Harmony remote questions

[Shame]

Originally posted by: mugs
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.

I bought the 550 from Amazon last Wednesday. It looks cool, feels right in your hand, and took a whopping 15 minutes to set up.

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: foghorn67
Cool. Thanks for the info. I just ordered a 676. Aesthetically, the 550 looks cleaner, but I wanted the extra buttons.

Beware, OD has weird shipping with this. However, it's totally safe and legit. Just had to wait longer then expected. There is no indication that they have it in stock. I think they ship from a dist. center to a local wherehouse, then UPS'd to your address. Weird, but I got it now, and I can't wait to get home and try it out. So far none of my universal remotes with my cable boxes works with my Westinghouse TV.
Fumbling 3 remotes sucks.
--edit--mods, can you move this to the A/V forum?

 

[dwell]

Got the 550 from Amazon $80 plus $30 rebate for ordering electronics over $100 (new TV).

 

[foghorn67]

Update:
Brought it home, took about half an hour to setup. Installed software on my laptop. It first upgraded the firmware, than asked to upgrade the Logitech software on the computer. The updated installer crashes on launch, so I went ahead with the software version on the CD. Just jotted down my model numbers for my tv, hd-dvr, and dvd player and the wizard walked me through everything. It had to 'learn' a few commands from the Westy tv set, but it got them no problem.
Finally, no more fumbling with 3 remotes. Everything is just about perfect.
A couple of quips. Sleep timer was a matter of hitting one button and arrowing down for the timer pre-sets. Now it's hit device for TV, and hit next a few times then hit the sleep button. No big deal. Everything is easy to memorize. I didn't have to look at the remote only a few minutes of using it.

 

[OpenThirdEye]

I'm actually looking at getting the 880. Anybody have anything poor to say about it before I make this purchase?

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: OpenThirdEye
I'm actually looking at getting the 880. Anybody have anything poor to say about it before I make this purchase?

Check avsforums and remotecentral. Surprisingly, it's not so great to most. But read up on it.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: OpenThirdEye
I'm actually looking at getting the 880. Anybody have anything poor to say about it before I make this purchase?

A lot of people over at the tubby wallet that bought the 880 weren't happy with it. It doesn't have as good of a button layout for DVR functions as the 67X and the actual button feel wasn't as good either (feedback).

They also said that the color display wasn't as useful as the basic one on the cheaper ones.

It just seemed like a lot of money extra for a color screen and a charging cradle.

 

[Yreka]

How do you guys like the 720 model @ $134 ?

I think I saw it on-sale at Costco, was going to go pick it up after work.

 

[Muadib]

PIcs!!!

 

[lokiju]

I have the 680 because of the Media Center functions and have not complaints.

I've had it for about 2 years now and have never had an issue, it controls everything I have and does everything I want it to.

 

[RossMAN]

Logitech Harmony 520 for $60 @ Sears

 

[RossMAN]

Any other Harmony users?

 

[imported_Mike]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Any other Harmony users?

880 Here

The 880 will control every function of the Xbox 360. I have the HD-DVD add-on and it controls that as well.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Mike

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Any other Harmony users?

880 Here

The 880 will control every function of the Xbox 360. I have the HD-DVD add-on and it controls that as well.

How do you like it so far? Since it includes a recharge cradle, how long do the batteries last?

Most importantly did you get a good deal on it?

 

[imported_Mike]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: Mike

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Any other Harmony users?

880 Here

The 880 will control every function of the Xbox 360. I have the HD-DVD add-on and it controls that as well.

How do you like it so far? Since it includes a recharge cradle, how long do the batteries last?

Most importantly did you get a good deal on it?

haha, the deal was spectacular.

Batteries seem to last a long time. I havn't tested the batteries specifically, but it hasn't been on the cradle since last week and it is used multiple times per day. It has a power save feature so it turns itself off after your done using it. The best feature is that the LCD will light itself once the remote detects you holding it. I would imagine the batteries will last several weeks inbetween charges, depending on use.

 

[RossMAN]

Mike, on your 880 how do you like the button placement?

Can you use it in total darkness?

 

[imported_Mike]

I like the button placement a lot. I would change the "last" button location. With my cable box I like to switch between 2 channels while commercials are on.

The entire remote lights up once you hold it, so you can use it in complete darkness.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Mike
I like the button placement a lot. I would change the "last" button location. With my cable box I like to switch between 2 channels while commercials are on.

The entire remote lights up once you hold it, so you can use it in complete darkness.

Have you tried controlling anything non-AV like a ceiling fan, etc.?

 

[imported_Mike]

No, but I would imagine it would be just a easy to set up and use.

 

[RossMAN]

After reading this review, it makes me almost wish I still had an 880

In fact, the only time I really had to flex a little brainpower was when I had to figure out how to make the remote control my ceiling fan. That?s right, I said ceiling fan. Upon looking at the barrage of components supported by the Harmony 880 remote, I?d venture a guess and say you?d be hard-pressed to find a component it couldn?t control. And if the codes aren?t hardwired into Logitech?s database, you can always have the 880 ?learn? your other remotes? controls by simply pointing the two at each other. This baby just works.

 

[allisolm]

Originally posted by: Mike
I like the button placement a lot. I would change the "last" button location. With my cable box I like to switch between 2 channels while commercials are on.

Are the programmable buttons in a better location for you? If so, just assign the last channel function to one of them.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
After reading this review, it makes me almost wish I still had an 880

In fact, the only time I really had to flex a little brainpower was when I had to figure out how to make the remote control my ceiling fan. That?s right, I said ceiling fan. Upon looking at the barrage of components supported by the Harmony 880 remote, I?d venture a guess and say you?d be hard-pressed to find a component it couldn?t control. And if the codes aren?t hardwired into Logitech?s database, you can always have the 880 ?learn? your other remotes? controls by simply pointing the two at each other. This baby just works.

Can't any Harmony do that? The 670 I bought supported my air conditioner.


I posted this in another thread, but the 670 didn't work for my situation so I sold it. It didn't support my TV directly, so I had to teach it how to do everything. The only way to change inputs with my existing remote was by hitting source, then moving around in the menu and hitting enter. I taught the Harmony to do that, but it never hit the down button the right number of times. It varied between X and 2X times where X is the number of times it SHOULD move. In some cases it went through the menu nearly 2 full times before choosing the wrong input. If they had my TV in their DB then it might support direct changing of inputs. Oh well.

 

[imported_Mike]

Originally posted by: allisolm

Originally posted by: Mike
I like the button placement a lot. I would change the "last" button location. With my cable box I like to switch between 2 channels while commercials are on.

Are the programmable buttons in a better location for you? If so, just assign the last channel function to one of them.

I will have the check that out.

 

[imported_Mike]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: RossMAN
After reading this review, it makes me almost wish I still had an 880

In fact, the only time I really had to flex a little brainpower was when I had to figure out how to make the remote control my ceiling fan. That?s right, I said ceiling fan. Upon looking at the barrage of components supported by the Harmony 880 remote, I?d venture a guess and say you?d be hard-pressed to find a component it couldn?t control. And if the codes aren?t hardwired into Logitech?s database, you can always have the 880 ?learn? your other remotes? controls by simply pointing the two at each other. This baby just works.

Can't any Harmony do that? The 670 I bought supported my air conditioner.


I posted this in another thread, but the 670 didn't work for my situation so I sold it. It didn't support my TV directly, so I had to teach it how to do everything. The only way to change inputs with my existing remote was by hitting source, then moving around in the menu and hitting enter. I taught the Harmony to do that, but it never hit the down button the right number of times. It varied between X and 2X times where X is the number of times it SHOULD move. In some cases it went through the menu nearly 2 full times before choosing the wrong input. If they had my TV in their DB then it might support direct changing of inputs. Oh well.

What TV do you have?