That means that it is a normal situation for me to receive
customized requests from a client. "Can the unit sense
if my garage door is opened at night and shut it down
at 1AM" or, can my lights power on at 7:30PM, or can I
have my A/V system do something based on what is actually
happening vs what is SUPPOSED to be happening?
Ya the Harmony's are not designed to do what you are referring to here. They are designed as you know to elimate the typical clutter of remotes that accumulate from having several devices that IR based. Also having the option of controlling devices via RF if no line of sight is available.
Little things like RS-232, voltgage sensing, 2 way
feedback, time based events, triggers, relays, "How about
commands being stored in a processor rather than a remote?"
These are some of the things that are nto advanced in
the world of A/V. My end users pay thousands, sometimes
hundreds of thousands for thier equipment. To finish
off a system with a Harmony remote is the ultimate masacre
in my mind.
At the cost you are referring to, you damn skippy that there should be a total package offered to your client with a solution that works. But what about other folks or even your clients that want not even a basic, but a standard system of IR devices (not talking RS-232, IP based, low voltage, we all know Harmony isn't designed for this stuff) to be controlled by a single remote. I don't want to knock the CI's but you guys are forever slamming Harmony's, and that's why the OP asked the question he did. He came from an RTI setup properly or not he was tied to what he had and had to put in a service call when he needed to tweak or change something. So justifying that I have to pay close to 3-4 times as much as I would for a Harmony and then have to depend on CI to program, tweak and update the thing on my dime yet at his convenience has very little appeal to me.
A customer's remote or touchpanel is more than just a way for him or her to control
it - it's a reflection of personal preferences and care that an installer
has put into customizing the experience for the user only.
Not having the same piece of junk as Joe shmo up the
block. Selecting genre menus, customized persaonal pictures
on the remote, Room control, these are things that my
customers want. I am not leaving them with something
a geek at best buy could do by answering questions. I
think I have easily demonstrated the flaws and disadvantages
of these things. Oh, and by the way, calling me a child
is not insulting at all. Children learn and are more
accepting of change and use way more of their brain than
an adult, especially an adult like you. Now I have provided
you with examples of Logitech's shortcomings. Why don't
you tell me how I can control my systems with a "Harmony"?
The solutions you guys offer to your customers are great especially when it comes to the examples you guys are finally giving. When examples like "the guy wasn't able to turn on the devices he wanted" are given it a shows a lack of understanding the program or setting it up properly. Harmony's certainly have their place as some of you have acknowledged, they certainly cant do everything the high end stuff can do but they can centainly do everything that an IR/RF based system needs at a reasonable cost.
