Which Harmony should we get? ...Thanks in advance!

[SoundsGood]

I was planning on picking up a URC remote, but I just can't buy into that crazy new policy of theirs. Anyway... I'm now looking at getting a Harmony instead, but had no idea there where so many choices!

What's the best way to determine which one is best for me? And for those of you that have already done this research, which Harmony did you end up buying -- and WHY?

About our setup: we use our DVR more than anything else (it's a Scientific Atlanta 8300 HD version). We also have a Sony XBR TV, a Pioneer Elite receiver, an old Sony CD/DVD player (hopefully soon to be replaced by an HD DVD player!) and an old Panasonic VCR.

Oh, this may sound silly, but the one button we probably use more than anything else is the "rewind 10 seconds" button. Also known as the "Huh? What did they say?" button. Therefore, we need a remote that will quickly & easily allow us to hit that particular button (whatever it's called).

Also, my wife is pretty good at using the regular remote for the DVR, but can't figure out how to work the receiver. So, anything that would help here would be great.

Any suggestions??

Thanks for your help!

[Tarheel72]

Originally Posted by SoundsGood

I was planning on picking up a URC remote, but I just can't buy into that crazy new policy of theirs. Anyway... I'm now looking at getting a Harmony instead, but had no idea there where so many choices!

What's the best way to determine which one is best for me? And for those of you that have already done this research, which Harmony did you end up buying -- and WHY?

About our setup: we use our DVR more than anything else (it's a Scientific Atlanta 8300 HD version). We also have a Sony XBR TV, a Pioneer Elite receiver, an old Sony CD/DVD player (hopefully soon to be replaced by an HD DVD player!) and an old Panasonic VCR.

Oh, this may sound silly, but the one button we probably use more than anything else is the "rewind 10 seconds" button. Also known as the "Huh? What did they say?" button. Therefore, we need a remote that will quickly & easily allow us to hit that particular button (whatever it's called).

Also, my wife is pretty good at using the regular remote for the DVR, but can't figure out how to work the receiver. So, anything that would help here would be great.

Any suggestions??

Thanks for your help!

It sounds like you are not completely familiar with the Harmony remotes. Basically, they can be modified to do about anything you want, with a minimum of buttons. You program them online, by hooking it up to your PC via an included USB cable. You register at the Harmony web site, and then you set up your file by telling them what equipment you have. You go through a series of screens picking out your equipment and telling it what you want to come on for each activity and what setting that component has to be on. Then it downloads the settings to the remote. SO if you want to watch cable TV, you punch the Watch Cable TV button and it turns everything on and puts it on the right inputs. If there is ever a problem, it has a help button that will walk you through each step until the problem is corrected.

Every button the Harmony can be user configured and you can assign anything in the database to it. If you can't figure it out, call customer service and they will do it for you and download it to the remote.

Pick the one you want at the price you want. Depends on if you want the screen with pictures or just text, the type and lay out of the buttons, etc. They make one geared toward teh xBox 360, but other than that they are pretty standard. The more expensive ones have a few more features, but in general they are all very user friendly and easy to use.

[Ladd]

Any Harmony remote can control any device, if that device can be controlled via IR.

Harmony makes a remote (the 680) that many say is "the most TiVo-like"; its button layout may or may not strike your fancy.

A very large percentage of the differences between Harmony remotes is simply the number of buttons and their arrangement (screen size or type, and shape of remote make up the rest of the differences).

I purchased a Harmony 720 as my needs were for a remote control that had a button layout that was conducive to DVR usage (in my case a TiVo and a Motorola 6412 HD DVR (essentially I never watch live TV). By this I mean that the transport controls were located where they were easy to use where my hand naturally holds the remote and I have found the 720 to be very good for that function. Plus it has a larger screen so text labels you enter there can be larger and longer.

This remote can be purchase new for a little over $100 on eBay, if getting one there is in your comfort zone.

To view large photos of most, if not all Harmony remotes so you can preview the button layout, click HERE

[OttoSpiral]

I bought the 890 to be able to use the remote throughout the house. The 890 uses RF signalling, so I can use it wherever to control whatever. I use it outside to control volume of my outdoor speakers. If you have any needs where devices are not in direct line of sight to the remote, the 890 is the only one with RF.

[DanP]

Yeah, there seems to be a zillion of them. I had my eye on the 720s and the Xbox. Never dreamed a year ago that I'd be playing 360 on my plasma but it's been a blast. I don't have a DVR now but I think I will in a few months....when the MPEG-4 DVRs are supposedly available. No sense in buying one now as they probably won't upgrade for free.

[SoundsGood]

QUESTION: Where are the A, B, C buttons?

I didn't notice any A, B and C buttons on these remotes. Since I tend to use those buttons for the DVR pretty often, I'm wondering how easy (or hard?) it is to access whatever buttons might replicate A, B and C.

Anyone??

[AdilM]

You can put A B and C in the LCD menu. Most of the times it's already there in the activity menu just not necessarily conveniently there in the device menu. You will see when you get one.
680 or 880 would work.
Take a look at one of the side by side pictures on Remote Central.

URC makes a quality product, but it's your choice.

[SoundsGood]

Originally Posted by AdilM

680 or 880 would work.
Take a look at one of the side by side pictures on Remote Central.

Thanks.

I'm also looking closely at the Harmony 720 and the Harman Kardon TC-30. Anyone have any thoughts on either of these?

[Tarheel72]

Originally Posted by SoundsGood

QUESTION: Where are the A, B, C buttons?

I didn't notice any A, B and C buttons on these remotes. Since I tend to use those buttons for the DVR pretty often, I'm wondering how easy (or hard?) it is to access whatever buttons might replicate A, B and C.

Anyone??

I don't think you got it yet. You can assign these functions to almost any button on the remote, where ever you want them. It can be a hard button or it can be a soft button on the LCD. It doesn't matter where the Harmony program defaults the assignment, you can go in and manually change the set up before or after the download, you just have to download the last version that you select. You can not make changes to the remote itself, you make them to the data base and then download the database to your remote.

Once again, any button can control almost any function, however you want it. You need to go physically look at the remotes and judge which one fits your hand, your fingers, and your budget. Otherwise, you are just guessing. BB carries most all of them as do most other big box retailers.

[dougef]

Please excuse a very newbie question - but in looking at the Harmony website, it appears pretty much all are "learning" cabable. So if there is a function that is either not in the database or does not seem to work properly, can I point my original remote at the Harmony (any model) and have the Harmony "learn" the particular button(s) function?

Thanks.

(note - I am currently using a TheatreMaster MX500 and have used the learning method to set up most of the functions. It is tedious to do the setup but works well once done.)

[SoundsGood]

Originally Posted by Tarheel72

You can assign these functions to almost any button on the remote, where ever you want them. It can be a hard button or it can be a soft button on the LCD.

Question: I use the A, B and C buttons quite often when I'm in the "Guide" on the DVR. Now, let's say I want to assign the A, B, and C buttons to the 1, 2 and 3 buttons. Can I do that? If so, how will the remote know that when I'm in the Guide I want the 1, 2, 3 buttons to be A, B, C? And how will it know when the 1, 2, 3 buttons should be 1, 2, 3? Does that question make sense?

Originally Posted by Tarheel72

You need to go physically look at the remotes and judge which one fits your hand, your fingers, and your budget. Otherwise, you are just guessing. BB carries most all of them as do most other big box retailers.

That's a good idea... thanks.

[Ladd]

Originally Posted by dougef

So if there is a function that is either not in the database or does not seem to work properly, can I point my original remote at the Harmony (any model) and have the Harmony "learn" the particular button(s) function?

This is correct.

But sometimes it seems like you have to be the first person on the planet to have a device for it to not be in the code database already.

I recently purchased a dehumidifier for the basement and a "tower" floor fan for the studio. Both came with remotes and just for fun I checked -- the codes for both devices were already in the online database.

Additionally, if you do have to do the "learn" function, I believe your commands are uploaded to the online database during your next connection. Therefore the next person who needs that command will find it already in the database. So make sure you learn the command correctly and name it well!

[OttoSpiral]

Originally Posted by dougef

Please excuse a very newbie question - but in looking at the Harmony website, it appears pretty much all are "learning" cabable. So if there is a function that is either not in the database or does not seem to work properly, can I point my original remote at the Harmony (any model) and have the Harmony "learn" the particular button(s) function?

Hi dougef,

I can't speak to all models, but I believe this applies to all that are programmable over the web, which is most of them (I know this applies to the 880 and 890, at least). I had a couple remotes that I couldn't find in the Harmony database. I then put it in learn mode. It asks you to hit power and a couple other "common" buttons. It then says something like "is this the remote for whatever?" In both cases for me, it was the correct remote, and then my Harmony automatically added that device and "knew" all the commands without me entering the rest of them manually.

This was successful for the Sirius Sportster remote and the CyberLink PowerDVD remote, which I would imagine are relatively obscure. So even those guys were in their database somewhere, but I was probably looking in the wrong place or for whatever other reason, their location was not obvious to me.

IIRC, I had to program whatever commands I needed from my Outlaw Audio 990 "Room 2" remote. I don't recall it finding it in the database like the others. In that case, programming was easy as well. I programmed the buttons I needed and never had a problem with it...

Overall, excellent remotes. Highly flexible. I have some complaints about their insistence on the way things are organized, but it's 95% there.

[lemval]

Hi,

I ended up buying a 525 (yeh, the budget one) cause either the remotes were too expensive for me or weren't able to reassign buttons that easy. It is quiet a job to configure the remote, since the software is slow, but I like 'activities' very much. No switching devices anymore to control the normal needs.

[cyberized]

After reading the above posts on the Auto Programming of your device's Remote Commands viz download fm Logitech - does this mean, for example that after I did this for my Onkyo 603X A/V Receiver that I not only would be able to turn it on and off but choose which Decoding method I want; Listening Modes; Individual Speaker Volumes etc.....w/o any further programming my me. Also - same for a DISH SAT Receiver, the 211, on/off; Favorite Menu; Channel up and down; and return to last channel, etc.......

TKS Michael