list, you can use the U1s learn feature and your factory remote to teach it the commands it needs. In the past, the TV was the centre of home entertainment, connecting things like DVD/Blu-ray players, surround sound, game consoles, etc. Ive had no major issues with programming my other remotes to this and I was very happy to say goodbye to the 10 I used to need just to setup movie night to be able to control everything with this one single remote! The most important buttons (such as volume, pause, and play) should be easily accessible. Absent is a numeric pad to allow you to input channels or other functions that may need numbers. 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. Privacy Policy. You have no option to hardwire the remote via USB and program it with your computer. Customized APP C ontrol: More functions such as: Find the remote. Sounds promising. Right now, with my curtains closed, the Sofabaton turns on the TV without the need for IR blasters at all. But a lot of people still only think in terms of the old universal remotes, where you just chose one Device at a time. Thanks for your first-hand report. Sep 2, 2022 #4 There isn't one at the moment, unfortunately. We also plan to continue to update the platform and add devices to our Harmony database. But the U1s intuitive button layout and the fact that the main navigation, volume, and channel buttons are clearly distinguished by size and shape will help alleviate those challenges. The X1 is clearly the companys attempt to create a more advanced DIY remote to fill the void left by Harmonys departure. Yes, we will open the local API of X1 by providing an API file, but X1 cannot directly add APIs of other products or smart platforms. Communication between the app and hub still does not work if you have 2.5ghz/5ghz networks with the same SSID. We all preferred the Flipper over the EasyMote. Download the SofaBaton app and log in, it's very easy to set up and adding devices. 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 . Not sure if both of those cables can be used at the same time, but I would guess not. I didnt have any issues with commands not being transmitted, and I havent noticed any significant lag from button press to device action. Until then, maybe find a used Harmony and wait for Version 2.0! I still dont have any support for Google Home, and Philips Hue support is still nada. It has a lot of buttons that can be programmed to control one or more devices with the push of a button. 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. So, a couple of clicks later, we both backed it and eagerly awaited delivery. Not having to specify what off is off. Assistant Director of Communications Primary Care APP Needed in Along Beautiful Coast Oregon-4/10s Schedule JOB-2778565. Secondly (according to the manual), it will wake the remote and activate the backlight. Step2: Source information: source switching mode of the output device. So its been a whole month since I posted my review, and I have been using the Sofabaton X1 exclusively as my daily remote. I was able to get it to operate both my LG Nano TV and my Yamaha amp as well via IR. Tony spends much too much of his free time on Twitter, reading speculative fiction novels, playing video games, and reading comic books. Disclaimer: We want to be clear that the information on Bollyinside.com, including articles, reviews, and guides, is intended for educational purposes only. While setting up the X1, the phone and hub must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Plus, the EasyMote doesnt have a number pad to directly tune in a certain channel; this may be fine for over-the-air or basic-cable users, but it will be a pain if you have a large channel lineup. Same with my Philips Hue. Step3: Verify that all devices are powered on. However, I am still on one battery bar after six weeks. Sofabaton X1 Universal Remote - One Does For Most All Devices 1. I didnt notice it with my Harmony however. 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. 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. Right now, there is a lot broken. UI is an important element of a device and this is where the X1 fails amongst all the other issues, this device has. We looked for remotes that can control at least eight devices, have an intuitive button design, and are easy to program. Disappointing and waste of money. I also got it for 40% off. Whether its finding great products or discovering helpful advice, well help you get it right (the first time). Nor does it support Wi-Fibased smart-home devices, which is not at all surprising for a remote in this price range. Required fields are marked *. Update: I originally published my review of the Sofabaton X1 on April 12, 2022. Read more about Disclaimer. However, if I open my curtains while cleaning and try to turn on my LG B9 with the hub, it struggles to turn it on. Eight pre-labeled devices are listed at the top, with one device button to scroll through them all (a button for each device would be faster). I'm trying to order 2 and I'm getting a msg "sorry, the project is not live". If youre setting this up for someone else, they really need to only ever use Activities. That may work fine for you since youll know what button you picked, but it wont be as clear for others trying to use the remote. I tried using it as a daily driver, but was needing to get up and unplug the hub at least once per day. But its a shame that SofaBaton omitted such a simple and important feature. In the box were a well-packaged remote, the hub, a couple of IR blasters, two USB cables (one for charging the remote and one for the hub), a power brick, and instructions. 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. 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. ; X1 Universal Remote for All Devices Supports more than 500,000 home entertainment devices of 6,000 brands. And any little tweak you make can be uploaded to the remote instantly, as long as its connected to the app, so theres no need to search for a cable, connect the remote to your computer, and load an all-new configuration. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Scan this QR code to download the app now. The developer responded and finally told me there is a bug in the IR design. Lots of potential, quite nice to use once you actually have it fully set up, but the setup process is not for anybody who is impatient!