[mythtv-users] Remote control - xsight touch w/ rf extender (mainly compared to logitech harmony)

[Greg Oliver]

I'll start a new thread since the other remote control replacement
thread is so long.  I bough this combo for a x-mas gift after reading
the reviews at:

http://www.remotecentral.com/reviews/acoustic_research_xsight_touch/index.html

Excellent remote control website - especially if you need raw or
discreet IR codes for any device, and especially for fellow Pronto
owners.

I cannot write a better review than that, but I can compare it to my
Harmony 880.  First, I will say that I also have the same gripes about
my Harmony that everyone does.  Second, I will also say that in-spite
of the gripes, it is still the best low end programmable I have used
to date.

Xsight Touch:

It is activity based just like the harmonies - it does all of the same
things the harmonies do, with the same programming techniques - albeit
a different provisioning style.  It took a few attempts at things to
get it all going - like:

o  Modifying a button when it is already assigned in a macro, causes
the macro to drop that function without notification
o  changing the icon and text of a button or icon - I finally called
them since the docs were obviously written for a software version at
least 3 versions ago :)

  ** The phone was answered within 3 rings, and the person answering
it was the support rep to help me.  Very good support - I have talked
to them twice - the second time to get their recommendation on
tracking the TV input - something none of these cheaper remotes ever
do (had to get their opinion though).

o  The differences between device screens and activities screens is a
bit of a disappointment.  I kind of got used to making my activities
screens any way I liked with logitech, and then of course the device
screens had every button I would need (on TVs, etc - definitely not
for Amps/Receivers)..  The xsight just breaks the remote into 7
sections and lets you choose which device screen from those 7 sections
is used for the activity screen.  eg:  sec1 (volume) = TV, sec2
(channel) = SAT, sec3 (directional) = SAT, etc....
o  It does not track power state.  This I like, although I know some
will not like it.  I cannot tell you the number of times I have almost
flung the damn harmony through the wall after having to go to the
device screen, press power, cover the IR end with my hand, and go back
into the activity...  Oh well, plus for me, maybe not everyone.

The only major thing I do not like about it (and 99% of all other
remotes I guess), is that the ergonomics of it after using the 880
daily are hard to get used to.  The buttons are laid out a little
sub-optimally IMO.  The buttons I use 99.9% of the time (info, menu,
exit, guide, d-pad, select, seek, play/pause) sometimes require me to
move the remote in my hand to get my thumb to them.  In my opinion
this is one of the 880s strengths (and also one of the harmony one
/900 weaknesses - it is very close in size and weight and layout to
this device - I sent it back last year)..

Secondary, it does have a slight button press "click" like some
remotes.  It *does not* suffer from the issue here you cannot send
codes while the backlight is turning off though - which all harmonies
suffer from)..

All in all, for the price ($180 shipped with RF and (4) 6' IR blaster
cables - the extender is (8) blaster capable), I cannot be happier.  A
harmony 890 would be the only thing I would consider against it.
Logitech lost me for this class of remote when they scattered the
buttons on the 900s and Ones...  This remote is a good alternative to
the $300 price range of a harmony with RF though.

-Greg