Sofabaton X1 Universal Remote and Smart IR Hub Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ย. 2022
- Simple setup for many devices, programmable and customizable, can combine multiple remotes and use voice commands. Amazon Affiliate Product Link: geni.us/c1U99P
You’ll receive the X1 remote, central hub, two 4 ft USB-A to USB-C cables, two IR extenders, a wall adapter, quick start menu, and instruction guide. The remote control measures 7.5” long, 1.75” wide and 0.5” thick. This remote does not use disposable batteries and instead charges an internal battery via the USB-C on the bottom.
The functions on the remote are: “off”, a back button and up/down scroll wheel (for the remote’s menus), and if you’ve used Android streaming devices before then the bottom half of the remote probably looks pretty familiar (like the FireTV 4K remote).
The X1 hub is required for operation is this is the part of the system that sends out the IR signals via its 360 degree blaster. The IR extenders are optional and help the hub communicate with devices that it doesn't have a line-of sight to, like devices on shelves and behind cabinet doors.
To set up the remote, you’ll need to download and install the Sofabaton smart remote app and also login to or register an account. Then press the button on the back of the hub for three seconds until the LED at the front starts blinking to add it to the app and connect it to your WiFi network. After setup, you can start adding the remotes and command lists for your devices. There are a handful of quick add options like FireTV, DirectTV, etc. but you can also search Sofabaton's extensive code library for the exact model of your device and download a pre-registered set of commands that will work with your device. If for any reason, the commands are not pre-assigned to the keys of the X1, you can manually assign the or even change the default assignments. Setting up my FireTV's remote took only a few minutes and the X1 works perfectly with my streaming stick.
If your device isn't in the library, you can try testing the code bases by verifying the functions, or manually program the remote in. You have to program each key on the remote one at a time. It's a bit time consuming, to name the keys, record their signals, and then assign them to button on the X1, but with a bit of effort, I was able to get the X1 to successfully control the projector. However, I did find it a bit strange that when naming the keys I couldn’t use special characters like plus or minus, underscore, or backslash, despite these characters appearing in some of the existing code libraries.
After you have multiple remotes added, you can combine functions across them using the activities feature. For activities, you can even define two commands per button on the X1 for both short and long presses. If you find you need to trigger a command several times for it to work, you can set this up in the repair keys section and set 'command repeats' up to 3 additional times. If turning on/off your device requires multiple steps, like pressing the power button twice to confirm, you can program this into the Macro settings for turn on/off. Note though, that the off button in the top left corner of the X1 can’t be used to turn off individual devices, as it only works for Activities. If you want to use the remote to turn on/off individual devices, assign those commands to specific keys, use the soft keys in the app, create an activity for that remote, or trigger it from the full command list for a device, on the X1's OLED screen; from here you can access all the commands even if you haven’t assigned them on to keys on the X1.
When paired with Alexa, you can use voice commands to trigger your activities as scenes. Now I can dim the lights in the room and turn on my speaker and projector with a simple phrase. If you ever lose or can’t find the X1 remote, tap 'look for the X1 remote' in the app and the remote will start beeping loudly for 30 seconds to help you locate it!
Overall, the X1 Universal remote was easy to setup, has a pretty broad existing library command codes for a lot of different devices, and even if you can’t find your specific device, it’s simple enough to have it learn your remote, one key at a time. There are no batteries to change and the range of the central IR blaster is very good, but can be extended , if needed. My favorite feature is the ability to mix and match multiple remotes in custom activities that allow you to chain multiple commands together, so you can have a one-touch operation to turn on and off all your devices and a single remote to control them all. Then add to that voice commands with Alexa routines and you can access all your IR controlled devices (plus IoT devices) via your AI assistant without even picking up the remote.
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3 hours later, I gave up on trying to configure the X1 as a replacement for my Harmony Elite. It had trouble controlling my Nvidia Shield TV, and some of the preprogrammed codes for my Yamaha receiver were just wrong. Fyi, the code for input 3 was missing altogether. When input 3 is selected, input 2 is activated. Maddening! Long live Harmony remotes.
that's not good to hear, been looking for a harmony replacement for when it finally dies on us.
I have the non hub version of SofaBaton and it has worked for me in programming across my Yamaha AV rec as well as devices that use bluetooth like fire. I did have issues at first with IR sensitivity (remote would not trigger unless pointed directly at components, so I leveraged an in-wall IR sensor with blasters (components are hidden behind a cabinet in wall with furniture in way). Since you can directly assign keys, I was able to resolve issues. I will say it also can be a little slow in switching certain input devices (but I think that is due to bluetooth re-connection speeds).
But I tried this because Harmony hub has become more maddening over time for my situation (slow wifi reconnections in middle of use, touchy screen, phone app disconnects, can't keep my volume controls to sound bar anymore, macros being untrustworthy with my older components, issues with sync with Alexa, Smartthings, etc). granted I don't have the hub integration, but would rather have a working univ remote than smarthome integration.
Excellent review. You addressed most of the issues, e.g. Bluetooth pairing, Alexa integration and non-listed devices.
Reviews on Amazon come to a 3 out of 5. That's no good, with 36% of the reviewers giving 1 star only.
Adding devices was the biggest issue. You had similar issues having to program each key. Seems the Harmony and other remotes have a more extensive Dbase of remotes?
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For me a big issue is that the hub needs a line of sight to the devices. Could work but then I can't use the IR blasters (with only 6 feet cabling). Let's be honest, this whole hub-system is less than ideal.
But are there any remotes out there that allow Alexa routine automation while not requiring a hub? The new Control4 Halo models? Others?
Can the tv be accessed over the internet outside the home?
Hi…
I have three devices connected to my remote. My LG TV, my Apple TV, and my sound bar.
I created an activity that I called watch Apple TV and assigned all three devices to turn on once I turn on the activity. Whenever I turn on the activity, only the TV and the Apple TV go on, and the sound bar goes on for one second and after that it goes off , leaving me only with the TV and the Apple TV on.
Whenever I hit the off button to turn off the activity, both the TV and the Apple TV will go off, but then the sound bar will come on leaving me with the sound bar on.
I really don’t know what did you said I am doing wrong. I have tried missing around with all kinds of combinations in all kinds of settings on the sound bar and on the TV a separate devices as well as devices within the activity, but nothing seems to work.
I was hoping that you or maybe someone else up there has any other suggestions as I already spent a whole week trying to get this thing set up and nothing seems to work. Thanks a lot.😊
So ir works with the X1 and the hub next to the devices without using the ridiculous optional ir receivers??
Yes, I 'm not using any extenders with mine and it controls the devices I want it to fine (since the hub has a line of sight to them).
@@ReviewedByPhil thanks for your response I decided to go with the U2 device as the X1 is too expensive for me right now. But thanks in any case!
2 months ago you posted a video on sofabatonx1 remote and hub can you please help I set up a activity Tv on hdmi 3 Sony receiver on hdmi dvd/bd fire to all turn on with Alexa here’s where I run into the problem now I want to watch regular tv so I made a actiywith just my tv to hdmi tv and my Sony receiver on hdmi tv it works but now when I tell Alexa to turn on fire tv it doesn’t do it I no it something simple but what do I do Phil???
Hm, it sounds like the activity you made for watching regular TV is working just fine, so to watch FireTV on the same TV, you'll need to set up a second activity and in the startup sequence you'll need to have it switch to the HDMI input in which the FireTV is connected. You might have to give the activity a different name than FireTV, as this might be confusing to Alexa since she probably has a default action for that particular command. We called our activity "theater."
@@ReviewedByPhil Thank 💯🎯🎯 You Brother you Just Made My New Year Happy New Year 2023
2023 💯🎯 Do you have any motion sensors compatible with sofabaton x1 hub ?
No number keypad ??? That's a deal breaker for me. How do you change channels if you have a cable box ???
Yes, that's a bit clunkier. While you do have the up/down channel control, if you want to jump to a specific channel, you'll either have to create a macro for your favorite channels and use a voice command (or program them into the miscellaneous keys), or go into the menu for that device and "type" the numbers using the scroll wheel selecting each digit from the full command list.
How to get the hub to work
You'll need to plug the hub in where it has a "line of sight" to the device's IR receiver you're trying to control e.g. in front of your TV, then add the hub to the Sofabaton smartphone app and load in the controlled device's remote profile, as shown in this video, see 3:28.
SO HOW DO YOU CHANGE CHANNEL USING ALEXA AND SOFABATON. "ALEXA TURN TOO CNN" DO I HAVE TO MAKE A ACTIVITY FOR EACH CHANNEL?
Yes, since Alexa commands can only control Activities from the Sofabaton as scenes, you'd have to make a custom activity for each "channel name" you want a voice command. Then in the activity's startup sequence, have it switch the channel there. No need to have it actually turn on/off your TV or STB if you'll only use the command when your TV is already on.
I like to think I’m at least semi-tech savvy but after several hours this thing has me about ready to jump off the roof. Piss poor code structure makes programming long sequences a farce. Ambiguous terminology doesn’t help.
I bought the thing to save my wife’s sanity dealing with our moderately complex home theatre system and so far this has proven hugely unpleasant. Going to give it another go after a couple days cooling off but suspect it is likely going back. Why is finding an intuitive, powerful universal remote so difficult?
becasue itis by nature a dificult to design and streamline appliance if you think about it.
Garbage returned it same day