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Official Logitech Harmony 650/600 remote thread - Page 9

post #241 of 862
2/12/11 at 11:29am
Hi all,

My Harmony 676 is on its last legs. I've been offered a replacement Harmony 650. I know from reading the thread that my 7 devices will port over successfully. However, I'm concerned about any sort of "Media" button on the 650. My 676 has a media button which allows me to select from the 400 CD's/DVD's I have loaded into my Sony Jukebox. I actually already tried replacing with a Harmony One, but the lack of the Media button killed it for me. Anybody have any feedback on the 650 as I can't make out a 'Media' button/option in various pics. Thanks in advance.
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post #242 of 862
2/12/11 at 12:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by stumacdo View Post

My 676 has a media button which allows me to select from the 400 CD's/DVD's I have loaded into my Sony Jukebox. I actually already tried replacing with a Harmony One, but the lack of the Media button killed it for me.

Can you assign that function to one of the configurable buttons beside the LCD screen? I had to do this on my 650 for the "eject" button for the bluray player. (I thought it odd that the Harmony database contained the player but didn't have the eject code for it. I had to learn it from the original remote.)
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post #243 of 862
2/12/11 at 1:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bjex500 View Post

I can't get my 650 to control volume of my receiver.
I just wired up the receiver today, and added it to 3 activities. The 650 controls switching of the inputs on the receiver, but doesn't control volume, it sends the volume control commands to the TV instead.

I just had an idea that I'm going to try- I went into "customize buttons" and set the volume buttons to control the AVR instead of the TV. I don't know why the software didn't do that automatically, it was and is set to do that.
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post #244 of 862
2/12/11 at 5:02pm
Nevermind you got it
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post #245 of 862
2/13/11 at 12:01am
I received my 650 a couple of days ago. I have it fully configured for my 5 devices with 8 activities. I am absolutely amazed! This remote is awesome!
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post #246 of 862
2/13/11 at 8:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bjex500 View Post
Can you assign that function to one of the configurable buttons beside the LCD screen? I had to do this on my 650 for the "eject" button for the bluray player. (I thought it odd that the Harmony database contained the player but didn't have the eject code for it. I had to learn it from the original remote.)
I think that unfortunately it's not that simple. The 'Media' button brings up a list of the 400 CD's/DVD's that I've manually typed into the Harmony site (that was painful) for my older remote. When you click the 'Media' button, it brings up a sorted, alphabetic list of all my CD's and you can click on any of them and it goes directly to that slot in the CD/DVD jukebox. I think that perhaps the best bet may be the 880 rather than the 650 ??
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post #247 of 862
2/13/11 at 2:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by stumacdo View Post

I think that unfortunately it's not that simple. The 'Media' button brings up a list of the 400 CD's/DVD's that I've manually typed into the Harmony site (that was painful) for my older remote. When you click the 'Media' button, it brings up a sorted, alphabetic list of all my CD's and you can click on any of them and it goes directly to that slot in the CD/DVD jukebox. I think that perhaps the best bet may be the 880 rather than the 650 ??

If I were in your position and no new products would do, I would determine which models of harmony would do what I need and then search ebay for hopefully good ones.

For a product that is not made anymore, I assume that if I got X years use out of mine, then maybe I can find a couple of used ones on ebay with light use that will at least give me X/2 years of use each.
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post #248 of 862
2/14/11 at 9:46pm
Well, have had my 650 for a couple of months now and it was great, however, all hell has broken loose for whatever reason now. It doesn't do anything with my A/V receiver anymore which makes it pretty worthless since my receiver is the focal point of my home theater. I tried deleting the device then adding it to no avail. I used to be able to press HDMI 1 and HDMI 2 to watch either my computer or TV but nada. I'm back to 3 remotes until i decide what to do. It's all screwed up, when i push the "watch TV" button, which used to turn all the devices on only turns on the cable box. The "all off" button, which i used to click to turn everything off doesn't do anything. The batteries are fine because i haven't seen any low battery bar. Is my 650 done or can i start over from scratch?
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post #249 of 862
2/15/11 at 9:25am
Does anyone have any experience with the Logitech IR extender kit? I ordered one and it should be here on Wednesday...
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post #250 of 862
2/15/11 at 1:54pm
I can't get my 650 to respond to my A/V receiver, i've tried everything and nothing happens.
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post #251 of 862
2/15/11 at 2:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lipcrkr View Post

I can't get my 650 to respond to my A/V receiver, i've tried everything and nothing happens.

I'm assuming that your software or web setup is still good, and you have updated the remote from it since you said you have removed and then added back the AVR.

You could always create a new account and start over with programming the remote, see if new programming gets the remote to talk to the AVR.

If not then check with Logitech. They might advise that you get a new 650.
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post #252 of 862
2/15/11 at 3:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bjex500 View Post

I'm assuming that your software or web setup is still good, and you have updated the remote from it since you said you have removed and then added back the AVR.

You could always create a new account and start over with programming the remote, see if new programming gets the remote to talk to the AVR.

If not then check with Logitech. They might advise that you get a new 650.

Thanks, i'll try a new account.
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post #253 of 862
2/15/11 at 3:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lipcrkr View Post

The batteries are fine because i haven't seen any low battery bar. Is my 650 done or can i start over from scratch?

Mine started to act up after several months (i.e., no response from my receiver). I too had no "low battery" indication. Just for grins though, I went ahead and replaced the batteries and, voila, everything working again. It's worth a try.
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post #254 of 862
2/15/11 at 10:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by samsurd2 View Post

Mine started to act up after several months (i.e., no response from my receiver). I too had no "low battery" indication. Just for grins though, I went ahead and replaced the batteries and, voila, everything working again. It's worth a try.

Well, guess what? It was the batteries, LOL. The first time i changed the batteries the screen had a warning which is why i never expected it. Everything is back to normal, thank you.

P.S. Love the remote but it sure does use up the juice.
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post #255 of 862
2/16/11 at 10:31am
Glad it worked out.
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post #256 of 862
2/16/11 at 12:29pm
Bought the IR extender kit, and it didn't work near what I expected it to. My 650 reboots itself almost every time the remote control is used. Batteries have been replaced in it 3 times now, and have had the remote for 2 & 1/2 months.

Ordered the Harmony one, and putting the 650 in the top of the closet.
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post #257 of 862
2/19/11 at 7:48pm
Has anybody fixed the battery issue with the 650?

If my 650 falls off of the sofa onto the carpet, it breaks contact long enough to reset itself. I can recover from it easily but if it happens to my wife then she doesn't know what to do.

(If we happen to be in an activity and it does this, it forgets its state and thinks everything is off. I hold my hand over the end of it and restart the activity that we are in the middle of. This prevents any of the IR commands from getting to the equipment.

Since I'm using discrete on/off commands the blocking of IR might not be necessary.)
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post #258 of 862
2/19/11 at 8:26pm
You can use NiMH or Nicd batteries, but they won't perform for very long. The Terminal voltage is different. A freshly charged NiMH or Nicd battery is about 1.3 Volts (1.2 V nominal) This is close to end of life for an an alkaline cell. The other issue is longevity. All batteries self discharge, and this determines the "Shelf Life". Rechargeables, 3-6 months / Alkalines, 5 years. Standard remote controls and clocks with alkaline batteries operate for more than a year. Power hungry portable equipment not designed for use with rechargeable batteries is creating a large hazerdous waste problem. There is a solution. Power Genix (ecobatteries.net) makes a 1.6 Volt / 1500 MAh Nickle Zink NiZn AA Cells. You will need their special charger also. I just noticed ecobatteries is out of stock??? Otherwise you are better off with Duracell alkalines for reliability and performance.



Quote:
Originally Posted by sodoto View Post

Hi, i just find your forum on google by searching information about the harmony 650. I want to know if i can use NiMH rechargeable batteries with the harmony.

It say in the quick start guide : Use only with alakaline batteries. There is a risk of using other batteries ?

Sorry for my english.
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post #259 of 862
2/21/11 at 2:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bjex500 View Post

Has anybody fixed the battery issue with the 650?

If my 650 falls off of the sofa onto the carpet, it breaks contact long enough to reset itself. I can recover from it easily but if it happens to my wife then she doesn't know what to do.

(If we happen to be in an activity and it does this, it forgets its state and thinks everything is off. I hold my hand over the end of it and restart the activity that we are in the middle of. This prevents any of the IR commands from getting to the equipment.

Since I'm using discrete on/off commands the blocking of IR might not be necessary.)

I'm unaware that this is a universal problem that rates a description like "the battery issue". A better question might be "Has anyone else had a similar experience?". JMO

BTW I own a 650 and have never had this happen although all drops have been onto a carpeted floor.
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post #260 of 862
2/21/11 at 6:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by samsurd2 View Post

I'm unaware that this is a universal problem that rates a description like "the battery issue". A better question might be "Has anyone else had a similar experience?". JMO

BTW I own a 650 and have never had this happen although all drops have been onto a carpeted floor.

Lots of people have reported that the battery contacts are thin and weak and can bend and lose contact when you drop the remote. It has happened to me twice so far. The other people who have reported it said they contacted Logitech and got replacements, although IIRC the replacement has the same problem.

I came home from a trip and my wife said the remote wasn't working. I picked it up and it was completely dead, wouldn't wake up if you shake it. I took the batteries out, put them back, and it started working again. The other time it fell off of the couch and when I picked it up I could tell that it had reset itself. This isn't a big deal- I put my hand over the end of it and tell it to go into the activity that it was in before it fell.
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post #261 of 862
2/23/11 at 10:58am
Just picked this remote up. Maybe I'm having a brain fart, but everything seems to be working. I can control the DirecTV box. The DVD player, the TV, and the AV receiver. But when the remote is in satellite mode the volume control will not turn up the volume on the receiver. I have to hit the receiver button turn up or down the volume, and then go back to the sat mode to control it. Is there not a punch through command that allows the volume for the AV receiver to be active regardless of what mode the remote is in?????
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post #262 of 862
2/23/11 at 2:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by htcritic View Post

Just picked this remote up. Maybe I'm having a brain fart, but everything seems to be working. I can control the DirecTV box. The DVD player, the TV, and the AV receiver. But when the remote is in satellite mode the volume control will not turn up the volume on the receiver. I have to hit the receiver button turn up or down the volume, and then go back to the sat mode to control it. Is there not a punch through command that allows the volume for the AV receiver to be active regardless of what mode the remote is in?????

Yes it will do this. Sometimes the setup software is not as smart as it should be. I use the software program to program mine, not the online interface. I can go into "customize buttons" and tell the volume-up and volume-down to control the receiver and not the cable box or tv or whatever. Hopefully it is equally easy to do if you use the online configuration.

I had the same problem when I added a receiver to my setup- even though I checked the box to tell the programm to control volume through the receiver, the buttons still controlled the TV instead. It took me awhile until it dawned on me that I could change the buttons themselves easily.
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post #263 of 862
2/28/11 at 7:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bjex500 View Post

Yes it will do this. Sometimes the setup software is not as smart as it should be. I use the software program to program mine, not the online interface. ......

come again? I thought the online interface is the location where the software exists and from which you go about programming your remote.
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post #264 of 862
3/2/11 at 1:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CruelInventions View Post

come again? I thought the online interface is the location where the software exists and from which you go about programming your remote.

The configuration data is stored on a Logitech server someplace. There are two methods of accessing and manipulating it, one is the online web interface and the other is the application software which you download, install and run on your PC.
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post #265 of 862
3/3/11 at 4:49pm
Okay, I must confess that I have not read this thread. At 5+ pages and over 200 posts, it's overwhelming and time-consuming to find the information (if it's here) that I need.

Basically, my remote has gone out of whack. I don't know what happened to it. I bought at the end of January 2011 and a couple of weeks ago, it just started acting crazy and not working. I try the "Help" feature, and this sometimes works but most of the time it doesn't. When it works, well, it works. When it doesn't, it keeps me asking "Did that solve the problem", I answer no, then proceeds to try to turn off all the components (I only have two, TV and DirecTV box), but this doesn't always work. Anyway, long story short, I just grabbed my old DirecTV-issued remote and use this one.

Has anyone else had this problem with this remote? Do I have a defective remote and it's time to either get my money back or get a new one? Any help from you guys will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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post #266 of 862
3/3/11 at 4:51pm
Did you try updating it on pc.
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post #267 of 862
3/3/11 at 4:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamieb81 View Post

Did you try updating it on pc.

I did. That worked for a while. Now it's back to not working.
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post #268 of 862
3/3/11 at 6:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by macandal View Post

Okay, I must confess that I have not read this thread. At 5+ pages and over 200 posts, it's overwhelming and time-consuming to find the information (if it's here) that I need.

Basically, my remote has gone out of whack. I don't know what happened to it. I bought at the end of January 2011 and a couple of weeks ago, it just started acting crazy and not working. I try the "Help" feature, and this sometimes works but most of the time it doesn't. When it works, well, it works. When it doesn't, it keeps me asking "Did that solve the problem", I answer no, then proceeds to try to turn off all the components (I only have two, TV and DirecTV box), but this doesn't always work. Anyway, long story short, I just grabbed my old DirecTV-issued remote and use this one.

Has anyone else had this problem with this remote? Do I have a defective remote and it's time to either get my money back or get a new one? Any help from you guys will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Replace the batteries and you should be all good, even if there is no low battery warning.
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post #269 of 862
3/3/11 at 8:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by uclabruinn View Post

Replace the batteries and you should be all good, even if there is no low battery warning.

Okay. But so soon?
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post #270 of 862
3/4/11 at 8:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by davelr View Post

The configuration data is stored on a Logitech server someplace. There are two methods of accessing and manipulating it, one is the online web interface and the other is the application software which you download, install and run on your PC.

oh, right. I didn't really think that one through. I too use the software installed on my computer. It's been several months since I last made any changes so I forgot what the process was, i.e., home software-based changes then this info uploaded online. I wasn't aware, however, that it could all be done online too, if one is so disposed.
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