New Harmony 670 for DVRs - Page 3

In the past it would actually do BOTH. But an update a few months back fixed this, and it should now only send out the 'menu' command for the TV, not teh activity.

I am considering the 670 but wondered if it can accomodate my audio usage.

I would like to be able to turn my external speakers on and off independently of the "activity".

For example, while watching TV I would like a button which toggles between TV speaker and external speakers. Thus the remote would

1. Mute the TV
2. Turn on the AVR
3. Set the AVR input to the CURRENT device (this is the hard part) ie the TV in this case but the same button should work for any device.

The best way to do this might just be to create two distinct TV activities:

- One using TV speakers only.
- One using TV muted and AVR speakers.

I think it should be quite straightforward. You would then just switch from one TV activity to the other and steps 1-3 would happen just as you described.

Here's another solution that works for me. My "Watch TV" activity turns on my satellite receiver, TV, and AVR and of course makes all the needed input changes. Since I NEVER use the "Channel Up/Down" button to change channels (I always use either the satellite receiver guide or directly change using the number buttons) I simply mapped the 670 "Channel Up/Down" to the AVR's volume control.

This way when I'm "Watching TV" in can use the TV volume and then if later I find I'm watching something in HD/5.1 I mute the TV using the "Mute" button on the 670, then just increase the volume on the AVR using the "Channel Up/Down" button. I've also mapped the "Enter" button on the 670 to "Mute" the AVR.

This makes it easy to go back and forth between TV and AVR volume without having to create a new activity. Works for me, but my wife somehow still gets confused.

I think you were pushing it a bit, hoping for a high WAF on that one! It reminds me of pre-Harmony universal remote experiences, where the none of the hard buttons did what they were expected to, and nobody but the programmer could remember what that was anyway ... I'm not sure I would recommend it! Cute though!

Kex, your right about the WAF on my setup. In fact I've been thinking about changing it such that the Vol button always adjust the the TV and the Channel Up/Down always adjust the AVR volume. It would be easy to do and that way she doesn't have to think out which button controls the volume. Either way it seems to make more since to me than making a new activity just to change the way the volume works.

Anyway, it's my setup and I'm sticking to it

This may be a silly question, but why don't you just use soft buttons next to the LCD screen? Maybe that would mean "paging" to another screen?

Your method makes sense in that the buttons are always availble. My suggestion makes sense in that it may be a "cleaner" approach, but the user would have to press two buttons (activities followed by the appropriate TV activity button) to get there. There may also be screen "paging" issues if there are more activities set up than the screen can display on the first page of soft buttons.

OK, so the short answer is: No it can't do that.

I guess I need a remote with macro capability and access to the concept of "current device" available in the macro language. Any suggestions for such a remote?

LesMoss, I guess in the strictest of "toggle" no...I know of no way you can program one button on the 670 that would take you from TV to AVR speakers. Of course, even it you could (or find a remote that does) wouldn't you still have to adjust the volume as you go back and forth? Don't know about your system, but for me the volume levels are different enough between my TV and AVR that if I could toggle I would still have to make an adjustment.

With my method, all I do is mute the TV and turn up the volume on the AVR...or visa versa. I don't know, but that seems pretty simple to me.

Here's what I'd do:

Turn the AVR on for each activity.
Relearn the volume up and down button to control the volume for both TV and AVR.
When you enter each activity, send 'Mute' to the AVR.
When you leave each activity, send 'Mute' to the AVR.
Create an LCD button that sends 'Mute' to the AVR and 'Mute' to the TV.

The button will then toggle between which device is muted, and the volume control will work for both devices. This assumes you can leave your AVR on for each activity, and that changing the volume won't throw either device out of 'Mute' mode.

Alternatively, you can just fork over the $700 for the MX-950, since it's the only other way to get the functionality you want (variables). Have fun programming it, too!

I thought the short answer was "yes", not "no", but you have to accept that any Harmony is an activity based remote. Duplicating the activity for either type of use is not hard to do. Even if you get a macro based remote, where you can program macros to each button as you choose, you will still have issues such as "does that make any sense to anyone else but me?" and "how many hard buttons are available for those functions once I have already programmed in the essentials?". Using activities to get what you want only implies one extra button push: the "activities" button, to enable access to the activities menu. That did not seem like a deal killer to me.

If you go another route, you may run into much more tricky issues, especially for other users if you are not the only person involved.

Thanks to all for the ideas. I guess the multiple activity approach may be OK. My intial reaction was the 10 activities (5x2) would create a multipage menu which would not be very easy to use. Same number of key strokes as I use now - although on a single remote.

I guess I should just get one of these things and try it out.

If you want it local, avoid BB and CC except for special deals (or you'll be paying rent on the store). You could try Costco if you are a member. They sell the 720 (6 LCD colour screen activity buttons and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery) at $120 (frequently out of stock though). They won't give you any hassle if you want to give it back. I think Sears may also carry it, but not for that price.

Otherwise, the 880 has eight activity buttons per screen and is currently about $130 from amazon.com, including shipping, but obviously not so easy to return ... and not for free. Costco pricing on the 880 is not that great, unless it has changed since I last noticed.

The 670 you first mentioned is only $85 from amazon.com, but you'll have the same return issues. I don't know about local store pricing.

OK, I got a 670. After a struggle with poor usability of the software and an error in the database from my AVR, it now works with all my devices. But, there is still a problem with using my cable box with and without AVR even though I have 2 different activities. The problem is that when watching with AVR on, the sound also goes to the TV and the TV is not muted. I can't see how to tell the remote that it needs to mute the TV speaker in this activity.

I know I can create a TV mute button for the activity, but that is not WAF friendly. Seems like a common problem that Hormony would do automatically or at least provide a check box.

This should help you out.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=904113

rveras, thanks for that. I will try it.

Do you know how to customize the Pic and Sound menus. The default setup seem pretty useless in my case.

Using macros might be tempting, but I think you need to resolve your setup issues first (it should be fairly straightforward). It sounds like your activities are not quite set up correctly. If you are not sure how to tweak it, give c/s a call and they will probably sort it out for you.

If you start throwing personalized macro sequences at it already, for a simple issue such as this, you might be inviting further troubles in the future when you want to fix something and your macros may become part of the problem.

Re-run the activity setup wizard and when it finishes select "Yes, but I want to add more control". You will get a screen where you can add commands to the activity start and end sequences. Add the "Mute" command to both the start and end sequence so the TV mutes when the activity starts, and un-mutes when the activity ends.

On the button customization screen for each device and activity, you can select "Picture" or "Sound" from the drop down menu at the top.

Thanks for the help czzer. Thats what I needed. Glad you are following this thread from Adelaide.

I checked out the new Sequences (macro) feature. Its pretty limited. A max of 5 commands. Many menus take more than 5 down arrows to get to the entry you want. Also, the commands are restricted to those that are already in the activity. So it can't be used turn my AVR on/off.

Anyway, I'm keeping the 670 - but just barely

I just got a 670 and am having trouble getting activities to properly select the appropriate input on several devices . . . the AV receiver and the HDTV.

Using Help solves it, but I have to do it every time.

Pushing the activity button a second time also solves the problem.

In the software, it seems to want me to mess with the timing and delays . . . and thats where I am stupid. Should I be increasing delays or shortening them? It's a real pain to do this by trial and error. And, yes, the activities are properly set up for the correct input.

Can anybody help?

You will need to increase the appropriate delay...probably the Inter Device Delay or the Power On Delay.

Increase one of them to a large amount (eg 5000ms) to see which delay(s) are causing the problem. You can then decrease them to a reliable figure.

Is there a way to change the activity list under the "More Activities" button? I just want to change the order in which the devices are listed.

Thanks all -

hi all, everything seems to be working fine except there is nothing for the pvr button? What button works for all of you?

I use a programmable "soft button" for the DVR listings of my Motorola DCH-3416. You can set those up in the 'additional buttons' tab of the 'customize buttons' for your activity.

If you mean that you can't find the right action in the dropdown boxes for the DVR listings, you could learn that command -- I needed to learn the 30 second skip button for my DVR.

i tried that and and told the software LOL that i wanted to learn a button from the dish remote and it said it didnt support it? what am i doing wrong/ Can i do this without being connected to the usb and computer?

I've only had the 670 for a short time and only have learned a command twice. I did it from that 'customize buttons' area and I did indeed need to have the remote connected to the computer in order to do it. Logitech's support is supposed to be really good for these products, so if you can't get it to work right giving them a call is probably a good next step.

Cindy, I have the same setup as you, vip622 and a 670. In my "Watch TV" activity I did the following for customized buttons:

Button #1. "Dish Home" 622 Command = DishHome
#2. "DVR" 622 Command = PVR
#3 "Aspect" 622 Command = Aspect
#4 "Live TV" 622 Command = View

With the Harmony software at the Activities screen click the Customize Buttons under the Watch TV activity. On the next screen click the Additional Buttons tab and just name a button under the "Label" column, choose VIP 622 under device, and pick the appropriate command. Click "Done", connect the 627 to your computer and let the software download the changes.

Hope this helps.

hi, i tried to customize and do this with the buttons E and plus. I didnt want to change my number buttons as some people still use them to change channels. Can you customize the buttons to the left and right of the lcd screen and if so what are they called on the software?