Not having to specify what off is off. Sofabaton X1 universal smart remote control works with all your entertainment and home devices, and it also supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. TVs are made for great pictures, so we recommend the best ways to get great sound too. More on that later. Sad day indeed. Until then, maybe find a used Harmony and wait for Version 2.0! It seems, Sofabaton is neither responding here any more, nor did we see any improvement lately. From the Kickstarter: Does X1 support local API to integrate the remote control into a home automation system without going through the cloud? Now that there arent as many of them, the price can only go up. Remote is still note usable beyond the set of features a 25 USD universal remote is providing. While I agree, that there are bigger issues. It can control up to 15 devices, including both infrared- and Bluetooth-based AV devices. But when I tried to use it, it was not at all intuitive! sofabaton r2 programming. And if the U1 fails to execute a command, theres no Help button to work out the problem. Its not designed for people who use streaming media devices and will not work with devices that are controlled via Bluetooth or radio frequency (RF). He also enjoys reading video game manuals. When learning, the original remote should be pointed toward the circular icon, at a distance of 3-5 inches and perpendicular to the hub surface. The remote itself is a manageable size thats not too wide, long, or heavy; even with my small hands, I could reach all the controls with my thumb without having to shift the remote around in my hand. I reported that my Sofabaton X1 could reach all of my devices without the IR blasters, which is mostly the case. The Sofabaton X1 relies on WiFi and the app for setup and function. When will it be available? Many cheap universal remotes require that you press a certain combination of buttons and then input manufacturer codes for each AV device until you find one that works. They fixed that! This is one of the best universal remotes you can buy. Then go to Set, then Fix, the scroll to your AVR, and then click the wheel until Off is highlighted. The app uses Bluetooth signal to communicate with the Sofabaton remote control, giving access to the full database of IR code for home entertainment devices, such as TV's, SoundBar's, DVD's, etc. Just below its screen is a small scroll wheel that lets you switch between activities and devices. You can still find some older DIY URC remotes online, but at elevated prices. I would love to have the remote turn on when you pick it up, it seems to work without having to press buttons twice. Was a Kickstarter buyer figured, what the heck. In years past, if you wanted an advanced universal remote that you could program yourself (as opposed to models that are sold exclusively through dealers, like Crestron and Control4, that program them for you), you had many choicesfrom brands like Harmony, Sony, Pronto, URC, and UEI. I had an issue with my Hue lights and updated them and they told me next week. 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. SofaBaton X1 Universal Remote with hub and app, . That may not be good enough for those looking for a plug-and-play solutionyet. Step2: Confirm the device information and submit it so that you can download the code to the hub. This process is more labor-intensive than what SofaBaton offers through its setup app. Now the Sofabaton X1 Hub is aware that your AVR is Off. I'm trying to order 2 and I'm getting a msg "sorry, the project is not live". Their is a huge void in the market now and what was to be the replacement/savior, (e)ARC, turned out to be a completely standardless dogshit system that doesn't work correctly and to the extend of a universal remote. But it cant control Wi-Fibased devices, so you cant integrate smart-home lighting or temperature controls. Speaker Package Deals - Good Idea or Waste of Money? New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Scan this QR code to download the app now. I expect many more. Sofabaton has kept its word and is working with users to fix issues as discovered. Being able to see the actual model names is more intuitive than generic device buttons labeled TV, STB, or AUD. With the Harmony, you could very easily change buttons to cycle inputs, or switch to that device and control it. There were a few quirks but to be honest not any more than you would encounter with a complex Harmony set up. An AV Enthusiast since he was old enough to listen to records, Andrew enjoys helping the novice enthusiast with home theater and AV questions. So this tells me that if you have the Sofabaton in a bright room, you might have the same issues. The SofabatonX1 universal remote has been specifically designed to provide an easy way for you to control all your home entertainment devices from a single controller. Do universal remotes work for everything? Assistant Support: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant: Features: With Voice Control: Technology: Bluetooth, Infrared (IR) Type: Blu-ray, DVD, TV, Universal: The SofaBaton X1 is as close as you can get to best universal remotes like the ones made by Harmony. I tried fixing the Activities, but nothing seemed to work. And there are no dedicated activity buttons for grouping different devices together to perform tasks like Watch TV or Watch a Movie. You can still create activities and assign them to whatever buttons you choose, but you have to figure out all the programming yourselfand we fear the apps learning curve may be high for someone who has never programmed a universal remote. Setup is done using an Android or iOS app on your phone or tablet. Users have reported lots of issues with Roku and other streaming boxes. (More on this below.). 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. For example, I chose LG and then B9. So if you need something more than the Sofabaton U1, but dont want something as expensive as Control4, then the Sofabaton X1 is the best choice. 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. Ill go to Set, then Fix, then scroll to my AVR, and then click the wheel to make it say On. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. The steps are straightforward. I will be honest and say that I could not get this to work for me. If the remote still executes the command, then its using Bluetooth or RF signals.). Thank you!! I tried it with my LG B9 and my Pioneer Elite CD player and could not get either to register a command with the Sofabaton. Currently, only kickstarted backers have them. Its common for lower-priced universal remotes to work only with IR devices. Speaking of macros, the process of creating them, though logistically simple in the app, will be more mentally taxing than some people will tolerate. My interaction with Sofabaton support regarding this issue didnt yield a response this veteran IT guy could understand. Except, it didnt work like that. This new X1 does not appear to offer the ability to accept separate IR flashers making the thing next to useless. All that to say, as of Saturday, if you add it to your cart it should let you order it even though its says delivery is a month or so off. The thing will sell for $200 - Why not get it right out of the gate and charge $299? Disappointing and waste of money. If they do that with the X1, its just going to get your Activities all out of sync. 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. Pros: Easy to program Works. Enter the Sofabaton X1, the only hub-based remote on the market that anyone is talking about. Sofabaton X1 Universal Remote - One Does For Most All Devices 1. SofaBaton centralizes command of all your devices by controlling them with IR, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth wireless signals within 10 meters 390 inches no need to worry about the device disconnected. Last updated March 28, 2022 The remote should be generally easy to program. But I really dont consider that a Fix. Step2: Source information: source switching mode of the output device. It does consolidate remotes and the hub is great at sending signals. At the top of the remote theres a simple OLED screen that shows the model names of the devices youve added, with a scroll wheel to quickly select the device you want to control. We prefer brands that offer setup software, via either computer or app, and keep a database of manufacturer codes. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. I hope it gets better, but my recommendation is not to buy one until some of the show stoppers get fixed. The X1 controls the Apple TV via Bluetooth, and works flawlessly. 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! Your universal remote should work with your smart TV as long as it has an infrared sensor. Thanks for helping us do what we love. The newly released SofaBaton X1 and older U1 would be great to have an integration for. It cost $349 when it first came out on the market. With the X1 app, I selected the Nvidia Shield and then found the Sofabaton under the pairing menu on the Shield. Customized APP C ontrol: More functions such as: Find the remote. The build quality of the Sofabaton X1 and hub is excellent. And the fact that the remotes programming mode times out after a few seconds means you must act quickly and deliberately. The cheapest remotes usually only control infrared devices. This is an universal home theater remote for home cinema which is targeted at multi-devices scenario-based Activity control, while adding a wireless Hub,which we believe can better meet the needs of power users. Once you sync the X1 remote with the hub, you can create activities, bundling different devices /activities gives sequences of orders you can program . The developer responded and finally told me there is a bug in the IR design. But you cant control Bluetooth devices, and the setup process is archaic. The remote feels solidly made, and the fit and finish are superb. I just curious to know the thought regarding. There are even a few app-shortcut buttons (including a dedicated Netflix button) that you can program from the device of your choosing. New Unread Topics; Today's Posts; Member List; Mark All Forums Read; Forum; General Discussion & Support; General Discussion Area; If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ.You must register before you can post.. This is simply misleading behaviour. The scroll wheel has two functions. 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. So I will be honest, I was not expecting a lot from a Kickstarter, but I was pretty impressed with the exterior and interior packaging. However, learning commands is still not perfect, and it requires you to play with the remote positioning. It also means you can fix commands instantly, without even having to reach for your phone to launch an app. Youd THINK, simple! 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. They are still advertising it. It cant control Bluetooth-based devices like the Google Chromecast or Nvidia Shield TV, but it will work fine with the majority of AV products, including most cable and satellite boxes, Blu-ray players, soundbars, gaming consoles, and AV receivers. Thats a tough one. Scroll to the bottom for my one-month update. 2. The Exit doesnt work. Universal remotes make it possible for home entertainment systems that wouldnt work together otherwise to do so. Theyre just designed to hold a lot of buttons to control your different devices (usually a total of four to six devices). Shouldn't the Voices Only Come from My Center Speaker? But, like the Sofabaton U1, it lacks backlighting and a Help function. If you want to change the behavior of buttons, fix codes that arent working, or build macros, you have to do it directly on the remote (you can add devices manually, too); this involves pressing the Magic button to put the remote in programming mode and then pressing a lot more buttons to accomplish a certain task. No hub, so you have to point directly at IR devices. Press and hold the button for at least 3s, Received a command fromApp or X1 -Remote. The X1 features a small, but full-color OLED display that makes using the remote a straightforward process. Recognized all my devices. Step2: Search for brand sofa action on the skill page. It said delivery was expected between June 23rd and July 21st, but it showed up today. Your email address will not be published. I find this troublesome because it assumes that everyone will intuitively know where to put the hub to reach your IR devices or where to place blasters. If you cant locate the URC7880, you can press a button in the app to make the remote beep. Lastly, the remote is tough. If they arent on the list, you can use the U1s learn feature and your factory remote to teach it the commands it needs. I tried using it as a daily driver, but was needing to get up and unplug the hub at least once per day. You can hide away the cables and receivers and control everything from behind closed cabinets and doors, also you can point the remote anywhere. Finally, the EasyMote offers only two ways to program in your devices (a quick code search or learning the IR from your device remotes). 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. Oct 25, 2017 3,980. Communication between the app and hub still does not work if you have 2.5ghz/5ghz networks with the same SSID. Overall, we found the basic setup process to be straightforward but not necessarily quick. One For All says you can set up this remote using an app, but thats misleading. I don . If you want the best AV presentation of your favorite films, we recommend 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs, and the Panasonic DP-UB420 is the best player weve tested. After searching on the web, I can see that the brand new Sofabaton X1 is the best replacement for Logitech Harmony remotes. It found my Hub and connected it in 30 seconds. Do you know of a video that explains it better. As we mentioned, the U1 can control IR and Bluetooth devices, which should cover most any AV device you want to add to your system, including Bluetooth devices like the Chromecast with Google TV, Nvidia Shield TV, and some gaming consoles and older Fire TV players. Im in setup mode but not liking flow of setting up. Super useful! For example, your AVR is Off when it should be On? So here is the biggest complaint I have with the Sofabaton X1. Plus, its a real pain to have to wake up your phone or tablet and wait for the app to reconnect with the system whenever you want to change the channel or the volume. But a growing number of devices, especially game consoles (like the Sony PlayStation 4) and streaming media devices (like some Nvidia Shield TV and Chromecast products), are controlled via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, so youll need a universal remote that supports those technologies. Nor have I had to reboot it aside from firmware updates. So when youre trying to add a Bluetooth-based source, you have to unpair the remote from the setup app to test the device control, and then re-pair to the app to keep going with setup. The Flipper is an IR-only remote intended for channel surfers who use traditional cable/satellite boxes or their TVs internal tuner. Sofabaton has promised a firmware update to fix that. Devices can be set up by searching online IR code database or directly learning from original physical remotes. 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. There is a bit of a learning curve and set up can be intimidating if you are new to these types of remotes. . The other method is to download the supported app on your TV. I didnt encounter any connection issues between the remote and the app, and when all was said and done, the U1 successfully controlled both of my systems the way I wanted it to. 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. Setting up Activities is also frustrating. I ordered it Saturday night. The circular d-pad below lets you control your system. But I am happy to say they now work! Connects up to 40 devices in your home including TV, DVD, Blu-Ray, TV & cable boxes, gaming consoles, Apple TV, Roku and more. I have returned, one month later, to give some updates and give my impressions after using it exclusively for a solid month. Step2: Enter the name of the key you want to learn. For instance, instead of having to push separate buttons to turn on your TV, switch HDMI inputs, power on your AV receiver, change inputs there, turn on your Blu-ray player, andfinallyget your movie started, a good universal remote can reduce all of that to one command (Play Movie), which you can access at the touch of a single 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. As we mentioned, the URC7880 can only control IR-based equipment, so it needs to have line-of-sight with all your gear. First, it navigates the on-screen menus and allows you to select by pressing on the wheel.