Please help, just upgraded my av-receiver to a new Sony STR-DG820 and can't get the
receiver power on/off to work using activities....seems Sony needs to be in standby mode by manually powering the device on then going back to the Sony remote and pressing standby for the Logitech to work correctly. Is this crazy or, am I just being silly? Thanks!

Once you put it in standby mode the Harmony should be able to operate it from there. Once you have it working with the OEM remote, check the device power setup and make sure it matches (discrete vs. toggle) and that the configured power commands work as expected in Device mode (manually send the power commands in Device mode to verify them). Next make sure the receiver is in the appropriate activities and select an activity. If the receiver doesn't power on or off as expected use the HELP button - this will resync the receiver's power state with the harmony smart state. After that it should work.

Yes, correct...it works if I go to the sony remote and put it in standby first. So, I have to leave it in standby all week just to turn it on once a week to watch a DVD?
What's with the standby... I can't get around that? It worked fine with my old Sony 510 receiver. Any thoughts? Thanks!

Of course it has to be in standby mode - otherwise it won't respond to remote commands. Most devices are either physically turned off or in standby mode - doesn't hurt anything. When it's in standby mode - is everything turned off?

Yes, except that red standby light so... it's always drawing power. My old Sony receiver just powered off/on using the activy button so I didnt understand why this new Sony needs to be kept in standby. Everything works fine with the activity (watch DVD) and device powers off/on in the device mode. I was just trying to save some energy by a complete shutdown rather then running in standby when i only watch DVDs (use Sony receiver) once a week, Thanks!

Your old receiver was also in standby mode - it just didn't have the red light. I don't think it's using enough power to worry about.

You couldn't really expect the Harmony to do something that normally has to be done manually - presumably by pressing a button on the TV - could you? :-)

well, if I just walk over to the receiver, I can manually turn on/off TV without it going into standby ...thats why I was asking. It only uses standby option on the receiver remote.

Standby is what allows the device to receive and respond to the remote. It's either that or you turn if on and off manually.

OK, thanks Akirby for the help.