Harmony remote questions

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Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Thinking about getting a Harmony remote, have a few questions that I haven't been able to find answers for...

1. Can Harmony remotes other than the Harmony 360 control an Xbox 360?
2. I don't have an Xbox 360 yet but will eventually; is it worthwhile to use a Harmony remote with one? I don't expect to use the Media Center Extender functionality, because it will be in the same room as my HTPC most likely. I understand that there are downloadable videos - are any free? (like movie trailers and whatnot) Anything else you'd use a Harmony for with an Xbox 360?

I'm leaning away from the Harmony 360, because I think I'd use it for other purposes more often; I'll probably get the Harmony 670 because of the button layout.

3. Can Harmony remotes control a Hauppauge WinTV PVR-150 capture card?
 
purbeast0

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,765
6,646
126
there is absolutely no reason to get the harmony 360 version.

you can get one that has more features for less money.

and yes, all harmony remotes work no problem with the xbox360. and chances are it will work with the capture card as long as it has some kind of IR receiver on it.

i believe the model I have is the 658 or 659, can't remember the model #. best thing i've ever bought for the entertainment system.
 
M

MisterJackson

Lifer
Jun 19, 2004
10,860
1
81
Originally posted by: purbeast0
there is absolutely no reason to get the harmony 360 version.

you can get one that has more features for less money.

and yes, all harmony remotes work no problem with the xbox360. and chances are it will work with the capture card as long as it has some kind of IR receiver on it.

i believe the model I have is the 658 or 659, can't remember the model #. best thing i've ever bought for the entertainment system.
Click to expand...

Yeah....but the Harmony 360 looks cooler than the model you have ;)
 
mugs

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: purbeast0
there is absolutely no reason to get the harmony 360 version.

you can get one that has more features for less money.

and yes, all harmony remotes work no problem with the xbox360. and chances are it will work with the capture card as long as it has some kind of IR receiver on it.

i believe the model I have is the 658 or 659, can't remember the model #. best thing i've ever bought for the entertainment system.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that's exactly what I was hoping to hear. The Harmony 360 looks like a 550 with 4 additional buttons. Looks like I'll go for the 670. My card does have an IR receiver + its own remote; worst case I guess I could manually program it.

Edit: Does anyone know what models of Harmony remotes Costco sells at their B&M stores? They usually have different products in store than on their website.
 
T

torpid

Lifer
Sep 14, 2003
11,631
11
76
1. Yes. I have an 880 and can add an xbox
2. I doubt it's worth it just for the xbox. The harmony is useful as the "one remote to rule them all". I control all my home theater devices with it.

3. Yes. It's listed among the available devices for me.

Harmony can work with virtually any device if you have an existing remote. The remote hooks into a central database to automatically get info on a huge array of devices, and then you can manually program it like any learning remote as well.

 
purbeast0

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,765
6,646
126
Originally posted by: MisterJackson
Originally posted by: purbeast0
there is absolutely no reason to get the harmony 360 version.

you can get one that has more features for less money.

and yes, all harmony remotes work no problem with the xbox360. and chances are it will work with the capture card as long as it has some kind of IR receiver on it.

i believe the model I have is the 658 or 659, can't remember the model #. best thing i've ever bought for the entertainment system.
Click to expand...

Yeah....but the Harmony 360 looks cooler than the model you have ;)
Click to expand...

yea but when he has the xbox720 and has no more usage for the xbox360 functionality that is built into the front face of the control (the colored x,b,a,y buttons), it's going to look a lot stupider than the one I have.
 
mugs

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: torpid
2. I doubt it's worth it just for the xbox. The harmony is useful as the "one remote to rule them all". I control all my home theater devices with it.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, I wouldn't use it just for the Xbox I don't even have yet. :D I'm getting tired of having to change inputs on my TV and receiver every time I want to use something different, then pick up the remote for whichever device I'm watching.
 
SoulAssassin

SoulAssassin

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2001
6,135
2
0
Just a random statement on the Harmony remotes...you can change the inter-button and inter-device delays. I was pretty unhappy w how long it would take to execute a macro on my 890 until I figured out you could change the delays. Now it's much, much faster.
 
T

torpid

Lifer
Sep 14, 2003
11,631
11
76
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: torpid
2. I doubt it's worth it just for the xbox. The harmony is useful as the "one remote to rule them all". I control all my home theater devices with it.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, I wouldn't use it just for the Xbox I don't even have yet. :D I'm getting tired of having to change inputs on my TV and receiver every time I want to use something different, then pick up the remote for whichever device I'm watching.
Click to expand...

That's why I got my harmony and I am glad I did. It's not quite as ergonomic as the tivo peanut remote, but it's getting close.
 
M

MisterJackson

Lifer
Jun 19, 2004
10,860
1
81
Originally posted by: purbeast0
Originally posted by: MisterJackson
Originally posted by: purbeast0
there is absolutely no reason to get the harmony 360 version.

you can get one that has more features for less money.

and yes, all harmony remotes work no problem with the xbox360. and chances are it will work with the capture card as long as it has some kind of IR receiver on it.

i believe the model I have is the 658 or 659, can't remember the model #. best thing i've ever bought for the entertainment system.
Click to expand...

Yeah....but the Harmony 360 looks cooler than the model you have ;)
Click to expand...

yea but when he has the xbox720 and has no more usage for the xbox360 functionality that is built into the front face of the control (the colored x,b,a,y buttons), it's going to look a lot stupider than the one I have.
Click to expand...

Not really. The remote is still more aesthetically pleasing in over all design than the model you have.....that was my point. It matters not about the four buttons on there for 360 functions vs. 720 functions as the remote will be programmable to operate anything new that comes out anyway.

Personally I'd tell the OP to spend the little bit extra and get the 550. It's just a sleeker looking remote.

 
purbeast0

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,765
6,646
126
Originally posted by: MisterJackson
Originally posted by: purbeast0
Originally posted by: MisterJackson
Originally posted by: purbeast0
there is absolutely no reason to get the harmony 360 version.

you can get one that has more features for less money.

and yes, all harmony remotes work no problem with the xbox360. and chances are it will work with the capture card as long as it has some kind of IR receiver on it.

i believe the model I have is the 658 or 659, can't remember the model #. best thing i've ever bought for the entertainment system.
Click to expand...

Yeah....but the Harmony 360 looks cooler than the model you have ;)
Click to expand...

yea but when he has the xbox720 and has no more usage for the xbox360 functionality that is built into the front face of the control (the colored x,b,a,y buttons), it's going to look a lot stupider than the one I have.
Click to expand...

Not really. The remote is still more aesthetically pleasing in over all design than the model you have.....that was my point. It matters not about the four buttons on there for 360 functions vs. 720 functions as the remote will be programmable to operate anything new that comes out anyway.

Personally I'd tell the OP to spend the little bit extra and get the 550. It's just a sleeker looking remote.
Click to expand...

I guess so.

The xbox360 one is like $30 or $40 more than the one I bought (atleast at the time when I got it) and it has quite a few less features than the one I got. So if you are all about spending more $$$ for less features but better looks, go for it.
 
R

Rage187

Lifer
Dec 30, 2000
14,276
4
81
I have the 360 version which I love. It adds the A B X Y buttons which I then use for my HDDVR and On Demand to correspond to the ABC navigation buttons normally on the cable box remote.
 
M

MisterJackson

Lifer
Jun 19, 2004
10,860
1
81
Originally posted by: purbeast0
Originally posted by: MisterJackson
Originally posted by: purbeast0
Originally posted by: MisterJackson
Originally posted by: purbeast0
there is absolutely no reason to get the harmony 360 version.

you can get one that has more features for less money.

and yes, all harmony remotes work no problem with the xbox360. and chances are it will work with the capture card as long as it has some kind of IR receiver on it.

i believe the model I have is the 658 or 659, can't remember the model #. best thing i've ever bought for the entertainment system.
Click to expand...

Yeah....but the Harmony 360 looks cooler than the model you have ;)
Click to expand...

yea but when he has the xbox720 and has no more usage for the xbox360 functionality that is built into the front face of the control (the colored x,b,a,y buttons), it's going to look a lot stupider than the one I have.
Click to expand...

Not really. The remote is still more aesthetically pleasing in over all design than the model you have.....that was my point. It matters not about the four buttons on there for 360 functions vs. 720 functions as the remote will be programmable to operate anything new that comes out anyway.

Personally I'd tell the OP to spend the little bit extra and get the 550. It's just a sleeker looking remote.
Click to expand...

I guess so.

The xbox360 one is like $30 or $40 more than the one I bought (atleast at the time when I got it) and it has quite a few less features than the one I got. So if you are all about spending more $$$ for less features but better looks, go for it.
Click to expand...

As near as I can tell Logitechs website has yours listed for $129, and the 360 one I have @ $99.....so I'm not sure about when you bought it, but that's not the case now for sure. I can't ever remember the 360 version going above $129.00 in stores.

As for features, unless I'm looking at this wrong, both remotes seem about on par with each other. Except the 360 remote seems to have an edge with the "Learning Port".

 
mugs

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
550 is only $80 at Amazon.com, 670 is $96. I do prefer the look of the 550 remote (not a fan of TiVo-shaped remotes for functional as well as aesthetic reasons - I'd rather have a flat remote that's less likely to roll around). But the button placement on the 670 is better for DVRs, and I will be using it with a TiVo and an HTPC.
 
Y

yowolabi

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2001
4,183
2
81
Originally posted by: mugs
Thinking about getting a Harmony remote, have a few questions that I haven't been able to find answers for...

1. Can Harmony remotes other than the Harmony 360 control an Xbox 360?
2. I don't have an Xbox 360 yet but will eventually; is it worthwhile to use a Harmony remote with one? I don't expect to use the Media Center Extender functionality, because it will be in the same room as my HTPC most likely. I understand that there are downloadable videos - are any free? (like movie trailers and whatnot) Anything else you'd use a Harmony for with an Xbox 360?

I'm leaning away from the Harmony 360, because I think I'd use it for other purposes more often; I'll probably get the Harmony 670 because of the button layout.

3. Can Harmony remotes control a Hauppauge WinTV PVR-150 capture card?
Click to expand...

I have a 360 but I got a different harmony version because it was like 40% off at dell.com. I am still able to control my 360 with it, but I rarely need to.
 
S

supesman

Senior member
Feb 11, 2001
714
0
0
I have a sony 5-disc dvd player, would this remote be able to control that? Getting sick of having 4 remotes around.
 
R

Rage187

Lifer
Dec 30, 2000
14,276
4
81
Originally posted by: supesman
I have a sony 5-disc dvd player, would this remote be able to control that? Getting sick of having 4 remotes around.
Click to expand...

yes

it litterally can control anything that has a remote.

You install this program on your computer and hook up the remote via usb, it has an ever expanding database of components and you just tell it what you have.

so nice
 
vi edit

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,345
126
Originally posted by: RossMAN
Originally posted by: allisolm
Office Depot has the 676 for $79.99 this week. SKU 859283
Link
Click to expand...

That is an awesome deal :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

I just nabbed this yesterday used a "$20 off $50" coupon and got it for $60+ tax. Awesome remote for the money. It works seemlessly with my Dish Network DVR-622. Once I got through the 45 minutes of software and firmware updates it took about 5 minutes to set up the remote.

Still have a little tweaking to do though. On my H/K receiver the "watch a movie" activity button isn't switching to my "HDMI 2" connection. Might have to call support to figure that one out.

I definitely like the more "sleek" look of the 520 style, but for tactile feedback and button layout the 676 is far superior. Many user reviews that have had both tend to agree with that.
 
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