Harmony universal remote and HR20

[ahrjmr]

I was visting my sister over the weekend and she showed me a Harmony universal remote by Logitech that controls everything in your home theater on one remote.

I know the HR20 comes with a universal remote, but this remote doesn't have the code to operate my Olevia television or my DVD recorder, so I am still stuck with using multiple remotes. I am considering buying a Harmony remote.

Is anyone else using a Harmony remote on an HR20 and have you un into any problems?

Thanks for your help.:)

Jim

[mikeny]

I was visting my sister over the weekend and she showed me a Harmony universal remote by Logitech that controls everything in your home theater on one remote.

I know the HR20 comes with a universal remote, but this remote doesn't have the code to opersate my Olevia television or my DVD recorder, so I am still stuck with using multiple remotes. I am considering buying a Harmony remote.

Is anyone else using a Harmony remote on an HR20 and have you un into any problems?

Thanks for your help.:)

Jim

I use a Harmony 880 with an HR20 connceted to a Sony TV with Onkyo amp and it's awesome. There are several threads about it here.

FWIW, I got the DirecTV RC32RF remote from them for the other HR20 which is connected to an Olevia. I don't know if it's same as yours but there's a new code for the Olevia with that remote. I'm able to adjust the volume, power on/off and change inputs. With the stock RC24 remote I could not change inputs. The backlight is helpful too. I'm pretty happy with the RC32RF.

[gusbuf]

Hello ahrjmr. There are many threads here on harmony remotes and the HR20, just do a search and they will come up. I actually just bought a Harmony 720 on Ebay and am waiting for delivery

Go Sabres!!!!

[Stuart Sweet]

Yes, a search on "Harmony" will show a large number of posts, many of them by me.
If you're looking for a quick answer, Harmony 880 works great with HR20, but the emitters aren't as strong so you find you will have to aim more carefully.

[bmachia]

I had a few difficulties with the HR20 remote. For one, my TV was not controllable (i.e. in the list).

So, I bought the 880. It took a little time (maybe 2 hours Total) to program and get use to. For example the LIST button needs to be added manually. But, this a very minor issue and you should enjoy your investment. It control my VHS, Audio (7.1), DVD(s), TV and the HR20.

Bill

[HarleyD]

The Harmonys are great remotes and the initial setup is pretty quick and easy. I believe you will be very happy with a Harmony.

I'm using a 680 and I am very pleased with it.

The fine tuning of the remote may take you a little longer. There are some tweaks and adjustments you will want to make beyond the intial setup. Learning how and where to make them as well as learning what you want to change may take you a little while. For example if there is a button on the OEM remote with no equivalent on the Harmony keypad you need to either reassign a button on the keypad or set it up as a "soft" button on the LCD display screen.

I still find things I want to diddle with on my 680, like what buttons are displayed on the LCD screen and in what order they appear, or abbreviating the descriptions for the soft buttons so they don't get cut off in the LCD displya or reassigning specific buttons on the remote keypad to specific functions on the device or replacing the command from Logitech's library with a commande "learned" directly from your OEM remote. The ability to refine and customize the remote is so good that you may find you are never finished customizing it. To me that is actually a good thing.

It isn't hard, as I said it is a learning curve and you will get better at it the more you do it.

My only thing is that once you have made all your little tweaks in your Logitech Harmony software session (it is an interactive on-line application) and press"update remote" it takes about 3 or 4 minutes to update the remote, even if you only changed one button.

But then again, I'm one of those guys that a microwave is too slow for. :)

[u078356]

I use a Harmony 880 with an HR20 connceted to a Sony TV with Onkyo amp and it's awesome.

How does the 880 handle the Onkyo's separate "standby" button?

That appears to be a problem for most remotes which only have one combined "On/Off" button.

David

[mikeny]

How does the 880 handle the Onkyo's separate "standby" button?

That appears to be a problem for most remotes which only have one combined "On/Off" button.

DavidThere's no problem. It shuts off the Onkyo.

As an aside, I have an issue with the audio receiver where after it's turned off then on again, that particular input will not sound right. The sound will be exclusively in the rear.

Therefore the workaround which I've implemented is that prior to powering off an activity, the Harmony will put the audio receiver into the "tuner input". This makes all the speakers sound right the next time I initialize the "Watch DVR" activity. It seems that as long as it comes on and switches inputs to something else, it'll sound right.

I know I'm just prolonging the inevitable, which will be buying another audio receiver but for now it otherwise works.

[u078356]

There's no problem. It shuts off the Onkyo.



Does the 880 have a single button or two (one for ON, the other for Standby)?

[cygnusloop]

Does the 880 have a single button or two (one for ON, the other for Standby)?

The 880 has a dedicated OFF button that is set up by YOU to turn everything you own off, or any sub-set of everything you own off (I leave my HR20 always on). There are 8 LCD soft buttons that can be assigned to (and labeled for) any functions you wish.

I think the real question here is does the 880 have a power toggle, or discreet off/on commands? Well, the answer is both, and depends more on your equipment than on the Harmony. My receiver, for example, has only a power toggle on its remote. But, when I set the Harmony 880 up, I noticed that in addition to the power toggle, there were also discreet on and off commands set up in the LCD soft buttons. Most mid-range and higher equipment (in my experience) has discreet on/off commands, this makes them much more universal remote friendly. I think you will have little difficulty making pretty much anything work with the 880. It may take a little tweaking, but I have yet to come across an "unsolvable" problem with my Harmony.

[NVTanner]

I have the 890 and love it! I've just aded my HTPC to it and trying some new things with it. Very powerfull and worth the money since I can control all my equipment with the Harmony.

[nolacbd]

I have a Harmony 520 and it is an excellent remote. You are going to pay more money for one of these remotes but they are not a normal all in one remote. I would call it a "smart" remote. It is only limited by the person programming it. For devices that have more than one power button all you have to do is tell the remote that. It connects to the computer via USB and you just have to program it. I only had to add a few things for the HR20 to work with it, but it did not take long. I have a Dell TV and it even had a code for that. I have no complaints about it. One button performs all actions needed. It doesn't get much better than that.

[PoitNarf]

Geez, with all these Harmony related threads it almost seems like we need a subforum dedicated just to alternative remotes...

[ronrico51]

I use a Harmony 880 with an HR20 connceted to a Sony TV with Onkyo amp and it's awesome. There are several threads about it here.

FWIW, I got the DirecTV RC32RF remote from them for the other HR20 which is connected to an Olevia. I don't know if it's same as yours but there's a new code for the Olevia with that remote. I'm able to adjust the volume, power on/off and change inputs. With the stock RC24 remote I could not change inputs. The backlight is helpful too. I'm pretty happy with the RC32RF.

What code did you use to work with your Olevia?