I have this unusual problem with the 880 and I'm wondering if it is a design problem or an assembly goof-up. After several days of testing, I've determined that the remote sends out IR signals in an upward direction more so than straight out or down. This means that for best performance the front end or nose of the remote has to be pointed at a downward angle when sending commands to my a/v equipment. I would have thought that it would be designed so the IR signals are emmitted either straight ahead or at a slight downward angle (downward because some like to tilt the remote up a bit so they can see the keys better when pressing the buttons) but directing the signals at a 30 degree upward angle makes no sense to me.
I upgraded from the Harmony 659 whch had absolutely NO such problem. Unfortunately, they have reduced the number of emmitters from 3 to 2 on this new model with less than positive results, in my opinion.
Anyone else experiencing this sort of issue?

I also have problems in regards to performance of my 880 vs. my 688.
While I have not tried to point the remote downwards, I find that I must be very precise when pointing towards my Samsung TV. If the 880 remote is angled slightly upwards the TV will not see it.

I really WANT to like this remote, but am greatly disappointed with the reduced projection profile of the IR in respect to the earlier harmony remotes. I don’t know if it is just weaker (2-led vs. 3-led) or if it just has a narrower beam.

Even more reason to keep my 659.

Rex Diamnd

Same thing with my Yammy receiver. Holding the 880 remote at anything other than bang-on level or at a downward angle, and the receiver doesn't respond to commands. If you try testing your remote at a downward angle, can you please post the results back here. I just ordered another 880 to see if it is any better. If it is, I'll return the original for a refund. If it is the same or worse, then I have to make a decision about whether to accept the 880's slight annoyance and keep one of them, or get rid of both and go back to the earlier model. Like you, I REALLY want to like the 880 (and aside from this peculiarity, I DO !) but we'll see how it goes.

I'll give it a try. This is my second 880 and both have been the same. I'm even thinking of soldering in a 3rd LED emmiter to see if it'll help.

I was hesitant at first to order the 880 because of all the problems I've been reading about regarding weak IR and IR aiming. But I decided the many pros outweighed the few cons and I got mine last week. I was very happy to find that it functioned (IR wise) exactly like my Mosaic URC 9900 Touchscreen. Being that IR signals bounce off walls and ceilings, It performed just like my Mosaic. My couch is 12 feet from my home theater system and parallel to it. I can lie on the couch watching TV or DVD and pick my 880 off the coffee table to look directly at it, which puts the IR emitter pointed at the ceiling and operate any buttons on it successfully, including changing activity. I even tested it, as I did my Mosaic, by aiming it at the wall directly behind the couch, and it still operated flawlessly. IR signals are not a superfine beam that has to be pointed directly at the receiving device. If yours does need to be, I would contact Harmony, because general direction or even bouncing (perpendicular) toward the devices should work fine. After tweaking mine to where I want it, (custom buttons, background, favorite channels icons, and custom family pic slideshow) I think this is the best home theater remote ever designed. And I love the ease of customizing and updating online.

Hum, I don't have any IR problems with mine too. As strong as my previous 659. Maybe it's the number of repeat that needs to be adjusted?

Could the battery strength have something to do with it since it's rechargeable?

Not in my case. It has been always fully charged.
The new 880 arrived today so will be comparison testing it later with my original 880.

When my battery indicator is down to one green bar, it still performs as it does when three bars are lit.

One way to find out would be to test distance instead of angle. If it stops working at a short distance then it may be some type of power issue.

"Christ"!! I was really thinking about getting this remote today, but now I am definetly waiting for the next version!
I have read so many Charger and Ir problems that it is not even a guess anymore, this unit definetly has issue's.

I know exactly how people tend to justify or try to love a product that has many great features and a high price Tag, they just have a very hard time admitting that their purchase may have been a bad one, and I just don't want to join that club again, I have been through it with my Nokia 6800 Phone and my Ipaq PocketPC.

I will stick with my half dead 659 till a upgraded version comes out.

Don't tell me....you have the iPAQ h22xx with the side grips that fall off all the time.

I have EXACTLY the same problem with my new 880. Fortunately, my components are (temporarily) located high up - about 5 ft - and so, pointing it horizontal in a seated position works fine. But pointing it directly up at the components does not work reliably.

I think it might be a combination of directional angle and also the inherent signal strength of the 880. I have a big fam room and the couch is about 17 ft away. I never had this problem with my Pronto TSU-6000.

-Navin

I purchased a second Harmony 880 remote and have been comparison testing them. BOTH have EXACTLY the same performance level with regard to the angle at which the remote is held when pressing buttons. When the remote is held with the front of it angled slightly downward instead of the front being aimed directly toward the a/v equipment, the signals from it are all seen by the various IR sensors in the a/v equipment. However, if the front of the remote is pointed at an upward angle, often some or all signals are not seen by the a/v equipment. I was hoping that the first 880 I bought was simply defective. This test, and the comments from others who have the same problem suggests that it is not one defective remote, but a defective design.
Maybe the problem is more serious or more apparent for those who have particular brands of receivers, dvd players, T.V.s, etc. that require a "flood" of IR signals to operate well as opposed to the weaker, narrower beam that this remote sends out.
I, and numerous Harmony support personnel have changed setting after setting (delays, repeats, you-name-its) to get this remote to perform better, but after a week of trying, nothing has worked.
I know that the older versions of the Harmony remote (659, 688) are well known for their "super IR emmitters" that blast out IR signals so well that you can aim your remote in the opposite direction and still have better and more consistant performance than you get by aiming the 880 directly at your receiver or TV.
Obviously Logitech doesn't know the old saying " If it ain't broke, don't fix it".
I am really disappointed !