[mcgsxr]

I use a Logitech Harmony 880.

My 5 and 7 year old girls can use it.

I can program it using a USB cable and any computer.

There is a 0% chance I would ever get this HT system setup on the main floor in any other fashion, it just put the icing on the cake.

Not sure what programming woes folks have with any Harmony device, and with the help button to help walk you through the odd time that not all piece fire as expected when using it, I cannot for the life of me imagine a simpler, or better approach to killing off 4-9 remotes with the 880.

Love it.

[Doublej]

Nothing really solves the problem when you have equipment with poor implementation of control functions. If your component has any button that toggles (like power) or cycles (like selection of input) you are setting yourself up for trouble.

If you want to make life easy only use equipment that supports specific commands (power on, power off, input 1, input 2). Historically this has meant either a proprietary bus (Samsung, JVC, Onkyo had them in the past) or an RS232 port on the back of the equipment.

Then you can program sequences like watch a movie to your hearts desire. Without support for specific commands on all of your devices macros require the environment to start from a specific state which is not always the state the components are in at the moment.

For example, if the macro for Watch DVD is power on TV, power HT system and DVD player, select TV input on TV, select DVD play guess what happens when you press the Watch DVD button if you are watching ESPN and your components can only toggle power via remote.

TV turns off, HT System turns off, DVD player turns on, DVD starts playing, customer get frustrated! Even a Crestron won't help you here.

There's a second problem with high end equipment and that's the fact that Logitech et al don't have the equipment in their database so you can't just add the functions for the equipment without putting the Universal remote into learning mode and mapping buttons.

[mcgsxr]

Perhaps I lack the experience in setting up a Harmony for varied gear, or a more complex system.

As the new remotes can issue distinct commands (ie power on vs just power) I would think it alleviates some of the headache.

When in Watch TV mode, we can simply hit the macro for Watch Movie, and it accurately sets it all up, as it can if all the gear is off too.

I am sure there are setups where more complex commands are req'd, I guess I am one of the lucky ones with a system that is pretty straightforward, so for me it is a real treat.

[John Casler]

Perhaps I lack the experience in setting up a Harmony for varied gear, or a more complex system.

As the new remotes can issue distinct commands (ie power on vs just power) I would think it alleviates some of the headache.

When in Watch TV mode, we can simply hit the macro for Watch Movie, and it accurately sets it all up, as it can if all the gear is off too.

I am sure there are setups where more complex commands are req'd, I guess I am one of the lucky ones with a system that is pretty straightforward, so for me it is a real treat.

I used HARMONYS in the very beginning but got calls quite often, because someone had manually turned off one of the components and the system got out of synch.

This means the Harmony would be attempting to turn everything ON, but in fact be turning one of them off.

Additionally it seems that if you have several components that are being turned on and off with the HARMONY then you need to hold it facing all the gear while it cycles through the shut down sequence.  If you only have a couple components that might not be a problem (if in fact it is still the case)

But the weekly calls from Harmony customers led me to beleive someone would eventually solve these issues and maybe even HARMONY has done so now.

[ted_b]

After reading more about Thinkflood's redeye (some good progress since I first checked it out a year ago), I am slightly geeked to finally try it.

What is even more wild is that you can use it to start your car, rev the engine, blink the lights, crank the tunes, etc!!!   

http://www.youtube.com/redeyeremote#p/u/4/lOK-hqSMqKs

[ctviggen]

I've using programmable remotes for many years, beginning with a Pronto and now using URC remotes.  I couldn't go back to not having a programmable remote.  However, there are still functions I cannot program and errors the remote cannot detect.  For instance, upstairs, I use a two zone system.  There's no way for the remote to "know" whether or not I'm using the second zone.  Because the remote doesn't know I'm using the second zone, I can't "tell" it not to turn off, if my wife for instance turns off the TV watching functions (which turns off my preamp, thereby turning off everything including the second zone).  For my Proceed AVP (preamp), I get occasional errors where the Proceed misinterprets the command and pops up the set up console.  I can't determine what's causing this, and it's hard to program in help for this error.  Until there are two way channels of feedback and "if - then" types of statements, programmable remotes will always be only 90 % functional. 

[Phil A]

I've always found Harmony easy.  There is a help button and if everything is not on or off the way it should be (which happens on occasion) you may need to press it once or a few times (i.e. if it cycles through TV inputs).  What I don't like is that when I listen and want to compare or listen to another source with the DAC.  It is just easier to get the remote out for the other source or turn in on manually.  With a Philips Pronto you could easily program it on one group of pages and keep everything more important on the first page.  So for now, I just live with the Harmony and it is easy and takes very little time to add or remove a new component.  But seeing how I remember the days when there were no remotes and then they had the ones with long wires from the remote to the component I guess I can't complain too much

[Phil A]

  There's no way for the remote to "know" whether or not I'm using the second zone.  Because the remote doesn't know I'm using the second zone, I can't "tell" it not to turn off, if my wife for instance turns off the TV watching functions (which turns off my preamp, thereby turning off everything including the second zone).  For my Proceed AVP (preamp), I get occasional errors where the Proceed misinterprets the command and pops up the set up console.  I can't determine what's causing this, and it's hard to program in help for this error.  Until there are two way channels of feedback and "if - then" types of statements, programmable remotes will always be only 90 % functional.

I've never had any problem with that type of scenario with Pronto remotes when I had them and I had a Proceed AVP too at one point.  Granted, I did not use the second zone much and I had almost no macros on the Prontos.  Pretty much just kept what I needed neatly on the page of the remote that made sense to me.  Didn't mind turning on one or two things individually.  The AVP turned on the HPA and BPA power amps and then I just had a source.

[poseidonsvoice]

This means the Harmony would be attempting to turn everything ON, but in fact be turning one of them off.

Additionally it seems that if you have several components that are being turned on and off with the HARMONY then you need to hold it facing all the gear while it cycles through the shut down sequence.  If you only have a couple components that might not be a problem (if in fact it is still the case)

For instance, upstairs, I use a two zone system.  There's no way for the remote to "know" whether or not I'm using the second zone.  Because the remote doesn't know I'm using the second zone, I can't "tell" it not to turn off, if my wife for instance turns off the TV watching functions (which turns off my preamp, thereby turning off everything including the second zone).  For my Proceed AVP (preamp), I get occasional errors where the Proceed misinterprets the command and pops up the set up console.  I can't determine what's causing this, and it's hard to program in help for this error.  Until there are two way channels of feedback and "if - then" types of statements, programmable remotes will always be only 90 % functional. 

The RedEye addresses both of these issues. The reason is that it has a built in memory and its in the room where the components are.

After reading more about Thinkflood's redeye (some good progress since I first checked it out a year ago), I am slightly geeked to finally try it.

What is even more wild is that you can use it to start your car, rev the engine, blink the lights, crank the tunes, etc!!!   

http://www.youtube.com/redeyeremote#p/u/4/lOK-hqSMqKs

I'm with you Ted, I'll give it a try as well. But you'll probably beat me to it!

Anand.

[pjchappy]

Just a heads up, RedEye is now available for Android phones:  ThinkFlood RedEye Remote

I will be ordering one at the end of the month.


Paul