when you set it up, you need to go to the site more often, after that, all you need is to go and update the TV listings. As for what happens if they end up in trouble, that question was asked a long time ago, and their answer was that they would make sure we were not left with a useless device.

ruexp67 -

You may need to get into the XML to customize it the way you want. Have you tried contacting Harmony, either by calling or e-mail, for help?

ruexp67:

1) From your other posts, you've tried to map your DVD recorder as a DVD machine, a VHS machine and as a PVR. Perhaps Harmony should set up a DVD Burner device and group all the DVD burners together. My Panasonic recorder, set up as a PVR, works fine.
2) TiVo - no help here.
3) I've never seen the Harmony return to its home state (off) without either sending it there directly. As well, after I'm tweaking on the net, and download a new configuration, the Harmony is in its home state. I press Watch DVD (or whatever) before I take it back into the theatre (or fire it up into a pillow) so that the sync is correct.
4) There was a problem around the world due to that worm, and many sites were impacted, including Interac. I am not concerned with using their site or with their longitivity. I believe they have a great product, and with the feedback we're giving them, their site will become easier and easier to use. As the number of Harmony's is growing, they are unlikely to "go under".
5) I am comfortable with the number of buttons on the remote. Either send Harmony a request with your specific problem in remapping, or post here, and one of us may be able to help.

From your other posts, you are looking for the "advanced" features from the remote, and I'd say your initial pains are typical for those looking for the extra features. Persevere, though, and you'll be a believer. This is the best remote out there, and the only one that you can give to anyone, show them the scroll wheel, and they can operate the entire system easily!

Thanks all for your respones. To answer the questions, I have tried e-mailing harmony. I think I have sent 3-4 messages since last Wednesday night. I have not yet recieved a response to any of my issues except the website being down, and the message was: try again. It has not been three business days yet, so I am not complaining yet.

HarmonyNut: I agree they need to awknowdledge that there are DVDRs out there and put them together in a new class of device.

I am still plugging away. The pronto was very tedious, but I "got it" as far as programming it much faster. I have tried looking through the XML and have not had much success making it do what I want. There is some issue with figuring out where I am before I can formulate a plan on how to get where I want to go. I don't want to get off on a rant or be accused of being a troll so I will try to limit my concerns to specific things (that people may actually be able to help me with.)

As far as simplicty, well download a free copy of Pronto Edit and then search the file area for my setup and you will see just how user friendly my config is/was. Search for "Pete Miller" and you will find it.

Mabey I will try calling Harmony support and having them walk me through some basics that I seem unable to grasp.

Thanks for all the support guys!

I have several touch screen remotes, but the Harmony (even the 745) is superior to them all. Maybe it's just me, but having to look at the remote screen to see where to put my finger is very impractical 80% of the time. Hard buttons are much better, I can do it all by touch. I also hate having a smudged-up lcd with fingerprints all over it.

Another big issue is that only Harmony seems to understand the value of a true activity based interface. I can program macros with the best of them, but it's not really possible to create a macro that switches from "Watch DVD" mode to "Watch ReplayTV" mode in the most optimal way. You really have to have the concept of "state" to do that, and Harmony does.

Once they get their web site to the point where I don't have to write XML to make changes, or document ALL of the XML available it'll be perfect!

Well, I think I finally am getting it. I still can't figure out how to tell what is already mapped to a button in an activity, but I did manage to figure out how to learn new codes and to change button functions in one or all modes.

I think it's goofy thought that it creates a new "activity" for every button reconfigureation. There also seems to be a bug when you cancel a button remap, it still creates the activity. Then you have to go back and delete it.

Thanks for all your help everyone. Now that I have it working for me I will be living with it for a little while and tweaking it to see if I can live with it long term.

I agree. It would be nice if these Button "Activities" were displayed as icons within the real activity box they are associated with.

With the new button Customization Control Panel on the website, you no longer have to give creative names to your button reconfigurations. This new web feature has made the buttons easy to change.

Now, how can we get this remote to make popcorn...?

easy, get popcorn machine, attach to plug that is X10 controllable, and get an IR to X10 gateway like the IR543