Logitech Harmony universal remote question

[Biggiesized]

I know you can use a universal remote to replace the remotes to your receiver, DVD player, television, etc., but you can program it to replace a goofy proprietary remote like the one Comcast gives you to operate your cable set top box?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Yes. It replaces any IR remote.

I know you can use a universal remote to replace the remotes to your receiver, DVD player, television, etc., but you can program it to replace a goofy proprietary remote like the one Comcast gives you?

 

[Biggiesized]

Awesome.

So it does have features like an "info" button which brings up the EPG for programming information and RE/FF buttons for OnDemand? Or can both of those simply be programmed as well as a specific IR signal?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

It has the hard buttons for this but you can program it to do whatever you want. All you do is open the computer program, type in all the equipment you have and how you want to use it, plug the remote in and hit "update".

Awesome.

So it does have features like an "info" button which brings up the EPG for programming information and RE/FF buttons for OnDemand? Or can both of those simply be programmed as well as a specific IR signal?

 

[Biggiesized]

I heard you can also program discrete hex codes to do specific things with your equipment. Do you have any experience with that and how to do it?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I dont really know what a Hex code is but everything I wanted to do with the remote was easy to put in and it works great.

I heard you can also program discrete hex codes to do specific things with your equipment. Do you have any experience with that and how to do it?

 

[MDS]

Remote control 'codes' are just numbers and they get transmitted over the air using IR frequencies and some communication protocol that both the remote and the device understand. So the stream of data being sent is a long sequence of numbers.

Hexadecimal is the base 16 number system (0-9 and A-F) so Hex Codes are just the sequence of numbers that represent the command in hex format. To use raw hex codes with a remote there has to be a way to convert them to the format the receiving device needs to see. Some remotes, like the higher end of the Home Theater master series, include tools to convert raw hex codes to other formats but they generally cannot be entered directly on the remote.

I don't know if any of the Harmonies can accept hex codes but if it is possible the feature would be available in the web application you use to program it.

 

[patnshan]

I use the Harmony 670. It's specifically designed to replace many of the DVR cable box functions. I do like it and it's very easy to program as was posted above.

Pat

 

[ItalianBoy228]

I just received a Harmony 880 in the mail today. $149.99 from Amazon as opposed to a brand new one from logitech for $249.99. The thing works amazing. I have a comcast remote and basically it had me hold the comcast remote 2 inches from the Harmony remote while it was hooked up to the computer, press a couple buttons, and viola it was programmed. I have it working for my TV, Comcast HD box, Blu Ray, Xbox 360, AV receiver (as soon as it comes in the mail), and even replaces my fan remote. If you have any issues while using it, it walks you through the problem by trying different steps and you answering if it fixed the problem or not. Better than I even imagined it would be.

 

[Biggiesized]

Can the Harmony be programmed for different rooms/zones? By that I mean, can I have a function for watch TV, DVD, etc. for one group of equipment, and then take the remote into another room, press a button, and have it correspond to that set? I've read it can be programmed for up to 15 pieces of equipment so that's why I wondered.

 

[mudrummer99]

Can the Harmony be programmed for different rooms/zones? By that I mean, can I have a function for watch TV, DVD, etc. for one group of equipment, and then take the remote into another room, press a button, and have it correspond to that set? I've read it can be programmed for up to 15 pieces of equipment so that's why I wondered.

Yes it can. When you are using the computer app you can set up a main set of commands (watch tv, watch dvd, etc.) and you can set up a second set of similar commands for a second area (watch tv 2, watch dvd 2, etc.) Again this is just as simple as setting up the original area, and you can even rename the activities to anything you want, such as DVD in Living Room and DVD in Bedroom. I have the 880 which has been replaced by the One model (One remote to control them all, couldn't resist) but you can still find 880's online and on eBay. Hope this helps in the decision.

Mike

 

[Biggiesized]

Does it have to be the 880? I was looking at the more wallet friendly 550.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I am not familar with the 550 but the 659 can do all this and is cheap.

Does it have to be the 880? I was looking at the more wallet friendly 550.

 

[mudrummer99]

Does it have to be the 880? I was looking at the more wallet friendly 550.

I have the 550 as well, it does it just fine too. Just saying that is my current setup, but the 550 definitely has that capability.

Mike

 

[seven_fan]

I know you can use a universal remote to replace the remotes to your receiver, DVD player, television, etc., but you can program it to replace a goofy proprietary remote like the one Comcast gives you to operate your cable set top box?

I just got a Harmony One and so far so good. Programmed it within a few minutes, and it takes over nearly everything on my Comcast remote. I was playing around with the software this morning, and it looks like there is a way to add more functionality to the One so I can put the Comcast remote in the drawer and never need it again.

I talked to a guy at Best Buy about the One and he was recommending a Universal Brand remote instead. Ugh. They wanted $400 for this remote and another $300 just to program it.

 

[HiDefGuru]

Picked up "The One" a few days ago...

And I absolutely LOVE IT! I think it will really shine once I get my audio hooked up. Has every feature I could possible think of for all my gear... Even one touch control to turn on my Media center on my Xbox360!

I'll elaborate on the awesome functions more when I get my Audio set-up.