I started using Hermony remotes in '04, after I saw a late-night show with one of the founders (because I couldn't sleep) and it was OK, but the jog wheel was a problem for some customers. It was also small and a bit slippery, so it could fly out of the hand when walking. The next few versions had their good and bad models (the 676 was actually pretty good) and then, Logitech bought them and so began the great sleep WRT how they performed and dealt with the market, dealers (we were treated like the ugly, redheaded step-child) and worse, consumers.
I have been using their 650 for simple systems because it works and then, they changed their website and an account only allows 5 remotes, with our dealer site not working for all models when cloning or an update was needed. That raised the possibility that dealers who have more than 50 separate customer accounts in their page would need to search for the login info, rather than just go to the dealer page and click on what we need.
Fast forward a few months and voila! New dealer site that is expanded to show customer account name, most of the equipment and all of the old buttons for removing, cloning and updating. The new software even allows cloning an old remote's program to the new models although the H1100's side buttons need to be created in the new models because these don't have actual side buttons, but they do allow adding buttons.
This brings me to the reason I considered the Elite in the first place- a customer's husband dropped and killed their 1100, which was doing a great job of operating the main system with Zone 2 controls in all activities- no need to go to a separate page and deal with any commands that might be re-sent and screwing up the activity. I decided to pick up an Elite and try it- I had checked out the Harmony One and absolutely hated it, although a large reason was that my laptop was having some issues but I DO NOT want any way for a customer to make changes to the remote's setup or activity functions by pressing buttons. This goes for their curious kids, too (yeah, I know it reads like the Wicked Witch), but.....).
I watched a couple of YouTube videos and started migrating the program, then stopped myself and transferred the setup for my own system, so I could see if it would get the TV's commands right, which had been a problem with the URC-780, even with the "help" of their tech support people. They keep telling me their database is the most complete, but I continue to see models missing, corrupt commands and that wastes my time, costs me money and it has been an expensive ride.
I didn't place the hub carefully, to allow the commands to hit all of the equipment and it still works flawlessly. As a matter of fact, it's sitting on a chair and not even aimed at the rack, without a wall to reflect from and the only piece I set to be controlled by the remote itself is the TV because I assumed it wouldn't receive the commands.
Pros-
The IR commands and emitters in the remote and hub are strong, they have delays built in so the equipment isn't flooded with commands that make it lose the will to live and just ignore them. The TV I have doesn't use discreet commands for power or sources and it scrolls through the inputs perfectly, turns it on and off without needing the Help button (it's still there, but it's part of a set of "fixes". I haven't tried the additional emitter "bugs" yet- I might not need them in the cabinet with my customer's system and that's pretty amazing since it's a tight space.
The hub has two IR ports, which accept the emitters that have two ends for the equipment. Like their older RF repeater, the output can be sent to an IR distribution module from companies like Zantec and Proficient, if more devices need to be controlled and aren't in the same area or when the hub can't be visible for aesthetic reasons.
The IP control for my Roku works great, although I have been testing the remote more than the iPhone app. I'll probably connect my ReQuest server to see how that works, too- I have another customer with two H1100 remotes that are getting a bit long in the tooth and I think the Elite will be a good replacement. It needs to work because I'm doing things Harmony told me I couldn't with that model, yet they work extremely well. So far, it hasn't lost connection to the router and I can still control the system through the hub that's using the main SSID, even though the phone was on the Guest Network, on a different address range.
It has a good feel- very solid. The hard buttons are plentiful, distinct and all are back-lit. It still has the learning window, too. That's a plus- some of the URC models require a separate learning device, at a cost that may not be practical for someone who doesn't add many models to their own database.
It has a rechargeable battery and charging base that takes up little space and doesn't allow the remote to slide out of position the way the 880 could.
It's easier to go from an Activity to the Device area, do what you want and return to your Activity without messing up the activity. If the activity stops or a device goes to the wrong input, etc, the help button now has separate buttons for 'Help" and 'Fix it myself'. It also has a settings button, and so far, I haven't found a way to screw up the setup.
Setup is in the Cloud, which means that a remotely located remote system can be set up without someone making a six hour round trip at a time when they really can't (my customer with two H1100s have a second home) and I think I'll use the Elite for the theater and another for the rest of the house) and it won't require the customer/user to do anything, which is great for someone who might be programming these for family & friends around the country/World.
It can control lighting and because it operates over IP, this isn't only the Z-Wave lighting. I'll explore that later.
Here's a list of compatible devices and it includes water heaters, thermostats, Lutron shades and lighting, Nest products, Hunter-Douglas, door locks, dimmer outlets and more.
https://support.myharmony.com/en-us/compatibility
As usual, they allow adding buttons. This makes adding and scrolling through more pages necessary, but it's better than not being able to add the needed commands. Also, they allow what they call 'Sequences', which are just additional command steps, including delays.
Speaking of delay settings, I just looked- delay time starts at 1 second and can be increased to 20 seconds. If more delay time is required, they have a button for Add Delay and another for Add Step. I added 45 more delays and it didn't stop me, even though I set most of them for 20 seconds. That means it will have no problem letting a projector to cool before shut-down. It would also allow the lights to be turned up/down/on/off for watching a movie, leaving, arriving, playing a movie trailer that's on a thumb drive, etc (as long as all needed commands are added, in the correct order and with the proper delays).
Cons-
I'd like to see them expand the height of the touch-screen buttons. It's a little too easy to press one that's adjacent to the one wanted.
I'd like the edges of the remote to be more "grippy". The back has a matte finish, but it's not like the old rubberized coating, which is good and bad- good because it became sticky over time and bad because it can slide off of a pant leg, sofa or out of a hand.
A battery charge indicator would be nice, but they had a warning before the battery went dead on other models, so I'll assume this does the same.
If I find more 'Pros' and 'Cons', I'll post them and at this point, I think the 'Pros' will continue to outnumber the 'Cons' by a good margin. I'll be working with this more in the next few days and since I only got it on Thursday, I think the fact that I haven't returned it out of frustration says a lot- I tolerate too much when it comes to remote control flaws and I haven't found anything that I would put in that category.
WRT the feel, I like that it doesn't feel cheap, but I also worry that dropping it might be a problem and more damage will result from landing on some surfaces. Stone and some hardwoods will damage any remote, so I'm not even thinking of those. The grippy edge and taller soft buttons could be fairly easy- I know they have space for the buttons because some screens require scrolling to see everything but the grippy edge requires re-tooling, so I'm not sure how they might address that. The shiny front wraps around to the backside and the textured back is a separate piece- I might suggest some kind of rubber strip that's replaceable and comes in a quantity that's not too expensive, but would allow a few replacements. Any additional sets could come in a bag, for display rack.
I think they got it right. I'll play with the iphone app more, but I really prefer the remote, at this point. I'll see if the iPad app is better, but I suspect the phone battery will be depleted sooner than I want but I will say that the phone recognizes the hub very quickly when starting/returning to the app.
A stable network will definitely be required if anyone expects an IP-based remote control to operate seamlessly. If not, it does use Bluetooth, too. Adding/editing activities is easy enough, although I plan to advise my customers to do this carefully. OTOH, if they really mess things up, the remote can be restored to its previous setup (I hope- will call about this).
