Sky's new Digital Boxes, the Kaon NS1120-500 and Problems commanding it with Logitech Harmony Remotes

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Rikkitic

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#1491577 13-Feb-2016 13:00

Even the Harmony is a pain to set up. The hardware is brilliant but the on-line software is from the Stone Age, excessively dumbed down for those who move their lips when they read so you have to painfully plod back and forth through endless step-by-steps, with no options for macros, shortcuts, skipping directly from one point to another, and also being confronted with lots of really dumb default choices with no option to ignore them. This requires a lot of creative 'hacking' to get around and it took me awhile to work out the best ways of doing it. The only thing that makes it worthwhile is the result at the end when you finally get it right. But it's annoying to say the least when the Harmony doesn't recognise half of my devices and doesn't offer any option to create my own categories so I have to keep installing them as kitchen appliances with curse words for model names so I can get to the point where I can manually create my own commands for them. Whoever designed this was seriously brain-damaged.

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MePLUR

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#1491583 13-Feb-2016 13:12

JimmyH:

Hmmm.... I may have to try a universal remote again. I tried one 5-6 years ago and it wasn't very satisfactory, but maybe things have got better?

Personally, I'm happy with a load of remotes on the coffee table. I have a nice holder with compartments for them all and pretty much only use 2-3 at any given time. But, (for some reason the) the GF is complaining about trying to change channels and having 11 remotes to try and figure out.

The Harmony is more than a just a universal remote. If you have more than a few devices to control, it makes things much easier. For example, to watch something on Blu Ray, with the push of a button, the Harmony turns the TV, AV receiver, Blu Ray player on, changes the input on the TV and receiver, allows you to change the volume on the receiver with the volume keys and navigate the menu with the direction keys on the remote.

IMO one of my best HT purchases.

Rikkitic:

Even the Harmony is a pain to set up. The hardware is brilliant but the on-line software is from the Stone Age, excessively dumbed down for those who move their lips when they read so you have to painfully plod back and forth through endless step-by-steps, with no options for macros, shortcuts, skipping directly from one point to another, and also being confronted with lots of really dumb default choices with no option to ignore them. This requires a lot of creative 'hacking' to get around and it took me awhile to work out the best ways of doing it. The only thing that makes it worthwhile is the result at the end when you finally get it right. But it's annoying to say the least when the Harmony doesn't recognise half of my devices and doesn't offer any option to create my own categories so I have to keep installing them as kitchen appliances with curse words for model names so I can get to the point where I can manually create my own commands for them. Whoever designed this was seriously brain-damaged.

This I agree with. Both the online and desktop software are POS, but like you said, the end result is worth it.

mattwnz

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#1491589 13-Feb-2016 13:41

Sounds like a good reason to ditch sky if they aren't willing to help with the codes. Companies need to realise that in this day and age, they are required to work for their customers if they wish to keep them. They can't now rely on being the only player in town.

theoldfarter

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#1523418 31-Mar-2016 15:23

I had the Kaon NS1120 (Digital Sky Box) swapped out for a new unit and, the Harmony One commands the new one it as it should.

I had noticed with my old box (4 months old) that, sometimes, when using it's own remote, when I switched it off, the green light would stay on for about 3 seconds, turn red and immediately turn on again. It did it intermittently. A couple of times I would switch it on and it would immediately switch off again.

With the new box being commanded by the Harmony One, every time, it looks like it was a faulty box that was the cause of my problems.

Wheelbarrow01

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Chorus

#1524044 1-Apr-2016 15:57

richrdh18:

I have the Harmony Ultimate Home unit. Before the MYSky HDI update things were working well and very responsive, just like the normal Sky remote.

Since the Sky firmware upgrade which for me happened on Tues evening, my Harmony with Sky has been very very sluggish, so much so that I have to press a button twice in order to change channel or bring up menu's. Even scrolling through the planner, etc, I still have to press twice to scroll up or down or delete.

Have adjusted the delay response time with the Harmony, but still the same. The Sky remote works just fine.

Frustrating, as now have to have multiple remotes on the coffee table again.

I have the opposite problem with my Harmony remote and the new decoder - when I try to change channels it changes twice, or if I am scrolling through the program guide one button press results in two commands. It's incredibly frustrating.

For instance if I am on channel 1 and want to switch to 2 it will go to 3. then I try to press the channel down arrow from 3 to 2 and it goes to 1.

Sad Face!

The views expressed by me are not necessarily those of my employer Chorus NZ Ltd

Jaxson

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#1524051 1-Apr-2016 16:00

Buried in the settings of the Harmony software (I'm not going to defend it, it's infuriating) there is a setting that controls that double command problem.

Google is probably your friend here.

Is there a Harmony web version for doing this now also? Maybe that's a bit more modern?

Rikkitic

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#1524110 1-Apr-2016 16:33

I suspect it is just as bad. Whoever designs the software is not whoever designs the hardware.

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Dingbatt

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#1580484 26-Jun-2016 12:45

The online version is just as bad as the desktop software, worse in some aspects, particularly in flexibility to get things the way you want them instead of something generic. I like the harmony remotes in general but put up with the software.
I note the new UK decoders and even those available from Foxtel in Oz have Bluetooth remotes. How 21st Century! Wish we had that option here, would solve my 'two decoders in one location' problem. Jeez Sky how hard would it be to have more than one set of remote codes or better yet have a Bluetooth option (would be willing to pay a one off fee for BT).

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

mattyb

254 posts

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#1604272 4-Aug-2016 13:28

An old thread but perhaps some useful info... I have had success getting the hex codes for the Sky Kaon decoder from this free driver:

http://www.chowmain.co.nz/mysky-driver

I use IR Server Suite to control IR blasting so was able to extract the hex codes from the download (rename as .zip, extract and view with notepad etc) and copy them into the *.IR files in IRSS. Worked perfectly, except it seems the new Sky box is extremely sensitive to placement of the IR blast 'head'!

MikeAqua

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#1604294 4-Aug-2016 13:56

wingbat45:

I don't understand why people use universal remotes, but that's just a personal thing./.

If find it easier to teach family members to use a universal than 3 or 4 individuals.

Also the Harmony seems to do a better job of sending commands than some of the remotes we have (e.g. the one that came with the Freeview box).

I've even managed to teach the universal remote to use the CEC function via the TV to play and pause the Chromecast.

If only Google would enable FF, I wouldn't have to watch recaps and opening credits on Lightbox.

Mike

Jaxson

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#1604424 4-Aug-2016 17:32

Yeah the harmony remotes pack two or three IR blasters into their remotes, so the command goes everywhere in the room. Much better than the standard china remotes packaged with most rebadged import boxes.

The real power of the harmonies is the activity feature. With that configured correctly, you just need to know what you want to do with your gear (watch TV, play a DVD, watch Sky etc) and require no knowledge all of what devices need to be powered on and set to what inputs etc. That is worth persevering for.

Rikkitic

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#1604444 4-Aug-2016 17:58

I have had a Harmony One for years and I swear by it. It controls dozens of devices, even my streaming pc! I couldn't live without it.

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theoldfarter

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#1604595 4-Aug-2016 20:44

I also have had the One for years and it's still going strong. Recently, I also bought the Ultimate One & that is also F.A.B.

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