Now, if you're an electronics manufacturer looking to fill this need by offering a smart remote control, you've got a couple of choices. You can design and build one from scratch, but why reinvent the wheel when Logitech's Harmony brand has already done such a great job? Wouldn't it be easier to just license their interface, not to mention their library of thousands of command codes encompassing nearly every piece of gear on the planet? Exactly. Which is what cable giant Monster Cable has done with its new Monster Central Control AVL300. With one move, Monster has catapulted itself into the remote business. But why buy a Monster?
SETUP Nearly as important as how well a universal remote control works is how easily it programs. Whether you're a user or an installer who works on many remotes each week, programming should be simple and straightforward. The Monster AVL300 uses a modified version of Harmony's well-respected programming software — specifically, the version 6 software used for Harmony 890 remotes — which they have relabeled "Monster Central Control."
The modifications include some key changes that really differentiate the AVL300: the ability to add lighting control, as well as to control multiple systems throughout a home. (The multisystem functionality is limited by the fact that the remote can support no more than 15 devices, so if you have two full-blown theaters, you'll likely be out of luck.)
Harmony's version 6 software is definitely more tedious and time-consuming than version 5, and Monster's modifications make the programming slightly more time-consuming by adding multiple rooms to the equation. You're asked to wade through different screens before you can get to the adjustment you want to make: Select the room, select the activity, select the device. A simple change on my cable box takes ten mouse-clicks and nearly as many screens. And since each page you program is transmitted over the Internet, you are often w-a-i-t-i-n-g for screens to load. This detailed process might be helpful or even necessary for the novice programmer, but professionals like me will find themselves hankering for quicker access to programming changes. (This dig is not aimed specifically at the Monster software, but at the Harmony version 6 software interface in general.)
During programming, you indicate whether you want each device to be controlled by the remote itself (infrared) or through the supplied OmniLink RF (radio frequency) extender. The OmniLink has four IR outputs that are individually assignable, as well as a "blaster" that can flood a cabinet with infrared commands. Individual assignability won't be important for most systems but will be welcome in those with multiple identical components such as CD players, DSS receivers, or XM tuners.
PERFORMANCE The AVL300 is essentially a variant of Harmony's 890, so comparison is inevitable. Visually, where the 890 has smooth, rounded edges like an Audi TT, the AVL300 has a very square, no-nonsense design, kind of like a Honda Element or Toyota Scion xB. This does give it more stability when resting on the arm of a chair, and it also sits better in the charging/docking cradle. Another difference: The AVL300 eschews the 890's color activities graphics for chunky, text-only blocks such as "Watch a DVD," "Listen to CD," and so on.
A button at the bottom labeled "sys a/b" toggles between rooms, enabling control of different areas of the home. I programmed the remote to operate my living room theater system and the TV in my bedroom, and switching back and forth was easy.
Monster opted for a small joystick to navigate menus instead of the more common up-down-left-right-enter buttons. Upon seeing and feeling it, my first thought was, "That thing is not going to last." But it has proved durable — for now — and makes navigating onscreen menus a snap, though I occasionally hit the Select command (by pushing the button in) when I mean to navigate. The transport keys are arranged around the joystick in an easy-to-access manner, but the buttons only have icons (such as square for stop, arrow for play). I know what they mean, and you know what they mean, but does your babysitter or visiting relative? (My pride was only slightly wounded when my wife had to ask which is fast-forward. Clearly, I've not done my job as an A/V husband....)
One programming option is to add a favorite-channels lineup. There is even a "Fav" button on the bottom of the remote that takes you to this page. During programming, you are told to add graphic icons to represent the channels, so I downloaded the appropriate logos (ABC-HD, HBO-HD, and so on) and programmed the matching channel numbers. Unfortunately, the remote not only doesn't display the graphic, it displays just a blank box, making the favorite-channels feature virtually unusable. Pressing a button did issue the correct channel change, but it was guesswork trying to find the right button without any label. Monster suggested I remove the graphics. This displayed the channel number, making it moderately more useful. Clearly this is a ghost-in-the-machine leftover from the 890 software, in which adding graphics works as it should. Monster needs to either remove the option from its software to avoid confusion or, better yet, add the graphic support.
|
The Short Form
|
| Price $599 / monstercable.com / 415-840-2000 |
|
Snapshot
|
| Despite its boxy appearance, this remote fits comfortably in your hand and can be more than "just" another A/V controller. |
|
Plus
|
|
•One-touch control of your A/V systems •Can operate systems in multiple rooms •Easy and affordable lighting control •Fits nicely in the hand |
|
Minus
|
|
•Text-based display lacks graphics •Programming interface a tad tedious •Key layout can be tricky to master |
|
Key Features
|
|
•Radio-frequency control with included OmniLink RF receiver •Controls up to 15 components •Rechargeable battery with docking cradle •"Activity-based" system control makes it easy to program and use •Internet connection required for programming •Uses modified version of Harmony Remote version 6 programming software •Offers full lighting control with optional ZWave lighting modules •Up to 5 OmniLink RFB-100s ($149 each) can be added for RF control in multiple rooms |
I noticed two huge improvements over the Harmony 890. First, I have installed numerous 890s that repeatedly lost connection between the remote and the RF base station. Reestablishing connection is simple, but it is frustrating and confusing to many users who just want the thing to work. The AVL300 never lost connection while I used it.
Second, the AVL300 includes a detachable power cord on the OmniLink RF station. A simple thing, yes, but since you must update both the remote and the RF station with your computer following any programming changes, it is a convenience feature that is well appreciated. Often the RF station ends up tucked into a rack, its power cord conjoined with a myriad of other cabling, and having to repeatedly plug and unplug it while making updates to the programming is a pill.
LIGHTING CONTROL Finally, what really sets this remote apart is the "Lighting Control" button at its top, which makes it far more than just another A/V controller. The AVL300 can control any ZWave lighting device, but Monster hopes you'll pair it with its own lighting system, which it has given the Disneyesque name "IlluminEssence." Since ZWave creates a mesh network that actually gets stronger as devices are added, multiple switches will make the system more reliable. A ZWave network can support as many as 232 devices (lamp modules, light switches, and dimmers, for example), so unless you live in a shopping mall, you shouldn't have any problem lighting up your world.
Monster sent two of its IWD600S in-wall dimmers ($129 each) and two LD300 lamp dimmers ($99 each) for testing. Installing the lights and pairing them to the remote should be a simple proposition. I say "should" because I had nothing but trouble getting it to work at first. Lights in different rooms responded to the same commands. None of the "scenes" — which allow you to set multiple lights to preset levels with a single command — would work. I totally rebuilt my programming as instructed by Monster — removed all the lighting devices, reset the RF network, added all the devices again — four different times. Finally, Monster had to clone my remote's online account and "force" a fix behind the scenes. Monster says I experienced a rare combination of events, exacerbated by early release of some untested lighting software. This is a new product for Monster, and I'm confident that they will resolve all of these glitches (probably by the time you read this), but to say that my experience was frustrating would be an understatement.
But in the end, everything worked as it should. And when the bugs were finally squashed, the lighting control was very cool, offering performance on the level of automated systems costing many times as much. Lighting scenes are what make automated lighting so slick, and creating them and setting brightness levels is simple and fast. A very custom touch is the ability to tie lighting scenes to activities. Hitting the "Watch a DVD" button on the remote, for example, can turn off lights around the house and dim your theater room. A custom "Romance" activity might turn the TV off, turn XM Radio to light jazz, and dim all the lights. Of course, you can access and control lighting scenes independently of your A/V activities. A "Good Night" scene, for instance, could turn all indoor lights off and outdoor lights on; a "Party" scene might highlight certain works of art. The possibilities go on.
BOTTOM LINE I am a huge fan of Harmony-based remotes, and the Monster Cable Monster Central Control AVL300 fits nicely at the head of that family. Granted, Monster charges a premium over the cost of the Harmony 890, and it doesn't include Harmony's renowned tech support. On the other hand, I have had such inconsistent connectivity between the 890 and its RF station that the Monster's rock-solid reliability alone makes it worthwhile. (Harmony claims to have addressed these instability issues with updated firmware. They have told me this problem was fixed with firmware in the past, however, so time will tell if they have finally resolved the bug.) When you factor in the ability to control systems in different rooms of your home, plus Monster's great and affordable system to automate your lighting, the small difference in price between the remotes becomes insignificant.
Last but not least, Monster has ambitious plans for future home control and media server products that were teased at the recent CEDIA show. The AVL300 will play a role in the "complete solution" Monster hopes to offer, so what you see today is just the tip of the iceberg! Put it all together, and Monster could become a real 800-pound gorilla in the home control market.
Back to Homepage
What's New on S&V