Will Any Harmony Remote Operate a TiVo DVR?

[SpiritualPoet]

There are several Logitech Harmony remotes manufactured. (Feb 2009). Please tell me if there is a reason to spend $400 for one vs. $149 for one. I only have one television, one TiVo, one DVD player, and eventually one Receiver for which a remote needs to be utilized to operate.

[RoyK]

I believe any Harmony remote will work for you.

[midson]

I have a Harmony 620 remote (same as the 670, just black). It controls all my gear (including Tivo) flawlessly. Honestly, I can't believe I waited so long to get a true universal remote. All my other remotes are in storage now. I paid $50 for it awhile back at Costco. You'll probably find it on sale in that price range if you look hard.

[rainwater]

My favorite Harmony for a TiVo is the 670. I find the button placement to work the best for TiVo functions.

[SpiritualPoet]

Thanks to all for your answers! I will likely buy a model 670 remote.

[lew]

610 is the same remote but will only control 4 devices.

[Bierboy]

Yes.

[SpiritualPoet]

Then I'll buy the 610. For anyone that wants to know, these two less expensive remotes are not rechargeable (although one could use rechargeable batteries in them and charge them externally). I presume they use AAA batteries but for some unknown reason even the manufacturer's Website does not indicate the battery configurations utilized by any of the remotes.

[SpiritualPoet]

Well it appears the model 610 is not manufactured anymore. There is a model 510 available. I wonder if that is the same thing? (Or, perhaps it was a typo in the previous post and intended to say 510)?
Update: I looked at the description of the 510 and it operates up to 5 devices.

[lew]

610 is a relatively new model and is sold in places like Target and Walmart. Any of the 6XX models will do what you want.

[leroycorbid]

you can find the 889 with a nice color screen for 130.00 a;; day long it is a nice interface and has special buttons for the use of a PVR

[bkdtv]

See the FAQ in my signature for tips on configuring a Harmony remote with high-definition TiVo.

[SpiritualPoet]

Thanks for the recommendations, to both.

[CuriousMark]

I picked up a 520 or 550, don't remember which, and didn't like the button placements, so I took it back and got a 670 which I am liking a lot better. There are still some tweaks I need to make, for instance it buffers my presses and sends them more slowly than the TiVo or receiver can take them, so I need to go back into the setup and turn down the delays. I think you will find you will be tweaking it a bit, here and there, for a while. The upside is that tweaking is pretty easy once you get the hang of the programming software and buy into the way it wants to work.

[rainwater]

so I need to go back into the setup and turn down the delays.

A lot of people get frustrated with Harmony remotes because they don't realize you can turn down the delays so it behaves just like a TiVo remote.

[SpiritualPoet]

Do the owner manuals tell one how to turn down the sensitivity?
Also, I've read somewhere that these remotes are mainly for usage with multiple step sequencing (such as pressing a button powers on the T.V., the receiver, and begins play). I don't want multiple sequenced operation. Can these remotes be used to command a single step of one specific product at a time or not?

[CuriousMark]

Do the owner manuals tell one how to turn down the sensitivity?
Also, I've read somewhere that these remotes are mainly for usage with multiple step sequencing (such as pressing a button powers on the T.V., the receiver, and begins play). I don't want multiple sequenced operation. Can these remotes be used to command a single step of one specific product at a time or not?

I didn't find it in any manual, but I didn't look in a manual either. I found it in the setup software you run on your computer. It was not obviously placed, but if you re willing to explore options in the GUI you will find it easily enough.

These remotes excel at multistep sequences but you can alway press the device button and use it as a remote for one device at a time. I like the fact that I can push the watch TV button and have my TV and stereo receiver power up and be ready to go with only the one button press. But there is plenty of flexibility, you can make it work the way you want it to. The setup will guide you through the options, it will become obvious as you go.

[SpiritualPoet]

Thanks!

[lew]

Do the owner manuals tell one how to turn down the sensitivity?
Also, I've read somewhere that these remotes are mainly for usage with multiple step sequencing (such as pressing a button powers on the T.V., the receiver, and begins play). I don't want multiple sequenced operation. Can these remotes be used to command a single step of one specific product at a time or not?

I think the 610 replaces the 510. More expensive Harmony units have color touch screens, rechargeable batteries (cradle) and/or have RF options.

All the units have access to the full IR database and will work well with tivo. The 6XX units work well with tivo. You can frequently find a unit on sale for $50-$80.

Check the link on bkdtv signature. Point 14 and 15 refer to Harmony remotes.

Harmony is great if you're using a receiver. One button will turn on your TV/ receiver, change the input mode on your receiver/TV. The volume control will work your receiver. You first tell Harmony (via your computer) what components you have. You tell it what devices you want to use for an activity and how you want to use it.

The basic tivo remote will control your TV set and can probably control the volume of your receiver.. The remote that came with your TV set can probably control your tivo and DVD player. The remote that came with your receiver can probably control your DVD player, TV set and tivo. I'm not sure I'd buy the Harmony remote unless you want to at least try sequencing. It's easy to program a "delay" if it takes a few seconds for your TV set to turn on.

[urwathrtz]

I have the Harmony 676, and it works with both my Series 1 and HD.

[Joe01880]

I have a Harmony 670, works great with TiVo

[Bierboy]

I had the 550 and now have the One; both worked/work well with TiVo. I would never recommend the 550, though. I went through three of them - all with button defects.

[ToddNeedsTiVo]

My 659 works, but despite much effort to reprogram interkey timing this and delay that, I cannot tolerate the outrageously slow behavior. If you want to spend ten seconds moving from the top to bottom of a TiVo menu, go for it.

[CuriousMark]

My 659 works, but despite much effort to reprogram interkey timing this and delay that, I cannot tolerate the outrageously slow behavior. If you want to spend ten seconds moving from the top to bottom of a TiVo menu, go for it.
I had no trouble getting reasonable speeds out of my 670, I set the delay at 100ms.

[rainwater]

My 659 works, but despite much effort to reprogram interkey timing this and delay that, I cannot tolerate the outrageously slow behavior. If you want to spend ten seconds moving from the top to bottom of a TiVo menu, go for it.

You can program the 659 so that it is just as fast as the Tivo peanut remote. It just requires changing the correct delays.

[Poochie]

Just out of curiosity, what are people using for their delays (inter-key and inter-device) and repeats for their TiVos? (I'm using an S3 if it matters...just trying to get the Harmony as peppy as possible)

I have a Harmony One, and it was around $150 from Dell during one of their sales. I found it to be a much better feel and build/button quality than the 880 it replaced. Works great with all of my devices.

[bkdtv]

Just out of curiosity, what are people using for their delays (inter-key and inter-device) and repeats for their TiVos? (I'm using an S3 if it matters...just trying to get the Harmony as peppy as possible)Did you see the Harmony settings in my signature (#14-15 in tivo tips)?

Of course, if anyone has settings that they think work better, I would love to hear them.

[lew]

Did you see the Harmony settings in my signature (#14-15 in tivo tips)?

Of course, if anyone has settings that they think work better, I would love to hear them.

The work fine for me. No reason to re-invent the wheel.

[Poochie]

Did you see the Harmony settings in my signature (#14-15 in tivo tips)?

Of course, if anyone has settings that they think work better, I would love to hear them.

Thanks for the pointer - I'll give them a shot tonight if my Harmony was not already set in that way.

[MasterCephus]

What about the aspect button on the Tivo remote? Does the harmony remotes have that functionality?