Harmony SST-659 - Page 2  

I'll give you a quick answer and let MikeSRC add any necessary details/clarifications as he seems much more experienced with this remote...

While in an Activity, you can press the "Device" button to bring a list of your programmed devices onto the LCD. You scroll through the pages of devices until you see the one you want to switch to and then push that button. This could be 2-7 button pushes (depending on which page your desired device is on) so I don't know if this is quick enough for you. To switch back, just press the Activity button again and the remote will switch back to the default Volume Control. I don't know if there is an easier way (it seems like there should be but I haven't had any reason to look into it so I don't know).

Now I'm getting tempted with the 768. I have an MX500 that has been working great for me but one thing has been a pain lately ... the HTPC.

I now have to use a Gyration mouse and keyboard to control my HTPC. I just purchased the PVS software from Snapstream and I'm starting to like it for it's PVR functionality. It has a nice full screen mode that works well with the Hauppage remote that came with my pvr250 capture card, but that just added another remote to my system.

Anyone get the 768 to work with a HTPC? Maybe to replace the functionality of something like the Hauppage remote or maybe the ATI remote?

On a related question, how does the 768 handle all the commands you get with a digital cable (or satellite stb too I guess) box? For example, my cable remote has an info button and a music button that gets a lot of use from my girlfriend. I cannot introduce any new gadgets that take away any functionality she is used to. My guess is that you could switch to a different "mode" but this seems like pain. If I'm watching digital cable, then I (or rather she) wants the same buttons/functions easily available. Same thing for something like page up and page down and favorites. If I want my guide while watching TV I can see hitting the guide button but how do I page thru the results?

I really don't need this temptation .... :rolleyes:

PretzelB - Why did you post this comment on this thread? This is about the 659.

My bad. I did a search (like a good boy) for the 768 and found this thread. I saw a few comments about 768 in the thread. Guess I lost track of the subject after reading all the posts.

I will look for my own 768 thread.

In case anyone wanted to actually help me with my questions I created a separate thread.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=333559

Just got my 659 this evening, and so far I'm fairly happy with it.

But there's one thing that's been giving me absolute fits, and that's its inability to control my ReplayTV 5040. It seems like one out of every 15 button presses sends the correct signal to my ReplayTV. The rest of the time, nothing happens. The Harmony seems to know the "language" of my ReplayTV, but can't seem to be able to communicate with it.

I've tried teaching it every key press in analyzed mode, and that didn't seem to do much either. I haven't gone to RAW learning 'cause that sounds desperate, and I'm not quite there yet. I'm also hesitant to play with the "speed" settings, hoping someone else has figured out some good ones for ReplayTV.

So my basic question is, has anyone gotten the 659 to work well with a ReplayTV, and if so, what did you have to do to get there?

Any advice would be appreciated. This seems like a nice product, so it's really odd that it's failing so miserably with something it seems well equipped for.

I got my 659 last night. It pretty much worked just as I programmed it from the testdrive. I had a few things to tweak and buttons to add. I had to learn some commands from my original remotes which couldn't be easier. I also programmed a few custom activities such as play SACD which will turn on my DVD player and my reciever and then make the reciever use the multi channel input when the activity starts and then go back to digital when it ends. I am very happy with this remote so far just have to get used of the fact that it is a new remote and the buttons aren't the same place as they used to be.

I got mine last night about 5 PM and played with it until 1 or 2 this AM! I kept having problems when I switched from one activity to the next. When I went to "watch TV", I never had a problem but when I went to "watch DVD or CD", my Denon would not switch to the proper inputs. So, I tried playing with the delay times.....that did not work.......played with the inputs...that did not work. I finally gave up and tried this AM. Well guess what? Works perfect now! For some reason, it would not recognize the input command on my Denon so I sent the command from my Denon to the Harmony and PROBLEM SOLVED!!!

Since I do not have anything else to compare it too, I can't give any impression as to how well it works against any other Universal remote. I CAN tell you it is SWEET though!!! One remote to operate 5 pieces of gear!! No more separate remotes!! Yahoo!!

I've got my new 659 just about totally set up now. I had it "working" in about 10 minutes, but I've since spent probably 3 hours or so all together stringing together macros (er, activities) to get everything I want to do down to a button or two.

I'm quite impressed so far with the ease of programming, the feel of the remote, and the range. I can aim the remote just about anywhere (except directly behind me) and still control the equipment just fine.

I did have to move the commands around for the receiver (in device menu) so that the enter key wasn't 10 pages away from the Movie mode button though. I had to do this to allow me to switch back to DPL-II from stereo while watching certain TV channels; the receiver would time-out and not take the command to go back to DPL-II if it didn't get the enter command right after. So, with a bit of re-ordering the commands, I'm able to fully control all my devices from 1 remote. Good stuff.

Highly recommended remote!

Sorny

Just wanted to let everyone know that a call to Intrigue helped solve my ReplayTV problems. It turns out that I had to teach the 659 my ReplayTV remote's codes in RAW learning mode. Once that was done, everything worked like a charm.

I'm a little puzzled that other ReplayTV 5xxx owners had their 659 work right out of the box with the Harmony database codes. But I won't worry about it as long as things are working as well as they are now.

All in all, I'm thrilled with my 659. I still think Harmony should support basic macro functionality without requiring the more expensive 768, but that's a whole other discussion.

Now, how cool is that! What a great idea, as many times after I have played an SACD I forget to switch the receiver back to digital. Then I wonder why the movie I play the next day sounds wierd until I figure it out.

I'm definitely thinking of buying a SST-659.

i have both the 659 and the 768. just got them last week, and my intention was to use the 768 for my HT and the 659 for our bedroom set up (a tivo, dvd, and vhs) which my wife uses when i'm away.
my wife is a luddite and i thought the 659 would be more to her liking, but she thought that the 768 was easier to use. the wheel and the little window which describes the device was more to her liking. her only complaint was that it was built "upside down" (since the lcd window is at the bottom). go figure!
now i've got to reprogam both of them. sure would like it if Mac os 9.2 would work. they are only supporting os X, so i've got to bring them to work to do it.

Just an update... on the first page of this thread I had posted about the SSt-659 having problems with the Bravo D1. Well, Intrigue's support staff fixed this completely. Just took a few days to get an email response but they emailed back telling me to log in and update my remote with their fixed codes and all is great now. Excellent tech support!

Hi all,

A few questions.

1. I've seen some posts about being careful about buying from authorized dealers. If you don't buy from an authorized dealer will you be able to use the web setup?

3. How do you know if where you are buying from is an authorized dealer? Or are all of the places I find on the web selling well below the SRP going to result in problems dealing with Harmony later for web setup?

3. I've seen some posts about setting up the remote before you get it. I went to the Harmony site and one of the 1st things it asks for in the setup is to hook it up to the remote to make sure it is communicating corretly. So how do you presetup or check your components.

Thanks for your help.

AVS rocks.

1. If you don't buy from an authorized dealer, you can still use the Harmony web setup, but you won't get a warranty from Harmony.

2. All the authorized dealers are listed on the Harmony website here

3. Take the Harmony "test drive" first before you do anything else.

I to tried to setup the remote on the website before actually receiving my remote and was also stumped. However, when I set up my account and didn't take any actions on the website, I go an email from Harmony asking why I hadn't set up anything. I emailed them back explaining I hadn't received it yet and was there anyway to skip over the step where it searched for my device. I promptly received a reply that my online web page had been configured to allow this! How cool is that?

Anyway, I received my 659 yesterday and it is set up for the basics. I gotta admit I struggled with it at first, but once I got comfortable with it, it is making more sense. I only have 4 components hooked up: Sammy HLN567, Panasonic DMR-E20, Denon 1804 receiver, and Scientific Atlanta digital/HD cable box. It worked as advertised. I now push "Watch TV" and 3 of the components go on (TV, Cable Box, and Denon) and I can work the channel button via the cable box through the 659, control the volume via the receiver through the 659, and pretty much whatever else I want to do. I'm still trying to work through a few "kinks", like making it easier to switch over to my computer, but simply ran out of time last night (yawn). I'm also not sure if the "Watch Movie" button is working completely right yet, but at least my wife can watch things with just one push of a button now (although, gotta give my wife credit, she had learned well all the steps we had to go through prior to this remote to simply watch TV).

I bought my remote through ProVantage which is an authorized dealer (go to Harmony's website for a direct link) at a VERY good price. Anyway, bottom line, at this point I'd highly recommend the remote. I'm so impressed that my father will be getting one of these remotes for Christmas!

My 659 should arrive today but I have been somewhat perplexed with the online setup. I have an Epson TW100 as my viewing source. No problem there. Also have a Rotel RSP-985 prepro that the setup always lists as an "amplifier", even though I enter it as recommended as a "receiver". I also have a Rotel RMB-1095 amp that gets listed as a receiver, despite entering it as an amp. I also have an NHT-3 amp that I biamp the front NHT VT-2.4's with (no sub). My DVD/SACD/DVD-a/sometime CD source is a Denon 2900 that because of limitations of the 985 goes into the 5.1 channel (analog bypass) through an RCA to 25DB cable. I also have a Denon carousel CD player for multiplay. Does not seem that complex, but was really struggling to figure out how to set this up.

Harmony support for the first time did not respond to my email (in past always amazing). Once I get the remote today, will take another shot with them to get it set up. I suspect it will not be that hard. My 2900 recognizes what source it is playing and will automatically select SACD etc. As I have to run all 5.1 stuff through that cable it is easy. Never asked anyone if I should also set up directly to the CD in from the player, if there is any advantage vs the 5.1 input. Perhaps another forum for that question. I suspect with some support, the 659 should work for my set up. Any ideas?

Jeff

Be patient with Harmony. I spent 20 minutes on the phone this afternoon with a tech, and I could hear the phones ringing in the background. They are swamped. Sales of the 659 have surprised even them. And they have changed their e-mail system. They now assign a code in the subject line to prioritize and expedite e-mails. I, too, didn't receive the automated response on my last e-mail, but they did respond. And, after long waits on hold today, I did manage to talk to two techs live. And they do know what they're doing. The guys I talked to were very sharp (and patient!).

Just bought a 659 for my parents as a Christmas gift. Thanks to Mike at SurfAudioVideo.com for his expert knowledge and great special pricing!

bart-
I try to enter the prepro as a receiver, but it still comes up as an amplifier. Same for the amp. Enter it as an amp, comes up as a receiver. Sort of screwy. My remote came in today. Wish I had seen the surfremote deal. Did fairly comparably, but not as confident about the seller. I will try again to get the components entered correctly. Also, my two power amps do not have remotes (Rotel 1095 and NHT SA-3), what do you do in that case other than get off your arse to turn them on?

Jeff

Tell the kids to get off their arse to turn them on ;)

Dolfo-

Truly a wise man. But does that screw up the ability to use the presets if the amps are not "automated"?

Jeff

Received my 659 today. So far so good.
Question, is there a way to customize the order in which the More Activities list is?

Okay you tech guys....help me figure this one out. To change from "Watch TV" to "Watch a Movie" (which I have as my DVD), I need to turn a menu on (the TvVideo button on my Samsung HLN567), then need to move the arrow up or down to the proper "input", then hit select. The problem is I can't figure out how the hell to get the arrow to move to the proper input device! I set it up so that the command to move the arrow is sent, but it moves it one "notch", then the select button kicks in. In other words, it is only moving it to the next available input, not the required one to operate the device. Is this making sense? I expect to hear from Harmony tomorrow, but if anyone has a suggestion, would sure welcome it.

As for the rest of the remote, I really enjoy it. I watch mainly TV on my system, so it isn't that big of a deal to manually move to the proper input device when switching between TV and DVD, but I simply think I am missing a step. I also enjoy the "TV Guide" that is available on the Harmony screen....very handy.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.....

You aren't kidding about ProVantatge. I ordered one tonight.

I think I'm in love. I've never minded having to juggle all my remotes, but now, after one full day with the SST-659, I can't believe I'd been doing that all these years. What a performer!

It took me more than a half-hour to setup, but I expected that. But now that I'm finished (unless I come across more things to tweak) it is seemlessly controlling my Liteon 2001 and Panny F85 DVD players, my Sony STR-DA2ES A/V receiver, Zektor HDS4 A/V switch, Directivo HDVR2, Zenith SAT-520, Motorola DCT-5100, JVC VCR and Toshiba 50HX81.

Honestly? I didn't think it would happen, but it did. I had to teach it most of the controls for the Liteon and it took a while to get the Zektor switch just right, but now it's nearly perfect. Great job Harmony, my juggling days seem over.

I opted for the 659 because after comparing the specs, the only difference seemed to be that TV, CD, and MP3 listings on the remote were included in the other model, while they will eventually cost a fee after two months on the 659. I don't plan to use that feature anyway, so the extra cost wasn't worth it to me. Plus, it makes it even easier for the wife and kids.

clemsound85 - when I set up my Philips Cineos, I had to set it up the same way. In the Television setup (Adjust Inputs), make sure you are choosing the method of using an on-screen menu and choosing the input from that menu to change inputs. Also, make sure the order of the inputs on the screen that lists all television inputs is correct. For your DLP, there may even be discrete IR codes to switch directly to any given input so you don't have to use the on-screen menu at all (after playing for a few days, I tried some of the presets - namely "InputDVD" and "InputSat" - and discovered that these worked fine as discrete codes to switch to my DVD input and my Satellite input even though there isn't a comparable button on the remote. To check yours, go to Television - More Options - Customize Device, Sound, and Picture Commands... Check the pulldown menus under the Device Control column and check if yours has similar IR Code names. If so, setup some Custom Button Labels and try them to see if they work. If so, you can reconfigure your inputs to go directly to the input you want.).

I just got through talking to somebody at Harmony about this a couple of days ago and, apparently, it can't be done right now. I'm not too sure why.