Remotes

[mlcarson]

Yes.
http://www.hifi-remote.com/wiki/inde...le=RemoteChart
http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=11728

Originally Posted by SDeGonge

Do you know if the INT supports JP1 programming? I see there are ports available but there is no mention of it on their website.

[NetworkGuy]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

And with an Amazon Dot, you could activate this kind of event from voice?

I just connected my Harmony Hub with Alexia. It is not perfect, but it does work. Check out this page: https://support.myharmony.com/en-us/...h-amazon-alexa

[RBraverman]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

I've been using a MX-500 for about 15 years now. It's pretty beat up, has become a puppy chew toy a few times, has a piece broken loose inside somewhere, so it doubles as a maraca, blows through batteries continuously, but it still works great, and has an awesome button layout, including the all-important-to-sage 2 levels of skip. Also, it's huge - so it won't get lost in the couch.

Which USB-UIRT do you use?

[mgpaulus]

I've got a Bravia 46XBR6, with 4HDMI, 2Component, 1Composite and 1 PC. Everything is full except for the PC input (Use that occasionally with a Laptop for slideshows, etc). And wouldn't you know it, the kid just bought a PS4, so I don't have enough HDMI ports.

That said, I use a Logitech Harmony 550. Covers all my devices, including using a Sony adapter for the PS3, so I can use it as the blu-ray replacement. Has a nice feel, doesn't require a cradle, and I have 3-4 spares off ebay since they quit manufacturing them.

Might look into the hub series, but the logitech remotes are so easy to use once you figure out how to program them. You don't have to remember things like, "hmm. Gonna play the Xbox 360. Which input is that? Why no sound? Oh yeah, gotta turn on the ZVOX box. Which one of these remotes controls the volume?"

And the wife's favorite. Only need to have 1 remote out, and the rest are tucked away in a drawer where they don't contribute to the constant clutter she despises.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by NetworkGuy

I just connected my Harmony Hub with Alexia. It is not perfect, but it does work. Check out this page: https://support.myharmony.com/en-us/...h-amazon-alexa

Can you elaborate on 'not perfect' a bit? For example, my spouse has trouble remembering how to use a Harmony 700 (Tivo is her limit).
Could she say "Turn on SageTV, Alexa" to a Harmony/EchoDot combo, and the TV, audio receiver and Sage extender would all power up on the correct receiver input?

[NetworkGuy]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

Can you elaborate on 'not perfect' a bit? For example, my spouse has trouble remembering how to use a Harmony 700 (Tivo is her limit).
Could she say "Turn on SageTV, Alexa" to a Harmony/EchoDot combo, and the TV, audio receiver and Sage extender would all power up on the correct receiver input?

Alexa will respond to any of the "smart" sequences and devices names for simple on/off commands. For example, I can say:

• "Alexa, Watch TV" which turns on the TV, Receiver, Cable Box & switches the inputs on the receiver.
  
• "Alexa, Listen to Music" which turns on the Receiver & switches to the tuner.
  
• "Alexa, Turn on Sage TV" which turns on the TV, Receiver, HD300 & switches the inputs on the receiver.
  
• "Alexa, Turn off the Entertainment Center" which turns everything off.

It will also recognize individual devices like a Roku. ("Alexa, turn on Roku") If you have a named component in your Harmony, Alexa will let you turn it on/off. You can create ANY Harmony sequence you want and when you connect Alexa to your Harmony account, you can give your sequence a "friendly" name.

Alexa will not control volume. (Telling Alexa to change the volume, changes the volume of HER responses.) You are suppose to be able to say "Alexa, watch the Discovery Channel" when using the cable box, but I have not tried it.

You just need to remember to tell Alexa to "Discover Devices" after you make changes in your Harmony Remote.

Does not replace your remote, but it does a pretty good job.

Also, attach Alexa to a home automation hub (I use Wink) and it is great for controlling lights.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by NetworkGuy

Alexa will respond to any of the "smart" sequences and devices names for simple on/off commands. For example, I can say:

• "Alexa, Watch TV" which turns on the TV, Receiver, Cable Box & switches the inputs on the receiver.
  
• "Alexa, Listen to Music" which turns on the Receiver & switches to the tuner.
  
• "Alexa, Turn on Sage TV" which turns on the TV, Receiver, HD300 & switches the inputs on the receiver.
  
• "Alexa, Turn off the Entertainment Center" which turns everything off.

It will also recognize individual devices like a Roku. ("Alexa, turn on Roku") If you have a named component in your Harmony, Alexa will let you turn it on/off. You can create ANY Harmony sequence you want and when you connect Alexa to your Harmony account, you can give your sequence a "friendly" name.

Alexa will not control volume. (Telling Alexa to change the volume, changes the volume of HER responses.) You are suppose to be able to say "Alexa, watch the Discovery Channel" when using the cable box, but I have not tried it.

You just need to remember to tell Alexa to "Discover Devices" after you make changes in your Harmony Remote.

Does not replace your remote, but it does a pretty good job.

Also, attach Alexa to a home automation hub (I use Wink) and it is great for controlling lights.

In your 'Alexa, turn off the entertainment center' scenario, is that based on the Harmony activity you've created? For example, the activity I created for my satellite receiver NEVER turns off power for the satellite receiver, but does for everything else. So Alexa would follow the rules of that particular activity?

[NetworkGuy]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

In your 'Alexa, turn off the entertainment center' scenario, is that based on the Harmony activity you've created? For example, the activity I created for my satellite receiver NEVER turns off power for the satellite receiver, but does for everything else. So Alexa would follow the rules of that particular activity?

Correct. All Alexa does is run the Harmony sequences.

[Stu Gare]

Can you run commands at a device level or only an activity?

[NetworkGuy]

Originally Posted by Stu Gare

Can you run commands at a device level or only an activity?

On/Off at a device level for sure. I am not sure what other commands it would recognize.

tmiranda on this board was writing a SageTV skill for Alexia. https://forums.sagetv.com/forums/sho...d.php?p=589819
You may want to contact them for more info.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by NetworkGuy

Correct. All Alexa does is run the Harmony sequences.

which Harmony Hub remote package do you have? I'm thinking of picking one up, and Best Buy has a nice deal on the Smart version.

[wayner]

Alexa will work with any of the hub-based remotes including the lower priced Harmony Smart Control system. The hub connects into your wifi network so that is how Alexa can talk to it.

I believe that, at least in the current incarnation, Alexa can only control one Harmony system per house. Your MyHarmony ID can control up to six devices. Hopefully they will allow you to use multiple hubs sometime soon so that you can say something like "Alexa, start SageTV in Kitchen".

Even the six device limit is binding. I currently have five hub based Harmony devices and several that aren't hub based so I will soon be having to use a second account.

[wayner]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

With the Harmony Smart Control, for that price you get the remote AND the hub? Also, I have semi-complex activities programmed for my Harmony 700, aka one button turns on TV, receiver and selects the correct receiver input. Do these Smart Control's do similar? And with an Amazon Dot, you could activate this kind of event from voice?

Yes you get a small remote and a hub. The remote does not have an LCD screen and it has three activity buttons. You can also long press the activity buttons so that it can control six activities but that may not work so well for WAF. I actually really like the ergonomics of the remotes as it fits well in my hand but not having an LCD screen is an issue for stuff like troubleshooting.

It works the same as your old Harmony in terms of programming Activities. But there is new software that you have to use called MyHarmony for the Hub based devices. With all of the hub devices you can also use your phone/tablet instead of, or in addition to, the remote. And I believe you can actually make changes from your phone and then resync the hub so that you don't need to use your PC to make minor changes. However occasionally you may have to plug in your hub to your PC to upgrade the firmware.

I have rather complex activities as well with TV, AVR, and many devices but there is no issue with these. And you can even control some other devices like blinds, Hue lights, etc.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by wayner

Yes you get a small remote and a hub. The remote does not have an LCD screen and it has three activity buttons. You can also long press the activity buttons so that it can control six activities but that may not work so well for WAF. I actually really like the ergonomics of the remotes as it fits well in my hand but not having an LCD screen is an issue for stuff like troubleshooting.

It works the same as your old Harmony in terms of programming Activities. But there is new software that you have to use called MyHarmony for the Hub based devices. With all of the hub devices you can also use your phone/tablet instead of, or in addition to, the remote. And I believe you can actually make changes from your phone and then resync the hub so that you don't need to use your PC to make minor changes. However occasionally you may have to plug in your hub to your PC to upgrade the firmware.

I have rather complex activities as well with TV, AVR, and many devices but there is no issue with these. And you can even control some other devices like blinds, Hue lights, etc.

What's the purpose of the DVR button on the remote?

[wayner]

Good question - I don't use that so I am not even sure if it is mapped to anything. But with a SageTV Activity you could have it go straight to RecordedTV as you can remap all buttons on these remotes.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by wayner

Good question - I don't use that so I am not even sure if it is mapped to anything. But with a SageTV Activity you could have it go straight to RecordedTV as you can remap all buttons on these remotes.

That's what I was wondering, if it can be linked to a Tivo, Sage, Sat DVR, or any device in the Harmony database

[wayner]

With the Harmony remotes any button on the remote whether it is a physical button or a LCD screen "soft button" (which the Smart Control remote does not have) can be mapped to any command on any device which is being used in that Activity. But by default they use the most logical mapping so 99% of the time you never have to worry about that.

That is one of the best things about these remotes. These remotes often have colored buttons and I map the red button to Delete in SageTV to give me a quick way to delete stuff.

[NetworkGuy]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

which Harmony Hub remote package do you have? I'm thinking of picking one up, and Best Buy has a nice deal on the Smart version.

The Harmony Companion. http://www.logitech.com/en-us/produc...panion?crid=60

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by wayner

With the Harmony remotes any button on the remote whether it is a physical button or a LCD screen "soft button" (which the Smart Control remote does not have) can be mapped to any command on any device which is being used in that Activity. But by default they use the most logical mapping so 99% of the time you never have to worry about that.

That is one of the best things about these remotes. These remotes often have colored buttons and I map the red button to Delete in SageTV to give me a quick way to delete stuff.

Any idea if the Logitech Hub that comes with the remote can also be used for additional 'hub' activities, i.e. instead of using a Samsung SmartHub for example? You know, for linking to wall-socket wifi adapters etc.

[NetworkGuy]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

Any idea if the Logitech Hub that comes with the remote can also be used for additional 'hub' activities, i.e. instead of using a Samsung SmartHub for example? You know, for linking to wall-socket wifi adapters etc.

You have to buy an Extender to handle the home automation stuff without a hub. http://www.logitech.com/en-us/produc...e-hub-extender

For $99, I would just buy a new Wink 2 hub. It handles many more home automation protocols.