Official Logitech Harmony 650/600 remote thread - Page 26

The problems you are having are due to user error and have nothing to do with Harmony software. If you want to control your TV volume from a particular device page then just teach the command to that device from the original TV remote and assign it to any button you want.

If you have devices turning off when they should stay on then there is something else wrong with your setup. I would suggest deleting each activity and start over just answering the questions correctly. When you are done and everything turns on and off properly, then you can tweak the settings and commands to your liking.

There is no "hack" for adding more devices but you can simply teach commands from any IR remote to a device that is commonly used in every activity, then assign those commands accordingly. Example: If I wanted to add a Roku to my remote I would go into the AVR device/learn commands/learn new command/ rename it "Roku Up" then teach the command from my Roku remote. This new command named Roku Up will be in the command list on your AV Receiver, so any activity which uses the AVR will have that command available (repeat for all Roku commands). Now you can just create a "Generic Activity", rename it Watch Roku, add the AVR and viola, there are your commands.

 

I don't have a need quite yet, so I have yet to try it ... but this is probably the best explanation I have seen yet to getting around the 5 Device Limitation on the 650. Also, fits with my experience with Harmony over the years ... 95% of normal usage is Activity based.

 

Of course, this is what Culpepper was trying to explain to me. 

Exactly. My best advice to new users is "Don't be afraid to experiment with the Harmony Desktop software". Setup some Devices and Activities and explore. If things don't go quite right, tweak or delete and try again.

 

I have yet to find any use-case that doesn't work. I think I now know the software pretty good, but it does take some getting use to. The Auto or Wizard stuff does sometimes get in the way of me just wanting to do things manually. So, you use the Auto and then tweak. 

Edited by Tesla1856 - 1/20/13 at 6:37pm

Still can't get volume up to work...

What does your equipment config look like?

 

Usually, Volume is controlled by Amp or TV (where ever the speakers are connected). Digital audio from the DVR is usually "fixed".

 

Not saying the DVR can't be volume (and Harmony should be able to emulate the discrete remotes) but I can't think of a use-case where it's required these days. Are you still using analog 2-channel sound from DVR?

I've had cable boxes with variable output levels you could change from the remote. So this isn't unusual, but it is the wrong way to control volume for many reasons (reduced dynamic range, noise, overdriving input circuits, etc.). Willstuh, you really need to set the cable box volume to an optimal level and forget it. From now on, control the volume of your TV or stereo or whatever device is actually driving your speakers, not the input source like your cable box.

After you fix that, go thru the wizard for your Watch TV activity again and pick TV or AVR for you volume control device, not the cable box itself. If your vol buttons still don't work, go into customize buttons and make sure the vol up and down commands are assigned to the vol buttons. Also understand that in cable device mode, volume controls probably won't work at all. This is normal. Volume punch thru is only done with activities, not individual devices.

I set the remote to control volume from the DVR, not the TV since the remote only has 1 volume control. So literally everything else on the remote works on the DVR like guide and channel and menu, including volume down. Its just up that doesnt work for some reason.

Why control volume from the dvr at all? As was said, that's a poor way to control volume. Use the tv if that's what drives your speakers (and consider getting an avr for better quality down the line), I believe the setup programming give the option easily enough. You can still use the dvr to control other things. Pay attention during the setup routine, don't necessarily go with the default option...

Well, since you quoted MY post, I guess it's my job to answer your question. 

 

You go into the DVR Device and "Learn" the Volume buttons from your existing DVR Remote. This will Over-Ride the programming from the Harmony Database. It will then work the way you wish.

 

You never answered my question about your equipment, so I can't help you set it up right .... the way I and the other posters are trying to help show you. One day (I'm thinking when you add a second component to your setup ... like maybe a DVD or Blu-Ray player) please come back here and finally try to understand what we were all trying to tell you... to help you with in the long run.

Edited by Tesla1856 - 1/24/13 at 12:56am

I wish I would have been wrong.

 

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/49477/logitech-selling-off-harmony-remote-dissapointing-q3

 

Hopefully, the transition will be seamless.

Great news :-)

I just ordered one of these. My first high dollar universal remote. Wellll, kind of high dollar Cant wait to try to set it up. I tried setting up the remote that came with my 1122-K last night and that didnt work out to well.

I just ordered one of these. My first high dollar universal remote. Wellll, kind of high dollar Cant wait to try to set it up. I tried setting up the remote that came with my 1122-K last night and that didnt work out to well.

It's a logical device, so "as you thought it would" doesn't mean the fault is with the device . There's a few things you have to keep straight with these and keep it straight as to which activity/device you started off with as to where it can take you....mostly they work great. Only real problem I have is with the HDMI-CEC crap in each different device (i.e. tv vs avr etc ) fighting each other.

If anyone is having trouble controlling the volume of one device while an activity is set to another. Try adding additional devices in the activity. I was able to utilize my Roku with volume through my TV, BUT I set up another with Roku with volume through my receiver. Once you have the extra devices added you can go to edit buttons and drag/drop what you need. Learning also fixes it, but sometimes during the fine tuning process you can use the web interface. Maybe with this and others' replies it will help you. It really is a great remote and after I've gone through so many over the years, I'm sticking with this one. There is so much adjustment that none of the others seem to have allowed me, and add the long battery life we have a winner. My wife can even use a universal remote now for the first time!
I've started to review simply products on my own now, starting with this one that I own... take a look, maybe someone you know can get something out of it. That is my hope because other than these boards, there isn't much information for the average person out there.
http://thecreativealternative.com/logitech-harmony-650-remote/

Just picked up a new 650 to replace an old Harmony than fell apart. I "imported" my settings from my old Harmony, and though they are all correct I am experiencing problems with the main activity buttons working properly. Example, I click "Watch TV" and the DVD player goes on but the TV doesn't. Reset the commands manually but it is still happening.

Anyone else have similar issues with the 65?

You updated the Harmony model number?

I've never done that before. I have 2 Harmony remotes, but I use 2 different accounts.

 

If LovinTheHD's suggestion doesn't work, try deleting the Activity and recreating it (it only takes a few minutes).

Hello all. I'm in the market for a universal remote for our bedroom. We have a much more in depth system downstairs that we use a Harmony 1100 for and have never needed any other remote. We just upgraded the bedroom setup to a Samsung UN40ES6100 Smart TV and BD-E5400 BluRay player along with a Comcast HD cable box. I'm not looking to over complicate or over spend here since it is just 3 devices and we use this setup for less than 20% of our TV/movie viewing. The TV remote controls the BD just fine since they're both Samsung but we've found we constantly have to go back to the cable box remote for various functions and ease of use. I'm looking at getting the Harmony 650. It seems like a great value to me and reviews are okay, (better reviewed than our Harmony 1100 that we love). I just have a couple questions for you guys before purchasing.

1-Looking at the TV remote, there are three buttons on the remote that are not found on the 650 that I worry will complicate things. One of the buttons is the "Smart" button that takes you to the apps/web interface on the TV. This is one of my most used buttons and don't want to have to scroll through a bunch of soft key button selections on the 650 to get to this button. Another button is the "Tools" button. This button goes to commonly used functions on the TV like Video/Audio modes and, more importantly, the sleep function that we use every night since it is a bedroom TV. The third button is the "Search" button. Again, part of the smart TV interface. I don't really use it all that often since I find web surfing using a remote control to be cumbersome, especially when my iPhone is typically sitting on the nightstand and is much faster and easier to navigate with, but I would still like the option to be there. Will it be easy enough to program these into every day use and have the buttons readily available?

2-The only other component that may be added into this system in the future would be a sound bar which would probably have a remote control to change the volume levels. Do you see any issues incorporating an IR controlled sound bar with this remote?

Here is a picture of our setup and the Samsung remote with the buttons in question circled. Prompt advice would be great as I'm hoping to purchase today and BB closes in a few hours. Thanks in advance.

Samsung remote:



Our system:

1. I have a Samsung TV also and although I use the soft keys for the functions you mention I don't see why you couldn't assign those functions to the Hard red, green, yellow, blue buttons on the 650.

2. Don't know about the soundbar.

Harmony 650 should work fine. It will handle up to 5 devices. Programming will be similar to Harmony 1100.

 

1. You can manually "learn" those buttons if they don't show up on the devices you add. You can assign them to the little LCD screen or one of the 4 colored buttons. They can then be added to the "Watch TV" Activity.

 

2. You can add a completely custom Device (if not available in database) and learn the buttons. It can be included in multiple Activities (Watch TV, etc.).

Thanks guys. Gonna head down to BB I think. Hopefully the wife isn't too opposed.

After having the Harmony in the Living Room for a couple of years ... When I setup the system in the Workout Room (with older/spare gear), my wife was the one that suggest I go get a Harmony for this room also.  

 

Attempting to go back to using 2 (and sometimes more) different remotes was unacceptable to her now.  

That worked - thanks for the suggestion.....!

Is there a way to set the brightness and length of time the backlight is on? Just got just remote yesterday. It was easy to set up.

Also, is there anyway to download icons for your favorite channels? Without having to download all the pictures you want and then resize all the images? Thanks.

Iconharmony. Donate if you can too. Great free database for Harmony icons.

So am I understanding this correctly that there is no way to hit the watch TV button, which will make the TV and receiver come on instantly, then set a delay (5 seconds or so) and then the cable box come on? The reason being, my receiver doesn't like to be turned on after the cable box is already sending a signal. Thanks.

Pretty sure I saw that (delay to turn-off). I think there is only one brightness. It's all in a separate place.

Be sure the cable-box is last in "turn-on order" sequence (that might be enough). There is a place where you can set custom events on Activities, (and set custom delays) ... but I'm not sure power up delay time is one of them.