Logitech Harmony 880 Universal Remote

[hpkeeper]

Does anyone know if this works with a Time Warner DVR box? I don't want to buy a remote to condense the 4 or so that I have and not be able to use it to the full extent of those other remotes.

Anyone familiar with it? any experiences good or bad that I should look out for? any remotes that are better, but within the same price range?


Thanks for the help.


~ThE KeEp~

 

[kalrith]

Any Logitech Harmony remote will work with just about anything that has an IR receiver. You could probably control your ceiling fan with one .

I have the 688, and it's been great for me. The 880 is nice with its charging dock, nice screen, and the fact that it lights up when you pick it up. You can often get them for $100 refurbed or dented box on Amazon.

If all you want to do is consolidate remotes, then you can probably find a refurbed 520 or 550 for around $30-$50 and be perfectly satisfied with that. Someone recently bought a 520 for $20 at their local Kmart, so you might try to see if yours has one at that price as well.

 

[hpkeeper]

Any Logitech Harmony remote will work with just about anything that has an IR receiver. You could probably control your ceiling fan with one .

I have the 688, and it's been great for me. The 880 is nice with its charging dock, nice screen, and the fact that it lights up when you pick it up. You can often get them for $100 refurbed or dented box on Amazon.

If all you want to do is consolidate remotes, then you can probably find a refurbed 520 or 550 for around $30-$50 and be perfectly satisfied with that. Someone recently bought a 520 for $20 at their local Kmart, so you might try to see if yours has one at that price as well.

Just curious, why would you need a remote that is more than remote consolidation then if a 520 is just fine? what does the 880 provide that would be more than that?

 

[kalrith]

Just curious, why would you need a remote that is more than remote consolidation then if a 520 is just fine? what does the 880 provide that would be more than that?

Well, some remotes (like the 550 and XBOX360) have more buttons that you can program. Some remotes like the 880 have features like a recharging dock. Some remotes are better looking and more ergonomic than others. However, for simple remote consolidation the least-expensive Harmony remote should be all you need. I've seen them go for as little as $30 before.

 

[RKS]

I use my 880 with the shitty SA8300HD dvr from TWC.

 

[hpkeeper]

Well, some remotes (like the 550 and XBOX360) have more buttons that you can program. Some remotes like the 880 have features like a recharging dock. Some remotes are better looking and more ergonomic than others. However, for simple remote consolidation the least-expensive Harmony remote should be all you need. I've seen them go for as little as $30 before.

I DO have an xbox 360... and I DO have a PS3. I believe that there is an RF extender needed for the PS3 that is sold separately. What info do you have in regards to that?

 

[kalrith]

I DO have an xbox 360... and I DO have a PS3. I believe that there is an RF extender needed for the PS3 that is sold separately. What info do you have in regards to that?

When I mentioned the XBOX360, I was referring to the XBOX360 remote. That remote does have some specific buttons for the XBOX360, but you can use any Harmony remote with the XBOX360. For the PS3, you can go one of two routes. You can use the IR receiver from this remote. It will give you very few commands, but it will give you basic functionality for the PS3. I used that for a while but got frustrated with the limited commands. The better, yet more-expensive route is to get the Logitech Harmony PS3 Adapter. It will give you all the functionality of the PS3 bluetooth remote without having to have a separate remote to control the PS3.

 

[hpkeeper]

When I mentioned the XBOX360, I was referring to the XBOX360 remote. That remote does have some specific buttons for the XBOX360, but you can use any Harmony remote with the XBOX360. For the PS3, you can go one of two routes. You can use the IR receiver from this remote. It will give you very few commands, but it will give you basic functionality for the PS3. I used that for a while but got frustrated with the limited commands. The better, yet more-expensive route is to get the Logitech Harmony PS3 Adapter. It will give you all the functionality of the PS3 bluetooth remote without having to have a separate remote to control the PS3.

So... I can't go wrong with the Harmony 880 -- and it would leave me room for potential upgrading of other components in the future? -- that would be nice.

 

[RKS]

So... I can't go wrong with the Harmony 880 -- and it would leave me room for potential upgrading of other components in the future? -- that would be nice.

I use my 880 for the DVR, Denon receiver, dvd player, blu-ray player, and my WD TV Live. I did not attach my Wii at this time but if I get another Xbox360, I will be using the 880 for it also.

I do run all of my current components through my receiver however so the the programming does include a couple additional steps.

 

[ZetaEpyon]

I have an 880, and you can pretty much program it to do whatever you want. Even if the device you want to control isn't in Logitech's database, you can just have the 880 learn the commands directly from the original remote (assuming you still have it).

 

[kalrith]

I think the only thing that the 880 wouldn't do for you is RF like the 890 does. However, if IR is sufficient (i.e. you have line of sight from your seat to your components), then the 880 is a winner. Some people spend more to get the Harmony One, but I don't think it's worth it unless you can find it for $110-120 like it's been a couple times in the past.

The main thing is keeping an eye out for deals on these things. You should be able to snag a 520/550 for $30-50, an 880 for $100, and One for $120.

 

[hpkeeper]

I think the only thing that the 880 wouldn't do for you is RF like the 890 does. However, if IR is sufficient (i.e. you have line of sight from your seat to your components), then the 880 is a winner. Some people spend more to get the Harmony One, but I don't think it's worth it unless you can find it for $110-120 like it's been a couple times in the past.

The main thing is keeping an eye out for deals on these things. You should be able to snag a 520/550 for $30-50, an 880 for $100, and One for $120.

say at some point I move and choose to put my components out of sight, could I get an IR extender and use it with the 880? like a generic one? or made by Logitech and have it work with the 880?

 

[de8212]

You may already know your answer on the TW box but here's the site that you can search for specific devices to ensure they work with Harmony Remotes.

Click....

But, as others have said, if you have the original, you can teach the 880 (or other Harmony remote) to control the device.

I am not familiar with IR extenders but Logitech does sell one. I think it's relatively new but I could be wrong. Here's the link. Click..... I have a feeling it would definitely be compatible with any of their remotes. You could always call them to be sure.

I've often thought about placing my devices out of site but I would hate having to go to another room/closet to put a disk in the BD/dvd player. And I like seeing the face of my DVR because it shows the time and I don't have a clock in the family room.

 

[kalrith]

say at some point I move and choose to put my components out of sight, could I get an IR extender and use it with the 880? like a generic one? or made by Logitech and have it work with the 880?

You could do that with an IR repeater. The initial receiver for the repeater would have to be line of sight with the remote. That's the big advantage of having an RF remote to begin with, because you don't have to have anything line of sight.

The refurb 890 has been $100 in the past. At that price I'd go with that. I certainly wouldn't pay a $50 premium for it unless I needed the RF functionality right away since I could always buy an IR repeater down the road.

 

[Binky]

Something to think about:

The 880 doesnt really have tactile buttons, so you can't operate it easily without looking at it. Sure, it glows and has a color screen, but it's still more difficult to operate it by feel. I've got an older 660 model and an 880, and for everything but looks, I prefer the older model. It's lumpier and bumpier and all around less attractive but it works well.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

You could do that with an IR repeater. The initial receiver for the repeater would have to be line of sight with the remote. That's the big advantage of having an RF remote to begin with, because you don't have to have anything line of sight.

The refurb 890 has been $100 in the past. At that price I'd go with that. I certainly wouldn't pay a $50 premium for it unless I needed the RF functionality right away since I could always buy an IR repeater down the road.

You can get an 890 refurb with the RF extender for @ 125.00. For the extra $25 it's worth it. I've installed a few of them and they work great. It also works with IR2BT and other IR extenders for the PS3.

The only PITA about the RF extender is that you have to reprogram it every time you want to reprogram settings on the remote, even though most changes on the remote won't have any effect on the extender.

 

[blackangst1]

Something else to keep in mind...if it isnt supported, an email to Logitech will usually fix it. My buddy had an issue with an older amp...he emiled them, and 4 or 5 days later they sent him an email and told him to re-download his profile: they built it for him. Support from Logitech is top notch. (When you get your remote you can choose to upload your profile. You can even make changes from somewhere else, plug it in, and it will download to the remote automatically).

 

[RKS]

Something else to keep in mind...if it isnt supported, an email to Logitech will usually fix it. My buddy had an issue with an older amp...he emiled them, and 4 or 5 days later they sent him an email and told him to re-download his profile: they built it for him. Support from Logitech is top notch. (When you get your remote you can choose to upload your profile. You can even make changes from somewhere else, plug it in, and it will download to the remote automatically).

FYI they have started charging for calls after the the first month or so.

 

[kalrith]

You can get an 890 refurb with the RF extender for @ 125.00. For the extra $25 it's worth it. I've installed a few of them and they work great. It also works with IR2BT and other IR extenders for the PS3.

The only PITA about the RF extender is that you have to reprogram it every time you want to reprogram settings on the remote, even though most changes on the remote won't have any effect on the extender.

That sounds like a really good deal. How involved is it to program the RF extender every time? Do you do it on the computer just like the remote?

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

That sounds like a really good deal. How involved is it to program the RF extender every time? Do you do it on the computer just like the remote?

Yep. You just disconnect the IR blasters/power cable and plug the USB cable from your computer into it. The Logitech software prompts you when to do it. Only takes a few seconds to program, then you just reconnect it.

A tip: If you have the extender programmed so that certain commands are only directed through one of the IR blasters, make sure you label the end of each IR blaster cable so you connect them back to the proper port (A through D) on the extender.

 

[kalrith]

Yep. You just disconnect the IR blasters/power cable and plug the USB cable from your computer into it. The Logitech software prompts you when to do it. Only takes a few seconds to program, then you just reconnect it.

A tip: If you have the extender programmed so that certain commands are only directed through one of the IR blasters, make sure you label the end of each IR blaster cable so you connect them back to the proper port (A through D) on the extender.

That doesn't sound too bad, and the labels would certainly be a good idea. Would I have to disconnect the IR blasters before connecting the USB cable? My HTPC is there with the rest of my HT equipment, so it would be no problem to connect a USB cable to the extender without having to disconnect it.

Edit: I'm mainly asking in case I decide to upgrade my current remote. It's getting up there in years, and some of the buttons are starting to stick. I might also move it to my computer room whenever I upgrade the rest of my HT system and use my current one as my computer speakers (which might take a couple years ).

 

[blackangst1]

FYI they have started charging for calls after the the first month or so.

Its 90 days, and emails are free

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

That doesn't sound too bad, and the labels would certainly be a good idea. Would I have to disconnect the IR blasters before connecting the USB cable? My HTPC is there with the rest of my HT equipment, so it would be no problem to connect a USB cable to the extender without having to disconnect it.

Edit: I'm mainly asking in case I decide to upgrade my current remote. It's getting up there in years, and some of the buttons are starting to stick. I might also move it to my computer room whenever I upgrade the rest of my HT system and use my current one as my computer speakers (which might take a couple years ).

It might work without disconnecting the IR blasters. I've never tried it though.