Forum Home
PC World Chat
 
Thread ID: 104343 2009-10-24 22:07:00 Harmony remotes - PITA? Tony (4941) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
823817 2009-10-24 22:07:00 In a moment of madness I bught a Harmony 515 remote as Dick Smith had them going cheap.

I've had no end of trouble getting it set up, and the PC software seems really flaky and slow, and the help line is pretty iffy also. What has been the experience of other PF1-ers?
Tony (4941)
823818 2009-10-24 22:12:00 The 525 I use is fine, easy as. Just install the software, connect the remote... Search for whatever remote. Configure the settings / sync them with the remote. Thats it. You can also update the firmware on most of them. Speedy Gonzales (78)
823819 2009-10-25 00:54:00 Interesting. My experience has been just the opposite. The software refuses to cope with my HDD recorder - says it needs "specialized setup" and to contact customer support - who have been fairly useless. The software is really slow - although I realize that may be due to internet delays. It also totally hangs occasionally - ditto caveat.

I managed to get it to work in part by making it learn each command individually, but it still doesn't reliably do the activity I want.
Tony (4941)
823820 2009-10-25 05:03:00 I've setup a few harmony remotes for customers, 1000i's, 525's and Ones. I've found the software to be a bit iffy at times but never had to call the help desk. The harmony one was the best of the lot and worked really well once set up correctly. CYaBro (73)
823821 2009-10-25 09:44:00 I bought a 758 a couple of months ago and for the first week or so I hated the sight of the thing. I finally sussed out how to set it up, but it really is a geek-machine and not the sort of present to give your grannie for Christmas.

My main dislike is the need to jump onto the internet every time you want to change or tweak a setting. The connection to the Logitech server is slow and flaky, and it often won't connect at all. There is no reason that I can see why the settings of your remote can't be stored locally on your computer, and all changes made from there. Once you have defined your devices (TV, player etc.) it shouldn't be that difficult to do a once-only download of the relevant settings.

Once set up, it seems to work well. A change I would like to see is that, once you select an 'activity', transmission of signals does not commence until the power button is pressed (currently it only turns things off, not on).
Jayess64 (8703)
823822 2009-10-28 00:19:00 Well, I must change my opinion of the Logitech support. I had an hour-long conversation this morning with someone from Toronto (who called me), sorting out all the issues. :thumbs: The remote now seems to be working OK, but I still think the whole setup process is over-complicated. Tony (4941)
823823 2009-10-28 03:06:00 You may find the software painful (I didnt), but at least you CAN update the thing..
Most remotes have only the codes built in & cant be updated, making device compatibility rather iffy. The software also means it can be easily configured to suit the user- button remapping etc.

Didnt like the touchscreen on the Harmony One (just sold it), otherwise a near perfect remote
The other models have buttons far too small
sroby (11519)
1