Harmony 659 & volume punchthrough

[Topher]

I just bought a 659 & want to set the volume to control my receiver's volume no matter what device I select (I have a front projector). I have the activities working perfectly, but if I select Device & then DVD to change the disc (I have a 5-disc changer), I have to select Device & then Receiver to be able to control the volume again. I'll rearrange the buttons in the activity so that the disc selection buttons are on the first page, but having the volume always control the receiver no matter what would be beneficial, especially for my girlfriend.
I asked on the Harmony forum at remote central, but I keep being told to use activities, which I'm already doing.
Does anyone know how to do this?

 

[Lincoln]

I have a 688 not a 659 so this may be slightly different. I remember when I was using the web interface to setup my activities one of the steps included a screen that asked for the activity being setup which device controls the volume. You might go back into setup and see if you have this question in your setup. It worked fine for me the first time I did the setup and mine is more complicated b/c for some activities I use the HT recvr and others I use the TV for volume, so I know it can work.

 

[snoren]

I understand what the first poster was saying. If you push an Activity button the volume is always controlled by the receiver or whatever device you have it set up as. However, when you use the device button and select, say DVD, the volume on the remote will only control the device, and not through the receiver. As far as I can tell you can't change this. When you go into each device's commands and try to change them you only have the option of that device's volume and not the receivers. Anyone know a way around this?

 

[jmanlp]

I have an 880 and I just exit out of the device menu after I have changed something on one of devices (like the dvd player) and the volume control works again. Are you sure you have to go and select your receiver after changing something?

I have heard there is pretty good support for these remotes if you actually call Logitech, you might give that a try.

 

[RMK!]

Harmony 659

I have the 659 and I have a similar issue. When watching pre-recorded material on a Comcast DVR (6412) the 30 second skip button is my best friend (blast past commercials). Inorder to use this function I have to select the DVR Device and at that point I cannot adjust volume on my receiver without once again hitting the Device button on the Harmony. Once I hit the device button, I do not have to select the receiver to control volume as the receiver is the default device for sound in this mode. It is a little bit of a hassle to have to switch with the device button like this but I have not been motivated to figure a better way. Love that 30 second skip feature.

 

[Eric Apple]

Just add the device to the activity (sounds like you did this). Then on the main page, you select the activity, then click on "change buttons" or something like that. You can then set whatever buttons you want for the activity. You can set up picture and sound buttons for even more buttons to use while in the activity.

You can add the 30 sec skip button, and all the buttons you keep going into device mode to hit. Once you are done, you just never have to leave the activity mode and your volume control will work as you want using this approach.