Logitech Harmony Remotes & Activities

[Jimmyboy]

I'm thinking of getting the 555 remote but before I do I was wondering if activities will work. On my TV remote there are no specific TV input buttons, there's only 1 AV button to toggle between the various HDMI, SCART, VGA ports etc. So I'm wondering how I would go about setting up an activity if there's no specific HDMI/1/2/3 button to assign? Assuming it's possible to do at all.

[Baz]

Yes its possible. You have to use the harmony for everything though, you cannot use the original remotes as the harmony will remember what input it is on etc.

Also sometimes the harmony database has discrete inputs in its database even though there are no direct buttons on the remote.

What TV is it?

[jroadley]

Believe me, the Harmony software is so easy to use I am sure you won't have any problems.

I can even control the fan in my lounge with it!!

If the appliance you have comes with a remote the Harmony will be able to use it.

[kcxdev]

What TV is it?

[nutski]

I've got a Samsung 32" LCD from a few years ago which has a source change button, the Harmony has discreet codes for some of them i just can't find one that works for component though, on the other hand my old housemate had a 52" Samsung and i managed to get working discreet codes for all inputs.

[kcxdev]

My panasonic has all the inputs apart from component as well, but the way around is is to select a discrete input and scroll x number of times to get to the component input.

[Jimmyboy]

Yes its possible. You have to use the harmony for everything though, you cannot use the original remotes as the harmony will remember what input it is on etc.

Also sometimes the harmony database has discrete inputs in its database even though there are no direct buttons on the remote.

What TV is it?

Panasonic.

[DJBenson]

I've got a 555 and the database does indeed have many more options than most standard remotes have - I believe this is down to remotes being shared across models. My Samsung plasma had a button missing (which one escapes me now) but it existed in the Harmony database for the exact same TV.

Love my Harmony...it's got the "Wife Factor" too, one single button to turn on the TV, Sky+ and audio kit. Would not be without it.

[Francis]

I've got a Samsung 32" LCD from a few years ago which has a source change button, the Harmony has discreet codes for some of them i just can't find one that works for component though, on the other hand my old housemate had a 52" Samsung and i managed to get working discreet codes for all inputs.
Think I had a similar problem and found the same model of my Samsung but with a - or some slight variation of the model name, and that had the input I thought was missing.

[Jimmyboy]

Thanks for the help guys.

Went for the Harmony One in the end, one thing though, my TV needs to have the power button pressed for about 3 seconds to put it out of standby. Will the Harmony be able to accept a difference between a prolonged button press and a quick button press? Coz they perform two different actions on my set.

[kcxdev]

The Logitech db accounts for this on Panny TV's. On mine, the power on command has a prolonged button press of 2000 milliseconds.

[zantarous]

If it doesn't work I have read loads of people have called harmony tech support and they can sort it out remotely. Very polite and helpful bunch. The One is the best one in the range very well built and comfy.

[Jimmyboy]

Got my One today, looks nice.
Does anyone else's rattle slightly when you shake it?

I've put it straight onto charge but the instructions are none existent. How long does it need usually to fully charge and can I check to see how much it has done? I've noticed the screen goes black after putting it onto the charger.

[zantarous]

Yes the rattle is a sensor so when you pick it up or move it the light on the LCD goes on, nothing to worry about. The screen should gl blank when you put it in the charger as it is no need to be on.

As for setting it up downlaod the software from the Logitech site and it will more or less walk you through it. Remeber when it asks you how you change channel on you TV choose the one that allows you to use the buttons that are NOT on your remote (I can't remeber is that is opetion 1 or 3 of the top of my head).

[Jimmyboy]

OK thanks for the help, it came with a CD which I assumed is the relevant software...

How long should I leave it on charge? There's literally no instructions other than charge it and connect to PC usb.

[Baz]

OK thanks for the help, it came with a CD which I assumed is the relevant software...

How long should I leave it on charge? There's literally no instructions other than charge it and connect to PC usb.

It doesn't really matter as it is designed to sit on charge all the time it is not in use, so just charge it until it works and when it says it needs charging charge it. But when not in use pop it back on the charger.

Theres also a switch on the dock that turns the light on and off.

[zantarous]

I just charged it for a few hours and went to sleep. Overnight should be fine, it will drain quickly the frist few days as you tinker with it and keep setting it up. But once you start to use it in a normal fashion the battery should last a few days with the need for a recharge.

Once you are up and running have a look at the Harmony icon website (don't know the url of the top of my head) for channel logos for your favourite channel list.

[CARL]

You mean this (http://www.iconharmony.com/icons/?wicket:bookmarkablePage=wicket-0:com.thompson.harmony.user.index.page.IndexPage) one :)

[Jimmyboy]

I'm confusing myself setting this up for activities.

My Panasonic TV current goes up 2 and down 2 when pressing the volume.
Is it possible to reduce the sensitivity on these button presses?

Also, I've noticed when switching to the TV activity, it presses the power button too long which is what it needs to do to bring the TV out of stand-by. It doesn't need to do this when the TV is already on, again is there a way of having two different sensitivities to distinguish between the two?


Another thing, I can't get it to work with either my Xbox 1 or Xbox 360. I have the official remote for the xbox1 and it will work it if I power it up manually and then switch to devices to navigate the menus. What would I have to do to get it navigating the menus by default?

Do I need to buy the remote sensor for the 360 to get it work? I'd have thought the remote would simply imitate the glide button but pressing that doesn't do anything.

[zantarous]

On the main software go into activity and choose trouble shooting, in there you should get a whole load of options one of them will be able to alter the sensitivity of the button press.

Can't help you with the second one as I don't have a Panasonic but have seen in the AV forums turning them on can be a bit of a headache but seems you have that part sorted.

It should work fine with both Xbox and 360, you don't need the original remote. Are you sure you have the device added to the activity? So for Xbox you have a activity that includes the TV, xbox, amp etc? if so have a look in the activity button layout in the Logitech software and make sure that he button mappings are correct.

[Jimmyboy]

Still can't get it speaking to the 360.

This may sound daft, but what do I do to get it to power on from standby? Choosing the TV activity doesn't send the power button for long enough to turn it on from cold.

[chas]

Still can't get it speaking to the 360.

This may sound daft, but what do I do to get it to power on from standby? Choosing the TV activity doesn't send the power button for long enough to turn it on from cold.

i can get my harmony one working with my 360, i set up an activity called play 360 and when i use it it switch so my tv to the correct input and switches on my amp to the correct input and then switches on my 360, sometimes it can get confused and if so press the help button and it will send signals again untill it sorts it.

So set up an activity called play 360 and let the harmony know what input the tv needs to be on etc and it should work.

[Jimmyboy]

i can get my harmony one working with my 360, i set up an activity called play 360 and when i use it it switch so my tv to the correct input and switches on my amp to the correct input and then switches on my 360, sometimes it can get confused and if so press the help button and it will send signals again untill it sorts it.

So set up an activity called play 360 and let the harmony know what input the tv needs to be on etc and it should work.

Yeah did all that. Turned out the problem was the 360 itself needed to be switched to '360 remote' in the remote control settings instead of any remote.

Another stupid question, does the Harmony One turn off at all? I was assuming you;d turn it off at night to save battery but I can't see how you would.

[kcxdev]

It doesn't turn off like any remote, the screen goes off so it won't be using any power.

[Captain_Howdy666]

If it turned off, you'd need another remote to turn it back on.

[Jimmyboy]

Think I'm finally getting the hang of this now. One thing that still has me beat is dealing with devices that autostart by default. When you add them to an activity the Harmony One sends the powertoggle thinking its turning the device on, but because it autostarts its actually turning the device off. I haven't been able to solve that one yet, setting the never turn the device on/off option isn't an ideal solution.

[zantarous]

What do you mean autostart? Surely your equipment is either on or off? You really need to use only the Harmony to operate stuff. Or do you mean that you have HDMI control enabled so when you trun on the TV it turns on other stuff? if so disable it.

[Jimmyboy]

What do you mean autostart? Surely your equipment is either on or off? You really need to use only the Harmony to operate stuff. Or do you mean that you have HDMI control enabled so when you trun on the TV it turns on other stuff? if so disable it.

My digital box turns itself on as soon as it receives power from the mains without any buttons being pressed. The Harmony One remote then sends the powertoggle command to the digital box when I use the TV activity, thus it turns the device off thinking its turning it on.

[zantarous]

There is no real way round that as you are manually turning on the device, ie the Harmony will always think the device is off. You could just add a power toggle to the LCD so you can quickly switch on the box, that is what I did for my Cable and 360 as you have to make sure the remote is pointed directly at those two device or they don't turn on. Much quicker then having to press help several times.

[Arthur Fowler]

I'd recommend ringing the freephone logitech number, they are very helpful. I had the same problem with mine, but I can't remember how to resolve it!

[M@rtin]

Look in the Device setup for the digital box and go through the wizard (I think), you can usually specify whether the device has a power button or if it's on all the time.

[Baz]

Does it have a discrete power on command in the database? If so use that instead of the power toggle. (what device is it exactly?)

Otherwise are there any other commands that turn the box on? A bit like the sky button turns on the sky box etc? IF so use that as the power on command and the power toggle as the power off command.

If not then put the power toggle button on the screen and just hit it when it turns off.

I have the same issue with the WD TV HD and just use the power button I have added to the screen.

[shteve]

Think I told mine that there were discreet power on/off buttons. Then I left the power on button with no command. That way it sends nowt to power on the already on device, but you can use the off button as a power toggle.