Hey gang. One of the frustrations of FireTv for my wife was that you cannot use a universal remote with it because it does not have a IR Receiver.
Well I found a solution. We have a Harmony 700 and love it. I found a little device called Flirc. https://flirc.tv/product/flirc/ I got mine on Amazon.
It is a trainable IR receiver that works in the USB port on the FireTV. They just recently updated the Firmware and GUI to include duplicating the FireTV remote.
Add a device called Flirc (brand) and Flirc XBMC (model number) to your Harmony Remote. You program the Flirc using the GUI by pressing the buttons on your remote that you want to emulate the FireTV Remote. Plug Flirc into the FireTV. Turn the FireTV so the Flirc is facing to the front and “presto” the Harmony will operate the FireTV.
Here is a thread covering issues people have had with different remotes.
One of the things I like most about my AFTV is that it uses a bluetooth remote. Since it doesn’t require line-of-sight as IR does, I can hide the device and with some careful wire management even hide the wires. Unless you look close, my TV does not have any of the ugly wire bundles hanging off the back.
This is cool but no go for us with the Fire TV Stick. Maybe a Bluetooth to IR receiver in the future or even a Harmony remote with Bluetooth pairing capabilities.
The Harmony remote with Bluetooth already exists. I don't know if it pairs with AFTV stick or device. http://www.cnet.com/products/logitech-harmony-ultimate/
It is a little pricey though.
Yes, it does work with Fire TV and there is a device profile for it in the Harmony database when you set the remote up. Works perfectly.
One of the things I like most about my AFTV is that it uses a bluetooth remote. Since it doesn't require line-of-sight as IR does, I can hide the device and with some careful wire management even hide the wires. Unless you look close, my TV does not have any of the ugly wire bundles hanging off the back.
Same here. Since they want you to power it via their included power supply due to the requirements it has, The “stick” is in the HDMI port rear center and the power lead runs down the back along with the antenna cable, and other cables from the BluRay, etc. - hidden down the middle of the back of the stand (it’s not yet hung on a wall, etc. but sits on an oak cabinet we had custom made to hold our A/V equipment, vinyl records, etc) Love the fact that FireTV stick was BT and didn’t need to be seen or even close to seen, but could be buried.