Harmony 785 Universal remote, $99 at Dick Smith

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richms

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#340195 10-Jun-2010 13:54

bazzer:
richms: I am not sure why record video would be an activity on its on on the harmony to be honest.

Without knowng any more about his setup, which activity do you think it belongs in then?

Just choose watch DVR/mysky or whatever and set it up using the menu, adding the unavailable buttons to the activity if they are not there.

What is the record video activity doing that the watch one is not doing?

Richard rich.ms

bazzer

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#340201 10-Jun-2010 14:02

Well, not knowing his set up as well as you, I couldn't say for sure. Maybe it's a VCR activity that's only used for recording tapes (or watching as well but decided to call the activty recording since that's the main task). Or there's a DVD recorder that functions the same.

Sure, if it's a DVR that is usually used to watch TV as well, then that might not make sense but even so he could still call it "Record video". Maybe "watch TV" is watching via TV tuner and "Record video" is recording/watching via DVR. It's not really important in the context of his question and you're a bit jugemental in your comment.

ahmad

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#340206 10-Jun-2010 14:08

richms:
bazzer:
richms: I am not sure why record video would be an activity on its on on the harmony to be honest.

Without knowng any more about his setup, which activity do you think it belongs in then?

Just choose watch DVR/mysky or whatever and set it up using the menu, adding the unavailable buttons to the activity if they are not there.

What is the record video activity doing that the watch one is not doing?

You are making a lot of incorrect assumptions on my setup.

As already explained in an earlier post, I use a Freeview STB as well as a traditional DVD recorder. I failed to mention this was analogue but I did say "traditional" and imply that it was a separate device.

I have heard back TWICE from Logitech support in the past 12 hours.

Impressed with: Speed of responses from Logitech support

Not impressed with: Need to get them to do everything/anything to do with advanced setup of the remote and always be online with the remote setup. Also not impressed with the first response from support being the typical "I didn't read your email I just tried to match it to a category in the FAQs file".

Anyway they acknowledge the problem (yes both activities are set up to have the AVR ON which is the correct setting). They have changed the AVR power toggle (which is how it functions on the original remote) to discrete on/off function because apparently my AVR may support this even though it is not present on the original remote.

Not sure why the TV is not affected with this (TV also toggles power rather than discrete buttons on the remote) because the TV stays on (perhaps it is set up in the same way to use discrete channels which aren't matched to discrete buttons?).

I haven't had a chance to update the remote and try but fingers crossed.

bazzer

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#340211 10-Jun-2010 14:21

There are often a lot of functions available that aren't on the original remote. It's a good idea to check out the additional buttons available in Devices. Give them a try and see what fucntion they have on your equipment. I'd say for your AVR there will be PowerOn and PowerOff for example. maybe some other useful things too (goes for all devices).

ahmad

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#340213 10-Jun-2010 14:24

I'm afraid that when I look at the software and those commands I go all cross-eyed.

I consider myself fairly technically minded and usually approach such a task positively, but I can't for the life of me work out when the software is referring to the ORIGINAL REMOTE COMMANDS and when it is referring to the Harmony remote BUTTONS when I click down the "drop down lists".

I may look at this again but it was so damned confusing it was stupid.

Jaxson

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#340241 10-Jun-2010 15:20

The Harmony remote stuff can be tricky but that simply because of what they have tried to take on. Any universal remote can be trained up to just simply learn straight commands, but the harmony crowd have opted to try and put key combinations together for you, and with this comes a whole level of device specific things you have to work through.

Where it becomes tricky is where they want to have a simple crayon/my first remote type interface, but you need to delve deeper into timings etc to perfect it. It has been said before and I totally agree that this is not the sort of thing the average user is going to get into. It does however smooth over a multitude of techie crap we try to put past the wife by cramming multiple units into the lounge. Once setup correctly it is nothing short of the hand of god type stuff, awesome. Takes everything back to crayon basics and opens up the tech stuff to everyone. Focuses on using the gear rather than all the buttons to press to get there.

Anyhow.....

Any dropdown list will contain available commands for your device. It's that simple.
The heading name for the dropdown list is the button on your harmony remote.
All the names actually in the list are prestored, available commands.

eg. Volume up title refers to the volume up button on the Harmony remote.
The drop down lists show available commands and it would be sensible to pick a stored command called volume up to assign to that harmony button.
You can assign the harmony volume up button to whatever command (or none) that you pick from those available on the list.

When you start configuring your remote it will automatically assign a commands to some buttons for you but you can change these links later if you want. There may be other commands that aren't initially assigned to the remote. This is what I said earlier, in that discrete input selections are often in the database, but just not assigned to any button on the remote. To save space my panasonic TV remote has no discrete inputs on it, but they are there in the harmony database and this made my setup really easy.

If the pre existing harmony database command you use doesn't work in real life you can go back in, select that command and retrain it from the actual remote supplied with your device. If this still doesn't work there is a RAW training mode that just saves whatever signal it see's, even if it doesn't make any sense to the harmony remote. Hopefully one of these works.

In summary there are 3 types of command signals. One is the one automatically loaded for your device from the harmony website database. The second is the one you train it initially, where it sees it and trys to workout what it's seeing, and the third is the RAW attempt where it just saves anything. Hopefully one of these works for you, sometimes it takes a bit of trial and error. I had a stereo CD selection button that just would not work for me at all on an old stereo for instance.

I guess those of use who have made this work should make a guide on here somewhere. It really is worth the effort. There is an online editor page I've linked to previously, so technically we could take a look over your profile if need be too.

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lyonrouge

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#340242 10-Jun-2010 15:21

It is quite awkward and I too got frustrated, but stick to it, it is well worth the effrot. I'll have another look when I get back home.

ahmad

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#340489 11-Jun-2010 00:28

Thanks everyone!

Starting to make more sense now thanks lyonrouge.

Logitech helped me by noting that my AVR does have discrete power on/off even though the original remote only had a power toggle button.

Updated remote and it STILL wasn't working! Then I realised this was a bad case of PEBCAK.

The DVD/R was previously set up to go through the AVR but due to lack of inputs it now goes straight to the TV (ie. AVR should correctly turn off). LOL!

But anyway in a two wrongs make a right fashion, I'm happier to have discrete power on and off for my AVR

Thanks for the tips lyonrouge. I will go back and play more when I can be bothered. Right now I'm just very happy to have a very functional remote. $99 a small price to pay for a true all-in-one solution. Previous "all-in-ones" were rubbish and not really functional enough.

richms

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#340491 11-Jun-2010 00:32

Yeah, some all in one remotes cant even have buttons reassigned.

I had one that had the option to put another 4 digit code in to reassign a button, but that never worked properly.

The logitech is as close as a common man will get to total automation of their system. Its no amx but its damn close to it.

Richard rich.ms

ahmad

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#340493 11-Jun-2010 00:36

My past experiences have been that you buy one of these remotes to "replace" all your clutter. But end up having to use the original remote for some commands, thereby defeating the whole purpose!

This was a score for $99 but honestly about as much as I'd be prepared to pay for one.

I believe that Logitech have been gimping later models to push people to buy the "One" which is just terrible on Logitech's behalf. Lucky I was able to get a remote that functions fully for me at an affordable cost.

The only thing I'm wary of in this remote are:

1. I've heard that the screen can be subject to relatively early failure and render the remote useless?

2. Are replacement batteries available? They look specialised rather than a standard battery...

magu

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#340521 11-Jun-2010 08:34

I have my Harmony 880 working perfectly with all 5 of my devices. Never skipped a beat.

It's actually falling apart due to too much use now. :/

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Jaxson

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#340531 11-Jun-2010 09:36

ahmad: my AVR does have discrete power on/off even though the original remote only had a power toggle button.

So many people mentioned this!

If you are new to Harmony remotes and you are reading this.....

Check the commands for your device that are auto loaded for you from the Harmony Database first!.
You will often find discrete power on/off and discrete input selections for hdmi1,av1,tv etc,
even if they are not on your factory remote!

ahmad

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#340549 11-Jun-2010 10:36

Yes but to be honest I don't think the discrete power settings is of little additional benefit to me *in this setting*. Definintely worth mentioning though.

The discrete INPUT setting is far more useful if available. Especially because from what I read here a lot of TVs still support that even if it seems from the remote that they won't (sadly for me it's not available).

I would offer my personal advice though re the TV and inputs. It has a "traditional" input next button only.

So you have to cycle through TUNER, VID1, VID2, VID3, VID4. So you can't jump direct from VID1 to VID4.

rafaelmagu mentioned that the Harmony "remembers" which input you were on and therefore knows how many times to command "input next" to get you to the correct input but it didn't work for me. I was confused as to why but worked out that my TV was very slow changing inputs so the delay had to be changed on the software so that it wouldn't command "input next" before the TV was ready to receive it and change input.

After I got the delay right, it works exactly as rafael mentions. This tip may help some people.

I think a FAQ is in order! You guys are awesome thanks :)

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