Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Logitech Harmony 890?

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    Logitech Harmony 890?

    Anyone using it to control Homeseer devices? I haven't found anything but negative comments from users on shopping sites, most complaining that the RF firmware is poor.
    Anyone had positive experiences with it?

    #2
    Originally posted by pobrien
    Anyone using it to control Homeseer devices? I haven't found anything but negative comments from users on shopping sites, most complaining that the RF firmware is poor.
    Anyone had positive experiences with it?
    I just bought a Harmony 628 after shopping for days. I decided the 890 just wasn't worth that premium for the RF ability. I already have a Z-Wave remote that I have never used other than loading into HS. I can tell you that these remotes are simply amazing.
    💁‍♂️ Support & Customer Service 🙋‍♂️ Sales Questions 🛒 Shop HomeSeer Products

    Comment


      #3
      So its amazing but not worth it?

      Originally posted by Rupp
      I just bought a Harmony 628 after shopping for days. I decided the 890 just wasn't worth that premium for the RF ability. I already have a Z-Wave remote that I have never used other than loading into HS. I can tell you that these remotes are simply amazing.
      I'm confused, why would you say the remotes are amazing but not think it is worth the premium for RF ability?

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by Rupp
        I just bought a Harmony 628 after shopping for days. I decided the 890 just wasn't worth that premium for the RF ability. I already have a Z-Wave remote that I have never used other than loading into HS. I can tell you that these remotes are simply amazing.

        Greg,

        Can you give some feedback on how well the remote works and all of the things it will do?

        Can it be integrated with HS?
        Cheers,
        Bob
        Web site | Help Desk | Feature Requests | Message Board

        Comment


          #5
          Bob,
          The remote works excellently but I really do not see a way or a need (in my case) to integrate it with HS. I bought a new Panasonic plasma and needed a way to push one button and have my DVD/VCR/TV/Receiver/etc to come on and be in the correct video modes and depending on what I wanted to do, have the correct equipment turned on and in the correct mode. I programed all of my devices into my Ocelot but I do not have a good device that I wanted to have in the living room to use a hand held controller. So I programed my modes (watch a movie, watch cable TV, watch Hi Def TV) in to a Keypad Linc and it works BUT the wife still needed a way to use the VCR to turn the TV channels and change the volume. My analog TV tuner is being driven by my VCR and my volume is being driven by my receiver. This is where the Harmony comes in and shines. You program it using a web page at Harmony.com. You tell it the equipment you have and then it walks you through what device does the volume, watch device does the tuning, etc in each mode. When your done you select one of 4 buttons across the top ( on my model 628) watch a movie, watch TV, listen to music, more. The more simply puts up more choices on the LCD screen. So if I walk in and punch watch TV my TV turns on and automatically goes to video mode 1, the VCR turns on to TV mode, my receiver turns on and I'm ready to surf analog TV. The volume button controls the receiver volume, the channel button on the remote controls the VCR tuner, etc. It's really a nice system with a lot of options as far as timing between commands, button reassignment, etc. As far as dimming the lights ans such, I have two lamps in this room that come on at dusk each night so we never change the lighting unless it's to turn on the overhead light so I didn't see a need for that level of automation in my living room. If this were a theater then that would be a nice option as well.

          Bottom line I love the remote and so do the kids and wife and that says a lot.
          💁‍♂️ Support & Customer Service 🙋‍♂️ Sales Questions 🛒 Shop HomeSeer Products

          Comment


            #6
            Sounds great.

            Sounds like you are on a spending spree! (new TV, remote) I thought you were tight

            LOL, just kidding. I am looking for a good remote as well.
            Cheers,
            Bob
            Web site | Help Desk | Feature Requests | Message Board

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by Blade
              Sounds great.

              Sounds like you are on a spending spree! (new TV, remote) I thought you were tight

              LOL, just kidding. I am looking for a good remote as well.
              Bob I have shopped for a new TV for 8 years (when my last big screen died on me). The wife surprised me with this Pany Plasma. So the gears are still squeaking here.
              💁‍♂️ Support & Customer Service 🙋‍♂️ Sales Questions 🛒 Shop HomeSeer Products

              Comment


                #8
                I have the Harmony 880 and added my IR543 as a device for it, which allows me to turn off the lights when I click "Watch a DVD" and then turn them back on when I pause or move to some other activity.

                Other than that, I haven't done much integration -- but anything's really possible.

                I think the original post was asking about the RF integration capability -- like controlling Zwave and the like.

                The Harmony remotes are fantastic in terms of their ease of use. I can't speak to their RF capabilities because I don't own the 890. A buddy of mine is getting it, but that's useless because he doesn't have ANY home automation (the nerve of some people *grin*)

                Dan

                Comment


                  #9
                  Yep, what about the 890?

                  Originally posted by dantelope
                  I have the Harmony 880 and added my IR543 as a device for it, which allows me to turn off the lights when I click "Watch a DVD" and then turn them back on when I pause or move to some other activity.

                  Other than that, I haven't done much integration -- but anything's really possible.

                  I think the original post was asking about the RF integration capability -- like controlling Zwave and the like.

                  The Harmony remotes are fantastic in terms of their ease of use. I can't speak to their RF capabilities because I don't own the 890. A buddy of mine is getting it, but that's useless because he doesn't have ANY home automation (the nerve of some people *grin*)

                  Dan
                  How is the 890 better than the 880? Does it work? Is it easy? Any my follow up Rupp is still a question, you say that its great but don't like it (I'm confused)

                  Thanks!

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by pobrien
                    Any my follow up Rupp is still a question, you say that its great but don't like it (I'm confused)

                    Thanks!
                    Can you elaborate on this question a bit more. I'm not following the question.
                    💁‍♂️ Support & Customer Service 🙋‍♂️ Sales Questions 🛒 Shop HomeSeer Products

                    Comment


                      #11
                      I just got the Harmony 680 and it's fantastic. I also have a USB-UIRT that I use to supplement some of the automation, such as turning off the TV automatically when we leave for work, at the same time turning on the receiver and setting the tuner to talk radio to keep the cats company, and integrating it with HSTV to change channels at certain times for favorite programs and being able to setup the Comcast DVR for recording when we're away right from the HS website.

                      I don't have a way (yet) of sending IR to HS, but I use an X10 sticky switch to set the TV off timer. One button is 30 minutes, one is for 60 minutes, and one is for 90. Pushing one of these triggers events to send back through the Powermids an off command to shut the TV off in 30-90 minutes. Sort of complicated, but it works! ;-)

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by pobrien
                        How is the 890 better than the 880? Does it work? Is it easy? Any my follow up Rupp is still a question, you say that its great but don't like it (I'm confused)
                        The 890 isn't "better", it's different. It's an RF version of the 880. That means you don't have to point it at any specific point in the room -- in fact, you can point it in a completely different room and it will likely work. That's really the only major difference.

                        Does it work? Of course it works. I'm not sure I understand what you mean...

                        Is it easy? It's the same as the 880, so yes it's easy. The only additional trouble you'll experience is that you have to update the remote and the base stations.

                        Dan

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Rupp,

                          What if someone turns the VCR off or make changes to other equipments manually - will this screw up the syncronization with your Harmony remote?
                          I know that most audio/video equipment are just toggling from on to off or vice versa with the same infrared signal sent.

                          It seems like a very nice remote - I am slowly thinking about it too?

                          Thanks

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by rogerous
                            What if someone turns the VCR off or make changes to other equipments manually - will this screw up the syncronization with your Harmony remote?
                            I know that most audio/video equipment are just toggling from on to off or vice versa with the same infrared signal sent.

                            It seems like a very nice remote - I am slowly thinking about it too?
                            Yes. Since the 'synchronization' is all in software, the remote will be out of sync if equipment is manually adjusted. But the folks who made the Harmony were well aware of this problem.

                            When that happens, you can click the Help button. Clicking the help button walks you through a series of questions about your 'problem'.

                            Let's say someone turns the VCR on manually and leaves it there. If you went to watch the VCR (and assuming that your VCR has a toggle power which will now be out of sync) and the VCR didn't come on (because it instead turned off), you would click Help.

                            It will ask "Is your VCR on?" .. to which you reply "No". It then turns on the VCR (and thus is now in synch)

                            Then it asks "Did this solve your problem?" ... to which you reply "Yes", and the flow is over.

                            If you have multiple problems it will fix them all. We use this from time to time because my 4.5 year old son hasn't quite grasped the concept of pointing the IR remote at the equipment until everything is the way it should be. Works like a charm and my wife loves it.

                            Dan

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Does it work? Of course it works. I'm not sure I understand what you mean...
                              From what I have been reading on remote central, the firmware for the 890/895 is still (unofficialy) "beta" (or even alpha), and I didn't read any post stating all functionalities are really ok (especially on the RF side).

                              It's a bit choking coming from Logitech, but I guess marketing decided it should be out for Christmas and New Year...

                              stipus
                              --
                              stipus

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X