Logitech Harmony Ultimate Remote Control

eddiem74

Irish Gunner wrote: »

sorry, i meant how do you get the optical out on the tv working with the original remotes.

When I was setting up the activity I added TV, Receiver, Android Box and source HDMI2 to come on. So I call this Movie and these all come on. The Receiver was controlled by a separate remote so had to synch that up. However when Movie activity comes on both the TV sound and Receiver sound are on when all I want is the one, for the Yamaha Receiver. I can use the Harmony remote to increase the volume when movie activity is on
I also have TV activity set up so that turns on TV to HDMI and opens up with RTE1. Sound is TV sound. Then I use the Harmony remote to increase volume and change channel.
I also have ability for Alexa to turn these 2 different activities on. I have never tried to switch other than saying Alexa turn TV off and then saying Alexa turn Movie on

You might need to add an extra step to each activity to mute or unmute the TV.

It can be a challenge when switching between a receiver and TV sound as normally TV speakers would be disabled and receiver solely used.

Irish Gunner

Cheers will have a look at the activities

in the meantime how can I set up Harmony remote button so that one of the buttons can be used as source button so I can change sound source from Harmony remote and not Samsung remote

setanta1984

Irish Gunner wrote: »

Cheers will have a look at the activities

in the meantime how can I set up Harmony remote button so that one of the buttons can be used as source button so I can change sound source from Harmony remote and not Samsung remote

In the mobile app from the swipe from left menu, go to Harmony Setup > Add/Edit Devices & Activities > Remote & Hub. Whatever remote you have should be listed at the top to allow you to customise any specific buttons for when in Activities or Devices.

eddiem74

Irish Gunner wrote: »

Cheers will have a look at the activities

in the meantime how can I set up Harmony remote button so that one of the buttons can be used as source button so I can change sound source from Harmony remote and not Samsung remote

https://support.myharmony.com/en-ru/customizing-buttons-on-your-remotes-screen

Irish Gunner

Cheers

Tried Synching up the Samsung Remote to the Harmony via the desktop app. Did all the steps and assigned a button as the Source and then pressed the source button and it assigned it to the remote with long press and short press as source

However when I turn on movie and press the assigned button I still cannot get the source to change. However I did see the below on the Harmony desktop app

Harmony is able to control basic functionality such as power, volume and changing channels. However this device and its original remote uses radio frequency (RF) technology for sending other commands which is not compatible with an infrared (IR) based remote such as Harmony.

So maybe it can only do the basics and not change or assign buttons?

bk

Well it can only control what your Samsung device allows to be controlled by IR (or bluetooth and IP Control).

In the US Harmony has a module that also allows it to control RF devices. But it doesn't seem to be available in Europe.

Irish Gunner

Below are the 2 remotes that came with the TV

 https://www.fwdmagazine.be/assets/upload/import/2016/33/ue55ku6400-remote_par.jpg.

 
I am using the standard one below

 
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51PJkYUgE5L._SY355_.jpg

 
I can do the basics change channels etc but still cannot link the source button to a button on the Harmony

 I was messing around with the desktop app and the Android App to try to get the Source button assigned to the Harmony Elite remote but could not. I think the IR and RF note was to do with the Horizon remote as noticed this after posting it. I can also switch between Activities. So I have TV and Movie so can switch between the 2 using Alexa. So when I change the source from TV Sound to Optical sound on the Movie activity and then change the activity from Movie to TV the sound is sourced via the Optical. Have not looked at muting the TV sound via the Movie Activity.

 
Need to look more into it

setanta1984

If you change a default button assignment it is done on a per-activity basis - so for instance if you map Button 1 to 'Source on Samsung remote' manually in one activity, it only affects that activity - if you want it in more than one activity you need to add it to each manually.

rambunctious1

Can anyone confirm that the Horizon Guide button can be programmed on the Elite and not as a macro going through the menu? The device is setup as Samsung SMT-G7400 but trying to teach the command to bring up the EPG does nothing. I've tried both methods, pointing the Horizon remote at the Elite and the hub and pressing the Guide button but nothing happens... no response at all. After translating some German/Dutch forums, they seem to suggest that only a macro can be used for this function. A factory reset did nothing either... other than frustrate me at having to program all the devices and activities again.

Irish Gunner

The guide button does work on the Harmony along with the info and play, pause record. On the initial set up I synch up the Horizon remote to Harmony and works ok. Not at home so not sure what buttons on Harmony App do this?
As for changing the assigned buttons. I did not change it on the activity they remain the same. What I was trying to do was choosing an un assigned button on the Harmony remote so that when I do turn on the Movie activity at least I can change the sound source from Harmony remote and not Samsung

setanta1984

Irish Gunner wrote: »

As for changing the assigned buttons. I did not change it on the activity they remain the same. What I was trying to do was choosing an un assigned button on the Harmony remote so that when I do turn on the Movie activity at least I can change the sound source from Harmony remote and not Samsung

You need to change it in the Activity. Once you are "in" an activity, all the button assignments are specific to that activity.

From my previous post, using the Android app (assume its the same for ios), follow this path
1. Harmony Setup
2. Add/Edit Devices & Activities
3. Remote & Hub
4. <Your Remote> (mine is Harmony Elite and is first in the list)
5. Activity Control Buttons
6. Select Activity

You should be shown an image of your remote, with unassigned buttons highlight in orange. Selecting one of those buttons (or any other button you may want to change) will allow you to choose what action for whatever device you want for long or short pressing that button.

Any change you make will only be reflected in whatever activity you selected at step 6 above.

Irish Gunner

Thought I tried that and it did not work but will try again later
Cheers

rambunctious1

This is driving me mad now. After setting up the Horizon HD+ box as Samsung SMT-G7400 all the buttons function as expected except for Info, Guide and Recordings(DVR). Teaching these functions just doesn't work via the desktop or mobile method and I get no response upon button pushes from various distances and angles. From the responses above I gather that these should work as normal and without setting up a macro through the menu and with delays. I found the following on a Swiss UPC forum for the same model that states;
"The buttons Help, On Demand, TV Guide, My Rec and also the whole letter keyboard are apparently only transmitted by radio and can not be controlled via infrared. "
...which adds to my confusion. Can someone put me out of my misery, one way or another?

bk

rambunctious1 wrote: »

"The buttons Help, On Demand, TV Guide, My Rec and also the whole letter keyboard are apparently only transmitted by radio and can not be controlled via infrared. "

From this comment, it would seem that the Horizon remote works via both IR and RF. Most buttons work with IR, but Help, etc. only work over RF.

Harmony unfortuantely doesn't work with RF *, only IR, Bluetooth and IP control.

* Harmony has a RF add on in the US, but it isn't available in Europe.

I'd guess you could fake getting this buttons to work by using a macro that uses multiple IR button clicks to navigate the menu to activate these pages.

That is unfortunate as it would be less reliable and slower. The Horizon box seems poorly designed.

More info here:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057067567

mossym

you an easily test if it is RF to prove or disprove that statement. block the IR port at the front with a book or something, press the button, see if it works, if it works with no line of sight to the tv it's RF,

rambunctious1

Thanks bk. That thread makes the answer fairly definitive. Macros it is so.

rambunctious1

mossym wrote: »

you an easily test if it is RF to prove or disprove that statement. block the IR port at the front with a book or something, press the button, see if it works, if it works with no line of sight to the tv it's RF,

Good suggestion. What's strange about that is that I've just tested some of the functions that do work on the Elite and they work with no line of sight, like in a different room. There's obviously something else at play here, but it's a first world problem that I either have to press a couple of more buttons or wait a couple of seconds.

setanta1984

rambunctious1 wrote: »

Good suggestion. What's strange about that is that I've just tested some of the functions that do work on the Elite and they work with no line of sight, like in a different room. There's obviously something else at play here, but it's a first world problem that I either have to press a couple of more buttons or wait a couple of seconds.

Did you take just the remote out of the room or did you take the Hub too? It's the hub (and/or mini blasters) that emits the IR signal.

mossym

setanta1984 wrote: »

Did you take just the remote out of the room or did you take the Hub too? It's the hub (and/or mini blasters) that emits the IR signal.

i read it as he was using the original remote for the out of room test, not the harmony

mossym

rambunctious1 wrote: »

Good suggestion. What's strange about that is that I've just tested some of the functions that do work on the Elite and they work with no line of sight, like in a different room. There's obviously something else at play here, but it's a first world problem that I either have to press a couple of more buttons or wait a couple of seconds.

sounds like some of the buttons use both IR and RF, and some only RF, which is the most screwed up implementation I've heard of.

or the remote is rf only. but the box has an ir receiver, and the harmony has some of the commands. which is why you couldn't teach it the missing ones from the old remote, it only sends RF. that's totally a guess though.

can you cover the box in grounded tinfoil leaving only the ir reciver exposed and see if it works (I'm joking)

mossym

one more though, bit more serious this time, have you spoken to logitech support about this? they often can program stuff that's not available through the software we get

rambunctious1

mossym wrote: »

i read it as he was using the original remote for the out of room test, not the harmony

That's correct mossym. I was testing the line of sight functions on the Horizon remote, as per your suggestions.

Asking for official support is a bit like stopping and asking for directions. It's a last resort. They tend to tell you to turn it off and on again and do a factory reset.
I opened a ticket a couple of hours ago and I'll update here if they come back with anything of value.

mossym

rambunctious1 wrote: »

Asking for official support is a bit like stopping and asking for directions. It's a last resort. They tend to tell you to turn it off and on again and do a factory reset.
I opened a ticket a couple of hours ago and I'll update here if they come back with anything of value.

in 99% of cases i'd agree with you. the harmony guys know through there are setups out there that are different to the norm, so they don't blame the user like most tech support. i've seen countless times where they have gone in and programmed the setups for people to get things working, they take control of your account, do the programming, then you download to the remote. they are definitely not a reboot it and see approach.

in fact, you should have sen them when they started first before they were bought by logitech.they'd nearly come out to your house and program it for you if it wasn't working

bk

mossym wrote: »

or the remote is rf only. but the box has an ir receiver, and the harmony has some of the commands. which is why you couldn't teach it the missing ones from the old remote, it only sends RF. that's totally a guess though.

I believe this is the case. It seems during beta testing, people were given IR remotes, but when it released, it came with a fully RF remote. However the box still has the IR receiver which is what the Harmony remote is using to control it.

I suspect the original beta IR remote didn't have dedicated buttons for these specific commands.

Irish Gunner

setanta1984 wrote: »

You need to change it in the Activity. Once you are "in" an activity, all the button assignments are specific to that activity.

From my previous post, using the Android app (assume its the same for ios), follow this path
1. Harmony Setup
2. Add/Edit Devices & Activities
3. Remote & Hub
4. <Your Remote> (mine is Harmony Elite and is first in the list)
5. Activity Control Buttons
6. Select Activity

You should be shown an image of your remote, with unassigned buttons highlight in orange. Selecting one of those buttons (or any other button you may want to change) will allow you to choose what action for whatever device you want for long or short pressing that button.

Any change you make will only be reflected in whatever activity you selected at step 6 above.

Cheers that worked but can't scroll down using arrow keys these assigned to scrolling on screen

mossym

bk wrote: »

I suspect the original beta IR remote didn't have dedicated buttons for these specific commands.

yeayh, either that or it did, but the ir codes harmony have in the database doesn't have hte same code as those original remotes were sending. i'd be trying to find someone with one of those original remotes, on the rare chance someone still has one

that or the macro route. takes a bit of work, but once set up it is done

rambunctious1

mossym wrote: »

in 99% of cases i'd agree with you. the harmony guys know through there are setups out there that are different to the norm, so they don't blame the user like most tech support.

You were spot on. Absolutely amazing support. They responded within 24hrs, programmed the necessary sequences for the buttons and all I had to do was synch. Unfortunately they have confirmed what you all suspected here and macros for the DVR and Guide buttons are the only solution.

I have found info where someone is using commands pushed via OpenHab. I use Home Assistant myself but I'll investigate further and see where it leads.

UsedToWait

In case anyone misses this (posted in bargain alerts thread also)..


Logitech harmony ultimate with hub is down to £64.36 on Amazon..
About half the usual price..
Have been waiting on this to drop in price..

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00C80JFSS/


Edit: Didn't last long.. Back to £116 now..

Shred

Using the Harmony Ultimate remote/hub, is it possible to control home cinema devices remotely (ie. outside of the Wi-Fi network the hub is connected to)? I'm thinking from a home security perspective when I'm not home.

I found the answer - yes it is possible to control devices remotely ('out of home control') https://community.logitech.com/s/feed/0D53100005BmmbfCAB

bk

Shred wrote: »

Using the Harmony Ultimate remote/hub, is it possible to control home cinema devices remotely (ie. outside of the Wi-Fi network the hub is connected to)? I'm thinking from a home security perspective when I'm not home.

I found the answer - yes it is possible to control devices remotely ('out of home control') https://community.logitech.com/s/feed/0D53100005BmmbfCAB

Yup, I do it all the time when I'm away, to help make the place feel more lived in.

Only thing is that you have to sign into the Philips Hue cloud service, but no big deal IMO.

Only downside is when you are out and get a text from your better half asking you to change the channel as she can't find the remote!!!