Harmony Remote question

[wazkaren]

I'm considering getting the Harmony 890 but I'm not clear whether it will work for me. I've looked at the manual but I'm still not sure.

I am using 4 different video inputs on my TV (the built in TV tuner, an HD200, XBox, and Wii). To switch between the 4 inputs I press a single input select button on the Sony remote until the input I want is selected. So the number of button presses needed changes depending on what input is currently selected. For example if I'm currently on Xbox and I want to switch to HD200 I have to press the video select button once. But if I'm currently on Wii I have to press the video select button 3 times to get to HD200. Can the Harmony 890 handle this? I want to set up 4 activities on the Harmony and have it know how many times the TV input command needs to be sent depending on what activity is currently set.

This remote is so expensive I just want to make sure it will work before I buy.

Thanks,
Greg

[kevine]

You can always return it if it does not perform the way you anticipated.

I have a similar remote for my TV (Samsung). You press the Source button until it has the souce you want. However, my Harmony knows a secret code to go right to the correct source. Remote manufacturers create the scroll feature to save room on the remote but usuall have seperate codes for each input. Hope this helps.

[wazkaren]

That helps a lot. I had not considered that the TV might have discrete codes since the remote didn't. But now that I know what to look for a google search shows that there are discrete codes for the video inputs on my Sony. Thanks!

[Ken C]

I have an older Harmony but the 890 should work the same way. The remote remembers the on/off state of all the devices. The only time mine gets confused is if a device is turned on or off manually. Even then, it's simple to correct.

There is a learning curve for the Harmony's. Logitech has tried to make it relatively straightforward but it still can be confusing. You combine devices (TV, DVD, Sage) to create an activity (Watch TV, Watch a DVD), kinda like a macro. So to Watch TV, the remote turns on the TV, selects the source, in my case HDMI1. Sage (HD200) is connected to HDMI1. The HD200 IR codes are in the Logitech database so the Harmony controls the extender. To Watch a DVD, the remote turns on the DVD player, switches the TV source to HDMI2 and we're good to go.

Hope this helps.

[vexhold]

I have the Harmony 890 Advanced and it will do what you want it to. It has internal memory and knows "according to current activity" where you are on your system. It knows how many button presses each input is from where ever you currently are.

The Harmony 890 is worth every Penny

[wazkaren]

Thanks everybody for the help. It sounds like it more than meets what I'm looking for so I placed my order.

Thanks,
Greg

[chughes]

Sounds like you've already bought it, but I would also recommend it. I have the 890 controlling my Sony TV and once you set up your online account with Harmony you'll find that your TV will probably have discreet codes for jumping right to the required source.
Oh, and the Wii is bluetooth, so the Harmony can't control it. All you can do is set up an activity for the Wii which puts your receiver and TV in the right modes, but it can't control the Wii directly.

[btrcp2000]

Just posting this for anyone who might stumble across it looking for Harmony info. I have an 890 and 4 550's. My 890 just died after about 2 years. The buttons still work, but the screen is shot, so you can't program any additional buttons. On Logitech's forums there are a lot of people reporting the same thing especially in the last two months:

http://forums.logitech.com/logitech/...eneral_remotes

I have been offered 50% off a replacement, not sure yet what I wll do. Very frustrating that such an expensive remote can be so flaky.