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View Full Version : Harmony Remote advice for HR20, HR10 and SDTV Tivo's

JohnB1000
12-19-2007, 07:15 PM
I really know nothing about these remotes.

Can anyone offer advice.

I have a relatively complex setup, that is set this way to make things easier for the family.

What I would like to do is have a remote that could do the equivalent off

* Select the TV Input
* Press display on the peanut (this switches a switch box I have)
* Separately control 8 or so HR20's, HR10, S2 DirecTivo', & DVD player
* Control on/off on TV and volume and input select on receiver.

I'm not interested in spending a fortune.

What can I look for here ?
JimSpence
12-19-2007, 08:57 PM
Do some searches for deals on either the Harmony 550 or 880. You can do all that you mention and more. I have the 880, but the 550 has a better button layout for the transport buttons. The problem with controlling multiple DVRs is that you have to set them up with different remote addresses. Not a real problem if you're careful.

I control an HDTV, AV receiver, HR10, HR20, T60, DVD player, DVD recorder and X10 lights. The 880 can control 15 devices.
JohnB1000
12-19-2007, 11:25 PM
Thanks, they are already all different addresses in order to work with the existing remotes.

I was wondering what happens if you select a program that uses the existing TV Input, does it change it even though it's on the correct one (i.e. back to the same input) ?

Thanks
rlj5242
12-20-2007, 08:07 AM
I was wondering what happens if you select a program that uses the existing TV Input, does it change it even though it's on the correct one (i.e. back to the same input) ? It depends. If your TV has discrete codes for each input, then it may send the code out again. My 880 does that for my Panasonic projector. If your TV must cycle through the inputs, then the remote remembers what input it is on and doesn't change.

-Robert
stevel
12-20-2007, 09:30 AM
With multiple DVRs, you have to contact Harmony tech support to enable the additional codes. No big deal, but it's not something you can do out of the box.
JohnB1000
12-20-2007, 11:01 AM
How do they enable them ????
JimSpence
12-20-2007, 11:32 AM
I believe Harmony support will make the additional remote addresses available via their website. Then you use the existing remotes to teach the Harmony which set to select. During setup the Harmony asks you to press buttons on the existing remote so it can determine the correct code set. It's been awhile since I did that, so I'll let others step in to add or correct me.
rlj5242
12-20-2007, 11:53 AM
I set up multiple DirecTivos (GXCEBOT remote address 1 and HR10-250 remote address 2) without ever contacting support. The software knew I had 2 DVRs and asked to "learn" a couple of commands from each remote. I assumed it was just checking to see which DVR used which address.

-Robert
JohnB1000
12-20-2007, 06:24 PM
I'm now seeing the Harmony 550 and the Harmony 550 Advanced. Now I need to figure out the difference :)
stevel
12-20-2007, 07:11 PM
Same thing. Logitech includes the word "Advanced" in the product names of all Harmony remotes.
TX WJ
12-20-2007, 07:19 PM
I have a 890 that I bought at amazon for 50% of retail and I love it.
stevel
12-20-2007, 08:22 PM
I bought an 880 from dell.com for $119 - very nice.
JohnB1000
12-20-2007, 08:27 PM
Same thing. Logitech includes the word "Advanced" in the product names of all Harmony remotes.

No doubt you are correct but Amazon has them listed separately for different prices. Got me all confused :)
JohnB1000
12-20-2007, 08:31 PM
OK, so now I'm trying to figure out the difference between 520 (which I can get from local stores) and 550 (which I can't). Any clues ?
stevel
12-20-2007, 08:47 PM
The only Amazon listing I see for a "Harmony 550 Advanced" is for an independent seller and it shows as unavailable.

The 550 seems to have a few more buttons, but looks otherwise similar to the 520.
JimSpence
12-20-2007, 10:27 PM
For those who may be interested, there's a Harmony Remote forum here.
http://forums.logitech.com/logitech?category.id=harmony_remote_controls
And here's the Harmony forum at Remote Central.
http://www.remotecentral.com/cgi-bin/mboard/rc-harmony/list.cgi
JohnB1000
12-21-2007, 09:56 PM
Well I have an 880 now on "in home trial" from Best Buy for $129.

Setup was a pain (given my many systems) and I'm still having trouble with it turning the TV on and off when I don't want it to. I think it's because if someone switches a system without using the remote then the remote becomes confused.

Any tips in this area ????
rlj5242
12-22-2007, 07:29 AM
Hide your other remotes and beat the offender severly if they use the power button on the piece of equipment.

I also only turn on my TV, A/V receiver and DVD player with the remote. The DVRs stay "on" 24x7X365. I even left them running attached to its UPS when I moved it from the living room to the theater room.

-Robert
JimSpence
12-22-2007, 02:25 PM
Well I have an 880 now on "in home trial" from Best Buy for $129.

Setup was a pain (given my many systems) and I'm still having trouble with it turning the TV on and off when I don't want it to. I think it's because if someone switches a system without using the remote then the remote becomes confused.

Any tips in this area ????Using the Help button can resolve these type of problems. But, the best solution is to hide all other remotes once the harmony is set up as rlj5242 said.