Super size control of your A/V System

Remotes!! Don't even get me started. As a custom home A/V integrator of many years, CONTROL (or lack thereof) is THE fly in the ointment for many customers.

For many years, clients really had a Faustian choice. They could:
1) Purchase a "simple" system that almost anyone could operate. It could be hooked up in such a fashion as to "dummy down" the operation. For example, until the latest generation of A/V receivers, we could hook all components up to the TV via a composite video connection. Sure, the picture quality would suffer on higher resolution sources, BUT if they couldn't figure out how to switch video inputs, ease of use won out over picture/audio quality.

2) Allow us to hook it up to maximize picture/sound quality and either learn how to operate the system, or literally flow chart the operation so that they would know what sequence of buttons to push. Yea, right!

3) Pay us big bucks to custom configure one of the excellent Pronto remotes ... or other similar devices.

Enter the latest and greatest generation of Harmony remotes. First the color 880 and now the RF/IR based big brother 890 version. Push the "Watch DVD" button and almost like magic, your system comes alive. Think about it for just a minute - to watch a DVD, this is the normal process. TV power on, Receiver power on, TV to let's say Video Six, Receiver to the DVD input, DVD player on and finally once you hit the play button on your DVD remote, you have a picture. That's AT LEAST five button pushes (more if you have to cycle video one, video two, etc. on your TV remote). The Harmony does the whole job with ONE button push!!

BASIC FEATURE SET (Harmony's website):

Customizable Color Display
Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery
Low-Profile Charging Station
USB Connection
Optimized for HDTV and PVR Systems
Wireless AV Receiver Converts RF Signals to IR Commands
Up To Eight Custom Activities or Controls
On-Screen Battery Level Indicator
Smart State Technology
Tracks State of Up To 15 Devices Simultaneously
Easy to Set Up and Operate
Constantly Updated Database
IBM or PC Requirements: Microsoft Windows 98SE, 2000, Me or XP
IBM or PC Requirements: USB Port, CD-ROM Drive, Internet Access
Macintosh Requirements: Macintosh OS X 10.2 or Later
Macintosh Requirements: USB Port, CD-ROM Drive, Internet Access
Help Button
Backlight Button
IR Learning
Comfort-Grip Shape
Harmony 890 Remote Warranty Details
One-Year Limited Warranty

DEFINITIONS:
RF = Radio Frequency
IR = Infrared Signal (like most of your current remotes)

OVERVIEW:

Harmony started out a couple of years ago as a Canadian based rebel of a company. These guys clearly thought outside the box and really invented a better mousetrap. Now owned by the giant Logitech computer accessories group, the great (Canadian) tech support that helped to launch Harmony is still available to those in need of help.

I love Pronto remotes, but HATE the amount of time that I have to spend FINDING IR codes and then MAPPING/LINKING those codes to commands.

Harmony in one big step eliminates that time killer and when I say time killer, I'm talking about sometimes having to spend 10 to 20 HOURS building and mapping IR codes. With the Harmony 880/890, I can do this task in a matter of MINUTES.

Here's what makes this a radical (smart) remote. Software is king and that phrase must have been invented for this remote. Pull your new 890 out of the box and load the software. After installation, the software will prompt you to create an on-line account. Once accomplished it will check your software version and will prompt you to update to the newest version.

Once this bit of housekeeping is out of the way, you need to confirm that your computer, your remote and the Internet Harmony mother ship can each see one another. You'll be prompted to download a small communications application (be aware that many browsers will automatically block this download, so you might have to do a bit of right mouse clicking to download this file). This program will run and will confirm that all is in order.

At his point, you're ready to build you system macro. Harmony software will prompt you to input what devices you are using in your system. For example, most of you will have a TV/Display, DVD player, satellite receiver and/or cable box. You might also have a CD player, cassette deck, VCR, gaming platform or possibly a computer for VGA data connection to your new fangled HD TV.

Next, Harmony will prompt your for the BRAND of each device and then on the next page, the model number. Here comes the magic of this product. Harmony will confirm the brand/model number (or if the exactly model doesn't exist in their on-line library, they will suggest a model number). Once you accept the model/brand, Harmony has essentially built the IR code set for those devices AND map each button on the remote to that code set.

At this stage, Harmony will ask if you want it to automatically build ACTIVITIES or allow you to generate your own activities. For most of you, automatic does the trick.

You'll now see a summary page of activities that will look similar to: Watch Satellite, Listen to CD's, Watch VCR, Play XBOX, et.al.

You'll now need to set-up each activity and Harmony won't let you down there. Let's take "Watch Satellite" and walk through the process. Harmony will ask what input # the TV needs to be on? Think about it, normally you'll need to keep pushing the "video" or "ext" button on your TV remote to walk through Tuner, Video One, Video Two, Video Three, Video Four, Video Five and ... finally ... Video Six! MOST TV's have hidden "discrete" codes that allow DIRECT access to let's say Video Six. Harmony ALREADY KNOWS that data and when you tell the on-line program that the TV needs to be on Video Six to "Watch Satellite" Harmony simply grabs that known IR code and throws it into the mix.

Next, the "Watch Satellite" macro builder will ask if you get sound from the TV or the A/V receiver. Most of you will respond A/V receiver. So the Harmony will add an A/V receiver POWER ON command and then ask what input the A/V receiver needs to be on to "Watch Satellite." For our example, let's tell Harmony that the receiver needs to be on "TV."

Harmony will then review the built macro and ask if you need to change it. You'll then move onto the next device and when complete Harmony will prompt you to USB connect your remote to the computer and then Harmony's website will download the built program directly into your remote. This download/install will typically take about 2-3 (broadband - can be done on dial-up but it is slow going).

The process that I've described to date covers both the 880 (IR only) remote and the 890 (RF/IR remote). The 890 does differ just a bit at this point and let's get into that now. The 890 can emit an IR signal to directly control a line of sight TV AND it can also send out a RF signal to an 890-supplied base station. The base station receives this RF code from the remote, translates it to IR and then blasts to adjacent components (this mouse looking device has direct IR transmission) AND has IR data ports so that supplied IR "patch" emitters (a total of 8 are supplied) can be connected to the back of this mouse/base station and then stuck onto the front panels of whatever A/V equipment you want to remotely control.

During on-line setup of the system, Harmony will ALSO ask you to dock the base station (via USB) to the computer and will then download your programming into that device.

As a result, the 890 can operate equipment contained in out of sight wooden cabinets AND can operate system control from a different room ... for example the outside hot tub.

Actual RF range will vary, but typically I find that the 890 pretty much provides 75-100 feet of range. Interestingly, the 890 uses an industry standard "mesh" RF transmission/repeater system called Z-Wave. By the time that you read this review, there should be a number of Z-Wave modules on the market. Most are geared for lighting control and YES, the 890 is capable of linking to those modules and offering remote control lighting control (dimming as well as switched power). Interestingly, since Z-Wave is a mesh network, each additional Z-Wave devices INCREASES the reliability of transmission AND expands the network. For example, if you had a very large house and you wanted control of the system from 400 away, you can do it as long as there are enough Z-Wave devices between your remote and the 890 Z-Wave enabled base station. Put up a bunch of Z-Wave light switches (projected price of these devices is $30-$60 USD) between the remote and the 890 base station and each Z-Wave device will relay the signal back to the 890 base station.

HELP:

Ok, you've built your system, but your significant other simply can't remember to keep the remote pointed at the system. Well ... for those devices that you've told the remote to control RF ... it doesn't matter one bit. HOWEVER, you probably programmed the remote to control the TV with IR codes. Pointing the remote at the TV does matter.

The top right of the remote has a "HELP" button. Push that button and the Harmony 890 walks you through each step of the macro and after each step it asks intelligent questions to see if the "problem" has been fixed. So in our TV "significant other" example, hitting the Help button will initiate the process. One of the first commands to be sent using this "HELP" feature will be a TV "ON" command. It almost feels like magic to push this button and suddenly have the device in question correct itself.

OTHER ODDS AND ENDS:

Although the 890 has a host of hard buttons, you might find that there are a few commands that you can't live without. For example, in our market, the COX DVR box requires buttons A, B, C for programming/deleting shows. The 890 (and 880) allow you to assign the top rows of buttons to whatever discrete codes you want. I typically program my client's remotes so that they have these A, B, C buttons AND an "ASPECT" button to change the screen layout on non-HD content. I do sometimes get request for Picture-in-picture and with a bit of creative programming that too can be accomplished with these buttons.

The Harmony has default names for activities, so for example one is "Watch TV." Works great if you only have one normal "Watch TV" source. BUT if you have let's say a satellite receiver AND a cable box, it can be a bit confusing. The Harmony will default at "Watch TV" and Watch TV2." Negative captain. Instead, I re-label these "Watch SAT" and "Watch Cable" and the world continues to spin.

Many of my clients are up in age and don't see as well as they used to (kinda like me). The Harmony allows one to change out the layout of the activities buttons. Normally, each activity is mapped to ONE of the eight buttons on the remote. It is a simple task to double the size of these activities and make each run the entire width of the remote window. That now means that you have four activities per page (and yes, you can page +/-) AND those activities are much easier to see.

If you are a button nut, the Harmony has a model labeled devices. Push that and each device that is loaded into the remote will appear. Click on a device and then the Harmony will list EACH AND EVERY command available for that device. When would you use this feature? Honestly, you probably never will, but I'll give you a lame example. You've selected "Watch Satellite" and are now watching your favorite Law and Order episode on TNN-HD. You have become spoiled and want to rewind the VHS tape in your VCR and perish the thought that you might have to stand up and walk over to your VCR. With the device mode, you can page to the VCR, turn it on and select rewind ... without interrupting Law and Order.

SUMMARY:

Am I leaving anything out? You betta you. If you haven't already dozed off, thanks for reading this review. I've left a few surpises so that when you purchase this remote, you'll still have a few "wows" left.

If you need EXTREME control of your system and want to configure highly complex system macros, go out and buy a Pronto or other similar device AND be prepared to pay someone like me big bucks or be willing to bang your head for the mandatory 10-15 hour learning curve necessary to BEGIN TO MASTER one of these complex remotes.

HOWEVER, if you are like about 90-95% of my customers, the Harmony 890 will be EXACTLY what you need and if you have at least some level of computer knowledge you'll probably be able to program it yourself ... which will then give you significant bragging rights with your family and friends!!

Incidentally, since your completed program lives in BOTH your Harmony remote AND Logitech/Harmony's website, IF you lose or destroy your remote, other than having to pay for a new remote, you can simply log back into your Harmony account and re-shoot the program into your newest remote.