I'm using my newly purchased 880 to control components in three parts of my new basement home theater. My receiver/cable box in the front left of the room, my projector directly overhead of my seating position, and my Lutron Spacer System to the left (at about 8 o'clock if I'm facing the screen.)

All components work fine individually (when I aim the remote at each), but when I have an event, such as watch movie, the remote doesn't do all three things (power on receiver and projector, and set lighting scene). Depending on which way I point it at the time, it may do one or two of the components.

I thought that once I hit the event button, I'd be able to aim the remote at the receiver, projector, then the lights, and it would keep repeating the signal until all three were set.

Is there a way to get the remote to work this way? I haven't done much troubleshooting with this, so I'm hoping someone out there can help. I have two weeks to decide if I should keep/return the unit. Without it, I'll be stuck with 5-6 different remotes.

Any ideas? Thanks!

Why on earth would you think that it would repeat the signals? It doesn't know where your components are. No universal remote will do that AFAIK. You need an IR repeater that will receive the IR signals in one location (above the TV e.g.) and send them via wires to the other components. Hot link pro is an entry level model. Niles and other companies make component systems with more flexibility. Crutchfield has them on their website.

I chose a Niles system because all of my components other than the TV are in a closet to the side of the room. I chose Leviton dimmers and scene controllers that are all linked via the A/C wiring. Above my TV I have a Niles receiver and a receiver for the Leviton scene controller. Works great. You may have to move the Dimmer or go with a different one if you can't get an IR emitter to it easily.

I forgot to add that you should be able to send IR commands to the projector by aiming at the screen and bouncing them off of it. So you may not need to use an emitter for the projector if you put the IR receiver close to the screen.

And the benefit of using an IR repeater over something like the 890 is that it will work with any remote including the OEM remotes.

Thanks for the quick response!

When I mentioned repeating the signal, I was thinking the 880 was smart enough to know whether a component is on or off. That way it would keep sending the "on" signal until it was received.

Thanks for the tip on bouncing it off the screen. If that works, it would handle two out of three things I need to do. I guess I could then aim the remote at the Lutron Master Controller and hit the button again.

Since the 880 won't control the PS3 (without the IR dongle, anyway), I may be stuck w/two remotes- at least for now.

Since I got a good deal on the 880 ($150 on Black Friday) I don't want to give up on it. But, if it can't do everything I need it to do, I'll live w/multiple remotes and spend the $150 on some more BR discs!

Rogman, the IR sensor on the 880 is used to learn commands from the original remote (from a few inches away). It is NOT used to read the status of a component. Even if the sensor could be used to read a component status, it would have to be located in the front (next to the IR sender), and the component itself would have to be "smart" enough to send its status.

All the remote knows is whether it sent the on/off command or not. It assumes the device responded. There is NO way for it to get any feedback from the device as to it's state. Universal remotes don't work that way and neither do the devices they're controlling. It isn't possible unless they're connected via serial cables or some other wiring with the correct protocol to communicate between them.

Dedicated 2 way remote system using IR do exist. My Sony STR-DA5ES A/V receiver with its RM-LT305 remote is such a system. Each unit has an IR transmitter and sensor. The Sony remote communicates with the receiver and displays the current operation status of the receiver every time a remote button is pressed. The 2 way feature can also be used to download the index names and presets stations from the receiver. However, I don't care about these 2 way features and don't like the convoluted Sony remote. I much prefer my Harmony (one way) remote.

Wow - I didn't know that even existed. I agree though - not sure why you'd need that.

I figured out a solution to my problems, so I thought I would post it in case anyone else has trouble controlling components in multiple locations with the Harmony 880 and/or Lutron Spacer system.

Using the Harmony software, I was able to set a two second delay before the final command in my "Watch TV" and "Watch Blu-Ray" events. This is the command that sets the light scene. (Which was where I was having the problems.)

Now when I start the event, I aim the remote at the screen as usual. The IR signal bounces off the screen to the projector overhead. When the space heater turns on (the command right before the light command) I aim the remote 90 degrees to the left (where my Lutron Spacer System master controller is located). Works perfectly every time! The scene is set for the appropriate lighting.

Thanks to everyone who offered advice. Hopefully, the solution will help someone else having similar problems with the Harmony 880 and/or Lutron Spacer System.

Uuuuuuuugly. It's a good thing you don't have more components--it might look like you're doing calisthenics before every movie...

Did you try using a regular mirror as an IR reflector?

I did just that for a few days before I installed the Niles IR repeater - worked like a champ!

I'm controlling 5 components now (including the space heater), it will be 6 when I get the IR remote for the PS3. The lights are the only thing I need to re-aim for. Maybe I SHOULD move everything around the room so I get more exercise! :)

It's a simple turn of the wrist, not a biggie. I may look into a repeater someday, but for now I have a simple solution...