Unfolded Circle Remote Two AVAILABILITY UPDATE!!!

Unfolded Circle announced an update on when more of the Remote Two will be available for purchase.
What appears to be a possible successor to the Harmony Remote throne has been very hard to come by since the original Kickstarter units shipped in late 2023, but AV Nirvana's Travis Ballstadt has had one in use since December, and he reports today on an updated process for new orders.
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[@Youthman]

Thanks for sharing your experience over the past few months with the Remote 2. This is the only remote that I feel has the potential to easily exceed what Harmony Elite offers. I have been a fan of their potential since I first had them as a guest on my podcast two years ago. I personally haven’t used Home Assistant yet, but I like what you shared about how it uses IP vs IR.

[@av_nirvana]

Thanks Michael. Home Assistant has been great, and since all my gear sits in a rack with my network equipment it is pretty great to simply connect everything with Ethernet and use IP control as much as possible. I’d love to do a video from start to finish setting up Home Assistant and then configuring it into the remote but id have to figure out a way to back everything up first so i can restore it after doing the video. I’m sure you can relate to getting things working perfectly and not wanting to mess it up to do a video. 😉

[@gjhunter9326]

IP control is the way to go. It amazes me we don't have more companies using that technology instead of the old IR. Roomie, SImple Contol, and now AVAOS (very limited offerings)etc. are the rare companies doing it so I'm glad to hear about this. Not sure about Home Assistant, don't use it, but an app based version, a la Harmony hub, would be great for those of us who don't want a physical remote and prefer an app based, IP control design. Thanks for the info, Travis, going to check it out.

[@DobuDobuDobuDot]

The problem with IP control is the unknown network configurations of the users. Some configurations with VLAN and firewall-rules would block IP control which is why companies aren't keen of implementing that route I think.

[@gjhunter9326]

@@DobuDobuDobuDot I suppose that could be true, but for end users that use VLANs or device isolation, I would imagine thay can write rules to allow them to work properly.

[@erikherbig8868]

You should do those more in depth videos because I see that a lot of people that have purchased the remote have been having issues with getting it programmed and they are wanting to sell the remote. As you know, there is very little information on how to program the remote and get things setup. I actually purchased 3 of these and having some issues getting things setup and working correctly and I also use Home Assistant.

[@av_nirvana]

Noted!

[@KimmoJaskari]

Yeah I do want one of these, I'm a little concerned mainly about my own immense laziness and such - it's not that computing gear and such is difficult, it's just finding the time and energy to customize. But, the vision is to fully automate the house properly and it's something I'm working on so this would fill a huge hole once properly integrated.

[@av_nirvana]

If you get a Home Assistant now and configure your house on it, when you can get a Remote Two you could have it up and running in a few hours and automation still runs via Home Assistant, the remote would just be full of triggers and transport controls.

[@gregtunney3779]

I've been on the reservation list for what feels like an eternity, my harmony is slowly dying and I'm itching to get my hands on a remote two as it's replacement and use in conjunction with HA. Please please do more videos, there is virtually nothing on this remote on youtube so would love to see more content.

[@av_nirvana]

Hopefully your Harmony holds out a little longer. The R2 is worth the wait in my opinion. Harmony has a very large jump on all the replacements in terms of database size and user feedback, but this has the potential to go way above and beyond.

[@supernovamoore6175]

Thanks for sharing, I’ve been wondering when or if I would ever get a email about this products availability.

[@av_nirvana]

Lots of folks have been wondering. Hopefully this is a short-window kickstarter and they can get a new batch out the door relatively quickly.

[@holgerschever6321]

Thanks for the good video! I am also keen to see, how it develops. on very important item from my perspective. They need to work a bit on the remote itself. For my (and potentially others tastes) it needs more and a bit bigger physical button with more elevation... But who knows... maybe they are already working on this

[@av_nirvana]

I don’t think you’ll see any hardware revision this go-around, they have been very focused on the software/firmware since the launch. I’m not a small guy and I’ve found it pretty easy to get used to the button layout and have no problems finding my way around it without looking.

[@ThomasHoffDE]

I really only want this to connect my TV, Xbox, Apple TV and Sonos speakers. Is this overkill in your opinion or a good choice? Great review. thank you

[@av_nirvana]

It will be capable of controlling all the devices you’ve listed. Overkill is dependent upon the value you place on build quality and the everyday experience of using the remote. If that daily experience is important, it’s probably a good choice. If you view the remote as a tool to get a job done, it’s probably overkill.

[@mikewright9547]

I would like to see how it goes for the remote 3. My Harmony Elite no longer works, I purchased the top of the line Sofa Baton, it’s terrible.

[@MrBjorn6]

Why is it terrible i just ordered it?

[@Endpoint101]

Also wondering why its terrible.. and which Sofa Baton?

[@StephenAtt797]

I have 3 Harmony hubs w/ Companion remote + 1 Elite all working. I have a set-top box so number keys are a must. The Sofabaton never vem made it to the sofa. Does the Remote Two at least do LED number touch keys like the Eilte? ... otherwise its an expensive doorstop for me. I also chucked HA (runnning on a VM on WIndows) cause I realized no one else in the family would be able to manage it when my time is up here on Earth One, Alexa is already a challenge for them.

[@av_nirvana]

You can create as many screens as you want, completely customizable to whatever command you need, and you can upload custom icons as well. Basically infinitely customizable.

[@BennyThePhotographer]

I just received an invite for the remote 3 kickstarter starting on June 21st / looks like they have a new remote

[@av_nirvana]

We’re going to have Marton on a livestream this Sunday to discuss!

[@alainwestermann6063]

What I need for Panasonic oled with denon avr 3800, streamer atoll st 200, Apple TV 4K, canal + decoder. Thank you

[@m4nc1n1]

I had the SofaBaton X1S and returned it. Already on the wait list for this.

[@lo_fye]

I just got my Sofabaton, but should return it and do the same.

[@stephengreen8058]

How did you get graphics of what you are watching on your apple tv? It seems to show your watching flash Gordon on the apple tv

[@av_nirvana]

The remote integrations are 2-way, they don’t only tell the device what to do, they monitor the current status and can display what the device is currently playing back. That was showing Flash Gordon, which was playing back in the PLEX app on the AppleTV while filming.

[@stephengreen8058]

Nice. I have the remote 3 coming as part of the kickstarter. Do any of the streaming apps do the same like apple music or tidal etc?

[@av_nirvana]

I would imagine so, but I never put music on in the theater so can’t confirm. I will try Apple Music next time I’m in there.

[@swoell]

Is there a way to integrate the remote with a KNX based bus system?

[@av_nirvana]

Not directly but it does appear there is a KNX integration available for Home Assistant and Homey, both of which are supported with the Unfolded Circle Remotes, so if you’re willing to use one of those (relatively inexpensive) systems as a bridge you should be able to get it going.

[@Boondoggle15]

Gave up waiting and ditched my Harmony elite for Roomie Remote on an ipad air. Roomie has easily integrated my lumagen, epson PJ, and other devices. Completely understand people who prefer a remote over a tablet and happy to see even some good competition because the harmony is... really not a good product in 2024.

[@av_nirvana]

I’ve never liked my Harmony to be honest. But I do need to have an actual remote vs a tablet.

[@gjhunter9326]

@@av_nirvana Curious, why do you say you "need" an actual remote vs a tablet?

[@av_nirvana]

Because I like having buttons to press without waking up a tablet.

[@gjhunter9326]

@@av_nirvana Lol, ok. I need a Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport then, but alas will have to make due with my pickup 😂

[@av_nirvana]

I’d like a Control4 system, but am not missing anything by “making do” with an unfolded circle remote + home assistant.

[@wicked5120]

Somewhat confusing. Are you saying that those of us who've been on the waiting list (for almost 2 years now) will automatically get an email that we can now order/pay for the remote or are we going to have to sign up for a Kickstarter "place in line"?

[@av_nirvana]

They will notify you when the Kickstarter is ready, and they also plan to use the current waiting list order to prioritize shipping when the new batch is ready.

[@th3batfink]

Except, keep in mind I’ve been on the wait list over 2 years and still didn’t get one, so theres a big list of people for the ‘priority’ list. They claim it will only been a couple of months after the end of the kick starter to get the remote but I’ve heard them say lots of things over the last years which never happened so guess time will tell. I had presumably when they raised this kickstarter announcement it was mostly a matter of capital to get the remotes? But then they said its a new hardware revision.. so who really knows.

[@dotnetdevni]

Why is it now showing remote 3 is there a new verison

[@av_nirvana]

They needed to manufacture more so they implemented lots of user feedback and the Remote 3 is coming this winter.

[@dotnetdevni]

I would love to be able to have bigger buttons on this they look so tiny not best for fat fingers.

[@av_nirvana]

@dotnetdevni I don’t have dainty fingers and have no issues with the buttons. And the onscreen buttons can be made bigger,/smaller/taller/fatter as needed.

[@craig891]

Do you have any links to the Lumagen integration for Home Assistant? My google-foo has failed me so far? I don't want to use IR, and I'd like to get events from the Lumagen into Home Assistant for automation (e.g. future screen masking - would be ideal to get aspect ration events). Thanks.

[@av_nirvana]

Let me check with the person who wrote it before sharing. There is a Home Assistant thread on AVNirvana.com that I will use to share if given permission.

[@craig891]

@@av_nirvana that’s great. I’ve considered building something myself (e.g esp32+mqtt) but always find it difficult to find enough time. Would be happy to contribute if open source.

[@tysonbradbrook1634]

Dose the remote let you turn on lights when you press pause and play

[@av_nirvana]

You can create macros for button presses, or use the status of the media player entity (requires IP integration, not possible with IR only) for your playback device to trigger the lights. This is where Home Assistant currently comes in very handy, as it has a much larger library of existing integrations, though the UC software is still growing and the new web configurator will allow directly uploading community-developed integrations to your remote, which will open up a larger library.

[@legeno.]

혹시 이 리모컨 어디서 구매할수 있는지 아시나요?!

[@av_nirvana]

This was a Kickstarter and there are no more units being produced, but they have just launched a Kickstarter for the updated version which will run on the same software and has a few user requests addressed in the hardware. www.kickstarter.com/projects/marton/unfolded-circle-remote-3?ref=profile_backed

[@legeno.]

@@av_nirvana 답변 감사합니다! thank you!

[@sethi100]

$400 plus too pricy for me.

[@av_nirvana]

There are other options for less, but the lower cost will generally mean plastic case and no touchscreen.