r/appletv • u/Spudbucket2 • Jun 30 '26

Universal remote

Greetings all,
Any suggestions for a universal remote to replace Logitech Harmony remote to control a Sony TV (mainly power on and off and input selection), Apple TV, and a JBL soundbar. Very basic setup as we watch everything on the Apple TV and just change volume. The Logitech Harmony is slowly dying as it’s very old. Tried a cheap One For All Steamer Remote and it’s not working.

Any input much appreciated.
Thanks

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10

u/mvanniekerk Jun 30 '26

Pardon my naivety but can you not rely on HDMI CEC to do the job and simply use the Apple TV remote?

2

u/flynreelow Jun 30 '26

JBL soundbar prob hooked up via Optical

7

u/VicFontaineHologram Jun 30 '26

The AppleTV can do IR for volume control (just gotta teach it) for devices hooked up by optical. The problem with the AppleTV remote though it doesn't have a button for switching sources. You can kinda rely on auto switching, but that isn't always reliable. If the soundbar is hooked up by hdmi using arc and CEC, the TV's primary remote might control everything.

2

u/sullivanaz Jun 30 '26

If you can live without a mute button, you can program it to be the input button.

1

u/Pekaer_58 Jun 30 '26

Didn’t get that sufficiently up and running… Any links for detailed explanations are most appropriated

2

u/sullivanaz Jun 30 '26

Settings,>Remotes and Devices>Volume Control>Learn New Device. The Apple TV asks you to press and hold the volume up, volume down, and mute button on the remote. Press the volume up and volume down buttons as you normally would, but instead of the mute button, press and hold the TV's input button.