Hi.

Can you create your own screen layout and assign IR commands to certain buttons or just select a pre-configured setup from logictech ?

I am looking at the harmony 1000 and the 890 models.

Thanks.

Which model? You can generally change the operation of buttons (That's what they call it) on most models. Can't do a lot of customizing of the layout, though.

Hi.

For example, instead of clicking on the receiver icon to get into a menu with all my receiver controls.

lets say I just wanted the Volume up and volume down to control the volume on the receiver while having the play,pause,Fast froward, rewind control my DVD player and having another button controlling my lighting system.

All on the same screen(harmony 1000) or all in 1 mode( 890)

Is that something you can do?

Also, does it have the ability to learn IR codes or just download them from logic tech?

Thanks.

Yes to both questions. When you create a standard activity, it will pre-configure the button mapping to what is most appropriate, but you can change that by using the Activity Customize Buttons option. You can map any command from any participating device to any button. In the activity, you can also map a sequence of commands to a button. The current limits are 5 commands per button, 10 sequences per activity.

It not only IS something you can do; it's the whole point of a Harmony that it works this way.
They will "learn" commands, but usually all the commands you need for each device will be in the database already.

... and the database is huge and growing because each entries was and still is initiated by a user.

I had only been told that the logitech was not customizable but from what you are telling me, you can customize different buttons to control different items without having to page though different screens. So why do they say you need something like a URC mx-3000 remote to get customizable features?

So as far as customizing the layout is concern. I realized you can't make the remote look like the control panel from the star ship enterprise however what level can it be customized?

For example:

1. Do you have to choose an existing layout, however you have the ability to add IR commands to each buttons

or

2. Do you have the ability to also create a layout from preexisting buttons database? (Some remotes give you the ability to add, subtract different buttons to a custom layout or move existing stuff around to different positions.



I am kind of between the harmony 1000 and the MX-3000 from URC. So I am trying to understand some of the differences between them. .

Thanks.

A principle feature of the Harmonys is the exact opposite of that - the software they use has prominent sections called "Customise Buttons". #4 and #5 confirm the answers to your two questions.

I own the 1000. In theory, it is pretty customizable as to function & placement - meaning you can choose what buttons to have and where to put them. Look & feel is not so customizable.

Unfortunately, if you want to do a lot of customizing, I can't really recommend the remote because I've found the software to be highly unstable. Meaning you risk the loss of your investment in time with your next tweak or Harmony's next software update. Never had this kind of problem with URC products.

That is not necessary true, I have 2 880s for almost 16 months, I am constantly customizing my remotes weekly, changing buttons, added new devices, creating sequences, added Channel Icons and have never had a problem in updating my remotes. The only problem I have ever had was one time I tried to update my remote and I was unable too I found out later that the Harmony server was down and I had to wait a few hours until their server was back up

That's good to hear, rehaz1, it implies things will get better, but I think with the newest remotes, Logitech tends to release them before they've worked out all the bugs.

Now I will say this - they make up for it with their customer service. It's better than I expected. Responses to my emails have been under 36 hours. I'm still having to go back and ask them to make the changes that don't seem to take, but they're doing it.

[See other threads on this topic] My experience same as rehaz's, over nine months - no problem.
Faulty model or internet connection problems are more likely explanations.