Logitech harmony remotes

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xpd

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Topic # 243716 28-Dec-2018 09:24

Are Logitech harmony remotes still worth getting ? I see more recent user reviews of the units that the software is buggy, USB driver support lacking, newer equipment not available to "install" etc......

None of my gear is exactly new, (TV probably the newest item and thats at least 6 years old).

Or is there an alternative these days for a smart/learning remote that dosent cost the earth ?

XPD / Gavin / DemiseNZ

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Reply # 2151322 28-Dec-2018 09:35

i love my logitech 650, the software is fine, never had an issue with it and works with all my devices

Dunnersfella

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Reply # 2151325 28-Dec-2018 09:37

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Google to see if your gear is on the Harmony database.

Then take a lot of the comments about Harmony with a grain of salt, for many people they are an intelligence test...

The web setup is fairly terrible, but once you get used to it and have all your channel logos / input images sorted - you can get a whole system programmed in under 10 minutes.

The other leader in remote controls globally is URC, but it's not aimed at hobbyists, it's largely locked down for those with dealer licenses.

FineWine

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Reply # 2151337 28-Dec-2018 10:24

I believe Logitech is now focusing on their Smart Hub where everything in the home is controlled via phone & tablet Apps using either; IR, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It still the same activities based concept though.

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Rikkitic

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Reply # 2151479 28-Dec-2018 15:03

I still use a Harmony One and am very happy with it. I even bought a 'new' one to replace the original when it wore out. I checked out the other alternatives but saw nothing to make me want to switch. I use a Flirc to get around Bluetooth issues. For an older set-up like mine this is ideal, though it probably wouldn't be for something fancier. IR meets my needs perfectly well for the moment. As mentioned, the web setup is brain-dead and will leave you wanting to scream, but once you get past it the hardware is brilliant. What I like are the virtual activities buttons that can be programmed any way you want, and the almost unlimited flexibility. Sometimes I have had to use dummy commands to get around the idiotic web interface but then I am able to create my own custom commands to literally do anything I want.

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Dingbatt

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Reply # 2151491 28-Dec-2018 15:29

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I have two Harmony Elites running stuff in two different living rooms. IR, Wifi and Bluetooth means I use it to run Smart TVs, AV Receivers, various players including Blurays and AppleTV4s, and my Hue lights.
There are Harmony skills for both Alexa and Google Assistant so the latest Harmony remote/hub setup is even more relevant. (I use both).

I second Dunnersfella's comment above. While the Harmony programming software is a little clunky, once you are used to it, it is relatively quick to get things running. However, the final result is representative of how long you are willing to spend to get things 'just right'. It does have some head scratching limitations, but that is only if you are really trying to tweak things to the nth degree.

Areas of Geek interest: Home Theatre, HTPC, Android Tablets & Phones, iProducts.

blakamin

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Reply # 2151493 28-Dec-2018 15:33

I'd be lost without my hub and companion. I purposely ignored the elite because I had the "one" previously, and hated the touchscreen. If I need touchscreen, I'll use the app.

Talkiet

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Reply # 2151652 28-Dec-2018 20:05

The software is absolutely catastrophically awful. It's beyond me how anyone but the most determined of geeks can ever get them setup properly.

That said, once working it's great. I have a One and a home hub which I control via Amazon Echo.

Cheers - N

Talkiet

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Reply # 2151653 28-Dec-2018 20:06

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Put it this way - I would _NEVER_ recommend one to a friend or family member if there's any chance I would be called on to help set it up or fix an issue.... But for a faceless geek on the Internet - YEAH, go for it. Good luck :-) It's great if you can make it work.

Cheers - N

stocksp

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Reply # 2151656 28-Dec-2018 20:11

I have two elite hubs controlling tvs, amps, xboxes (one and 360), PS3 and Ps4, apple tv 4. Would not be without them . Running voice activation through both alexa and google home..

These are not hard to programme (although I think I needed to use IFTTT with the google home). Makes everything just work

driller2000

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Reply # 2151659 28-Dec-2018 20:24

Yep could not live without mine.

Agree SW takes some figuring out - but once you do it is well worth it - esp if you have multiple devices / inputs / displays etc.

Love having one remote to control multiple devices and Activities set up so even those unfamiliar with my HT set up can swap from TV to Music to Gaming to Movie (Projector and Screen) etc - with one button push.

blakamin

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Reply # 2151685 28-Dec-2018 21:37

stocksp:

(although I think I needed to use IFTTT with the google home).

Something wrong there then.. Harmony was one of the first things GH had available.

premiumtouring

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Reply # 2151690 28-Dec-2018 21:51

If you intend to use with home automation in the future - AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE.

Logitech released a end-user hostile software update that removed local control. You are now required to go through the internet/cloud to control your items.

richms

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Reply # 2151708 28-Dec-2018 23:25

I gave up on mine. HDMI CEC is doing everything I need now I have got rid of all the old sources that gave me trouble with it. Only thing that lacks it are the xboxes which I am OK with manually flicking over the input for.

I would find that things would get set wrong, since there was no way to have the logitech know that I had started casting something it would get out of sync with what things were set to. Also turning on the PS4 would wake everything up and the harmony hub would have no idea things had changed etc.

Richard rich.ms

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Reply # 2151712 29-Dec-2018 00:11

The comment above is worth mentioning further.

Either commit to harmony fully, and remove every other remote, or don’t. There is no happy in between.

Most wife acceptance value purchase I ever made and would highly recommend. Am considering the hub now to enter the voice home automation realm.

richms

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Reply # 2151713 29-Dec-2018 00:53

I might give it another shot on the older equipment in the retro gaming room. That reciever is now 21 years old (damn that makes me feel old too) and it doesnt suffer from the CEC stuff, and it would be nice to control my analog AV selectors etc without using their trash remotes they came with. I was going to bodge an ESP2866 into each of them.

Richard rich.ms

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