Official Logitech Harmony Link Thread (Android & iOS Remote) - Page 3

There's no RF, so no. However, it does have ports for two wired mini IR blasters, and one is included in the box.

I wonder if it would work with the standard RF emitters or if you can hook more than one up at a time?

hi guys,

need ur help. i saw that harmony link only have 2 ir blaster port, how does it going to support up to 8? do i have to buy an extender? if yes which is the model? thanks in advance

The base and blaster can hit any number of devices, just like a normal IR remote.

I wonder if the 8 device limit is embedded in the software somehow.

It is, if it's like other harmony remotes. My 6 device 700 has 12 devices on it since I "upgraded" from a 12 device remote. The real question is can you hack your way to more devices? Nobody has ever managed to figure that out.

I can understand limiting devices to "encourage" buying a more expensive model. But since there is no other model in this space, the limit is ridiculous. If logitech were as smart as they are greedy (which they aren't), they would at least sell you additional devices. Sadly they won't even do that.

In any case, the low device limit and the myharmony.com software make this a non-starter for me and a huge disappointment. But people with very simple requirements may find it useful.

My Harmony Link should arrive Friday. I'll be using it from Android phone(s) and an iPad to control 5 devices (TV, TiVo Premiere, Blu-ray, AVR, Xbox).

Please let us know how it works out!

I picked one up today. I will start messing with it tonight.....

Just did a quick setup and it was EXTREMELY easy to setup. I have been hoping that Harmony would release a good iPad app. Hopefully this will be it.

That can be said about any piece of hardware on the planet.

If you're good with a 6-device limit (or if there is a way around it by upgrading from a higher-limit device, something which has yet to be confirmed one way or the other), then this might just be the cat's meow for you. If you're wrong about that, and ultimately end up needing more devices, well, I'm sure we've all been there before. At $100, it's hardly the most money I'll have ever wasted on a piece of hardware that didn't quite do everything I wanted it to.

For the majority, four devices:

1) TV
2) AVR
3) BR/DVD
4) Cable/DTV receiver

...are all they'll ever need. And that still leaves room for two more RC toys before you hit the cap.

If you have 15 devices you MUST control, then bummer for you, I guess you'll have to keep looking. That doesn't make it a POS for the rest.

Any good reviews now that it's released?

Here is one I found, not necessarily a positive one.
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/rev...ne-ipod-touch/

It's got an 8 device limit AFAIK. Definitely not for everyone but should be enough for most in that respect.

It seems like a canned product but, even though there doesn't seem to be a lot of customization allowed, iPad owners are usually not of the tinkering and customizing kind so it should serve it's purpose pretty well after a few app tweaks.

Those who are looking into custom installations, iRule, etc. shouldn't compare those with this Link. I ordered one to replace a Monster AVL-300 which will be reassigned to the bedroom HT. Will post back with impressions when I get it.

I am sure this is a product in development, so here are my initial thoughts. This is not for the Creston customer. It is for someone that wants an easy to use universal remote.

Good

1. easy to setup
2. All components were in the database
3. All actions seemed to work.
4. TV listing is actually kind of neat. You can program in channels that you like, it will list what is on them. If you want to watch a program you just hit that "window" and the remote does everything else.

bad

1. No custom buttons (not that I can find out how to do)
2. No custom power on sequence (again, not that I can find)

Suggested improvements that could be "tweaked".

1. screen is pretty bright colors, it would be nice to have a dark "theme" option.
2. I would like to be able to turn off the "tv guide info" especially when watching a Blu Ray.

My harmony link is coming tomorrow and I am trying to figure out if I can split the existing IR blaster setup I have so one input goes to the existing extender termination point and the other goes to the link. Would a female/2male splitter work allowing commands from both.

Remember that the jacks for the blasters ar 2.5mm (like they are on the 900 and on the Harmony extender), so you'll need a 3.5mm female to 2.5mm male adapter like this to do things like add multi-head IR emitters or go to an IR distribution block.

Hey fellas-
I picked one up yesterday after reading some crappy reviews online. The reviews online didnt seem to be familiar with harmony software. Entering model #'s etc and said it was a pain. Well that is how it is. I bought mine for kind of a different reason. In the theater I have all my components in a storage room hidden so I run a Harmony 900 down there. In the living room upstairs I have an HD cable box on the tv and thats it. I have a seperate HDMI cable running to the upstairs tv so that I can still watch Apple TV, DVR'd shows, and BLU ray from the components downstairs. It is a pain in the a** when the wife says "will you go downstairs and get your fancy remote. lol. Also, there is quite a delay using the 900 upstairs since it is an RF frequency and quite the distance. I thought this would be a nice solution so that she can watch those items from the iphone/ipad without having to go get the 900. For 100 bucks it was worth a try. Good news is setup was easy and the signal/response is great. The bad news is, it really is entry level software. I havent used in on the ipad yet, just the iphone. My biggest complaint is I got spoiled with my 900 being able to customize the buttons/screens. With the iphone controlling the cable box is kind of a pain. I am used to having my guide, recorded shows button, menu, etc all on one screen. Not the case with the Link. Need to switch screens to hit "ok", go to another screen to find "list" back a screen for ok, page down, etc. Maybe the Ipad app is better. If harmony gave you the ability to customize the buttons like on the other remotes it would be a pretty good investment. This thing is nowhere near the quality of my harmony 900, but lets be realistic its for a different audience. For my purpose of in a pinch not wanting to go get my 900, it does its job of giving me RF type capability in a cheap package. Hope that helps. Without better app/software, no way would it run my basic theater in such a user friendly format as the 900.

Got the Harmony Link today. Setup was easy, similar to other Harmony remotes except for the WiFi setup. My first device to sync with it was my Android phone. Seems the first device to sync has to send a firmware update to the Link. The firmware installed fine as indicated by the LED on the Link but my phone got stuck on the firmware install screen. I eventually had to force close the app and relaunch. At this point the app synced with myharmony and pulled down my config.

I like the idea of controlling my system with phones and tablets but so far I'm not completely impressed with the applications. I need to at least be able to move the buttons around on my Android so I don't have to scroll to get to my TiVo menu button. I'd like to be able to add buttons from the Devices section into the Activities screens. Renaming buttons would be nice too. Also, one of my Watch TV screens on the Android app has plenty of unused space. I should have full control of the placement of buttons on that screen so I don't have to scroll thru 3 screens of buttons at the bottom (to access the TiVo menu button).

Here are some screen captures of the Android app http://min.us/mGZvoqWCz#1

I'm also having trouble switching from my DVD activity to my TV activity. My DVD is my Bluray player BDP S570 connected via HDMI to TV. Every time I try to watch TV (coming from the watch DVD activity) the S570 turns off and the TV seems like it attempts to go to HDMI1 for TV but soon enough my S570 automatically powers back on and automatically sets the TV back to HDMI2. I can't figure this one out. It works fine on my Harmony 360 remote.

Same problem occurs when I used my iPad and the Link.
EDIT: I figured this one out. I turned off HDMI CEC on both my Bluray player and my TV. It was that in combination with bad placement of the IR blaster in relation to my TV.

I was hoping the Android app would be convenient enough to use as a primary remote, but I don't think it is. There is more to the iPad app, it's nice but not as quick and convenient as a remote should be.

If I would have paid $99 for this I would probably be sending it back. But since I had a half price coupon code, I'll likely keep it and see how it evolves. See how I can fit these apps into my TV habits. But I still need a primary replacement for my Harmony 360. I will probably get the Harmony 700 refurb for $55 from Logitech.com.

And how does one get said code?

I had an issue with my Harmony 360 remote which is now out of warranty. They offered 50% promo code on a new (not refurbished or sale item) Harmony remote from the Logitech website.

By the way, I updated the post above and also included a link to some screen captures of the Android app.

I have had the Harmony Link since the day it came out... it has yet to work. I have spent over 2 hours (over the period of two day) and countless hours on the Support Forums (I even managed to help solve multiple individuals problems).

I was told Thursday night that my issue would be elevated to Level 2 support and they would be returning my call 24-48 hours (Friday or Saturday) I even called on Friday to confirm they would be calling today "Yes sir, they will be calling you at 8 PM"... Guess what, it is 8:45 PM and no call... 48 hours is up. I tried calling Customer Service and they are closed. Now I will probably have to spend another hour of my time calling them back just to see why they never called.

One week with a useless paperweight... I was excited when I pre-ordered it, even enough to chose next day shipping so I could get it the day after it came out. Now I am just angry...

P.S. This is a known issue, I guess it is the luck of the draw...

What is the issue?

I picked up a new Harmony remote on 7 October 2011. Phansson introduced it to me and since I am a gadget geek, I had to try it.

Harmony Link Remote Product Page



My initial thoughts are:

PROS:
- Easy to get up and running on my wi-fi network
- Easy to set up Devices
- Easy to set up Activities
- Great looking GUI on the iPad
- Turn on and off all devices in and out of my cabinet
- Quick response and no noticeable delays

CONS:
- TV channel guide is on the screen for EVERY activity
- No customization of buttons
- No customization of device delays, order of devices to be turned on (haven't personally seen any issues, though)
- Cannot re-order the Activity list. As you enter them is how they are listed.
- Cannot add custom activity icons
- Cannot configure static IP address, only DHCP

Overall, I love it. I will probably be the only one who uses it, though. I will need to try it with my iPad and my wife's iPad trying to control it at the same time. See what happens. I may try with my iPad and iPhone later.

Now, a couple days later. I have having issues with it turning my Onkyo pre/pro on, off, and changing inputs consistently. I've had to add the IR extender to fix it. I am planning on trying different places for the "puck." Nothing has changed since day one so I am perplexed as to why things are not working the same.

Glad you are liking it Lou! Do we know of a place where we can tell Harmony what kind of changes we would like to see made?

I have also bought the Harmony Link. It will not control my Sony HT-CT350 unless I am basically right in front of the "Puck". I have tried some different placements and can't seem to figure out why it won't work. All my other devices (Sony TV, LG Blu-ray player and Comcast Motorola DCT) work. Any thoughts?

Probably the Logitech Harmont support forums.


You or the Sony needs to right in front of the puck?

Generally, if I stand right in front of the Puck (which i do have near the sub of the CT350), it will control functions. For the cable box and Blu-ray player, I can be anywhere in my living room.

You know that the app is running over your wi-fi network, right? You can literally be standing ANYWHERE you have access to your wi-fi network and control things. This is better than RF.

It sounds like something is blocking the IR from getting to your Sony player. Have you tried putting the IR extender near the Sony to see what happens?

I just started a "suggestions" thread over at Harmony. Hopefully we they will not take it down. Go ahead and post your suggestions!

http://forums.logitech.com/t5/Harmon...nk/td-p/706706