Question for all you Harmony users...

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mjb

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#32601 20-Apr-2009 22:57

So I finally sat down this evening to try to get my 785 configured well for my simple setup... Bravia, 360, and Dreambox.

My issues so far boil down to these:
1) I hate how the software steals focus.

2) Can I program the power button on the remote? I can't find any way to do it. (I don't want the remote powering stuff down when I change activities.. but I do want to power everything down at the end of the night, for example)

3) Did I mention the software steals focus?

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whatty

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#208349 21-Apr-2009 13:23

Dont know the answer for the 785 but my harmony ONE has no problem in powering down all my devices to stby.

Also what stays on/off depending on activities.

$270 +/- for the Harmony ONE.

mjb

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#208359 21-Apr-2009 14:01

Thanks for the reply... I've since worked out a better way to configure the remote.

I've set each activity to leave devices on, and not bother turning them off, then setting each device to be turned off when not in use. This gives me the desired effect:

* Devices that are needed for an activity that the remote hasn't turned on yet, are turned on.
* Changing activities does nothing more than change the context on the remote, power on required devices, and adjust the input on the Bravia.
* Hitting the power button switches everything off (well, sends a PowerToggle) for all devices that the remote has turned on, and resets the remote state.

The only downside to this of course is that if any device is turned on(or off) by other means, the remote state machine gets out of sync. Not so much of an issue really, resetting the state is as simple as hitting the power button on the remote, and then manually turning off any device that's still on (which can be done with the 'devices' context on the remote, as it doesn't change the state machine on the remote).

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CYaBro

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#208363 21-Apr-2009 14:27

Not sure if it can be done with the Harmony remotes but you may be able to find the discrete power codes for your devices (if they exist.)
This means that the remote is programed with different commands to power on and off rather than sending the same command.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

mjb

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#208372 21-Apr-2009 15:16

Yeah, that's the other option - not had much luck finding the correct discrete codes though. There's no way to enter them manually with the craptacular harmony software, you have to learn them. So I'd have to start playing with an IR blaster or something to try and find the codes, then learn them.

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Sounddude

I fix stuff!
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#208373 21-Apr-2009 15:18

In the activities wizards, you can define if you want to power down the devices which are not being used.

I can post some screen shots if you need, when I get home.

mjb

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#208374 21-Apr-2009 15:25

Sounddude: In the activities wizards, you can define if you want to power down the devices which are not being used.

I can post some screen shots if you need, when I get home.

Thanks for the offer, but I found that option last night - I mentioned it above, but not clearly sorry.

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Nety

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#208384 21-Apr-2009 16:28

mjb: Yeah, that's the other option - not had much luck finding the correct discrete codes though. There's no way to enter them manually with the craptacular harmony software, you have to learn them. So I'd have to start playing with an IR blaster or something to try and find the codes, then learn them.

Have you checked though the IR commands for the devices you have? I know my Sony TV has descrete on/off commands that were available but the remote did not use them by default had to go in and change the power on/off command options.

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mjb

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#208401 21-Apr-2009 17:42

Nety: Have you checked though the IR commands for the devices you have? I know my Sony TV has descrete on/off commands that were available but the remote did not use them by default had to go in and change the power on/off command options.

Yeah... sadly they don't work. The device definition has the wrong inputs too, which doesn't help.

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old3eyes

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#208416 21-Apr-2009 19:12

I have 725 and Sony Bravia V300. Are you able to switch directly to the HDMI inputs??

Regards,

Old3eyes

wonderstuff

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#208422 21-Apr-2009 19:44

Hi,

actually I like the Harmony software (I have a 880), even though it could use a mode to enter discrete Hex IR codes.
When I have needed new codes entered, I have just emailed Harmony support and they tend to turn them around and enter them in my profile within 24 hrs.

I have a Sony Bravia KDL-46Z4500, and recently found someone with proper discrete defintiions for the HDMI 1, 2, and 3 inputs. If you need these, just email Logitech customer support and they can copy them from my profile (mikeullrich).

All I need is proper discrete input commands for my Sony DAV-S880 HTIAB and I will be complete. :-)

Mike

mjb

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#208425 21-Apr-2009 20:05

Aha, cool... thanks - it's good to know that you can get custom codes entered by the support guys... but honestly you shouldn't need to, you should be able to do it yourself.

I have a KDL-40V4000, which when I enter that as a device, I don't get the correct input list and I have to edit it which is annoying, but workable.

What I'm concerned about of course, is that there will be commands that could be useful for this model that are not included in the device profile, and I can't actually try any of them.

I hate having a mild case of OCD :)

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wonderstuff

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#208427 21-Apr-2009 20:31

I can understand that.   I must admit I have been through a lot of different Sony TV profiles to find the best list of discrete codes. And I do wish there was an advanced options to allow you to edit the IR macros.

However, for this type of product, and for the huge number of devices that it has to support, I understand the choice they made to have a thin client wizard approach that works for most people.

Aside: My Harmony 880 didn't always charge when placed in the cradle, which is a known design issue. It got quite bad last month, so I emailed Logitech product support.   They immediately dispatched a complete replacement remote control to me and it arrived from the US within a week, with no further correspondence required.
I find the Logitech customer support, some of the most responsive and helpful customer support I have ever come across.   A lot of consumer electronics companies could do well to take note.

mjb

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#208434 21-Apr-2009 20:54

Interesting, thanks for that - I've heard nothing but horror stories about logitech support, so I feel better now, thanks :)

So, out of interest.. this model has:

Tuner
AV 1 thru 3
HD/DVD 1
HD/DVD 2
HDMI 1 thru 3
DMPORT
PC

I can use single commands for the first 5.. and I'm guessing that the 3 HDMI commands you have will work, but since I don't have anything using HDMI (yet!), or HD/DVD 2 I'm not worried.

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