Harmony Remote Question

[Dick Sutton]

I currently have a Sony RM-VL900 remote that I have programmed using macros
for my 6 pieces of gear (TV, cable box, vcr, dvd, receiver, cd) and have
been very happy with it. However, I have had it for ~ 2-3 years and the
keys are not working as they should. I have to press more and more firmly
to get the desired result.

Therefore, I'm in the market for a new remote. I have been impressed with
the Harmony 659 and have even taken the 'tour' on their web site of
programming the unit. Very impressive! However, while I'm impressed with
the ease of setting up the 'Watch TV' or 'Watch a DVD, etc), my wife (who
loves the idea of the Harmony) & I are wondering how you then shut down the
units that you have been watching. The web site says nothing on this. Do
you have to individually select each component and power off? The unit
seems to be very easy to begin a viewing session but how do you turn off all
the components that were on?

Thanks in advance...

Dick

[Spam Catcher]

"Dick Sutton" <rsutton43@comcast.net> wrote in
news:SuSdnTdY28KOEgDenZ2dnUVZ_sOdnZ2d@comcast.com:

> I are wondering how you then shut down the
> units that you have been watching. The web site says nothing on this.
> Do you have to individually select each component and power off? The
> unit seems to be very easy to begin a viewing session but how do you
> turn off all the components that were on?
>

The remote tracks the state of each unit - thus before you begin using
the remote, you have to ensure all your components are in Off state. You
have two options with a harmony remote:

1. Leave components On
2. Turn Off Unused Components

I use Option #2.

Example of a Harmony Macro:

Watch DVD:

Power TV
Power AV Receiver
Power DVD player
Switch TV and AV Receiver to DVD mode

Then I press Watch TV:

Power Off DVD player
Switch TV and AV receiver to TV mode

There is also an Off button on the Harmony remote which powers off all
equipment.

--
Stan Kee (spamhoneypot@rogers.com)

[Large Farva]

"Dick Sutton" <rsutton43@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:SuSdnTdY28KOEgDenZ2dnUVZ_sOdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>I currently have a Sony RM-VL900 remote that I have programmed using macros
>for my 6 pieces of gear (TV, cable box, vcr, dvd, receiver, cd) and have
>been very happy with it. However, I have had it for ~ 2-3 years and the
>keys are not working as they should. I have to press more and more firmly
>to get the desired result.
>
> Therefore, I'm in the market for a new remote. I have been impressed with
> the Harmony 659 and have even taken the 'tour' on their web site of
> programming the unit. Very impressive! However, while I'm impressed with
> the ease of setting up the 'Watch TV' or 'Watch a DVD, etc), my wife (who
> loves the idea of the Harmony) & I are wondering how you then shut down
> the units that you have been watching. The web site says nothing on this.
> Do you have to individually select each component and power off?

There is a button right in the top center of the remote marked 'OFF'. Press
it. Everything turns off. That's it!

[Dick Sutton]

Thanks Spam Catcher & Large Farva. The wife & I were hoping that pressing
off would shut down everything that was on. That's good news. I don't mind
playing with a remote; my wife hates it. She can get the equipment in some
interesting states while pushing buttons!

Thanks again guys...

Dick

"Large Farva" <none@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:l_inf.2974$nm.915@newsread2.news.atl.earthlin k.net...
>
> "Dick Sutton" <rsutton43@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:SuSdnTdY28KOEgDenZ2dnUVZ_sOdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>>I currently have a Sony RM-VL900 remote that I have programmed using
>>macros for my 6 pieces of gear (TV, cable box, vcr, dvd, receiver, cd) and
>>have been very happy with it. However, I have had it for ~ 2-3 years and
>>the keys are not working as they should. I have to press more and more
>>firmly to get the desired result.
>>
>> Therefore, I'm in the market for a new remote. I have been impressed
>> with the Harmony 659 and have even taken the 'tour' on their web site of
>> programming the unit. Very impressive! However, while I'm impressed
>> with the ease of setting up the 'Watch TV' or 'Watch a DVD, etc), my wife
>> (who loves the idea of the Harmony) & I are wondering how you then shut
>> down the units that you have been watching. The web site says nothing on
>> this. Do you have to individually select each component and power off?
>
> There is a button right in the top center of the remote marked 'OFF'.
> Press it. Everything turns off. That's it!
>

[Michelle Steiner]

In article <SuSdnTdY28KOEgDenZ2dnUVZ_sOdnZ2d@comcast.com>,
"Dick Sutton" <rsutton43@comcast.net> wrote:

> Therefore, I'm in the market for a new remote. I have been impressed
> with the Harmony 659 and have even taken the 'tour' on their web site
> of programming the unit. Very impressive! However, while I'm
> impressed with the ease of setting up the 'Watch TV' or 'Watch a DVD,
> etc), my wife (who loves the idea of the Harmony) & I are wondering
> how you then shut down the units that you have been watching. The
> web site says nothing on this. Do you have to individually select
> each component and power off? The unit seems to be very easy to
> begin a viewing session but how do you turn off all the components
> that were on?

There is an "off" button that turns everything off. I have even set it
to put the DirecTiVo into Standby when I press the off button.

--
Stop Mad Cowboy Disease: Impeach the son of a Bush.

[Spam Catcher]

"Dick Sutton" <rsutton43@comcast.net> wrote in
news:3c2dnchQvKaaXgDenZ2dnUVZ_tmdnZ2d@comcast.com:

> She can get the equipment in some
> interesting states while pushing buttons!

Harmony Remotes also have a "HELP" button! Serious!

--
Stan Kee (spamhoneypot@rogers.com)

[MJ]

Don't get me wrong, I love the Harmony remotes but at least one problem still remains:
you can only use one Harmony per room so you have to share it. That has proven to be a
problem for my family room "theater".


"Dick Sutton" <rsutton43@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:SuSdnTdY28KOEgDenZ2dnUVZ_sOdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>I currently have a Sony RM-VL900 remote that I have programmed using macros for my 6
>pieces of gear (TV, cable box, vcr, dvd, receiver, cd) and have been very happy with
>it. However, I have had it for ~ 2-3 years and the keys are not working as they
>should. I have to press more and more firmly to get the desired result.
>
> Therefore, I'm in the market for a new remote. I have been impressed with the Harmony
> 659 and have even taken the 'tour' on their web site of programming the unit. Very
> impressive! However, while I'm impressed with the ease of setting up the 'Watch TV'
> or 'Watch a DVD, etc), my wife (who loves the idea of the Harmony) & I are wondering
> how you then shut down the units that you have been watching. The web site says
> nothing on this. Do you have to individually select each component and power off?
> The unit seems to be very easy to begin a viewing session but how do you turn off all
> the components that were on?
>
> Thanks in advance...
>
> Dick
>

[Peter Franks]

Dick Sutton wrote:
> I currently have a Sony RM-VL900 remote that I have programmed using macros
> for my 6 pieces of gear (TV, cable box, vcr, dvd, receiver, cd) and have
> been very happy with it. However, I have had it for ~ 2-3 years and the
> keys are not working as they should. I have to press more and more firmly
> to get the desired result.

This is a typical condition of rubber keys. Grease, grime, and disgust
has a tendency to get between the contacts.

If you want to keep your existing remote, you can pop it open and clean
the rubber pads and contacts w/ rubbing alcohol and be good to go for a
few more years.

[Dick Sutton]

Peter,
That's an idea! If I screw it up, no big deal. I was planning on a new
remote anyway. Might as well turn this into a learning experience. I'll
report back on my success or failure.

Dick

"Peter Franks" <none@none.com> wrote in message
news:g9mnf.79980$2k5.43963@dukeread09...
> Dick Sutton wrote:
>> I currently have a Sony RM-VL900 remote that I have programmed using
>> macros for my 6 pieces of gear (TV, cable box, vcr, dvd, receiver, cd)
>> and have been very happy with it. However, I have had it for ~ 2-3 years
>> and the keys are not working as they should. I have to press more and
>> more firmly to get the desired result.
>
> This is a typical condition of rubber keys. Grease, grime, and disgust
> has a tendency to get between the contacts.
>
> If you want to keep your existing remote, you can pop it open and clean
> the rubber pads and contacts w/ rubbing alcohol and be good to go for a
> few more years.

[Peter Franks]

Dick Sutton wrote:
> Peter,
> That's an idea! If I screw it up, no big deal. I was planning on a new
> remote anyway. Might as well turn this into a learning experience. I'll
> report back on my success or failure.

I've 'repaired' tons of remotes/phones/etc. that have this type of
keypad many times.

As a matter of fact, for those that must keep their [your device here],
there are keypad contact repair kits available that allow you to
'repaint' the contacts.

[Spam Catcher]

"MJ" <mj@address.invalid> wrote in
news:yIudneBINOxncADeRVn-pg@centurytel.net:

> Don't get me wrong, I love the Harmony remotes but at least one
> problem still remains: you can only use one Harmony per room so you
> have to share it. That has proven to be a problem for my family room
> "theater".

How many screens do you have in your home theater? : )

--
Stan Kee (spamhoneypot@rogers.com)

[Michelle Steiner]

In article <yIudneBINOxncADeRVn-pg@centurytel.net>,
"MJ" <mj@address.invalid> wrote:

> Don't get me wrong, I love the Harmony remotes but at least one
> problem still remains: you can only use one Harmony per room so you
> have to share it. That has proven to be a problem for my family room
> "theater".

Why can't you use more than one harmony in a room? Why can't you have
dueling Harmonies?

--
Stop Mad Cowboy Disease: Impeach the son of a Bush.

[L Alpert]

Dick Sutton wrote:
> I currently have a Sony RM-VL900 remote that I have programmed using
> macros for my 6 pieces of gear (TV, cable box, vcr, dvd, receiver,
> cd) and have been very happy with it. However, I have had it for ~
> 2-3 years and the keys are not working as they should. I have to
> press more and more firmly to get the desired result.
>
> Therefore, I'm in the market for a new remote. I have been impressed
> with the Harmony 659 and have even taken the 'tour' on their web site
> of programming the unit. Very impressive! However, while I'm
> impressed with the ease of setting up the 'Watch TV' or 'Watch a DVD,
> etc), my wife (who loves the idea of the Harmony) & I are wondering
> how you then shut down the units that you have been watching. The
> web site says nothing on this. Do you have to individually select
> each component and power off? The unit seems to be very easy to
> begin a viewing session but how do you turn off all the components
> that were on?
> Thanks in advance...
>
> Dick

Each unit will power on and off as needed depending on how you have each
feature set up. If I change from "Watch TV" to "Listen to Radio", it turns
off the TV and cable box and changes the AVR to the tuner input. The "off"
button powers everything thing that is on based on what activity you are
doing at the time.

[Dick Sutton]

I would think that 'duelling' Harmony's would be okay as long as the
equipment you are using in the different locations are different
manufacturers.

Dick

"L Alpert" <alpertl@xxgmail.com> wrote in message
news:S7CdnWgS6839gAPeRVn-hw@comcast.com...
> Dick Sutton wrote:
>> I currently have a Sony RM-VL900 remote that I have programmed using
>> macros for my 6 pieces of gear (TV, cable box, vcr, dvd, receiver,
>> cd) and have been very happy with it. However, I have had it for ~
>> 2-3 years and the keys are not working as they should. I have to
>> press more and more firmly to get the desired result.
>>
>> Therefore, I'm in the market for a new remote. I have been impressed
>> with the Harmony 659 and have even taken the 'tour' on their web site
>> of programming the unit. Very impressive! However, while I'm
>> impressed with the ease of setting up the 'Watch TV' or 'Watch a DVD,
>> etc), my wife (who loves the idea of the Harmony) & I are wondering
>> how you then shut down the units that you have been watching. The
>> web site says nothing on this. Do you have to individually select
>> each component and power off? The unit seems to be very easy to
>> begin a viewing session but how do you turn off all the components
>> that were on?
>> Thanks in advance...
>>
>> Dick
>
> Each unit will power on and off as needed depending on how you have each
> feature set up. If I change from "Watch TV" to "Listen to Radio", it
> turns off the TV and cable box and changes the AVR to the tuner input.
> The "off" button powers everything thing that is on based on what activity
> you are doing at the time.
>

[Brad Houser]

On Mon, 12 Dec 2005 13:39:04 -0800, MJ wrote:

> Don't get me wrong, I love the Harmony remotes but at least one problem still remains:
> you can only use one Harmony per room so you have to share it. That has proven to be a
> problem for my family room "theater".
>

Why don't you write Logitech and tell them you want a Harmony remote that
keeps all the others in the room in sync by RF. That way they can sell
people like you more than one upscale remote.

Brad