I've read many threads here, and can't definitively put my answers to bed before I purchase.

3 questions, I'm hoping someone can answer:

1) If I create an activity to watch satellite TV, and all the proper items are turned on (TV, Sat, A/V, correct inputs) and then create another activity to watch DVD with all the proper items (TV, DVD, A/V, correct inputs), when I sit down to actually execute the "WATCH TV Activity" - and then am done with that and want to watch DVD, can I just hit "WATCH DVD" activity and it will essentially just do the incrementals to acheive this (as in power up DVD, leave TV on, power down SAT, and correct inputs ONLY) and not power everything down, then power everything up to watch a DVD?

2) I've got a TV and a Projector in the same room. More than once, we've been watching TV and then want to switch to Projector. Based on the answer to #1, and based on what the setup software can do, can I accomplish this by making sure when going from WATCH TV to WATCH PJ will turn off the TV - but when I execute WATCH PJ from scratch (ie in morning after everything has been off) - it will not execute the TV OFF (or in my case, power toggle) button? Basically, I'm asking if the remote remembers the state of the devices.

3) And finally, "OFF". If I execute the activity for WATCH TV, then WATCH DVD some time afterwards, is there a single button to power OFF what is currently left on? ie - does it "remember" the states of devices and act appropriately?

I'm looking for a high WAF value here.

1 - yes, absolutely. It uses Smart State to remember the state of all devices and only changes what needs to be changed.

2 - Smart state is designed to handle power toggles like your TV. It knows whether the TV is on or off (more precisely it knows whether IT turned the TV on or off) so when you hit Watch Projector it will either turn the TV off it was on or leave it off. It won't send a power toggle unnecessarily. This is where the Harmony has a huge advantage over most other remotes - if you were using a simple macro you'd have to use 2 - one if the TV was already on and another if the TV was already off. Smart state figures it out dynamically and it doesn't matter what you were doing previously.

3 - there is an OFF button that is essentially an activity with no devices. So when you hit OFF it will turn off everything that was on.

Harmony's have the highest WAF available - my wife even calls it the female remote - just push a button and it does everything for you.

And if something doesn't work right - a command is missed, someone walks in front of the TV at the wrong time, etc. - you just push the HELP button and it will first try to fix it by automatically resending certain IR commands and if that doesn't work it walks you through a series of questions and answers and sends the right IR codes based on that - e.g. is the TV on, is the TV on input1, etc. Can't get any more friendly than that despite what the custom installers will tell you.

The three answers are essential features of any Harmony - can't think how you missed them!
Anyway, get the One - it'll be ideal for you both:-)

The bigger concern here is if you do actually have a set-up that uses both a display and projo, that you don't have someone accidentally flip back and forth and back again from projo/display/projo. Projectors need to cool before being allowed to fire back up, (very quick way to blow a bulb).

So what you should be asking is: I know a Harmony can track power states, but will it lock out the power on "sequence" for the required amount of time on the projo, if the power down "sequence" has been used.

Hopefully someone will give you an answer to that one...it's the most improtant.


Quite a misguiding statement, and should have the "IMHO" disclaimer in front of it, but its been discussed to nausea already.


That's assuming that you can work around not blowing up your projectors bulb, if you/other hits the wrong button at the wrong time. PS: It can get easier, but to be fair it would take a much larger effort and $$$ to make it so.

Powering and off the projector is the one and only thing I wouldn't let a Harmony do.
Much better to leave its powering out of Activities and do it manually instead.

Highest WAF of any user-programmable, reasonably priced universal remote due to activity model, Smart State and the HELP feature. I challenge you to find one wife or other female family member who doesn't like a Harmony for anything other than aesthetic preferences.

Very good call. I only mentioned it because of the OP's desire to flip display types. Most that own projectors know better, but it could very easily be over looked during programming, and have a costly end result.



Whatever man. I'm not going to argue it with you anymore. I just wish you would state your opinion as such, and not as though it's fact. I purchased my MX-980 for less than the One's MSRP, and it's end-user programmable. (and didn't go tits up over the last weekend I might add) I know you're not up on it, so I'll go on to say that it uses variables to track whatever you can conceive, (including a projo's shut down time before restart) and I can use this ability to emulate the wonderous Harmony help feature. It does everything a Harmony can, is expandible well beyond what a Harmony can do. However, I still wouldn't claim that it has the best WAF.

I was convinced to purchase after the first reply. I went out last night and bought it. Spent 30 mins setting up the devices and activities, spent the next 45 minutes doing the channels and icons. Works perfectly. Very pleased after a couple uses last night. Works for me as I would want a remote for me to work!

Thanks for the quick replies.

As for the PJ on/off issue - most PJ's - including mine - don't allow you to turn it on or off until the fan has stopped blowing on the power down, or it's fully warmed up and bulb at it's brightest on power up. I left the power codes in the sequence. It's also quite rare (in fact, I don't think I've done it at all) whereby the PJ goes on, then we decide to watch the TV, then decide no, and go back to PJ.

I may have to replace my upstairs MX-500 with one of these things as well.

That's not something the typical end user can do and you know it. You take the Harmony out of the box, spend 30 minutes adding devices and creating activities, hand it to the wife, parents, grandparents, kids, even toddlers - show them how to select the activity they want and the HELP button and they're able to use it immediately and keep using it without having to call for help.

In 4 years I can't recall ever seeing a post where a wife (since we're talking WAF) wasn't 100% pleased with the Harmony functionality. So it's not just MY opinion. Another remote with the Activity model, Smart State and Help feature added would probably score just as high but AFAIK you can't buy one like that off the shelf right now in the Harmony price range.

You overestimate what the AVERAGE buyer wants or needs in a universal remote. Harmony's are not for people who want or need 100% customization, home automation, long macros, etc.

Great to hear. In the end what counts is you're happy with your purchase. Regardless of how much to faceless posters bicker back and forth on a forum. Also, thanks for the good info on your projo's power up sequence.

Could you give us an idea of the price - and a supplier?
From descriptions it's a different animal, and ought to cost a lot more than a One!

Hhatkin, this site [Link: digitalhome.ca] has an excellent review on the URC MX-810. The review also has good insights for other URC models versus Harmony. It's really up to each individual to decide what is important. In my case, the Harmony is still the way to go. I view a remote as a simple mean to and end. I don't care about cool/fancy display. I watch the TV display (not the remote). I also didn't want programming the remote to turn into a career. I also refuse to pay a lot more than $100 for a stupid remote. I paid $99CDN for my first H659 when it was on sale at Future Shop. I paid $115CDN for my second H680.

Thanks jlet.
Digital home won't let me in, but on the way I came across a price - 400 dollars!
I'm the same about screens which is a specific reason why I don't like the colour buttons that the One automatically assigns there. They are used a lot and it's much better to feel for them on their assigned hard buttons than to have to look at the screen, and especially to have to access their precise location.

You made me check, and I'm wrong. I was off by roughly $50 on the One's MSRP. I can't comment on whether or not the average joe could purchase it at the price I did. Lets just say to helps to be friendly with people with connections. Contrary to popular belief, CIs aren't all about ripping you off.

It is definitely a different animal, and certainly much harder to set-up than a Harmony. I'd perfer something along the lines of the One's form factor. Unfortunately, it couldn't do what I needed...shame really.


Here you go...: I did check the member's profile and it doesn't state what sex they are. But I'll assume that he (if it is a man), is married considering he does mention his kids.

The One averages around £100 here - well below the list price which is typical of all Logitech products.
Alexo was talking not about functionality but about the breakdown of Logitech's web site which everyone agrees was a major blunder.