Harmony 880 programable remote control

[tonyvdb]

I recently bought the Harmony 880 programable remote control and must admit that it works better than I thought.

I used to have a touch screen remote by Cambrage Audio and hated using it as it was always eating batteries and was awkward to use. The Harmony does what it was meant to do and more.

The menus are easy to read and the software on the PC is fast to setup and downloads all the codes for each device without doing a timely search for them.

The remote comes with a lighted (Blue LED) docking station that charges it and comes with a USB cable that plugs directly into the remotes back end. The remote itself is fully back lit and is easily seen in a dark room. The one feature I like the most is the fact that it automatically turns on the backlight as soon as it is moved or picked up so your not searching for a button to turn it on.
The Software installs fast and I was up and running within 15 min of fully charging it overnight. The Macros are fast and menus easy to read and the best part is that it alows you to turn off macros or go into the more complicated remote buttons for the receiver or DVD players.
The only thing I do not like about it so far is the rather fragile (or so they seem) buttons to the left and right of the screen and are a bit hard to use but thats more a fact that I have large hands.
All In all I give it a 4 out of 5 stars.

[Mike P.]

Tony, since we're from the same "area", I'm curious what you paid and where you got it from. I've been thinking of getting the Harmony 880, but haven't had time to research it yet.

[tonyvdb]

I picked it up at Costco for $169 they also have a remote thats a couple models down for $99. A great price.

[Mike P.]

I never would have guessed at Costco. Thanks Tony.

[Anthony]

Thanks. Good information there. I just added the 890 to my Amazon wish list (I'm not allowed to buy anything between Halloween and Christmas b/c my family shops so **** early )

I've been looking for an RF replacement for my Marantz RC2000mkII -- mostly because it is eventually moving to the family room for a 2ch system next year when I upgrade to a different receiver. As of now, the preamps I have in mind (Outlaw, Onkyo/Integra) come with awful remotes so I'm trying to future-proof.

[Big Worm]

I have had this remote since for about a year now. Now that I am all used to it I could not live without it. It takes a bit to get it just right to get all of the componets setup working exactly how you want it to, but once you do it is a live saver. One button click and my tv turns on, receiver turns on, hd-dvd player turns on and they all go to the appropriate input. Got to love it!

[toecheese]

I have the lower-end model (660?), which has many of the same functions without the cool color screen and auto-backlight. Like the OP, I can't live without it now. Just changed my DVD player from a Philips to my HD-A2 in 5 minutes, no fuss. Love it.

[alexadams77]

I ended up getting mine from Future Shop up here in Canada. I noticed that every 3 months or so, they'd drop the price by over $150. So, I waited and as soon as it went on sale I bought it. Now everyone thinks that I have an almost $400 remote when I actually paid pretty much half price for it. Not to mention either, that I got $200 gift cards from FS as well, so it was pretty much free. I do recommend it to all my friends and will stick with this remote......or at least the company.

[yourgrandma]

I'm going to pick one up at Ultimate Tonight, its on sale for $150. I figure its better than nothing at the moment, i cant even access menues in my receiver without my remote, and since i was using my rear surrounds in the rear of my truck (sounded really good in there) i would like to turn the output back on now that ive brought them back inside. I'll report back when i get it home in about two and a half hours.

[yourgrandma]

OK, so I hate to be the negative one around here, but so far this thing is screaming at me to throw it through the wall.

One thing it desperately needs is a punch through function or some way to reserve certain buttons for a particular device no matter what mode you're in. I dont want to have to hit device, then receiver, then change the volume. I do like the ability to change the buttons in any way, but the lack of a punch through means that im going to have to program a differant remoter with the keys i want to use all the time(Using the harmony) then use the second universal to teach the harmony commands it already knows, but in different modes.

I want the volume buttons to exclusively control the volume on my receiver, no matre whether im controling my cd changer, the neighbors' automatic blinds or flushing the toilet. Can anyone whos had one for a while help me out? Am I missing something, or is Logitech?

[mechman]

Randy,

Have you setup your activities? I know that whenever I select an activity, the volume always controls the receiver's volume.

mech

[yourgrandma]

I was hoping that would be the case, that puts me at ease a little bit. I'll try that. Thanks a lot, I was still in the prosess of getting as many of the receiver's functions as possible. What frustrates me so much is that I know this remote will never operate my receiver as well as the original remote did, and i think that is just going to bother me no matter how well it works. I'll try it with the activities function, but without any macros.

Another "punch through" type question: If I select "watch Dish" or whatever, will i be able to control the tv, dish receiver and main receiver all at once?

In other words, do you retain control over all components involved in an activity?

Thanks for your input, I really appreciate it.

Now i have to give this one more try before i go to bed, hopefully i can get sleep to work while coontroling the dvr.

[Hakka]

Dont use the device modes, its an activity based remote.
For each activity you can choose customize buttons (hard keys and LCD) and assign any button to any command on any piece of equipment used in that activity. Once you have all your activities setup you should never need to use the device mode.

Dont throw it, once you work it out you'll love it.

Hakka.

[Anthony]

plus, throwing it might void the warranty

[yourgrandma]

Yeah, I figured throwing it before even really using it would be a poor decision. I'll be working on it tonight, starting approximately right now. I just need to get all the right buttons working in the activities. Thanks guys!

[jwhite8086]

Is the Harmony remote worth the money I saw one at Walmart I think it was a 600 model

[yourgrandma]

I cant comment on the 550 (I think thats trhe one they have, about a hundred bucks, right?), but I'm getting used to my 880 quite nicely. Im too lazy to keep trying to perfect it, but I have 11 days off work coming up so it should be getting pretty close by the end of that.

[jwhite8086]

thats it you must have seen it there too $99 I think its the same but without the big color interface
I think it mite be difficult to navigate with lines of words instead of graphics

[jr1414]

All of the Harmony remotes are great, I had one of the early ones, then an 880 (still in the bedroom) and a 1000 in the living room now. VERY easy to setup and foolproof enough for my wife to use it...

If you have special requirements of the remote, it may take more time to tweak then what Harmony programs from the equipment list, but it's all very easy to do. Biggest thing is making sure the delays, particularly startup delays, are set properly.

I think I saw the 880 somewhere for $129 recently, more than adequate if you don't require an RF solution. 890 and 1000 can work combined RF and IR, a really neat feature.

[jwhite8086]

I think, "correct me if wrong" with the push of "ONE" button it will turn on my receiver switch the input to game, turn on the tv switch the input to game, turn on the xbox 360, and mute the wife and kids.