Logitech Harmony Remotes

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#437265 9-Feb-2011 13:46

If you upgrade your Harmony to a different model, most settings can be transferred to the newer remote.

The basic 5/6 device models just don't seem to control enough devices if you add all the devices most geekers have. TV/Amp/DVD/PVR/Sat - 5 already without even trying.

Then there is the DVR, VCR, mediaplayer, consoles, etc.

Make sure you take out the batteries of the remotes that the Harmony has replaced ... or the batteries out of the Harmony if you are not using it for a few months. Left them in my 525. Ahh well, needed a newer model anyways :-) Good excuse as any ...

NzBeagle

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#437306 9-Feb-2011 14:53

Aahh, Harmony remotes, can't live without them anymore. It's a hassle if using multiple remotes now, or even lower end "One-For-All" remotes where you have to switch between devices.

As for PS3 integration, to be honest I can't believe a device that is marketed as the must have home entertainment system doesn't have an iR port, was the associated cost too much? Or were they eyeing the profits of a Multimedia remote addon. It's a bit of a let down considering it couldn't have been a major to throw it in there.

timmmay

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#437316 9-Feb-2011 15:31

It is a bit odd they didn't put an IR receiver on the PS3, but I guess given it does bluetooth and they figured people would use their controller it's a reasonable decision. It's something they might want to revise if they want it to be a real home entertainment hub. But they sell a reasonably cheap dedicated home theater remote anyway.

Sony doesn't sell the adapter btw, Logitech does, so it wasn't a revenue thing. Maybe it's a cost thing, given how few people would use it.

NzBeagle

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#437318 9-Feb-2011 15:34

Sony doesn't sell the adapter btw, Logitech does, so it wasn't a revenue thing. Maybe it's a cost thing, given how few people would use it.

Meant the Sony Home entertainment remote that they offer.

It is one of the reasons i'll stick to Xbox for streaming media. BD Player is standalone. So PS3 only really gets use for gaming. Which is fine, but yeah given they market it as a entertainment hub!

Jaxson

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#437331 9-Feb-2011 16:06

Maybe the PS3 is the future and the IR is a legacy component now given it has bluetooth on board. But yeah, a real pain given every TV and Receiver has IR.

A bit like offering no USB ports at the rear of the units, so PlayTV etc has to hang out the front permanently.

Batteries is a good point. Given the remotes use very little power, you either need a cradle version or swap the batteries for the low internal dishcharge eneloop type batteries which hold their charge for a long time. I got a set of 4 AAA's for my 525 and they run for 4 months or straight with no issues and a fairly quick recharge time.

NzBeagle

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#437332 9-Feb-2011 16:12

Jaxson: Maybe the PS3 is the future and the IR is a legacy component now given it has bluetooth on board. But yeah, a real pain given every TV and Receiver has IR.

Legacy or not it would be nice. Interesting that there's nothing in the Harmony range that covers this though.

timmmay

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#437336 9-Feb-2011 16:24

My harmony one would drain the li ion cell if it was unused for a week and not on the charger. I don't know if you can turn the remote off, the motion sensor might always be running.

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JimmyH

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#437381 9-Feb-2011 18:47

I got the 785 a while ago - love the remote, hate the PC software that came with it.

Once I have thew remote configured, I don't need to attach it to the PC unless I change the configuration. But the software insists on installing components and services that run whenever the PC starts up, and persistently trying to connect to the internet. Manually killing all that was a PITA.

Nety

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#437587 10-Feb-2011 06:38

JimmyH: I got the 785 a while ago - love the remote, hate the PC software that came with it.

Once I have thew remote configured, I don't need to attach it to the PC unless I change the configuration. But the software insists on installing components and services that run whenever the PC starts up, and persistently trying to connect to the internet. Manually killing all that was a PITA.

?? I have the remote software installed and only run it when I need it. There are no services that run.
Actually I seem to recall there was an option to install something extra when you install the Harmony software. I did not install it. Maybe it is that causing your issues?

Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64

richms

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#437590 10-Feb-2011 07:30

The issues I have with the harmony is the lack of discrete codes for lots of devices. I would constantly find it would miss a command and end up with the tv on the wrong input or not turn something on, and then you have to press help and navigate thru a whole lot of stupid questions - first was "is the satillite reciever on?" - I cant bloody tell because the TV is on the wrong input, so multiple goes thru there were needed.

The 525 which was my first has a horrible screen, the 515 with a more sane green backlight is much more readable, IMO its annoying that there are none with a larger monochrome screen because there is absolutly no need for a colour screen on a remote and the mono ones are much more readable in bright sunlight like when using the stereo during the daytime from outside etc.

Richard rich.ms

jpollock

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#437623 10-Feb-2011 09:20

I bought a harmony, it sucks. It sucks on many different levels.

1) It requires a web service to configure the device.
2) It doesn't know about all my remotes.
3) It doesn't do key repetition properly.
4) The support organisation are, as has been noted, muppets.

I've got three remotes (TV, stereo, media PC), and the WAF is pretty low, so I decided to get a Harmony. First up, the software on the PC is horrid. Pretty much the worst UI you could ever come up with for setting up a remote control. Next the software is web based. You can't program your remote control without an Internet connection. There are no save files on your local machine to look at, nothing. It is all stored with Logitech.

Finally, I had problems with one of the remotes. First, it detected it as a previous version so all of the keys were wrong. No problem, I'll program it manually.

Problem - When hand-programming a repeating key, it....inserts....a....1....second....pause...between....each....keypress, for no real reason. This pause is not configurable like the regular pauses are. Since there is no local save file, you can't hand-edit the save file to fix it yourself. It makes the remote unusable for, say, scrolling down lists - like recorded TV shows, TV channel lists, etc.

So, now I've got a $200 paperweight, and I would never, ever recommend a logitech harmony remote.

If they created a local XML file that I could edit and then upload? I'd be moderately satisfied and say, "Their UI sucks, but they're a keyboard manufacturer". If they allowed me to edit the signals by hand? I'd say "Meh, at least they let me fix the problem, sounds about right for a bunch of driver developers".

As it stands, this is more locked down than a Tivo. At least the Tivo lets you read the source code for the bugs you can't fix.

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wreck90

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#437634 10-Feb-2011 09:39

jpollock: I bought a harmony, it sucks. It sucks on many different levels.

1) It requires a web service to configure the device.
2) It doesn't know about all my remotes.
3) It doesn't do key repetition properly.
4) The support organisation are, as has been noted, muppets.

I've got three remotes (TV, stereo, media PC), and the WAF is pretty low, so I decided to get a Harmony. First up, the software on the PC is horrid. Pretty much the worst UI you could ever come up with for setting up a remote control. Next the software is web based. You can't program your remote control without an Internet connection. There are no save files on your local machine to look at, nothing. It is all stored with Logitech.

Finally, I had problems with one of the remotes. First, it detected it as a previous version so all of the keys were wrong. No problem, I'll program it manually.

Problem - When hand-programming a repeating key, it....inserts....a....1....second....pause...between....each....keypress, for no real reason. This pause is not configurable like the regular pauses are. Since there is no local save file, you can't hand-edit the save file to fix it yourself. It makes the remote unusable for, say, scrolling down lists - like recorded TV shows, TV channel lists, etc.

So, now I've got a $200 paperweight, and I would never, ever recommend a logitech harmony remote.

If they created a local XML file that I could edit and then upload? I'd be moderately satisfied and say, "Their UI sucks, but they're a keyboard manufacturer". If they allowed me to edit the signals by hand? I'd say "Meh, at least they let me fix the problem, sounds about right for a bunch of driver developers".

As it stands, this is more locked down than a Tivo. At least the Tivo lets you read the source code for the bugs you can't fix.

The web interface is OK. I rarely had an issue with it. It is a one-off setup, maybe with an occasional change if you get a new device. It is not like you need to use it every day.

If the web database doesn't know about your remotes, you can easily copy your own IR codes from your existing remotes. You must have some pretty obscure equipment - the only remote of mine that could not be recognised was from a zon audio distribution system - hardly surprising there. Even the Sky NZ remotes were in the database. And, I'd lost some remotes for a rare denon tuner, and the logictech db saved me. It is a brilliant system.

Key repetition is fine with me. I can scroll through the sky tv guide easily as fast as with the native sky remote. In fact, the harmony is superior to the sky remote as it has a better IR spread/range.

I've never needed to use their support so can't comment there. It is just so simple to configure and use.

I guess you're just unlucky that it did not work in your situation. Most people do not have these problems.

Lizard1977

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#437644 10-Feb-2011 09:53

Thanks everyone. So far, I count about 3 people favouring the 785 over the One, but mostly because of the coloured buttons. It looks like the 785 is harder to find, though. Does anyone want to speak in favour of the One over the 785?

Nety

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#437646 10-Feb-2011 09:53

jpollock: I bought a harmony, it sucks. It sucks on many different levels.

1) It requires a web service to configure the device.

This is a two edged sword. Yes you need the web but the + is that you do not have any concerns with losing your config if your PC dies. Plus you can program it from any PC with web connection.

2) It doesn't know about all my remotes.

You should not be looking using the remote. Just select your device from the device options. There is something crazy like 25000 devices so it is very unusual for a device to not be in the list. EDIT sorry just checked make that 225,000 devices!

3) It doesn't do key repetition properly.

Will answer this below where you give more detail.

4) The support organisation are, as has been noted, muppets.

In my experience (three times I have needed to call them) every time they have fixed the problem while I was on the phone.

I've got three remotes (TV, stereo, media PC), and the WAF is pretty low, so I decided to get a Harmony. First up, the software on the PC is horrid. Pretty much the worst UI you could ever come up with for setting up a remote control. Next the software is web based. You can't program your remote control without an Internet connection. There are no save files on your local machine to look at, nothing. It is all stored with Logitech.

I certainly do not think the software is great but I personally think the web requirement is a good thing. Yes it is slower but the benefits that it brings as I have already stated and also one that I had not listed which is that they can see how you have it setup when you call them for support and they can make changes from their end when you are on a support call make it the best option IMHO.

Finally, I had problems with one of the remotes. First, it detected it as a previous version so all of the keys were wrong. No problem, I'll program it manually.

As I said earlier. The only time you should ever be using the original remote to setup with the logitech software is if it is not in the very extensive database that Logitech hold.

Problem - When hand-programming a repeating key, it....inserts....a....1....second....pause...between....each....keypress, for no real reason. This pause is not configurable like the regular pauses are. Since there is no local save file, you can't hand-edit the save file to fix it yourself. It makes the remote unusable for, say, scrolling down lists - like recorded TV shows, TV channel lists, etc.

Yes it is possible to change. I do not have the software in front of me but it is under speed settings. Once on the speed settings page for the device read the help file which explains what each setting changes.

So, now I've got a $200 paperweight, and I would never, ever recommend a logitech harmony remote.

If they created a local XML file that I could edit and then upload? I'd be moderately satisfied and say, "Their UI sucks, but they're a keyboard manufacturer". If they allowed me to edit the signals by hand? I'd say "Meh, at least they let me fix the problem, sounds about right for a bunch of driver developers".

As it stands, this is more locked down than a Tivo. At least the Tivo lets you read the source code for the bugs you can't fix.

It is very locked down and at times that can be a PITA however not that I have ever done it but I have heard that if you have the code for a IR command that is missing for a piece of hardware that you have you can open a web support case and have them add it to your config.
Personally the only real issue I have is that for a lot of devices they do not have the discrete on/off commands even though in a lot of cases they do exist.

NzBeagle

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#437649 10-Feb-2011 09:58

Lizard1977: Thanks everyone. So far, I count about 3 people favouring the 785 over the One, but mostly because of the coloured buttons. It looks like the 785 is harder to find, though. Does anyone want to speak in favour of the One over the 785?

The coloured buttons are definitely worthwhile, I have the 885 which also has the coloured buttons, and if you have sky its pretty handy. A colleague has the 785 and swears by it. If you frequent sky then I would recommend one that suits.

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