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Topic:
Ready for Prime Time?
This thread has 11 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Saturday December 8, 2001 at 19:04
dcraw
Founding Member
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December 2001
2
I've been to their website, I've read most of the messages about the Harmony in the remotes forum. It sounds like it should be what I would really like. It sounds like setting it up will not be as easy as Easy makes it sound like it should be. I'm basically lazy and don't want to have to do a lot of work just to get the thing working.
My system is fairly basic, except maybe the satellite/PVR:
Dishnetwork 500 receiver w/ HD recorder
RCA 32 in TV
Denon 3801 A/V receiver
Sharp VC-H810 VCR
oh yeah, the oddball;)
Genica GN-800 DVD

Is this thing ready to "Plug and Play" or will I need to to a lot of fiddling?
The other remote I'm considering is the MX-500.
Thanks for the help,
Dave
Post 2 made on Sunday December 9, 2001 at 02:21
Eric Warnke
Founding Member
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December 2001
45
I'm a programmer by trade. I found that out of the box it could control most of my devices. Currently you will have to take time and patience to get the kinks worked out. I have found that those kinks are VERY worth it. My remote is 90% done. I still have some playing to do, but right now I can do 90% and 100% of what I do activly is setup.

The nice thing is that with smart states, once set up make programming everything much more streamlined.
OP | Post 3 made on Sunday December 9, 2001 at 23:05
dcraw
Founding Member
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December 2001
2
Remember I said, I'm basically lazy...
How much time do you have in setting up your Harmony?
Thanks,
Dave

On 12/09/01 02:21.58, Eric Warnke said...
I'm a programmer by trade. I found that out of
the box it could control most of my devices.
Currently you will have to take time and patience
to get the kinks worked out. I have found that
those kinks are VERY worth it. My remote is 90%
done. I still have some playing to do, but right
now I can do 90% and 100% of what I do activly
is setup.

The nice thing is that with smart states, once
set up make programming everything much more streamlined.

This message was edited by dcraw on 12/09/01 23:07.18.
Post 4 made on Sunday December 9, 2001 at 23:30
Eric Warnke
Founding Member
Joined:
Posts:
December 2001
45
Out of box I could get about 90% of the remote working in an hour. It will require some tinkering to get everything exactly the way you want it. Remeber with the harmony there is more up front programming time, but less hassle to use the device.

So I would say it takes a couple of hours to get running, and you should budget some more time for tinkering. Remeber that as each day passes the website is also getting easier to use.

Also remeber that this is required time for almost ANY remote to get it to the point where you are happy with every key and macro.
Post 5 made on Monday December 10, 2001 at 10:23
Papa John
Founding Member
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August 2001
57
dcraw,

I have both the MX-500 and the Harmony. For me, I like the hard buttons on the MX-500. Particularly for controlling my Dishplayer 7200 (PVR). I have spent a fair amount of time (several hours) trying to get the Harmony set up to control my Dishplayer. I'm still not satisfied.

Although I still like the Harmony and plan to keep it in case future GUIs make it easier to setup for the Dishplayer, for now, considering you call yourself lazy, I would recommend the MX-500. You can't go wrong with it. (and no, I don't work for HTM or any other remote company)

Sorry Harmony.
Post 6 made on Sunday December 16, 2001 at 13:46
claude4
Founding Member
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December 2001
62
Hi,

I am a Pronto user for many years now and was looking for a second, additional, remote. This Harmony remote seems WAY COOL and full of potential. Having searched remote central, I have read most of the threads about EasyZapper and still have a couple of questions:

1) How does easyzapper deal with and how does one access those odd features present in some of my equipments remotes? eg: the various screen viewing modes of my Toshiba widescreen TV 16:9, Theaterwide1, Theaterwide2, etc. or the shutoff timer button and set shutoff time length via a numbered keypad.

2) Can one configure this remote to handle more than one AV system? One in my Media Room , the other in mybedroom.

3) If the above is possible, will easyzapper be able to distinguish between my 2 Denon AV receivers (AV-2800, AV-3300)? Will Easyzapper know the differences btw each in terms of their programming?

4) I sense that they are building a DB of each manufacturers equipment and the unique features of each, Correct???? What happens with equipment that may not yet be in their DB? Like my new Sony cable box used by Cablevision here in Long Island, NY? (BTW, it is a slow POS).

5) Do I have to teach it each buttons function? If so, how do I access those functions not lending themselves to the hard buttons available on Harmony's remote?

6) I am not a programmer and wonder if that is necessary in order to tweak things as mentioned above?

Easyzapper seems quite different than any other remote and wonder if this unit is ready for primetime?

Thanks,

Claude H.
Post 7 made on Sunday December 16, 2001 at 13:58
claude4
Founding Member
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December 2001
62
One more question:

All this talk about discreet codes. How does Easyzapper determine if there is, for example, a discreet on/off codes for my Toshiba TV since it has only one power on/off button?

Thanks,

Claude H.
Post 8 made on Friday December 21, 2001 at 23:54
dave Magulicuty
Founding Member
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December 2001
2
I have seen a couple of different messages in this thread. You really should check out the tour at http://www.guideremote.com. I think this one could solve a lot of problems I have read here.
Post 9 made on Saturday December 22, 2001 at 12:45
GlenHarris
Founding Member
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Posts:
September 2001
14
Hi Dave,

Welcome to the forum. Its great to see people come on board and become active in the discussions.

If you are interested in more pros and cons of the Harmony you should also check the email list that Bob Ulius kindly started (see another thread for joining information).

By the way, do you have *any* affiliation with Guide Remote, or are you just a happy customer? Either way, let us know, and I will send you a unit for review. I would love to see an open, detailed comparison between the two remotes.

Enjoy the festive season,

Glen Harris.
Chief Executive Officer
Easy Zapper Inc.
Post 10 made on Saturday December 22, 2001 at 19:44
claude4
Founding Member
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Posts:
December 2001
62
Hi Glen,

Good to see you are not afraid of competition (or lack thereof) I am monitoring any and all discussions about "EZ" as I am very interested in your product. I am a current Pronto user and am looking at yours as a second unit. I bet you already know that!

To be quite honest, I would have already purchased "EZ" if it weren't for the restocking fee. As I am "almost" certain that it will make a happy man of me.

Care to make someone happy for Xmas? /&>)

[email protected]
Post 11 made on Saturday December 22, 2001 at 20:41
Eric Warnke
Founding Member
Joined:
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December 2001
45
The guideremote looks like vaporware, but that aside it appears to have the faults that most remotes do.

It appears to deal with devices and not activities, this has always been the old way of doing universal remotes. Not that I have it setup as activities and not devices I would never go back. 95% of everything you would want to do is avalibe at the push of a button, activites logicly group actions to maximize the use of hard buttons and minimize confusion.

With a simple tutorial on how to switch activities, anyone can use the remote to it's full potential without having to know how everything works behind the scenes.


I'm just another satified customer... with another tutorial comming ( thanks easyzapper for the info ).

-Eric
Post 12 made on Saturday December 22, 2001 at 22:36
Ken
Founding Member
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July 2001
1,933
I am impressed that Glenn is willing to be upfront about the competitive qualities of this remote. That says a lot to me, as I am also seriously interested in this remote to play with.


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