Almost forgot - here is a good forum for harmony remotes:
http://www.remotecentral.com/cgi-bin/mb ... y/list.cgi
http://www.remotecentral.com/cgi-bin/mb ... y/list.cgi
Harmony Universal Remote
Read-only archive
I have had a couple of clients with the Harmony who were very satisfied. The cool part was they purchased a Lumagen scaler and the remote codes were already online. They had the Harmony running the Lumagen before I left!
FYI - Harmony was just purchased by Logitech so I think their quality control and ergonomics will improve over the next year or so.
I've had my Harmony remote for six months and find that it's the best use of $300 in my whole collection of ten devices. If anything gets out of sync, it can be remedied in seconds. The best part is that even my wife can use it. 
Jerry
Jerry
The best part is that even my wife can use it.
Amen!
Amen!
I have it as my latest try at a universal remote. Seems I have a basket full of them. It has great ease of use, and programs easily over the internet. My only gripe is that you don't get alot of functionality with it. Just the very basic operation.
Please explain more. What functions do you want that you don't think you get?
I haven't found any function that the Harmony can't do. After exhausting the "regular" stuff, just call the tech, who will modify the code. (Actually, you can do it yourself if you know how.)
I have my remote set up with all the play, pause, stop, ff, jump ahead, jump back, etc. all in the same place for my two VCRs, DVD, and Replay. That way I don't have to remember which machine I'm operating. The moves become instinctive.
My advice is to take an afternoon and work the settings until they're just the way you want them.
Enjoy!
I have my remote set up with all the play, pause, stop, ff, jump ahead, jump back, etc. all in the same place for my two VCRs, DVD, and Replay. That way I don't have to remember which machine I'm operating. The moves become instinctive.
My advice is to take an afternoon and work the settings until they're just the way you want them.
Enjoy!
I have the Harmony and I think its great. It is extremely easy to program via their web interface. The only thing that does not work is the Play, FF, Rew, Pause for my Comcast VOD. However, I have not taken the time to try to make it work. The device is extremely user friendly and anyone who has come over has been able to pick it up and use it without a problem. If you are looking for a powerful, yet easy to setup and easy to use remote control that won't baffle friends and loved ones, this is the device for you. At under $150 online its to good to pass up.
I guess I'm missing something. I realize many features are available on the lcd menu, I just would like them at my fingertips. I must admit I haven't spent much time with it. I've been having a hard time just trying to watch TV at all. I'll have to try to make time to play with it. 
You have several options. First, you can customize the hard buttons for each activity. e.g. in your watch TV activity the transport buttons are not normally used so you can have them control your lights or any other devices listed for that activity.
Second, the picture and sound buttons allow you to customize the hard buttons for the TV (or display device) and receiver (or audio device) respectively. So you hit Picture then one other button. Not perfect but better than scrolling through the LCD menu.
It is also possible to program hard buttons for the TV or receiver in the activity buttons and vice versa. e.g. to add a TV command to change aspect ratio to the Watch a DVD activity, customize the DVD device and add a learned IR code to the DVD device using the TV remote control and whatever button does the aspect ratio you desire. This will now be available as an IR command under the DVD device in the customize activity buttons menu and can be tied to a hard button or lcd button for that activity.
This would allow you, e.g. , to use the PLAY button in Watch Television activity to change the aspect ratio of the TV without having to hit Device and scroll through the LCD or having to hit the Picture button first.
There are many 'tricks' to do things like this. Try the harmony forum on remotecentral.com .
If you're not sure how to do something just call Harmony support and they'll even set it up for you.
Second, the picture and sound buttons allow you to customize the hard buttons for the TV (or display device) and receiver (or audio device) respectively. So you hit Picture then one other button. Not perfect but better than scrolling through the LCD menu.
It is also possible to program hard buttons for the TV or receiver in the activity buttons and vice versa. e.g. to add a TV command to change aspect ratio to the Watch a DVD activity, customize the DVD device and add a learned IR code to the DVD device using the TV remote control and whatever button does the aspect ratio you desire. This will now be available as an IR command under the DVD device in the customize activity buttons menu and can be tied to a hard button or lcd button for that activity.
This would allow you, e.g. , to use the PLAY button in Watch Television activity to change the aspect ratio of the TV without having to hit Device and scroll through the LCD or having to hit the Picture button first.
There are many 'tricks' to do things like this. Try the harmony forum on remotecentral.com .
If you're not sure how to do something just call Harmony support and they'll even set it up for you.
OK, with all of the good comments and my wife
I hope you realize it will not have a warranty and if it breaks Harmony will not fix it or replace it for free. Even if they say they're factory authorized most are not. Check the harmony website to get the official list.
These have been trouble prone (out of the box - DOA within a day or two) so I recommend the warranty.
www.surfremotecontrol.com sells them for just a few dollars more and you get a full factory warranty and a 30 day return policy.
These have been trouble prone (out of the box - DOA within a day or two) so I recommend the warranty.
www.surfremotecontrol.com sells them for just a few dollars more and you get a full factory warranty and a 30 day return policy.
I hope you realize it will not have a warranty and if it breaks Harmony will not fix it or replace it for free. Even if they say they're factory authorized most are not. Check the harmony website to get the official list
Akirby is absolutely right. We have had several clients tell us horror stories about their internet purchases and so-called great deals. Only to suffer weeks or months of fighting to return product and possibly receive a refund from the seller.
Always find out if the company is an authorized reseller and the product is warranted via internet purchase.
FYI - now that Harmony is owned by Logitech they appear to be relaxing their warranty restrictions. I've heard that as long as you don't buy it off Ebay and buy through a normal retailer that Logitech will most likely honor the warranty. Of course this is not official and you should contact them if you want to know for sure, but that's the rumour.