Logitech Harmony Remotes Owners - Blu-ray Forum

imprex311 · 12-27-2008, 05:37 PM

I have been looking for a remote to control my home theater system. The components to control are as follows:

Sharp 37" 1080p tv
Samsung upconvert DVD player (Divx support)
Sony Blu-ray player
Sage TV HD set top box
Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player (cheap movies after the fall of HD, couldnt resist)

and a future upgrade of an Onkyo Receiver, but I havent decided on the model and speaker set yet.

I found that the Harmony series remotes will setup everything rather conveniently but I really do not like the event based control of "watch a DVD" or other pre-programmed set of commands. So my question is can I use the Harmony remote like a standard universal remote where I select which component to control, and can control it as I please, or am I locked into the event based control?

Thanks in advance.

crackinhedz · 12-27-2008, 05:41 PM

I have a Harmony 880 (Love it!)

had to get it because of the LCD display, so my wife can figure out whats going on!

...anyways, there is an "Activity" button to control the different activities...but there is also a "Device" button for complete control over specific devices in your system.

crackinhedz · 12-27-2008, 05:42 PM

also you can re-name activities...

"Watch a DVD" for me is now "Bluray/DVD"

tilapiah6 · 12-27-2008, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

also you can re-name activities...

"Watch a DVD" for me is now "Bluray/DVD"

I have two for my PS3, one for Blu-rays and one for listening to mp3s in 7ch surround: PS3 Movies and PS3 Music.

OP, to answer your question, the Harmony remotes are FULLY customizable to your liking. You can program the 'Activities' to do anything you desire, to include putting the television on your favorite station when you select Watch TV.

Infrared Sight · 12-27-2008, 05:50 PM

I have a Harmony 676 and I have loved every minute of it. The remotes do have a learning curve once you get it because it is not like anything else. Once you do get the curve, you can program it to do mainly anything you want. Get one now. Run don't walk.

SDBlu · 12-27-2008, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tilapiah6

I have two for my PS3, one for Blu-rays and one for listening to mp3s in 7ch surround: PS3 Movies and PS3 Music.

OP, to answer your question, the Harmony remotes are FULLY customizable to your liking. You can program the 'Activities' to do anything you desire, to include putting the television on your favorite station when you select Watch TV.

So that being said...the remote can control things such as stereo mode and multichannel mode on the receiver as well??? like in your example above...when you set it to PS3 movies---it sets your receiver to the listening mode of ur choice????

UKTruBlu · 12-27-2008, 07:02 PM

I got given a harmony control for xmas by my uncle, and have spent a good 2 hours sorting it out, and i think its the best universal remote i have ever owned.

Fully recommend it, especialy for the touch screen control. which is where you find the the control for each device added, the only device i can't have is he PS3 because its bluetooth control not IR.

But it means i've gone from 6 remotes to 2!!!!!!

ixlegitballinxl · 12-27-2008, 07:05 PM

i went with the 1000, no regrets

built in rf!!!

Shiggidy75 · 12-27-2008, 07:15 PM

I have the 880 and I do love it. Only remote I need. It does take a few hours to get everything set up exactly the way you want it but it is great once it is. You should have no worries about getting one. well worth the money.

liquidice · 12-27-2008, 07:18 PM

I'm also throwing this idea around, and I'm leaning towards the One. Thought the idea of touch screen remote would be problematic, but others are swaying that way anyways. Whoa, say that last part quick...

Shiggidy75 · 12-27-2008, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by liquidice

I'm also throwing this idea around, and I'm leaning towards the One. Thought the idea of touch screen remote would be problematic, but others are swaying that way anyways. Whoa, say that last part quick...

Hey I see your from Findlay. Lima here. How is the best buy up your way?

JJ · 12-27-2008, 07:23 PM

I just got the one, but I haven't done anything to it outside the auto-setup - gonna have to spend a day or so programming EVERYTHING I can possibly imagine into this dang thing...

AcePunK · 12-27-2008, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ixlegitballinxl

i went with the 1000, no regrets

built in rf!!!

+1

tilapiah6 · 12-27-2008, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarcosG

So that being said...the remote can control things such as stereo mode and multichannel mode on the receiver as well??? like in your example above...when you set it to PS3 movies---it sets your receiver to the listening mode of ur choice????

Yes. Absolutely. Not only that, and this usually isn't the case, but if by chance the Harmony software isn't able to locate a certain button for a certain device, you can make the remote 'learn' the command and name the learned button anything you want. I had to do this with the 'Scene' buttons for my Yamaha receiver, but it was incredibly easy. Feel free to contact their customer service also. They're very friendly and knowledgeable.

ThriceBB · 12-27-2008, 09:37 PM

do these even program to directv??

Shiggidy75 · 12-27-2008, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThriceBB

do these even program to directv??

yep I have the HR21 HD DVR and it will work just fine with my 880. you have to program a few buttons of course.

ThriceBB · 12-27-2008, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shiggidy75

yep I have the HR21 HD DVR and it will work just fine with my 880. you have to program a few buttons of course.

how do you know the model number? i looked on the box and couldnt find it. i have the newest HD DVR.

also, is the harmony One just an upgrade from the 880?! looks like the only difference is the touch screen?

gringo flip · 12-27-2008, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

I have a Harmony 880 (Love it!)

had to get it because of the LCD display, so my wife can figure out whats going on!

...anyways, there is an "Activity" button to control the different activities...but there is also a "Device" button for complete control over specific devices in your system.

.....also you can re-name activities...

"Watch a DVD" for me is now "Bluray/DVD"

+1 hands down

timmydformvp · 12-28-2008, 01:11 PM

I have 2 of the 688's and they are great. They work with everything.

bbrown5222 · 12-28-2008, 01:21 PM

I upgraded from the 880 about 3 months ago as I have big hands, and found the buttons to be a little on the small side, The one has better buttonsand I like it much better, but I am gonna list it on Ebay today to sell as my really dig the remote that came wit my new receiver that I got myself for X-Mas, while it does not bo everything the Harmony one does, while I am learnig it I might as well go all the way. but I must say that the ONE is a great remote.

12-27-2008, 05:37 PM	#1
imprex311 Junior Member Member since:May 2008	Logitech Harmony Remotes Owners I have been looking for a remote to control my home theater system. The components to control are as follows: Sharp 37" 1080p tv Samsung upconvert DVD player (Divx support) Sony Blu-ray player Sage TV HD set top box Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player (cheap movies after the fall of HD, couldnt resist) and a future upgrade of an Onkyo Receiver, but I havent decided on the model and speaker set yet. I found that the Harmony series remotes will setup everything rather conveniently but I really do not like the event based control of "watch a DVD" or other pre-programmed set of commands. So my question is can I use the Harmony remote like a standard universal remote where I select which component to control, and can control it as I please, or am I locked into the event based control? Thanks in advance.

12-27-2008, 05:41 PM	#2
crackinhedz Super Moderator Member since:Feb 2007 Location:Orlando,FLA Relocated To: Lynchburg,VA Home Theater Gallery:10 Blu-ray reviews:8 Trading Score:19	I have a Harmony 880 (Love it!) had to get it because of the LCD display, so my wife can figure out whats going on! ...anyways, there is an "Activity" button to control the different activities...but there is also a "Device" button for complete control over specific devices in your system. Why Don't the Black Bars Go Away? 720 or 1080? Interlaced or Progressive? Answers here... Understanding HDMI cables and why cheap ones work perfectly My Setup

12-27-2008, 05:42 PM	#3
crackinhedz Super Moderator Member since:Feb 2007 Location:Orlando,FLA Relocated To: Lynchburg,VA Home Theater Gallery:10 Blu-ray reviews:8 Trading Score:19	also you can re-name activities... "Watch a DVD" for me is now "Bluray/DVD" Why Don't the Black Bars Go Away? 720 or 1080? Interlaced or Progressive? Answers here... Understanding HDMI cables and why cheap ones work perfectly My Setup

12-27-2008, 05:50 PM	#5
Infrared Sight Senior Member Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Southern Utah Home Theater Gallery:50 Blu-ray collection:389	I have a Harmony 676 and I have loved every minute of it. The remotes do have a learning curve once you get it because it is not like anything else. Once you do get the curve, you can program it to do mainly anything you want. Get one now. Run don't walk. Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ80U Sony BDP-S360 Onkyo 605 Polk Audio CS1(Center) Polk Audio Monitor 60(Fronts) Polk Audio Monitor 30(Surrounds) SVS PB12-NSD (Subwoofer) My Media Collection

12-27-2008, 07:02 PM	#7
UKTruBlu Senior Member Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Surrey, England Home Theater Gallery:9 Blu-ray collection:170 Blu-ray reviews:1	I got given a harmony control for xmas by my uncle, and have spent a good 2 hours sorting it out, and i think its the best universal remote i have ever owned. Fully recommend it, especialy for the touch screen control. which is where you find the the control for each device added, the only device i can't have is he PS3 because its bluetooth control not IR. But it means i've gone from 6 remotes to 2!!!!!! UKTruBlu 52" Samsung 1080p, PS3 60gb PSN: Fizzy16 Onkyo TXSR605, Sony 1080p Multi Region DVD player, 26" Sony Bravia HDTV.

12-27-2008, 07:05 PM	#8
ixlegitballinxl Blu-ray Guru Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Magic Kingdom, FL Home Theater Gallery:7 Blu-ray collection:631 PS3 collection:17 Trading Score:25	i went with the 1000, no regrets built in rf!!! Sony 52" W3000 / Samsung 40" ToC 750 / 47" LG 4500 5.0 Klipsch Reference / Hsu Vtf-2 Mk3 / Onkyo 805 Panamax 5300PM / Harmony 1000 / Nintendo Wii Sony Bdp-590 x2 / Playstation 3

12-27-2008, 07:15 PM	#9
Shiggidy75 Active Member Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Lima, Ohio	I have the 880 and I do love it. Only remote I need. It does take a few hours to get everything set up exactly the way you want it but it is great once it is. You should have no worries about getting one. well worth the money.

12-27-2008, 07:18 PM	#10
liquidice Mad Scientist Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Milwaukee Home Theater Gallery:43 Blu-ray collection:317 Blu-ray reviews:6	I'm also throwing this idea around, and I'm leaning towards the One. Thought the idea of touch screen remote would be problematic, but others are swaying that way anyways. Whoa, say that last part quick...

12-27-2008, 07:23 PM	#12
JJ Blu-ray Baron Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Miami, FL Home Theater Gallery:115 Blu-ray collection:397 PS3 collection:24 Blu-ray reviews: 18 Trading Score:49	I just got the one, but I haven't done anything to it outside the auto-setup - gonna have to spend a day or so programming EVERYTHING I can possibly imagine into this dang thing... ███ ♠ - I didn't say that. Lee Majors did. ================ Sonus Faber - Pioneer Elite - Epik - Emotiva - Sony Orbis non Sufficit

12-27-2008, 09:37 PM	#15
ThriceBB Senior Member Member since:Oct 2008 Home Theater Gallery:23 Blu-ray collection:261 PS3 collection:8	do these even program to directv??

12-28-2008, 01:11 PM	#19
timmydformvp Junior Member Member since:Dec 2008	I have 2 of the 688's and they are great. They work with everything.

12-28-2008, 01:21 PM	#20
bbrown5222 Member Member since:Jun 2007 Blu-ray collection:659 DVD collection:1 Blu-ray reviews:5	I have a Harmony one I upgraded from the 880 about 3 months ago as I have big hands, and found the buttons to be a little on the small side, The one has better buttonsand I like it much better, but I am gonna list it on Ebay today to sell as my really dig the remote that came wit my new receiver that I got myself for X-Mas, while it does not bo everything the Harmony one does, while I am learnig it I might as well go all the way. but I must say that the ONE is a great remote. BBROWN5222 2 X Pioneer Elite VSX 03TXH RECIEVER 2 x Panasonic DVR DMR-EH69 1 x PANASONIC 50 VIERA TH-50PZ80U 1 x PANASONIC 50 VIERA TC-P50VT20 1 X PANASONIC BD-30 BLU RAY PLAYER 1 X Sony BD 580 Blu Ray player 1 X OPPO 83SE BLU RAY PLAVER

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