App that can be used as remote (1 Viewer)

[Sdiamond808]

I am looking for an app that I can install on a tablet that will control my tv, cable box, and sound bar. Any recommendations?

Thank you

 

[Alf S]

You would most likely need the Harmony Hub to do what you want. Unless your tablet has IR etc.

We need more info about what remotes you currently use and what model tablet you are using.

 

[Sdiamond808]

I have not bought a tablet yet, but I would like to. I have a sony bravia TV, with a sony sound bar and a cable box, chrome cast and firestick hooked up.

 

[Alf S]

Your best bet is to just invest in a nice Harmony remote and call it good. A tablet would be too much of a PITA to deal with IMO.

 

[Sdiamond808]

while I do agree with that, I already have a logitech universal remote. My kids and wife lost the battery back, so now every day when I get home I get to search for the remote and then the batteries. At least with a tablet, I know they would not have access to it and I wouldn't have to search for remotes every day. They can spend their time looking for remotes and batteries and I could just go get my tablet.

 

[Alf S]

So your tablet has an IR blaster? Do they keep the tablet charged at all times, or will there be many times they forget and will have to scramble to find the actual remotes to work the A/V system?

 

[Sdiamond808]

I think all tablets got rid of IR blasters, but I know you can get the harmony hub that handles that. Tablet is off limits except to me. I will just bring it to work.

 

[Alf S]

???? You're not making any sense. You want to use a tablet for yourself only, you want the family to struggle and find batteries etc for their remote, but you knew the tablet doesn't have IR so your initial post plan to use an app wouldn't work. I don't get it.

 

[Sdiamond808]

I am not really too concerned if they can find the remote or not. Every night I place the remotes back where they belong, and every day when I come home nobody knows where it is, somehow the battery back plate is missing and nobody knows how it happened, and nobody can find batteries to go into the remote. Tired of dealing with that on a daily basis. From what I understand you can get a harmony hub and sync it with a tablet and control everything. Does that sound right?

 

[Alf S]

As I told you in my first post, yes, the Hub is your best bet.

 

[Sdiamond808]

perfect. New to all of this so I just want to make sure I am doing the right thing

 

[Alf S]

If you get the smart hub it includes a universal "mini" remote that doesn't have back that comes off very easily.

 

[DaveF]

The retail solution is
“Logitech Harmony Elite advanced universal remote, hub and app”
https://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/harmony-elite?crid=60
You can use the Harmony app on your iOS or Android device.

There are a variety of remote control apps for various products like the TiVo or LG blu-ray players and so on. You can check if your devices have such features, and if it's worth using multiple free apps instead of buying a universal remote system.