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Anyone using/spec'ing Harmony remotes?
This thread has 96 replies. Displaying posts 1 through 15.
Post 1 made on Monday June 6, 2016 at 15:28
juliejacobson
CE Pro Magazine
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Haven't heard much about them for a while. I'm wondering if anyone uses the products for their installs, either as their go-to remote or back-up.

What about the home automation hub? Anyone using?

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

jj
"CEPro: your website sucks!" - Fins
www.cepro.com
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Post 2 made on Monday June 6, 2016 at 15:38
buzz
Super Member
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4,366
No on all counts.

Regardless of "easy" to program or not, the resulting user interface leaves me cold. I also don't like the requirement that I be online while I configure the remote.
Post 3 made on Monday June 6, 2016 at 15:46
fcwilt
Senior Member
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1,283
I used one for a family member who would best be described as "low tech".

It was the predecessor to the Harmony Companion.

The setup was without issue and it works very well.

For this person it was a fine solution - they had no problems learning how to use it.

I would use it again in similar circumstances.
Regards, Frederick C. Wilt
Post 4 made on Monday June 6, 2016 at 16:16
thecynic315
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No, never.
Post 5 made on Monday June 6, 2016 at 16:25
highfigh
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I use the 650 for simple systems and it works pretty well. The help button makes it easy for most people to deal with TVs without discrete commands.

I called to get some info a while back and ended up talking to the person in charge of their design/engineering department. We discussed several of the problems I had in the past and he said their goal is to never have those kinds of problems again. He even answered the phone when he was vacationing in Europe.

I got an Elite and he added a Companion, which normally comes with its own hub, but that remote can be paired to the one that comes with the Elite. In my more simple system, I have to say that the Companion does everything I need, although I need to add the Info, Guide & Exit buttons for the TV when I listen to the radio. It doesn't have a help button, but if my TV doesn't go to the correct input, I can just press Ch+ or CH- and it's good (when I want to watch TV/listen to the radio) and if I want to do anything else, it's a little more complicated, but still not terrible. I wouldn't let it fly in a customer's system, but with my own, it's not a problem.

The Companion has only three activity buttons, but will operate six, via long or short button press. It doesn't have the ability to learn commands, but this is still possible if the system also has an Elite or Ultimate Remote.

The Elite is good. I would recommend watching the videos and trying one. It feels heavier and more solid than any of their others.

The iPhone app works very well, too.
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
Post 6 made on Monday June 6, 2016 at 16:43
Brad Humphrey
Super Member
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"Harmony" . . . . it is not!
Post 7 made on Monday June 6, 2016 at 17:43
Greg C
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Not a professional remote in any sense of the word.
CEDIA University Designer CAT Team Member
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CEDIA Registered Outreach Instructor
Post 8 made on Monday June 6, 2016 at 17:52
Craig Aguiar-Winter
Senior Member
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I use Procontrol Pro24r remotes on any of my systems that will require special programming or a client who wants a more comfortable user interface but for a guy who has me over to hang a TV and set up his home theatre in a box, it's just not realistic to get them to spend that kind of money on the remote and programming. In this situation I like the Harmony 650.

Lots of people here will crow about how they would never.... Or you'd never catch me.... Or no REAL CI would EVER use a Harmony, but honestly for the price there's nothing out there anywhere near as good. Their support is very good. They set up very quickly. So for my budget conscious clients I have no problem recommending one when the alternative is a handful of remotes. People like them.


Once you get in to the features that their higher priced remotes offer I prefer to get into a CI remote like the Pro24r. Even though it's an entry level CI remote it has a lot of power and is infinitely customizable. The Harmonys trap you in their end user intended interface and that slows things down big time when you want to do custom stuff or over come any hick ups.

For basic systems Harmony is just fine. I wish the Harmony One was still available.

You make nothing on the product but the customers are happy.

Craig.
My wife says I can't do sarcasm. She says I just sound like an a$$hole.
Post 9 made on Monday June 6, 2016 at 19:42
edizzle
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i have NEVER sold a harmony remote! dont think i ever will!
I love supporting product that supports me!
Post 10 made on Monday June 6, 2016 at 20:19
roddymcg
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My remotes don't have or need a help button, so no. I got stuck doing a couple a few years back and nothing but call backs.
When good enough is not good enough.
Post 11 made on Monday June 6, 2016 at 20:24
Duct Tape
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they come in handy for the ir database.  i use mine every now and then to teach a code to a urc remote.
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OP | Post 12 made on Monday June 6, 2016 at 20:29
juliejacobson
CE Pro Magazine
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Thanks all. Anything you might ask a product/marketing manager if you were interviewing him? (See what I just did there?)
"CEPro: your website sucks!" - Fins
www.cepro.com
[Link: twitter.com]
Post 13 made on Monday June 6, 2016 at 20:58
benjh1028
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Never again.
Post 14 made on Monday June 6, 2016 at 21:54
highfigh
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On June 6, 2016 at 20:29, juliejacobson said...
Thanks all. Anything you might ask a product/marketing manager if you were interviewing him? (See what I just did there?)

Sounds like you'll be interviewing their marketing Mgr. Is it Pyke Shouten? That's who I spoke with a few times, then he asked if I would be interested in doing a "round table discussion with him and some from the tech department. It was interesting. If you do interview someone, ask what's happening with the dealer support number and department they spoke of- I haven't heard anything from them about it.

FWIW, the blaster in the hub for the Elite works great- I have mine about 10' from my rack, at an angle, and it never misses a command.

A few of the things I told them that should change-

The edges of the Elite would be better if they had some kind of grippy material, to make it harder to slide out of the hand.

They need to use 3.5mm jacks, rather than 2.5mm and if possible, put more of them on the hub. More can be used with a splitter, but the 2.5-3.5mm adapters aren't always easy to find and they're not very durable.

Taller spacing for the touch screen commands- people with big fingers will have problems hitting the wrong command.
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
Post 15 made on Monday June 6, 2016 at 21:55
highfigh
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On June 6, 2016 at 20:24, Duct Tape said...
they come in handy for the ir database.  i use mine every now and then to teach a code to a urc remote.

Yabbut, URC says they have the most complete database! How can this be true?
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
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