Griffin Beacon Universal Remote Control System

Published On: March 11, 2012
Last Updated on: October 31, 2020
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Griffin Beacon Universal Remote Control System

The universal remote market is a continually shifting place now that mobile devices have apps that can make them into remotes, and, if what Adrienne Maxwell says is true, Griffin may have just completely changed the game.

Griffin Beacon Universal Remote Control System

By Author: Adrienne Maxwell
Adrienne Maxwell is the former Managing Editor of HomeTheaterReview.com, Home Theater Magazine, and HDTVEtc.com. Adrienne has also written for Wirecutter, Home Entertainment Magazine, AVRev.com, ModernHomeTheater.com, and other top specialty audio/video publications. She is an ISF Level II-certified video calibrator who specializes in reviews of flat-panel HDTVs, front video projectors, video screens, video servers, and video source devices, both disc- and streaming-based.

Griffin-Beacon-remote-app-review-in-use.jpgThe Beacon is the second iPhone universal control system I've had a chance to test. The first was the Peel system, which was not a resounding success--due to its limited functionality and lack of reliability. The Griffin system combines a free iPhone app (developed by a company called Dijit) with the Beacon converter box that sends IR signals to your gear. The Beacon for iOS has an MSRP of $69.99 (and also works with iPads), which is about $30 less than the Peel Fruit or the similar Harmony Link. A Beacon for Android version is also available for the same price.

Additional Resources
• Read more remotes and system control reviews written by Home Theater Review's staff.
• Learn more about the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 and Peel combination.
• See more information in our Streaming, Apps, and Downloads News section.

The Beacon is a small, completely wireless module (measuring about 3.5 x 3.5 x 2 inches) that communicates with your iPhone over Bluetooth (range is listed as about 30 feet). Physical setup requires only that you insert four AA batteries into the Beacon, pair the device with your phone, and then place it so that its IR port faces your A/V gear. Next, you download the free Dijit Universal Remote app and move through its setup process, in which you can select and customize the TV guide (or omit the guide, if you don't want to use it) and add the devices that you wish to control. The process of setting up the Dijit control system is fairly simple, but it's not as easy and intuitive as the Peel setup procedure--in part because the Dijit system has a lot more functionality and flexibility. The app will walk you the steps needed to add each component in your system; in my case, I added a TV, receiver, HD DVR, and Blu-ray player. Despite the fact that I added both a DVR and a Blu-ray player, the Dijit only created one activity for me: Watch TV. Within that, it only set up the power functions for the TV, receiver, and DVR; it did not ask me about input switching or other advanced options. So, I had to fine-tune the Watch TV function myself and then create an activity for "Watch Movie." I didn't consider this process to be difficult, but it's certainly not Harmony easy, in that you have to figure out the commands and sequences on your own. For my system, I had to add in some power-off commands and insert some delays to ensure that everything worked correctly when switching from TV- to movie-watching. The fact that these advanced setup tools are available is a big plus in my book, as it allows the Griffin to function more like a good standalone universal remote.

The Dijit interface consists of five main options: Guide, Devices, Activities, Rooms, and Settings. You can control your equipment within either the Devices area or the Activities area, and almost every button I needed was available as part of the basic layout. In general, I found the button layout to be intuitive and easy to navigate. Dijit includes the ability to add and reassign buttons, learn codes from the component remotes, and change the button layout on the various screens (all three of these advanced options are missing from the Peel system). The one thing you can't do is make buttons bigger, and many of them are on the smallish side, which wasn't a concern for me but could be an issue if you have larger fingers.

As for performance, speed and reliability were both very good. The Beacon quickly converts the Bluetooth commands to IR, so there's very little lag between pressing a button and command execution. I rarely encountered reliability issues where the system did not accurately execute a command. It's worth noting that the Beacon does go into a power-saving Sleep mode when disconnected from your iPhone for 60 minutes; to wake it up, you have to press the top of the Beacon and look for the blue light to blink.

The one area where the Dijit interface doesn't outshine the Peel is in the TV Guide. The Peel app began as a free TV guide designed to replace your onscreen guide, and it's a great navigation tool, with big colorful icons and really good filters. The Dijit interface looks and functions more like a traditional program grid, in which you can scroll down to see what's playing on all your available channels. You can skip ahead to future time slots, and you can employ filters to narrow your search to a certain genre (categories include season premieres, comedy, sports, drama, recently watched channels, etc). It gets the job done, but it's not as unique and eye-catching as Peel's guide, nor do the filters seem to be as thorough. Like the Peel system, Dijit allows you create a profile and like/dislike shows, and the "My Shows" page provides a quick way to see if any of your "liked" shows are currently playing or upcoming. You can also access cast/crew info for a show and see show-related videos on YouTube, as well as link Dijit to your Facebook account to get personalized TV recommendations from friends, participate in chats about the show, and do video sharing (I did not test this feature).

Read about the high points and low points of the Griffin Beacon on Page 2.

Griffin-Beacon-remote-app-review-system.jpgHigh Points
• The Beacon's Bluetooth-to-IR conversion is quick and reliable.
• The Dijit control system is fairly easy to set up and has a lot more functionality and customization options than other iPhone-based systems I've tried.
• The control screens are logically laid out, and most of the buttons I needed were part of the default layout. You can also add/move/reassign buttons.
• The Dijit's TV-guide interface allows you to browse content without pulling up an onscreen guide that interferes with what's currently playing. The Dijit guide can remember your favorites, narrow by filters, access behind-the-scenes info on a selected show, and link with your Facebook account for a more social aspect.
• One Beacon works with multiple iPhones and iPads. Also, within the Dijit app, you can set up multiple rooms; so, you can use one iPhone or iPad to control multiple A/V systems in your house.
• You can check the Beacon's battery life via the Dijit app.
• An Android version is also available.

Low Points
• The Dijit TV Guide interface isn't as unique, intuitive, or effective as the Peel interface I previously reviewed.
• When browsing content that's scheduled for a later time, the Digit guide lacks a "record this showing" option.
• The Beacon doesn't include a rechargeable battery; it requires four AA batteries. You have to wake up the Beacon from Sleep mode when you're ready to use it, but at least this prolongs battery l
ife.
• The Beacon system will not work with devices that use an RF remote.

Competition and Comparison
Compare with the Griffin Beacon with the Peel Universal Remote Control and iPhone App, as well as the Logitech Harmony Link ($99.99) and the ThinkFlood RedEye ($199).

Conclusion
The universal-remote landscape just got a lot more interesting. The Griffin Beacon delivers on the promise of an iPhone-based universal control system, offering a level of reliability and flexibility that similar iPhone systems lack. Lest we forget, it's also compatible with the iPad and Android devices. With an MSRP of $69.99 and a street price around $50, the Griffin's control functionality equals or surpasses what you'll find in a similarly priced standalone remote, with the added benefit of a Web-based interactive programming guide and social networking tools for every iOS device in the house. It's a game-changer.

Additional Resources
• Read more remotes and system control reviews written by Home Theater Review's staff.
• Learn more about the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 and Peel combination.
• See more information in our Streaming, Apps, and Downloads News section.

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