My new cable provider kind of sucks. The DVR software is stupid (actually profoundly retarded in places). But the biggest problem is that the cable box can't be routed through a secondary device (like my component auto-switchbox).
(The auto switchbox was/is freakin' magic: four component/digital audio devices go in and go to a single input on the TV and receiver. Press "power" on any one and the unit automatically switches over to it. Brilliant.) Also the cable-system remote simply could not be configured to always change volume with the receiver (there were instructions but they didn't work). So to change volume you had to hit "Aux" then change volume and to change channels you had to hit "Cable" and change channels. If you accidentally hit "Volume" without switching it adjusted the TV volume which just screws everything up. This threw my finely tuned, one-button home theatre into a mess: I was back to needing to adjust inputs on the TV and the Receiver every time I wanted to watch TV. The kids couldn't do anything without help anymore and I was back to needing several remotes at hand to do simple things. Anyway I started looking at my options for remotes. I had always been drawn to the Logitech Harmony for its gadget-appeal but my magic switch-box made it unnecessary. But with the current situation it started looking better and better. So I went down to Best Buy and picked it up (declining, as I did, the super-special, double-extra warranty option). I went all-out and got the newer 880 model with the color screen. It uses a special Lithium-Ion battery pack and needs to be charged before use. You can't use off-the-shelf batteries which is a little disappointing (especially considering that Logitech wireless mice are much more versatile in this area). So, in short, I had to wait until the next day to actually play with my new toy. But once it's charged you're set to go. The recharging cradle is flat and idiot proof - the remote only fits in snugly in one way and old-fashioned gravity provides all the contact required. It fits very nicely on top of my TV. The remote itself is sleek black and chrome with the top dominated by a large color LCD display. The middle are features common controls (volume, channel, etc) and a directional pad. Finally the bottom area hosts a bank of common buttons (menu, exit, guide and info), generic DVR/VCR controls (play, pause, record, etc) and a (smallish) number pad. The buttons themselves are somewhat small (and perhaps difficult to read for some people) and a bit difficult to differentiate by feel. Like most elongated remotes it's sometimes an issue to complete tasks that require buttons from both the top and bottom banks as the entire remote is not thumb accessible without repositioning the hand. This last is made somewhat more difficult since the remote is all hard, smooth plastic that tends to slip in the hand. On the positive side the actually button layouts are logical and easy to remember. The remote feels solidly constructed and seems able to take any normal punishment that might be dealt out. Although it packs in significantly more functionality and a sizable screen the remote is actually smaller overall than most of the remotes it replaces. The top of the remote features a mini-USB connector. ALL configuration of the remote is done online. ALL of it. This remote absolutely requires a Windows or Mac PC with an Internet connection. The hardest part of setting up the remote is figuring out the model numbers of your hardware. For example my TV (a Samsung Flat-Screen HD CRT) comes with a combined manual for eight different models. The TV weighs nearly 200 pounds so I didn't want to move it to get at the stickers on the bottom. I ended up needing to dig through Samsung support documents and spec sheets to figure it out. I actually still don't have it exactly right (my TV doesn't have Picture-in-Picture but the remote profile has it) but it does work. Logitech's online database of gear is IMMENSE and diverse. They instantly found a profile for my Avel LinkPlayer 2 (a device from Japan for which the maker doesn't publish remote codes). The remote can also control any IR-capable devices such as lights, environmental controls, audio equipment and any IR-equipped video game system. Once you enter your hardware the remote automatically sets up related "Activities" such as "Watch TV", "Listen to Radio" or "Play XBox 360". You can easily just accept the defaults and probably be perfectly happy. Once you're done configuring things on the website the new remote "package" is downloaded to the remote via USB and you're set. The remote "remembers" where things are so it might confused if you use both it and change things manually or with another remote. For example when you turn on the TV the remote may assume it's on the Component 1 input. It will switch to component 2 correctly when needed... unless you switch the input without it. Then it gets confused. However if things get out of synch you only have to press the "help" button and follow the instructions on the screen. The remote will ask questions like "Is the TV on?" or "Is the Receiver on DVD input?" After a few questions everything should be back on track. At this point things just plain work. Simply, amazingly and without complaint. However you might want to get more complex. If so open up the web application again and dig a little deeper. You can set up many common scenarios with just a few clicks. For example I want my PVR to stay on all the time. I just choose it from the list of my devices, select "power options" and then "Always on". You can adjust, add or remove activities as you like and have full control over the state of your system for any activity. I combined the default activities of "Watch TV" and "Watch PVR" into just "Use Cable Box" since in my case both are the same device. For any activity you can define which devices are enabled, which inputs are selected and which devices control common functions (such as volume and channel-changing). The LCD screen offers you all the customization that you could want. There are eight buttons next to the screen: you can set these to any of the functions of any of your devices and you can have essentially any number of screens of options (eight options per screen). You can also remap any of hard buttons to any device function as well. You can also set up unknown devices (although I didn't have to) via a learning remote functionality. In this mode you define the buttons and labels with the web application. Once you download the profile to the remote it will instruct you how to complete the process itself. For example it will tell you to "place the remotes with their tops facing each other" then tell you press "Play" on the other remote. Once it finishes this wizard-like process you're configured. Lastly, and a bit uselessly, you can also download custom graphics and images to the remote (it has a "slide-show" option which displays images of your choosing on the LCD screen). You can also create custom wall-paper and the like if you wish. The only minor confusion I had with the remote was constructing an activity for using the PS2 (since my version lacks the IR part I didn't set it up as a device). The simple solution was to add the PS2 as a device. Even tho' the remote can't actually control it directly it does configure the audio and video components for its use. All told the web application is a little dated (plain-jane HTML with no modern tricks) but works well. The worst you can say about it is that it's a little ugly and plodding but it does work perfectly well enough. I've been using the Harmony now for several days and haven't once needed to dog out any of the dedicated remotes. It does EVERYTHING and does it all well. Battery life seems fine (as long as you remember to drop it in the charger) and while initial set up can be a little frustrating (mostly in discovering your specific model numbers) it's a one-time affair. The worst thing you can say about the remote is that it's expensive (the 880 model I got was $199) but it's actually surprisingly inexpensive compared to luxury models from Sony or Philips (some of which run over $500) and no much more than many screen-less universal remotes. Highly recommended. Jim Davis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:205738 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
