An Easy Question...

[Walbodiddy]

Hello, All.

I have a question that I'm sure is very easily answered: will a universal remote execute all functions of an OEM remote? My remote is gone missing and I'm considering replacing it with a Harmony but I'm a bit apprehensive that it'll work marvelously for all general functions while leaving my EQ and other more model-specific settings tantalizingly out reach.

Thanks very much.

 

[BigGuy]

Universal remotes seems to be hit and miss. I've tried quite a few and just about everyone of them seemed to have a problem with a different piece of equipment. I've had decent luck with the MX350 for many customers, but it has it's drawbacks, and wouldn't learn a few commands when I tried to use it on my own system. I'd get a remote from a store with a good return policy and try it out.

Brian

 

[mtrycrafts]

Hello, All.

I have a question that I'm sure is very easily answered: will a universal remote execute all functions of an OEM remote? My remote is gone missing and I'm considering replacing it with a Harmony but I'm a bit apprehensive that it'll work marvelously for all general functions while leaving my EQ and other more model-specific settings tantalizingly out reach.

Thanks very much.

I am pretty sure that those EQ settings are safe from further changes

Universals are usually for the general buttons, not specific like setups, etc.
Find the remote

 

[Nick250]

Hello, All.

I have a question that I'm sure is very easily answered: will a universal remote execute all functions of an OEM remote? My remote is gone missing and I'm considering replacing it with a Harmony but I'm a bit apprehensive that it'll work marvelously for all general functions while leaving my EQ and other more model-specific settings tantalizingly out reach.

Thanks very much.

Yes and no. What is the product that you need to replicate?

Nick

 

[Walbodiddy]

Thanks for the responses so far. I'm using a VSX-9300TX. I wish finding the remote were an option - $139 for an OEM replacement is enough to remind me never to misplace it.

 

[Hi Ho]

My Harmony has literally replaced every single OEM remote I have. I have not touched them even once since I got my Harmony 688 almost a year ago. I have found that the Harmony usually has more functions than the original remote! Any buttons that are not physically on the remote are on the LCD screen.

So, my answer to your question is, yes. A remote like the Harmony can cover all of the functions of your OEM remotes, and then some.

You can do the Test Drive and see how it will work with your components.

 

[MDS]

I use one and only one remote for my entire system - the MX-350 (including 'setup' functions mytrycrafts.)

Remotes like the Home Theater Master and Harmony are an entirely different breed from the inexpensive pre-programmed remotes. They can generally learn any IR command as long as it uses one of the supported protocols and the standard IR frequencies between 43 kHz and 100 kHz. If you no longer have the original remote then a Harmony may be the best option if their database has codes for your equipment. The MX series remotes,which I prefer, do have a built-in database and there are of course other ways to get codes in different formats and convert them for use with the remote, but in general the best way to set them up is to learn every command from its original remote.

 

[agarwalro]

I have been using the Harmony 880 for a few months now. It is more than enough for the job. Since it is highly highly highly configurable, you can place any control for any device on any menu option.

It has allowed to set up activities like, watching TV while listening to the radio or a CD. So I can change the channels on the TV and radio or skip tracks on the CD player, while adjusting the volume on the receiver.

 

[Nick250]

A slight hijack. I recently got a Harmony 659 and it works great. Up to a point. While I can assign simple tasks I have not been able to get past the basics. An example: Watch a Movie. The 659 turns everything and sets the video and audio inputs, turns on the DVD play. Great, I love it. But I also want to open they DVD tray as part of the automatic "watch movie" commands. The Wizard does not offer it. The manual and help files do not address it as far as I can find. It would seem there is another layer of programing the darn thing that I can't firgure out. Suggestions?

Nick

 

[MDS]

I could be wrong as I've never owned a Harmony, but from what I've read it does not have true 'macro' capabilities where you can assign ANY sequence of commands. The activities are limited macros that deal with power and input selection.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I use one and only one remote for my entire system - the MX-350 (including 'setup' functions mytrycrafts.)
.

So, it is a super duper remote that can be programmed after the fact of loosing a OEM remote by visiting the web site? Or, is it preloaded with all known remote and functions?

 

[mtrycrafts]

A slight hijack. I recently got a Harmony 659 and it works great. Up to a point. While I can assign simple tasks I have not been able to get past the basics. An example: Watch a Movie. The 659 turns everything and sets the video and audio inputs, turns on the DVD play. Great, I love it. But I also want to open they DVD tray as part of the automatic "watch movie" commands. The Wizard does not offer it. The manual and help files do not address it as far as I can find. It would seem there is another layer of programing the darn thing that I can't firgure out. Suggestions?

Nick

Are all these preloaded? Or, you have to program every step you want to do or be covered in one operation?

 

[Hi Ho]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A slight hijack. I recently got a Harmony 659 and it works great. Up to a point. While I can assign simple tasks I have not been able to get past the basics. An example: Watch a Movie. The 659 turns everything and sets the video and audio inputs, turns on the DVD play. Great, I love it. But I also want to open they DVD tray as part of the automatic "watch movie" commands. The Wizard does not offer it. The manual and help files do not address it as far as I can find. It would seem there is another layer of programing the darn thing that I can't firgure out. Suggestions?

You can do this. Go through the wizard again but when you get to the end chose the "It's working but I want more options" button. You will go through an abreviated wizard and end up at a screen where you can add entry and exit commands individually. The Harmony does have true macro functions. They're just not out in the open.

 

[MDS]

So, it is a super duper remote that can be programmed after the fact of loosing a OEM remote by visiting the web site? Or, is it preloaded with all known remote and functions?

Yes, it is a super duper remote. Remote control is not rocket science and I have explained briefly how they work elsewhere. Harmony's database of pre-programmed codes is one approach but of course there are others if you have any technical acumen. No remote is pre-programmed with all known functions but if you would take the time to learn about how they really work you would see that it really is pretty simple. I can't point you to a peer-reviewed paper describing IR protocols so I guess you'll never know....

 

[Nick250]

mtrycrafts, just to expand a bit on MDS's post. The Harmony is "activity based". It does not have any build in codes AFAIK. It comes with a USB connection. Harmony has a data base of commands for most all equipment from most all manufacturers. After telling Harmony all your equipment wizards run you through basic activities like:

When you watch TV what video in should be used. Video 6 in my case.

Do you want to trun on your cable box at the same time. Yes in my case.

Do you use your receiver for the sound for TV? No

Here, this explains it much better than me.

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/features/harmonytopics/US/EN,CRID=2079

Nick

 

[Hi Ho]

The Harmony's database is online and is constantly being updated. Like I said, the Harmony often has codes for functions that OEM remotes don't even have. That is one reason I like the Harmony. The online setup is very simple but you can do more advanced things if you want and there is usually no need to manually learn commands, a time consuming process.

 

[FierceTIMbo17]

The harmony is great simple to use and set-up. It has some problem like if your watching tv and want to watch a dvd it sometimes turns off the tv is the tv does not have seperate on off buttons. Also has trouble switching samsung tv inputs sometimes. BTW my harmony only wont switch to my hdmi 2 input everything else works fine but this is my dvd player which i use the most. Possibly because when it is trying to switch there is not signal going to the input?
also have not found a command i have not been able to program to my harmony except pure direct on my denon dvd player. They are awesome i recommend

 

[mtrycrafts]

mtrycrafts, just to expand a bit on MDS's post. The Harmony is "activity based". It does not have any build in codes AFAIK. It comes with a USB connection. Harmony has a data base of commands for most all equipment from most all manufacturers. After telling Harmony all your equipment wizards run you through basic activities like:

When you watch TV what video in should be used. Video 6 in my case.

Do you want to trun on your cable box at the same time. Yes in my case.

Do you use your receiver for the sound for TV? No

Here, this explains it much better than me.

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/features/harmonytopics/US/EN,CRID=2079

Nick

THANKS for the input
It is a super duper remote, a mini computer in the palm.
Perhaps for the poster who lost his remote, he could find one of these for less than to replace his and download the functions
My needs are still simple, so I may just wait to pick one up.