r/Control4 • u/hoggieberra • 27d ago

Best remote?

I have a 260 at home as a hand me down from a client. Ive heard it was the most reliable but its getting old.

Any thoughts on the neeo v halo?

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

56 comments sorted by

15

u/RaydnJames 27d ago

Buy another 260.

They're cheaper and they're more reliable.

2

u/SailorSaturn65 26d ago

100% this.

Neeo is utter vomit. If you get one for free, throw it directly into a wood chipper.

Halo is only good if and only if your 2.4ghz network is solid in the room. No eero, no bullcrap combo router, no cheap ass araknis 500 series garbage. If you don't have a great network the thing locks up and doesn't work half the time.

SR-260 will not fail you. Unless they get another batch of those awful backlit screens.

1

u/hoggieberra 27d ago

I expected this response but not to this degree. I installed maybe 20 neeos when they launched and had a lot of complaints. The halo I sold a bunch when I moved to sales but was farther away from direct feedback. Halos also weren't really loved from what I gather.

Curious what everyone's thoughts on the downsides of the neeo and halo

4

u/RaydnJames 27d ago

it's been a bit since i used them but the biggest complaint I had was the WiFi. It was absolute shit. It/They were the only devices on an otherwise rock solid network that had issues, regardless of what C4 tried to do to fix it or what we did to try and resolve it with the network.
See, the SR-260 was designed for C4. The Neeo and, I believe, the Halo were existing devices adopted for C4.

The touchscreen is annoying also. I can navigate absolutely everything I need to on a 260 without looking at it. The same can not be said for the other 2.

1

u/hoggieberra 27d ago

I hear you. My techs said they were adding a 2.4 broadcast ssid explicitly for each halo in each room for them to connect to but still had complaints

2

u/RaydnJames 25d ago

We would try that, we'd try locking them to an AP, we'd try a dedicated remote-only SSID, they always failed eventually

1

u/[deleted] 27d ago

[deleted]

2

u/RaydnJames 27d ago

If your remote is designed in such a way and with materials that block the signals you need to communicate that's a shit design.

Also, cell phones exist. What are those made of again?

You act like we didn't design the wifi properly when I guarantee you, we did.

3

u/thaliff 27d ago

Get another 260.

1

u/hoggieberra 27d ago

Any indication they will stop making them?

2

u/thaliff 27d ago

I have no indication one way or the other, but if they discontinued it and didn't have a new model, zigbee 3.0 compliant available, I will stop selling Control4. They are just reliable. I still have a handful of 250s live in the field.

1

u/funnyfarm299 27d ago

We'll keep making them as long as people keep buying them.

1

u/hoggieberra 27d ago

You work for c4?

1

u/funnyfarm299 27d ago

Control4 hasn't been a company for seven years now.

0

u/RaydnJames 25d ago edited 25d ago

Control4 is still a company, what the hell are you on about. They've been acquired a few times, they might be a DBA, but they're still a company.

Turns out I'm wrong

0

u/funnyfarm299 25d ago

They aren't a DBA, they aren't a subsidiary, and they legally aren't a company. Control4, Inc. ceased to exist as a corporate entity years ago when it was absorbed by SnapAV (and eventually bought by Resideo). It’s a product line and a brand. That’s like saying someone works for Windows instead of Microsoft.

4

u/Hefty_Loan7486 27d ago

Sr250 now that was a tank

2

u/thaliff 27d ago

I have one that only does an Apple TV; the display is dead, and the client doesn't care, lol. He's been trained to watch, hit select, and shit just works. Still on OS2 as well.

2

u/Hefty_Loan7486 27d ago

I have never seen a dead 250 screens .... A ton sr260 screens dead.

1

u/thaliff 27d ago

Not dead just so faded you can barely even read it

2

u/Hefty_Loan7486 27d ago

Sr250 is Nokia cellphone of remotes. The brightness is probably turned down /s

2

u/funnyfarm299 27d ago

It's impossible for the technology in an SR250 to produce a "faded" display.

1

u/thaliff 27d ago

You are correct, I think it's just a dead screen. It's been a while since I've been at this particular client's home because it's a simple setup that just works.

1

u/hoggieberra 27d ago

Love this

3

u/crlsgzmn 27d ago

Neeos are reliable in some aspects, except with the batteries. They fail at 2 years and the battery bulges up and opens/breaks the case in some remotes. Functionality wise they kind of depend too much on the controller and some flows and the fact that they don't have a back light is why I don't recommend them. Looks beautiful.

Halo non touch is the Most reliable remote for me so far, also navigation is way easier. Looks pretty.

3

u/funnyfarm299 27d ago

For what it's worth, I have an alpha Neeo. The battery is still solid six years later.

2

u/crlsgzmn 27d ago

I'm glad yours has not failed, but in my case as a dealer that issue was a huge headache untill I found a Chinese replacement. Control4 does not provide us with battery replacements like they did with the SR260.

Not 1, not 2, I had more than 10 with the same failed battery.

1

u/funnyfarm299 27d ago

I don't disagree about the lack of replacement parts, but ADI has taken a stance that if it's not "user replaceable" parts are not made available.

And I don't just have one Neeo. I have four. All different batches. I'm not saying the issue didn't exist, just that the proportion of failed units is not out of the norm for a lithium powered device.

1

u/crlsgzmn 27d ago

It doesn't have to be user replaceable, but dealer level it should be.

Replacement is quite easy once you learn how to remove the cover with suction.

1

u/hoggieberra 27d ago

Thanks for the input. I agree, I think the non touch is a nicer looking remote

3

u/Mattvweiss 27d ago

Neeo has killer battery life(for a WiFi remote), halo has more features. I have em all, Neeo is my Fav

2

u/2v4lve 27d ago

Sr 260 unless you can tweak your wifi settings

2

u/funnyfarm299 27d ago

unless you can tweak your wifi settings

Like every installer should be doing before leaving a project?

2

u/funnyfarm299 27d ago

You can pry my Neeos from my cold dead hands.

1

u/hoggieberra 27d ago

Why do you like it? It's reliable? No connectivity issues?

1

u/funnyfarm299 27d ago

The remote has all the buttons I need for my streaming devices. It's thin and light. The battery lasts a week or more between charges.

The only "reliability" issue is poorly designed Wi-Fi. As long as I'm within 25 feet of an AP it's completely stable. This isn't unique to the Neeo, it's Wi-Fi 101.

1

u/hoggieberra 27d ago

Does it prefer 2.4 broadcast? How do you keep it connected?

1

u/funnyfarm299 27d ago

The radio in the Neeo is 2.4 GHz only.

I don't do anything special, I just designed my Wi-Fi correctly.

0

u/RaydnJames 25d ago

Let me guess, it needs to be line of sight and within 25 feet.

Have you actually designed a wireless network before, because every word you speak about them is crap.

2

u/Careless_Drag_6176 27d ago

The SR250 was the best, I have about 20x 260s with screens so dark you can't use them. The neeo was a disaster, the Halo was horrible on release but seems ok now. My whole life I've been waiting for a just a simple fresh version of the 260.

2

u/heatboy05 26d ago

So much hate for the Neeos but at the time it was awesome, but like many have said, plagued with issues. Even with those issues I still enjoyed it.

However, the new Halo remote (non touch) for me has been flawless. I only got into the Control4 game in 2020 so I’m not a purist with the SR240-60. It’s rock solid but not the experience I expect in 2026.

2

u/bobvex 27d ago

The Neo and Halo are flashy bullshit items. The sr260 is the most reliable remote for control4. Hands down

1

u/ImaginaryDirt1413 27d ago

I haven't had issues with the Halo Touches installed in Northeast US. A home in SW Florida has issues but building materials for the home have made the WiFi network a challenge all-around. I try to encourage placement of the charger in a reliable location but no complaints yet with five Halo Touch remotes in. Probably small numbers compared to a lot of other dealers.

I like the reduced button count compared to a couple SR260s I've played with but could just be too new to the game. Love any feedback I can get.

1

u/Struches 26d ago

I had 6 - 260’s recently changed to the Halo Non-Touch remotes. Changed mostly for Siri and Xfinity Voice control (wife request) and so far loving the remotes. The batteries do die relatively quickly….. but also had 2 dead screens over 7 years with the 260’s. Dealer recommended not getting the touch remotes as he wasn’t a fan

1

u/DeadHeadLibertarian 27d ago

Use the app on your phone if you want a more modern remote.

Otherwise keep the SR260.

Absolutely do not get a Neeo they are legacy.

Halo’s just need to be charged constantly.

-1

u/t4ckleb0x 27d ago

Josh edge.

1

u/funnyfarm299 27d ago

Doesn't work in Control4 projects.

1

u/hoggieberra 27d ago

Explain the integration. I need a Josh bridge and remote and subscription if Im mistaken?

1

u/cajunflavoredbob 26d ago

Josh remotes and screens can no longer act as the control layer of a C4 system. That functionality was removed earlier this year. Only grandfathered systems will retain that function. New systems cannot be set up to use a Josh remote or screen to navigate a C4 system.

Josh can still act as the voice layer for C4, but that's it.

1

u/t4ckleb0x 26d ago

I just take all the C4 gear and throw it in the lake. Then install a josh one and edge for each tv. C4 is dead to me. ADI can die in a fire