Logitech has firmly ensconced itself in the world of AV through its Harmony universal remote series and, to a lesser effect, its iPod docks.

So following on from the PDA-style king of the range, the Harmony 1000, this is a more conventional-looking controller which borrows some of the elements of its older sibling to great effect.

While it contains buttons along the shaft, the small, full-colour LCD display at the top is touchscreen, allowing you to access functions, such as one-hit 'Activities', by scrolling through a graphical menu.

The remote learns control codes via Logitech's own web database, accessible using a PC or Apple Mac. There are currently command setups for over 5,000 individual bits of kit.

Highs:

The touchscreen responds to electrical pulses in your fingertips rather than purely touch, allowing for the LCD screen to be more durable. A must if you've got kids in the house.
Setup, through the included PC/Mac software, is easy. Can control up to 15 devices, and they can all be setup into 'Activities', where one button press will switch on the TV, receiver and Blu-ray player, for example.

Lows:

A PC or Mac and an internet connection are essential. With an enormous amount of advanced customisation on offer, you can find yourself mucking up its setup and having to perform a hard reset. Not all codes work first time, and may need fine-tuning and fiddling about with.

We can't imagine any of our readers need a universal remote for more than 12 devices but we've all got stacks of gear (probably) but only tolerate using only a couple of remotes at the most to control them.

This 12-in-one zapper can be programmed to control a receiver, TV, DVD player, AV system and VCR or even a lighting system (if you have one of those) with the aid of One For All's Light Control accessories.

A multi-featured remote

It comes pre-loaded with a database of remote codes for numerous devices which can be updated wirelessly via the internet.

There's a learning function for devices not already covered in the database and you can also set up 'macro' commands to control multiple items with minimal button presses.

It comes with a two-line LCD display and backlit keys and takes four AAA batteries.

The URC 7781 won't steal us away from our touchscreen Harmony , but it's looking like a solid mid-range buy all the same.

Most universal remote controls are based on the simple notion of replacing your existing remotes with one handset, and advanced users can set up macros - sequences of commands for several devices.

The Harmony series takes this as a starting point: tell it what devices you own and then tell it what you do with them. The remote is programmed with these activities, for instance, turning on your TV, sat receiver and home cinema amplifier when you select 'Watch TV', setting each to the correct inputs. If you stick with the Harmony, it will track the status of all your devices. The help button steps you through devices if the Harmony gets confused.

One key element in this is the use of a PC/Mac interface and USB connection to set up the remote. There's no need to look up and programme codes for each device; just tell the software what you have, and it does the rest. Control codes are stored in an online database of more than 175,000 devices that's constantly updated. Your remote's details are also stored online, so you can access them from any computer with internet access.

All of this has led to very high marks for the Harmony 785 in the past, but there were snags. For a start, the key layout lacked the intuitive elegance of Sky's remote, so I always use the 785 to turn things on, then the Sky+ handset to control my viewing.

User Friendly

The Harmony 1000 goes a step beyond and drops traditional design in favour of a wide, flat aluminium shape and a 3.5in colour touch screen. The only buttons are for menu navigation, channel and volume control. It's set up in the same way, so each activity has several different touch screen options: e.g. the main Sky+ screen shows the transport controls, one sub-page shows number keys, another shows my TV's text and aspect ratio controls, and the colour and Guide/Info/Back Up buttons are common to all three screens. The transport controls are well laid out, with pause in a larger, central place, so you can quickly hit it while fast-forwarding through ads. It's more responsive than some of the 785's buttons.

You can have up to 15 component devices, including Logitech's own lighting controllers, and if your system is kept in a cabinet, there's even a separate wireless extender using radio instead of infrared.

At twice the price of the 785, this is a big investment, but if you have a complex home entertainment system it may be worth it. It's easy to use, and I can also say that Logitech' free helpline is effective.

Meliconi may not be that well-known a brand here, but it claims to have produced Europe's first universal remote control in 1992.

This 6-in-1 controller sits at the lower end of its current range and has a build quality to suit its budget intentions. It's weighty and easy to grip but its anti-shock rubberised backing feels clammy in the hand.

Its button arrangement is logically labelled and arranged, but suffers from having a few too many similarly sized pads - which can be a little counter-intuitive - especially in the dark, even when making use of the orange backlight. Still, each is responsive enough and there's a button for almost every function you could need, including dedicated Box Office and Sky buttons for Sky users.

It's powered by two AA batteries and a small piece of paper glued to the inside the battery compartment can be used to note down the remote codes for your equipment.

Don't expect to find such luxuries as internet-updateable code databases at this price. There is, however, an extensive printed list of codes included for most manufacturers, including some of the more obscure brands out there.

The easiest way to assume control of a device is to pick from one of the corresponding buttons for device type: TV, Sat, VCR, Aux, Terr, DVD, hold it down for five seconds until it flashes, then enter the remote code and jab the play or power buttons until the target device responds. Programming it for Sky Plus control requires entering separate codes for the box and its PVR functions.

If you don't have the code you need the Light 6 can learn it from the device's remote control. If the latter has a feature not covered by the Light 6 it can learn this too and map it to one of the four function keys. It can be used even to control an iPod (presumably when docked with your hi-fi, not in your pocket).

Aside from not having to juggle five remotes at a time, the other benefit common to many universal remote controls is the ability to define 'macros' - a selection of automatic key presses that will, say, turn on your TV and sat receiver and switch to your favourite channel.

Details on how to set up this feature are strangely omitted from the printed instructions but are covered in the supplied instruction CD. Up to 85 macros (here called 'MEMOS') can be created and assigned to a single button with a limit of up to 32 button presses for each. These are retained in the remote's memory even if the batteries need changing.

It may not have the hi-tech smarts of a Harmony or high-end One For All controller, but the Light 6 is easy to program and performs effectively on all fronts, making it a compelling reason to consign most of your other remotes to a drawer for a more minimal AV life.

This universal remote is the only zapper on the market that will operate Sky, Sky+ and SkyHD set-top boxes, as well as those from Virgin Media, Freeview and integrated receivers, says its maker, Meliconi. It enables you to operate up to six devices of any brand.

Powered by two AA batteries, the remote is reassuringly sturdy and features a 6mm thick rubber casing which makes it easy to grip and also means that it will bounce rather than break if dropped. It also features a red backlight, which makes operation in a dark room a whole lot easier.

Set-up is relatively straightforward - you simply press and hold the key, which relates to the piece of kit you want to program in until it begins to flash.

Then you just key in the relevant manufacturer four-digit code from the booklet provided with the remote or from Meliconi's website. We had all of our AV devices programmed in within around 20 minutes, proving that this really is a simple remote to use, despite its extensive and rather daunting array of buttons. If you do get stuck, the remote is also supplied with an interactive CD guide.

While all of the basic functions that you are likely to need are covered by the buttons on the remote, the 'Learn' feature enables it to control the missing functions from the sources' original controls.

For extra convenience, there is a selection of buttons at the bottom of the remote (mute, volume up, volume down and AV), which are always assigned to the television, no matter which device is being operated at the time.

Despite its somewhat complicated appearance, this really is a simple remote to program, and it won't take too long, so it's worth persevering.

The main selling point for the Jumbo Universal Remote from Innovage is its distinctive over-sized design. At nearly a foot long, you're unlikely to lose it down the back of the sofa, and the 1in buttons make it ideal for those with impaired vision or dexterity. The manufacturer also suggests using it to teach children to use AV equipment.

The Jumbo remote is compatible with most major brands of AV equipment and allows operation of up to four devices. It requires two AA batteries, although these are not provided. Set-up is extremely easy, using the relevant manufacturer codes in the supplied booklet.

However, this could prove a slight problem to the remote's intended users, as the codes are printed in extremely small text, so elderly users or those with impaired vision might need some assistance.

Once all of the programming is complete, the remote is very easy to use, and the large buttons are clearly labelled giving the device a refreshingly uncluttered appearance. However, owing to its giant dimensions, the Jumbo is a little cumbersome to use and it felt more as if we were holding a computer keyboard than a remote control.

It's not exactly a feature-heavy product, but there are a couple of handy extras including a programmable power off timer and a code search button which looks for the device codes automatically.

Due to the remote's size and weight, one-handed operation is not an option since you'll need one hand to hold the remote and the other to press the buttons.

Not the most comprehensive universal remote we've seen by a long way, but its size and basic functions make it a good buy for its intended audience and it won't break the bank either.

Whether you have Windows Media Center or simply have a range of media you'd like to access without having to touch your laptop, this little gadget is perfect.

Comprising a tiny USB link connector and a 2.4GHz RF remote, you can access your media from up to 15 metres away.

Supporting plug-n-play, simply plug the adapter in and you can use it straightaway. You'll need to manually start your software, but it supports Media Player and iTunes, as well as Real Player, Musicmatch and WinDVD.

The remote can mute sound as well as control volume, so can be used during presentations with ease. The other buttons navigate your files and folders and while it's limited, it does make it easy to change songs and settings.

When you're finished, you can simply slot the adapter back into the base of the remote and store it in your PC Card slot.

Universal remotes are a great way to take control of your entire AV system - especially when that system becomes rather extensive. Logitech's latest model in its Harmony line has the power to command up to 15 separate items, which should be plenty for the vast majority of users.

The Harmony 1000 is controlled via a full-colour 3.5-inch LCD touch-screen. This, together with the swish design (a metal effect fascia and black rubber rear), makes for an arresting appearance, one that certainly belies the price point.

You can even change the background image on the screen, perhaps to match your viewing room décor.

Code of conduct

The obvious question is - does this unit already have control codes for all my gear? The answer is, probably yes. You can attach the unit to a PC or Mac and access the vast online database, which currently has around 175,000 different components from 5,000 manufacturers.

This is constantly being updated as well and, if you are unlucky and a certain item is not covered, you can train the remote to control this new item and then upload the data to the database for others to make use of. Very neat indeed.

Equally neat is the way you can save your personal profile online. All the options you set up on the Harmony 1000 can be safely stored on the Logitech database, making it easy to upgrade to a new Harmony remote.

Also, certain button presses can be programmed in to create quite complex operations, such as switching a TV and DVD player on at the same time and activating the correct channel for viewing, which is a great touch.

With programmable time delays you can even sidestep equipment quirks, such as that annoying period after switching a TV on when you can't change channel.

This pattern of commands can then be accessed by a simple press of the touch-screen. You'll soon wonder how you ever managed wrestling with multiple remotes.

Master and commander

The Harmony 1000 isn't exactly difficult to use, but it will take time to master, and especially complicated command sequences may need some fine-tuning before they work perfectly, but work perfectly they will.

Still, when compared with other units, the Harmony 1000 is easy to use, and its ever-growing database is a major selling point.

The price is inviting, the design is seductive and you can even add a £70 RF extender so you can tuck your AV gear away somewhere and simply stare in wonder at the Harmony 1000.

The Explorer scores over other remotes with the embedded LCD screen, which means you don't have to see the monitor, or even be within 15 metres of the computer to play your music. Unfortunately the screen's a bit on the small side for such a chunky remote, but other than it's a handy tool for the terminally lazy.

Traditionally, there are two types of universal remote control: those that come with an in-built library of remote commands and those, mainly at the top end of the market in price and design, which can be customised through connection to a computer. Both offer learning functionality to store command codes from your existing controllers. Each, however, have their own, specific foibles.

The remotes with in-built command libraries can be tricky and frustrating to set up. Thanks to the absence of a digital read-out, it can often take hundreds of button presses as you cycle through a code list to find the ones for your specific equipment, only to discover that they haven't been implemented at all.

On the other hand, the fancy, and pricey Crestron, Pronto and Marantz touchscreen efforts, which connect to a PC and need dedicated software, can take a degree in computer science to get the most basic of functions to work.

Logitech's Harmony remotes take a subtly different approach using a mash-up of existing ideas, if you like. Although it utilises a control code database and connects to a PC or Apple Mac, the database is online and constantly updating (at present there are over 5,000 AV brands recognised and over 175,000 individual items of kit).

This, combined with intuitive, wizard-based software (rather than expansive HTML-style editors), ensures that setting up a Harmony to control your equipment is as easy as clicking a few buttons and answering some simple questions.

The only minor drawback to previous models in the range was that, regardless of cost, their traditional, elongated form factor placed them firmly in competition with the Kameleons of this world, rather than the Prontos. Not so with the Harmony 1000.

Its 3.5in full-colour, touchscreen LCD display, glowing selection buttons, and flat, square design place this objet d'art amongst more illustrious company with one important difference: it's approximately half the price of its peers (such as Philips' similar-looking TSU9600).

This comes without any obvious caveats: the brushed metal effect on the fascia, with a rubbery, black coating on the rear, looks and feels expensive and, as such, the 1000 matches modern flatscreen TVs with aplomb.

It looks so good sitting in its gloss black recharge dock that you'll happily leave it on display. Furthermore, a minimal approach to front-mounted buttons improves aesthetics, and you can change the background image on the touchscreen to match your mood.

Big server

Such options can be found within the supplied software which, for all intents and purposes, is identical for all of Logitech's range, and for good reason. After installation, the software will ask you to create an account which will be saved online, along with all of your options and setup modes.

Doing so allows you to log in from any computer that will run the software, and as all of your remote's details are stored on a massive, dedicated server, you can recover them even if you change machines, have a major computer meltdown or, even, upgrade your Harmony model at a future date.

The subsequent remote setup is as intuitive and easy-to-use as they come. It's wise to put aside half an hour or so to input the manufacturers' model numbers of your equipment, but there's very little else you need to do as it's highly likely that even the most obscure kit is now covered by the company's database as was my HomeChoice (now Tiscali) set-top box, for example.

The main reason for this is that every time a consumer has to teach the remote a new series of codes, they are added to the massive database and are thus available for everybody else to use. In addition, Logitech staff are constantly adding new equipment themselves, ensuring that products that haven't even been launched yet are covered.

It's a cunning way of creating the biggest control code database there's ever been, and it will never stop expanding. Another benefit to this method is that you can profit from other users' experiences. For example, some TVs, specifically CRT and plasma, pause significantly between coming on, and being ready to change channel.

Using Logitech's software, you can set a timed delay between functions (button presses), but thanks to the ever-learning database it's extremely likely that someone else has already done the hard work for you - I had just such an experience with a resident Pioneer 506XDE. It worked from the bat.

Multiple commands are vitally important because the biggest selling point of all Harmony remotes is the 'Activities' function. Again, using the software wizard, you can set up several activities, such as 'Watch TV' or 'Watch DVD'. These are a series of commands that control all of the equipment needed to perform such an action, and switch them to the correct channels, by simply pressing one button.

With my experience of Harmony universal remotes, I have often had problems getting them to work perfectly from the off, but here with a little perseverance (about a further two hours of fiddling and changing options) the end result is well worth it.

Other universal remotes can perform similar functions, but, as they generally require complicated macro- programming, this is easily the best solution for one-touch control I've yet to come across.

The combination of Logitech's software, an enormous control code database, and the high-end aesthetics of the Harmony 1000, is a winner. It's the easiest to program control on the market and yet it exudes flair and elegance through every pore.

One minor quibble is that an RF extender is not supplied in the box, even though the controller itself is capable of sending compatible signals, but as that's a mere £70 extra, those who wish to keep their equipment hidden can still have full, unrestricted control for far less than any of its comparable competitors.