Programmable remotes - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Ironhorse · 07-09-2009, 10:38 AM

I'm considering getting a programmable remote. I saw that Costco had a Logitech Harmonie 520 for $70, and a Harmonie 620 for $130. Are these the ones to get? What is so much more special about the 620?

HalifaxDrunk · 07-09-2009, 10:58 AM

I have the 670 and can't live without it. Best remote I've ever had. Programming by USB is a godsend.

The Harmony 620 is functionally identical to the Harmony 670, but comes in black instead of silver–black. The 670 can utilize up to 15 devices, where the 620 can only utilize 12 devices.

Here is the 670's details.

The Harmony 520 is a mid-range remote that is similar in functionality to the Harmony 670, but with a different button arrangement and a squared-off physical design compared to the hourglass design of the 6xx series. It has a backlit monochrome LCD screen.

Esoteric · 07-09-2009, 12:32 PM

I have a Logitech 880, and it's by far the best remote I've ever used. It's $200 on Amazon though, so a bit more then the other remotes you listed.

You can't really go wrong with a Logitech Remote though.

old-fart · 07-09-2009, 02:43 PM

Got my 670 from Dell during their "days of deals" time for $50. Wait for it go on sale at Dell again (it was $100 off if I recall correctly) and it is awesome. I'm having a little trouble tweaking it perfectly with the new satelite 9241 receiver, but it worked perfectly with the Shaw crap.

Titan · 07-14-2009, 10:11 AM

So can you have it control the bell receiver and the volume of the amp without switching the buttons.

On my Bell remote I want to be able to pause, ff, etc. but to turn down the volume I have to push the aux button then the volume, then I have to push the sat button again to control the pvr.

Any suggestions?

Bobblehead · 07-14-2009, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esoteric

I have a Logitech 880, and it's by far the best remote I've ever used. It's $200 on Amazon though, so a bit more then the other remotes you listed.

You can't really go wrong with a Logitech Remote though.

I got that a coupel years ago on a boxing day Dell sale for $99, so keep an eye out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titan

So can you have it control the bell receiver and the volume of the amp without switching the buttons.

On my Bell remote I want to be able to pause, ff, etc. but to turn down the volume I have to push the aux button then the volume, then I have to push the sat button again to control the pvr.

Any suggestions?

Any of the Harmony remotes will do this. My channel and guide buttons control the Satellite, volume/mute control the Audio system. It will also switch the TV one and off as well as the correct input (as long as you haven't changed the input some other way - it remembers what it was last set on).

So when I press my "Watch TV" button, it turns on the Sat, Audio and TV. If I click the "Watch DVD" it turns off the Sat and changes the signal (on my receiver - I have it do the audio and video switching) to the DVD and controls the DVD.
If I Press "Play Wii" it changes the TV input and turns off the receiver and DVD (I need to turn the Wii manually - it uses a different type of signal).

If a signal ever gets missed, you press the help button and it will ask you questions until the problem is fixed. Like "Is the TV on?", you answer Yes or No. If you say No, it will resend the signal to turn the TV on then ask, "Did this fix the problem?"

The software to program the remote asks you what models of equipment you have and downloads all the codes. If there are any it doesn't know, you can "teach" it what they are and what they mean. You can also program macros, so if I want to change my satellite guide to "Favourites 1", I have a button which does all the step I normally need to do (Guide Select > Button Down > Enter > Esc)

The only issue I would have with the 880 is the buttons on the sides look great, but when not looking at them it can be difficult to feel the correct button, so when wanting to press Prev Channel, I accidentally get Channel Up. But overall the functionality is awesome, and I've replaced many remotes with it.

I gave one to my Brother-in-Law and he has his portable space heater programmed into it.

Titan · 07-14-2009, 11:22 AM

Out of thanks.

Thanks.

What is the Harmony one that is on Dell DoD now?
http://accessories.dell.com/sna/prod...1&sku=A2312196

Is it about the same as yours? I assume it is better based on the $300 price. Is this overkill compared to the far cheaper ones discussed above?

Thanks again.

Bobblehead · 07-14-2009, 11:30 AM

I have the 880 this one but I paid $99 on Boxing Day 2007 and have seen it at that price a number of times.

Homer_J · 07-14-2009, 11:33 AM

I have the Logitech 520 and it works great for me. I run a TV, Shaw PVR, Reciever and a DVD player. It was so easy to program and does everything I need and I've never had a problem with it.

Boblobla · 07-14-2009, 01:15 PM

I have this one and I LOVE it. The touch screen is awesome AND I dont get phone calls from the Mrs. asking how to turn on the sound for the TV.

Shazam · 07-14-2009, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

If a signal ever gets missed, you press the help button and it will ask you questions until the problem is fixed. Like "Is the TV on?", you answer Yes or No. If you say No, it will resend the signal to turn the TV on then ask, "Did this fix the problem?"

See this??? This will make your SO happy. Really happy.

This alone makes the Harmony worth every damned penny.

TurnedTheCorner · 07-14-2009, 07:47 PM

Seriously - amongst a sea of useless tech gizmo gadgets, a Harmony remote is worth a hundred times its weight in gold.

Titan · 07-20-2009, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titan

So can you have it control the bell receiver and the volume of the amp without switching the buttons.

On my Bell remote I want to be able to pause, ff, etc. but to turn down the volume I have to push the aux button then the volume, then I have to push the sat button again to control the pvr.

Any suggestions?

To answer my own question: http://www.bell.ca/web/tv/en/all_reg...42/9242_10.pdf page 12

Explains how to use the volume on the amp without hitting aux every time.

Clever_Iggy · 07-21-2009, 09:23 AM

I've been tossing around the idea of getting one now that I've accumulated enough electronics to justify it.

Does anyone own the Harmony 1100 or have any experience with it? I kinda like the tablet style remote, but if I stick with a wand I'm leaning toward the Harmony One.

the lemming · 12-14-2009, 04:06 PM

Sorry to bump an old thread but I have a question...

I just got a Harmony 510 as a gift and I guess I need to grab a PS3 adapter to get it to work the PS3. I'm wondering if it is worth upgrading the remote while I am at it? I'm debating the 670, 700 or One as an upgrade.

Thanks

photon · 12-14-2009, 04:25 PM

I find the buttons on the Harmony 500 very cheap feeling and not nice to use, not sure if they updated that for the 510. I also have an 880 and I like that one a lot more (got it for dirt cheap too).

the lemming · 12-17-2009, 05:30 PM

Thanks Photon.

I ended up exchanging my 510 for the One (which was on sale at FS), then I headed over to BB and picked up a PS3 adapter which was on sale there. Now I just have to get everything set up.

photon · 12-18-2009, 08:33 AM

Nice!

Burninator · 12-18-2009, 08:38 AM

I have an older Sony Plasma and no matter how many different codes I tried I could not get the Shaw remote to both turn on the TV and control the volume. I could only get one or the other to work. So I was still stuck using two remotes till I got the Harmony 880 for my birthday a couple years ago. It is absolutely great.

Of course all the things in this thread that have already been mentioned in this thread I totally agree with. But what else is great is that the buttons light up (not sure if this is the case for all the remotes). I like to watch movies with all the lights off and it's annoying if you have to turn on a light or fumble with the wrong buttons to use your remote. My remote lights and screen turn on when the remote is picked up and turn off automatically in about 20 seconds when set down. It also has a battery life bar in the top corner so you don't run out of power. It also came with a slick looking docking bay to charge the rechargeable batteries.

Also another great thing that is at least specific to Shaw is the skip ahead buttons. A regular Shaw remote has the normal fast forward and rewind buttons. The harmony has this as well, but it also has the skip forward and backwards buttons which advance recordings 15 seconds on a single push. And since commercials are usually a set length, it's super easy to skip the commercials in a couple button pushes without fast forwarding into the show and rewinding to hit the beginning. It's a small feature, but I use it all the time.

kermitology · 12-18-2009, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burninator

Also another great thing that is at least specific to Shaw is the skip ahead buttons. A regular Shaw remote has the normal fast forward and rewind buttons. The harmony has this as well, but it also has the skip forward and backwards buttons which advance recordings 15 seconds on a single push. And since commercials are usually a set length, it's super easy to skip the commercials in a couple button pushes without fast forwarding into the show and rewinding to hit the beginning. It's a small feature, but I use it all the time.

The Shaw remote actually does have this, it's just hidden.

Harmony remotes are a godsend. One of the best presents I ever got for my parents for their home theatre system. My mom wouldn't turn everything on because she didn't know how.

Now the remote turns everything on for her, and if it didn't work, it helps her out. So awesome. It even controls the fireplace.