I have a Harmony (I think 880) remote control. I have set it up so that I can press one button and it will turn on all the equipment. The problem I have is this:

If I press the TV button, it turns on my projector, receiver, and cable box. This works fine. However, once the system is on and if I want to watch a movie and press the movie button, it turns off my projector, receiver, and turns on my dvd player. Is there a way to set these things up so that it does not turn off the equipment that is already on? Are all the programmable remotes similar and does anyone else have this problem? I presume I am just a dope and can't figure out how to set it up accurately.

Harmony's programming interface is the most god awful thing invented. Yes there are many remotes much much much better than any Harmony.

Anyway, there are ways in the harmony config to do what you want. Go into the device>more options>not turning on or off the way it should option for your projector and receiver or set the activities up again. You set them up wrong.

I'm assuming when you say "press the movie button" that you mean you are going back to Activities and selecting the "Watch DVD" (or whatever you labeled it) button. If that's not the case, you'll need to provide more detail as to what you're doing.

If that is the case, it sounds like you somehow got the programming for the Watch DVD activity messed up. Take a look at the attached screenshot. It's the one for my system's Watch DVD activity. You can ignore all the AV Receiver stuff at the end. The stuff at the top shows that the DVD player, TV, and Receiver are all on and everything else should be off. If your activity doesn't properly include all the devices needed for that activity, they'll fall into the "All other devices are off" bucket.

Thanks to both of you. Person99, I may buy a new remote. You indicate there are others that are easier to program. What are you speaking of? I will spend up to around $500.

If you correct your activities settings, you will be able to correct the issues on your Harmony 880.

... You indicate there are others that are easier to program. What are you speaking of? I will spend up to around $500.
Otherwise, if you would prefer to change, the URC remotes have a solid following too (and some prefer them over Harmony remotes and vice versa). Check out the details of the complete professional line to see if you would like them:

http://www.universalremote.com/pro/products.php

The MX-700 that has been recommended, if you like the styling:

http://www.universalremote.com/product_detail.php?model=46

Popular in these forums, the MX-900 ($450 MSRP):

http://www.universalremote.com/product_detail.php?model=37

Also popular, the MX-950 ($700 MSRP):

http://www.universalremote.com/product_detail.php?model=35

I have not personally tried any of these, but there enough positive comments to conclude that they are excellent products with some advantages over the Harmony range and also a couple of things they cannot do as well.

URC "expects" you to buy from a professional, so their pricing is not realistic. The MX 900 can be found currently on Amazon.com for $230 for example (almost half price!), but there may be issues with not buying from "authorized" retailers such as updates for the software. Others with first had experience with these wil have to tell you more if you decide to explore this further.

If you are interested in this option, you might try connecting up with MikeSRC who posts in these forums:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/member.php?userid=431

and Surf Remote Control (I think he represents them):

http://www.surfremotecontrol.com/

I have no experience or contact with URC, MikeSRC or Surf Remote, so I cannot give you any other details.

Other options

I also have been interested in these options from reading the forums here and elsewhere:

Philips Pronto line:

TSU-7500 ($595 on Amazon.com)
http://www.consumer.philips.com/consumer/catalog/tree/en/us/consumer/home_entertainment_gr_us_consumer/remote_controls_ca_us_consumer/ce/_productId_TSU7500_17_US_CONSUMER/Home_Theater_Control_Panel+TSU7500_17?proxybuster=KHUOY5MQF5 22HJ0RMRESHP3HKFSEKI5P

Nevo SL ($699 on this site):

http://www.hideflifestyle.com/universal-electronics-nevo-sl-p-463.html

Remoteshoppe.com is a good place for very complete reviews of all of these:

http://www.remoteshoppe.com/

And there is at least one person from there posting in these forums also.

That would be my shopping list if price were (almost) no issue, but this is just research since I only have personal experience with the Harmony 550 and 720 (similar to the 880 except in styling mostly):

Good luck, whether you choose to keep your Harmony 880 or trade for something else.

Popular in these forums, the MX-900 ($450 MSRP):

URC "expects" you to buy from a professional, so their pricing is not realistic. The MX 900 can be found currently on Amazon.com for $230 for example (almost half price!), but there may be issues with not buying from "authorized" retailers such as updates for the software. Others with first had experience with these wil have to tell you more if you decide to explore this further.

If you go to most of the authorized on-line URC dealers they will have a "ask us for today's price" link, or something similar. You will find that you don't have to go to Amazon to get a decent price.

There are also very complete reviews for some models and consumer reviews for these and others at remotecentral.com:

http://www.remotecentral.com/

and a review for another Harmony model, the 720, here:

http://reviews.digitaltrends.com/review4015.html