Anyone have any suggestions with integrating an existing Radio RA2 system with the Harmony 900 remote?

If you're thinking of throwing the Harmony at the dimmers to activate them, should work great (depending on your aim).

Isn't that kinda like putting 100 Octane race gas in a Hyundai Excel?

Who installed RA2 for you?   You should ask them first!!!

unless the harmony has RS232 ability, NO you cannot integrate it in with your remote. I dont install those paperweights and dont have a clue on the control options. unless they added it i dont think harmony ever offered rs232 ability

The Harmony could control Ra2 keypads with IR receivers. You will be limited to controlling the programmed buttons on the particular keypad you are blasting.

since when does ra2 do IR? did i miss something in training?

Sorry you haven't been given as much assistance as you have a hard time. Harmony remotes are an entry level product that are very limited and usually a pain to get to do complicated functions. Thus, they are looked down upon in this forum and people who ask questions about them are not taken too seriously.

The best chance of integrating a RA2 system with a remote control system is to get an RTi XP-3 and a T-2Cs remote.

The XP-3 has an RS-232 port that you can connect to the RA2 main unit. If you are not familiar with RTi products or programming, you might be in over your head and need to partner with a willing individual who could help you out.

Hope this helps direct you some.

apparently......


almost... but not quite.

RaidoRa2 absolutely has IR Comparability.

look on the back of the keypads. there is a jack for IR in on all of em.

you can use a Standard Grafic eye remote (GRX-8IT.... Codes 7 and 8 dont cross over) to control the scene selection and raise/lower for that keypad. I would hope that harmony has Graphic eye codes in its database...

Thanks for some of the "interesting" responses.... Sorry I am not at such a superior level as some of you out there. I am the electrician (25 years) who installed the Radio RA2 in my house as it is the most cost effective way to provided a decent lighting control system for an existing house. As for the choice of the Harmony 900, I would say for the average homeowner who wants an easy to use, cost effective, off the shelf, easy to program way of controlling multiple devices with the touch of a single button, the Harmony 900 works pretty damn good. Now, If I had the money to rewire the whole house and throw a boat load of money out the window, maybe I would throw a Lutron Homeworks control system in the house along with a Crestron table mounted control for A/V... Maybe even throw in some blackout shades.... but alas, in these tough economical times, I must belittle myself by having a lowly Harmony 900 and skimpy Radio RA2 in my humble, sub-par 3 bedroom Cape... Please forgive this lowly peasant for burdening some of you with my silly question..... (PS - For those who took my question seriously, thanks... LOL... And yes, I think the RS232 is a workable solution but I will most likely install an IR Keypad down at my equipment location and simply install an IR "eye" over that keypad.... That will definitely do the job!!)

Thanks

Eddie,

We all like RA2. No one is suggesting it is the problem. Most are commenting, albeit not very effectively, that the 2 products are at opposite ends of the quality spectrum. The reasoning you most likely used in selecting RA2 as your ideal solution for lighting control is similar to our reasoning for suggesting a better control system. While it might seem good enough, it simply is not up to the task or expectations of a client that can afford ra2. It doesn't help that we see a lot of jobs done by electricians who sold harmony as the best product available and we have to convince clients it is the main source of their problems. Just because it is the only solution you have access to or ability to work with doesn't mean it is the righ.t product for the job. I am sure there are areas in your industry where you feel the same.

What? whats the model number. I just pulled 3 of my keypads and there wasnt anywhere it accepted IR. its been since lutron announced RA2 i was at training. My last keypad purchased was about 8 months ago. Is this relatively new?

Ohh, and for the record RA2 is a fantastic solution. Nobody is bashing that, for what it is and at its pricepoint it is an extremely powerful system.

Im sure you have run across integrators on various jobs? did you get their name or number. If you want to integrate ra2 with your remote do a RTI xp3 and t2c like mentioned above, that is a super awesome solution and you will be able todo so much more.

Who knows maybe you could trade work for discounted rti programming/products.

Going the RTI route, you could also get by with just an XP3 and use IR trigger codes to initiate macros that handle outputting the rs232 or ip control codes...and then you're ready to upgrade to a better remote when time/money allow...or as discussed find a local ci and maybe make a trade.

Sorry, not a jack..... Its just a receiver/window. Gotta put an emitter on it.

From the RadioRA 2 Wall-mount Designer keypads Specifications sheet.

•
IR receivers at the front (-W5BRLIR only) and
back (all models) of the keypad allow for the use
of an IR remote for line-of-sight operation (front)
or IR repeater kit integration (back)

and more

Keypad IR Receiver
An integral feature of the RadioRA 2 lighting control system is to utilize keypads to receive IR signals and
communicate to the rest of the RadioRA 2 system through RF signals. RadioRA 2 keypads can receive
IR signals from Lutron® wireless remotes (models GRX-IT & GRX-8IT) and 3rd party learnable IR remotes.

huh, interesting. I did see a little cutout in the back, i just assumed that was a vent or acess for something. Sry, i rest my case then ra2 can only be controlled by rs232.

Kevin (OEX) was in training with me, i swear that they didnt mention IR capability Maybe he remembers different. Thanks for the info on that! its gtk