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need help: Alternative to a Harmony needed!

1347 Views 7 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  Neurorad, 
M
I own a Harmony 700 (and before that the One and the 880).


it is running:


Pioneer Sc-35

Panasonic TV

Pasnasonic Blu Ray player

TiVO

X-Box 360


I'm frustrated by two things with the remote:


1) No matter how I adjust the delays, its not as responsive as the original remote


2) I have to use the 'help' button about 30% of the time to get things to go to the currect input, power on/off. I've talked to level 2 support numerous times without getting thigns to work much better.


I was looking at the URC MRX-450, but wanted to see if anyone has experience with that remote, or could suggest any alternatatives??


help!
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B
It sounds like you need a RF universal remote to deal with your 2nd problem.


For #1 I guess I either don't have that problem or don't notice since original remotes go straight to the drawer.


Be aware that the MX-450 isn't PC programmable. If you did get one then you should pair it with one of the URC extenders such as the MRF-260 or MRF-350.
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M
Quote:
Originally Posted by bryansj
It sounds like you need a RF universal remote to deal with your 2nd problem.


For #1 I guess I either don't have that problem or don't notice since original remotes go straight to the drawer.


Be aware that the MX-450 isn't PC programmable. If you did get one then you should pair it with one of the URC extenders such as the MRF-260 or MRF-350.
yeah, I was sorting of figuring that for #2. In regards to the delay, I asked Logitech about it once and here was the response I got:


"With all Harmony remotes there is a set 50ms to 100ms delay that happens between any and all commands due to it being to the way we implement the codes on the remote. Therefore it will almost never get down to a true 0ms delay as a hard-coded and built OEM remote is. This buffering (or queuing up) of commands cannot be controlled. It's just the way the hardware, firmware and software of the remote interact. In later Harmony models we were able to improve that internal delay starting from the 1100, to the 900, 700 and now 650, 600 & 300. Unfortunately, the prior line of remotes up to and including the Harmony One are more prone to noticing these "buffering" or bursting of commands"


I know 100ms isnt really a lot, but it seems at these price points ($200-400) you shouldnt have to deal with that.
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D
Most gear has a start up time from full power up or stand by power up that the unit will not respond to an input selection for a few seconds. This can be as long as 5-15 seconds, a far cry from CRT or early DLP devices (minutes man...). Some gear (Denon Ci for instance) respond to input selection as a power up as well. Wizard based control has no way of tweaking time delays in start-up macros.
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B
Did you read the sticky thread here about Harmony slow response?
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M
I've got to recommend JP1. Instant response, fastest macros on the planet (not 50ms, but 2ms per command!) and PC programmable. Add RF with Next Generation, but probably won't be necessary. Even my longest and most complex macros run in under a second.
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M
I ended up buying the URC MX-450. All my stuff has line of sight, so its being used as IR only.


wow. it is heads and tails better than the Harmony 700 and one. Macro's work flawlessly. I've been using it for a little more than a wekk, everything turns off/on, goes to the correct input. No more stupid "help" button.


Its also more responsive than the harmony (in regards to bufferring of repeated button presses). Its still not OEM, but better than the harmony.


It also has better IR strength than the harmony.


The only downside is that it didn't have discreet on/off commands for my Panasonic BDT-210, so I actually had to download a older model panasonic to my Harmony and learn it over to the URC.


Overall I'm very pleased.....I think i'm done with Logitech and going URC from here on in.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by madhuski /forum/post/20878540


I actually had to download a older model panasonic to my Harmony and learn it over to the URC.


....I think i'm done with Logitech and going URC from here on in.
Click to expand...

Don't throw out that Harmony learning remote!
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