I just purchased a subject remote and should get it sometime this week.Being very inexperienced,I'm hoping to get some guidance on the best way to get it up and running.Some specific questions I have are;
1.should I use the installation disk that comes with it or go to a site and get more
current software?
2.is there specific information I need before I start besides equipment types and
model numbers?
3.in these forums,I see the equipment type PVR used.What exactly is a PVR?
Any other advice that you could give will be greatly appreciated.THANKS IN ADVANCE.

Harmonys come with a CD with the software needed to link the remote with the on-line database.
If it does not include the latest version an automatic update will be offered.
Brand and model number should find all devices in the database.
Personal Video Recorder.
Set up each device - TV, receiver, amplifier, player, etc - by answering a few simple questions.
Choose from a list of Activities - WatchTV, Watch DVD, etc - and answer a few more equally simple questions about which devices they are to use and how you want them to be set up.

"subject" remote is the Harmony 1000 mentioned in the subject of the thread.

Just remember that you always want to be in an activity as this gives you access to all of the commands for all of the active devices. Map any commands that you use often to the activity buttons. Device mode simulates picking up the OEM remote control for that device and is only used for rarely used commands not worth adding to the activity buttons and for troubleshooting.

Also - make sure the power and input settings for your devices are correct. That's how the activity knows how to turn the devices on and off and how to select the right input.

Thanks for the feedback thus far.It will greatly help once my remote arrives.

... and do try/test all the available dataset commands in device mode. You are likely to find handy gem commands (like discrete commands) that are not on the OEM remote.

I also bought an RF extender with this remote and have a couple of questions about it;
1.while setting up the remote should I do the extender at the same time or is there
a better way to do it?
2.the extender has wired IR cables that you attach to it and place in front of each
device.How do you tell on a device where it receives its IR signal and should this
cable be attached over it?
Thanks for your advise.

Manuals for some devices indicate where its IR receiver is positioned.
Otherwise it's trial and error - move the transmitter along the indicator panel until you get the best response then attach it in place.