Harmony 700 Remote

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eXDee

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#78715 6-Mar-2011 21:53

1) Anyone had experience with it?
2) Does it work correctly with MySky HDi?

If both are positive, i'll pick one of these up, most likely tomorrow (need to replace a dead remote). $129.

edit: it seems the 785 is better, but being more expensive and likely hard to find nowadays.

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#446167 7-Mar-2011 08:04

I bought one a few weeks ago. I'm sure other people have had better experiences than mine, but I found it intensely frustrating to set up on my equipment (which is all new, common gear, nothing unusual or complicated), though I don't have Sky.

I found the software to be buggy, confusing and unhelpful, despite the fact it is "guided." I'm by no means a n00b when it comes to computers and gadgets, but the software was alarmingly illogical and poorly set out. Some people have said that once you get it set up, you don't need to use the software, and that is certainly true. But after two weeks of trying to get it set up to work properly, I was still stuck with the software trying to make it work. I put it back in its box and have decided to take a break before trying again, though when I do, I will almost certainly have to ring the help centre to get it right. And even then, I'm skeptical it will work properly.

I guess the moral from my experience is to manage expectations. I probably had quite high expectations of the remote + software. I expected that I could connect it to my computer, download the software, have it recognise my equipment, and assign all the obvious buttons automatically. I expected that about an hour of patient fine tuning would finish the job. But I ended up with the web-version of the software, with no obvious link to the desktop software, which turns out to be a completely different beast from the web version, and requiring a different account to be set up (so your profiles are not transferable from one type of the software to another). It didn't recognise my model of TV (which wasn't in fact a big issue, just a surprise as it's a common model) in the web version of the software, and the desktop version of the software didn't recognise my Blu Ray recorder (though the web version did). Buttons for the different devices weren't assigned logically - for example, the Pioneer amp's direction buttons weren't assigned, while the Blu Ray's colour buttons weren't assigned though the TV's colour buttons were. While all of these can be fixed by manual programming, it didn't meet my expectations that these sorts of things would be taken care of automatically.

There are plenty of people who swear by the Harmony remotes. I eventually might be one of them, when I can find the time and patience to whittle away at the software. But next time I sit down with the remote, I will be allowing a entire day for the job, no exaggeration. My only advice would be to manage your expectations. It might be good, but it will likely take a lot of time and patience.

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vinnieg

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#446191 7-Mar-2011 09:14

Yeah, the Harmony 785 is easier to setup and has more features. The 785 however does have charging issues, due to the springs in the base charger. Mine stops charging every few days :(

to help it charge, i strap it down with a rubber band. A more permanent option is to cut some of the plastic from around the charging pins, but I don't want to ruin the rmeote.

The lack of charging dock on the 700 completely puts me off it. Plus the fact it only controls 6 devices, while I have 8 on my current remote...

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

SepticSceptic

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#446223 7-Mar-2011 10:51

eXDee:

edit: it seems the 785 is better, but being more expensive and likely hard to find nowadays.

The 785's FFW/REW/Play buttons are small and badly placed, and not backlit. After moving from a 525, it's a real PITA !

My thoughts are no longer my own and is probably representative of our media-controlled government

bazzer

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#446226 7-Mar-2011 11:06

I've gotten used to it, and I don't mind it, but the 700 is really a cut down version and may not be suitable for all setups. They're really trying to encourage you to move up to one of the more expensive models.

Jaxson

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#446257 7-Mar-2011 12:50

Lizard1977: But I ended up with the web-version of the software, with no obvious link to the desktop software, which turns out to be a completely different beast from the web version, and requiring a different account to be set up (so your profiles are not transferable from one type of the software to another).

Not to be picky but this is not entirely true.

I use the web version to edit my profile and then download to the unit using the desktop software when I get a chance. (no internet at home

). I use the same logon account for both.

You can download the desktop software from the harmony website at any stage, if for any reason you didn't get this with the actual remote.

Sorry to hear about your give up Lizard, I thought we had most of that sorted now.

Lizard1977

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#446289 7-Mar-2011 13:24

Not given up, just taking a pause for my sanity. ;)

I'm puzzled that you have been able to use the same login for boththe web software and the desktop software. I tried it, thinking that was perfectly reasonable, and it wouldn't accept it.

I just did a little digging around on the Logitech forums and discovered a site called members.harmonyremote.com which seems to be "another" software option. As suspected, it didn't recognize my login from the other software options, so I'd have to create another account to try this one. Reading some of the comments in the Logitech forums I'm not the first person to boggle at their approach to software design and development.

I just found it exhausting for what should be a simple solution. I can see why so many people return their remotes, if my experience is anything to go by.

Having said that, I will try again. No way I'm going to let a lump of plastic and metal get the better of me!

Jaxson

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#446301 7-Mar-2011 13:47

You must surely be pretty close by now....

Keep posting up any issues and we'll try and help you through it.

Online I use http://members.harmonyremote.com/EasyZapper/UserHome.asp

Oh yeah, edit:
Fully agree on the software, it's pretty darn annoying in a lot of ways. They've had to try and make it basic but there's a bunch of stuff you have to address at some stage which is buried in the most illogical places. Just think you have to clear your mind and run with it, skipping the obvious abd frustrating point that it shouldn't be this stupid.

Once it's setup right though you shouldn't have to go back.

Lizard1977

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#446329 7-Mar-2011 15:26

I think that's where we've been going wrong. I only found out about the site you mentioned today. The website software I was using is called myharmony.com. I might look at your site tonite and see if it's any different. Hopefully it's better?

Jaxson

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#446335 7-Mar-2011 15:40

Lizard1977: I might look at your site tonite and see if it's any different. Hopefully it's better?

Hope away, but it isn't.

It's basically the same as the downloadable desktop/PC software.
You still have to go through several rounds of 'I want to change something' before it finally lets you into the technical menus you wanted all along. And you still can't copy an activity if you want to change just a few things etc.

It's all the same, but it does offer another way to the same content if that's of any use to anyone perhaps.

mattwnz

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#446350 7-Mar-2011 16:29

vinnieg: Yeah, the Harmony 785 is easier to setup and has more features. The 785 however does have charging issues, due to the springs in the base charger. Mine stops charging every few days :(

to help it charge, i strap it down with a rubber band. A more permanent option is to cut some of the plastic from around the charging pins, but I don't want to ruin the rmeote.

The lack of charging dock on the 700 completely puts me off it. Plus the fact it only controls 6 devices, while I have 8 on my current remote...

I am thinking of returning my 785 due to the charging problems. The contacts sometimes don't connect, and it beeps multiple times while charging, and the battery only lasts a few days before it requires charging. I am sure the battery life has been affected by the poor contacts on the charging unit. To buy a new battery would probably be as much as I paid for the remote.

eXDee

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#446352 7-Mar-2011 16:34

Thats disappointing.
Hmmm, im kinda put off the 700, it sounds like its very dumbed down.
But 785's are no longer made and i dont know where to find them in NZ...

SepticSceptic

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#446358 7-Mar-2011 16:45

eXDee:
But 785's are no longer made and i dont know where to find them in NZ...

Good old TradeMe, but no 785's on there at the moment :-)
Or I could sell you mine, for the same exhoribitant price that I paid for it ... charges well, and still has it's plastic covering on the display ..
Nothing wrong with it, other than the frustrating (for me) button layout.
PM me if you are interested.

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robbyp

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#446367 7-Mar-2011 17:00

SepticSceptic:
eXDee:
But 785's are no longer made and i dont know where to find them in NZ...

Good old TradeMe, but no 785's on there at the moment :-)
Or I could sell you mine, for the same exhoribitant price that I paid for it ... charges well, and still has it's plastic covering on the display ..
Nothing wrong with it, other than the frustrating (for me) button layout.
PM me if you are interested.

I assume you put your own plastic cover on it, as the original was printed with what the display looks like, so not usable as a protection screen. I only paid $99 for mine new from DSE, but I suspect it was a run out model

eXDee

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#446377 7-Mar-2011 17:54

Solved. 785 it is. Cheers guys!

eXDee

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#447054 9-Mar-2011 18:57

Just got this, worst software ever.
Best way to configure these?
Also for the HDi i chose Sky and for model MYSKY-HDi, however it doesn't work at all.

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