Tivo-friendly remote

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

On 06/14/2005 5:54 AM, Z Man pondered briefly and then wrote:

> "Fred Bloggs" <SPAM@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:OB4qe.26$Bi1.118@news.oracle.com...
>>I also recommend the Harmony. It is like TiVo - hard to explain the
>>benefits, but once you have one, you will not give it back!
>>
>> Yes they do eat a set of batteries every 2 months or so, but that is a
>> small price to pay!
>> "Z Man" <z1z@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:nAOpe.13966$So7.13057@fe10.lga...
>>> Can anyone recommend a good home theatre remote that is very
>>> Tivo-friendly? I have several remotes and would like to cut down. The
>>> most important components are my Tivo and Denon AVR-5800 receiver. I also
>>> use an older Sony 61HS10 television. Thanks.
>
>
> One last question about the Harmony (probably the H880): will it turn on two
> components with one keypress? I always need to turn on my television and
> receiver together. If I am going to watch a DVD, I need to turn on three
> components at once. Can it do all that?

It'll turn on as many components as you need for each input mode (HD,
DVD, Tivo, etc.) with one click of a button. I love mine.

--
Steve
http/www.soundclick.com/rockermann

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

> One last question about the Harmony (probably the H880): will it turn on two
> components with one keypress? I always need to turn on my television and
> receiver together. If I am going to watch a DVD, I need to turn on three
> components at once. Can it do all that?
>
>

I believe the Harmony remotes are some of the new "state" oriented
remotes. IOW, each device button is supposed to represent a "state" of
your Entertainment system for a given task. So, for instance, if you
press "DVD", the following items need to be satisified to be in the
correct "State" for watching a DVD:

- AV receiver on.
- DVD Player on.
- TV on.
- AV receiver input source set to DVD
- AV receiver mode set to appropriate setting (Dolby Digital, THX, etc.)
- TV input source set to "Component 1" (or other appropriate input)
- DVD Player set to "Play"

The remote will then do whatever tasks (which may involve several
macros) to reach this state.

It's easier to accomplish this with some components then others.
Components whose settings rotate through several settings are tougher,
because the remote doesn't know where it started. IOW, it's better to
have seperate remote signals for "component", "composite", and "SVHS"
input, rather than one signal that rotates through all three.

Randy S.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

"Randy S." <rswitt@nospamgmail.com> wrote in message
news:d8mmt1$kue$1@spnode25.nerdc.ufl.edu...
>
>> One last question about the Harmony (probably the H880): will it turn on
>> two components with one keypress? I always need to turn on my television
>> and receiver together. If I am going to watch a DVD, I need to turn on
>> three components at once. Can it do all that?
>
> I believe the Harmony remotes are some of the new "state" oriented
> remotes. IOW, each device button is supposed to represent a "state" of
> your Entertainment system for a given task. So, for instance, if you
> press "DVD", the following items need to be satisified to be in the
> correct "State" for watching a DVD:
>
> - AV receiver on.
> - DVD Player on.
> - TV on.
> - AV receiver input source set to DVD
> - AV receiver mode set to appropriate setting (Dolby Digital, THX, etc.)
> - TV input source set to "Component 1" (or other appropriate input)
> - DVD Player set to "Play"
>
> The remote will then do whatever tasks (which may involve several macros)
> to reach this state.
>
> It's easier to accomplish this with some components then others.
> Components whose settings rotate through several settings are tougher,
> because the remote doesn't know where it started. IOW, it's better to
> have seperate remote signals for "component", "composite", and "SVHS"
> input, rather than one signal that rotates through all three.
>
> Randy S.

That is right the remote knows the state of the various components and does
what is necessary to get you from one state to another. So, for example, if
you are watching TiVo and then want to listen to a CD, the harmony will
change the inputs on the various components and power on and off devices as
needed. If the device has discrete codes, then it will always be accurate,
If it needs to scroll, it will nearly always be accurate, but once in a
while it will get it wrong. Fortunately there is a help button that will fix
most problems, or you can press the device button to get full control of a
component.

Many components have discrete codes, but the remote that came with the
device may not know about them - this is often true when there is a more
expensive model in product range, they may use a common circuit in the
devices for remote operation, but ship a lower function remote with the
cheaper models. In many cases the Harmony will use the discrete codes that
you didn't even know existed. For example my DVD changer has 5 disks, the
remote that came with the set lets me skip to the next disk, the Harmony
lets me go directly to any disk, the remote has a toggle for on and off, the
harmony uses the discrete codes. New TiVo remotes have buttons that the
older models didn't have (like list), but in some cases the old TiVo's will
correctly respond to the new commands, the harmony can have the new
commands.

The best thing is that programming the harmony is relatively easy - you
don't need to program macros or understand most of how it works. The only
programming you need to do is "tweaking", for example some models of the
harmony don't have TiVo buttons link "clear", "Advance" and "Replay" so it
is necessary to add these functions to the LCD display, you can do this very
easily on the web interface.

 

[sinner]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

* Fred Bloggs wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:

[...]

> That is right the remote knows the state of the various components and does
> what is necessary to get you from one state to another. So, for example, if
> you are watching TiVo and then want to listen to a CD, the harmony will
> change the inputs on the various components and power on and off devices as
> needed. If the device has discrete codes, then it will always be accurate,
> If it needs to scroll, it will nearly always be accurate, but once in a
> while it will get it wrong. Fortunately there is a help button that will fix
> most problems, or you can press the device button to get full control of a
> component.

This makes the whole entertainment center 'Wife Friendly', you sold me


> Many components have discrete codes, but the remote that came with the
> device may not know about them - this is often true when there is a more
> expensive model in product range, they may use a common circuit in the
> devices for remote operation, but ship a lower function remote with the
> cheaper models. In many cases the Harmony will use the discrete codes that
> you didn't even know existed. For example my DVD changer has 5 disks, the
> remote that came with the set lets me skip to the next disk, the Harmony
> lets me go directly to any disk, the remote has a toggle for on and off, the
> harmony uses the discrete codes. New TiVo remotes have buttons that the
> older models didn't have (like list), but in some cases the old TiVo's will
> correctly respond to the new commands, the harmony can have the new
> commands.

> The best thing is that programming the harmony is relatively easy - you
> don't need to program macros or understand most of how it works. The only
> programming you need to do is "tweaking", for example some models of the
> harmony don't have TiVo buttons link "clear", "Advance" and "Replay" so it
> is necessary to add these functions to the LCD display, you can do this very
> easily on the web interface.

Well, I was already planning on getting the new 880 when it comes out,
but you've cemented my choice. Thanks.

--
David
The sweeter the apple, the blacker the core --
Scratch a lover and find a foe!
-- Dorothy Parker, "Ballad of a Great Weariness"

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

SINNER wrote:
> * Fred Bloggs wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:
>
> [...]
>
>
>>That is right the remote knows the state of the various components and does
>>what is necessary to get you from one state to another. So, for example, if
>>you are watching TiVo and then want to listen to a CD, the harmony will
>>change the inputs on the various components and power on and off devices as
>>needed. If the device has discrete codes, then it will always be accurate,
>>If it needs to scroll, it will nearly always be accurate, but once in a
>>while it will get it wrong. Fortunately there is a help button that will fix
>>most problems, or you can press the device button to get full control of a
>>component.
>
>
> This makes the whole entertainment center 'Wife Friendly', you sold me
>

Unfortunately the *price* is not so wife friendly! But the harmony
series of remotes are probably the best out there.

Randy S.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

>> This makes the whole entertainment center 'Wife Friendly', you sold me
>>
>
>
> Unfortunately the *price* is not so wife friendly! But the harmony
> series of remotes are probably the best out there.
>

On second thought ;-), I've been putting serious thought into getting
one of these myself. Those of you who have one, which model would work
best with an HD TV set, SA Tivo and 5 disc DVD player all connected
through an 7.1 A/V receiver? None of my components are off-brand (the
TV's a Samsung, the receiver is a Yamaha, the DVD is a Panasonic?). I
don't really need a full color screen like the 880 ;-).

Randy S.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

"Randy S." <rswittNO@SPAMgmail.com> wrote in message
news:d8o2p2$1cbs$1@spnode25.nerdc.ufl.edu...
>
>>> This makes the whole entertainment center 'Wife Friendly', you sold me
>>>
>>
>>
>> Unfortunately the *price* is not so wife friendly! But the harmony
>> series of remotes are probably the best out there.
>>
>
> On second thought ;-), I've been putting serious thought into getting one
> of these myself. Those of you who have one, which model would work best
> with an HD TV set, SA Tivo and 5 disc DVD player all connected through an
> 7.1 A/V receiver? None of my components are off-brand (the TV's a
> Samsung, the receiver is a Yamaha, the DVD is a Panasonic?). I don't
> really need a full color screen like the 880 ;-).

I'm going to go for the 880, unless some features were removed when the
color screen was added. Even though I could live without it, a color screen
would be kind of nice. Interestingly, several people are selling this model
on EBay, but some say it will be shipped when released (and they give dates
varying from 6/15/05-6/22/05), while some vendors seem to have it in stock
for immediately delivery.

 

[seth]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

"Randy S." <rswittNO@SPAMgmail.com> wrote in message
news:d8o2p2$1cbs$1@spnode25.nerdc.ufl.edu...
>
>>> This makes the whole entertainment center 'Wife Friendly', you sold me
>>>
>>
>>
>> Unfortunately the *price* is not so wife friendly! But the harmony
>> series of remotes are probably the best out there.
>>
>
> On second thought ;-), I've been putting serious thought into getting one
> of these myself. Those of you who have one, which model would work best
> with an HD TV set, SA Tivo and 5 disc DVD player all connected through an
> 7.1 A/V receiver? None of my components are off-brand (the TV's a
> Samsung, the receiver is a Yamaha, the DVD is a Panasonic?). I don't
> really need a full color screen like the 880 ;-).

Not sure what the normal street pricing on the 680 is, but Tigerdirect.com
has it for $99 as a Father's Day special.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

Randy S. <rswitt@nospamgmail.com> wrote:

> I believe the Harmony remotes are some of the new "state" oriented
> remotes. IOW, each device button is supposed to represent a "state" of

Well, that's hardly "new". The JP1 guys hacked up software for various
remotes (eg the All In One 8811) to do similar a couple of years back.
With a cheap ($10) cable you can plug the (cheap) remote into your
parallel port and reprogram the remote quite flexibly.

> your Entertainment system for a given task. So, for instance, if you
> press "DVD", the following items need to be satisified to be in the

In my case I press "SET" to access this advanced feature; so SET then DVD
would:
1) turn on TV
2) turn on receiver
3) turn on DVD
4) Change TV to channel 7
5) change TV to L1
6) change TV to L2 (unfortunately that's the quickest way of getting to L2)
7) switch receiver to DVD input
8) switch A/v switch box to DVD input

Steps 1,2 can all be done with discrete code fortunately. Annoying the DVD
doesn't have discrete on/off codes so there's a toggle code where the remote
tries to remember if it last turned the DVD player on or off and only sends
the POWER signal if needed. Sometimes the remote and the DVD player get
out of sync.

Similarly the SLEEP button has been programmed to turn off _everything_.
Again (except for the DVD player) it all has discrete power off codes
so it turns off TV, receiver, CD player, satellite box and (depending on
the DVD toggle state) the DVD player.

I programmed one of these for a friend with a S1 DirecTiVo and if I
remember correctly it does have discrete on/off codes, but I could be
wrong. However, my friend didn't like the feel of the remote; he claims
the peanut remote is the "best ever" for navigation by touch, and so he
sticks with that.

--
Stephen Harris
usenet@spuddy.org
The truth is the truth, and opinion just opinion. But what is what?
My employer pays to ignore my opinions; you get to do it for free.

 

[sinner]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

* Randy S. wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:
> SINNER wrote:
>> * Fred Bloggs wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:

>> [...]

>>>That is right the remote knows the state of the various components and does
>>>what is necessary to get you from one state to another. So, for example, if
>>>you are watching TiVo and then want to listen to a CD, the harmony will
>>>change the inputs on the various components and power on and off devices as
>>>needed. If the device has discrete codes, then it will always be accurate,
>>>If it needs to scroll, it will nearly always be accurate, but once in a
>>>while it will get it wrong. Fortunately there is a help button that will fix
>>>most problems, or you can press the device button to get full control of a
>>>component.

>> This makes the whole entertainment center 'Wife Friendly', you sold me
>>

> Unfortunately the *price* is not so wife friendly!

Hell, it's not so husband friendly either

--
David
Mr. Cole's Axiom:
The sum of the intelligence on the planet is a constant; the
population is growing.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

Stephen Harris wrote:
> Randy S. <rswitt@nospamgmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>>I believe the Harmony remotes are some of the new "state" oriented
>>remotes. IOW, each device button is supposed to represent a "state" of
>
>
> Well, that's hardly "new". The JP1 guys hacked up software for various
> remotes (eg the All In One 8811) to do similar a couple of years back.
> With a cheap ($10) cable you can plug the (cheap) remote into your
> parallel port and reprogram the remote quite flexibly.

Well, "new*er*", is that better? And I would say the Harmony has the
tremendous advantage of not having to create your own macros, you can
get them already created from the web. For a technophile that may not
be a big deal, but the average person doesn't want to mess with
programming them.

Randy S.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

Here is beginners guide to JP1
http/www.hifi-remote.com/jp1/help2/index.shtml.

The remote and cable will cost about $50 (unless you do as the guide says
and make your own cable). A Harmony will run you about $100 for the cheapest
model on the web.

I am sure that an all in one with JP1 can do everything the harmony can do
and more, but it is more suited for someone who likes to tinker and is tech
savvy. I would position it as competition for high end remotes like the
Philips Pronto and the MX series remotes and for people with more complex
that average set ups.

To pass the "wife test" (or even better the elderly in laws test!) the
remote should have certain properties:
One button to perform major functions (watch tv, listen to music ......)
No unlabeled buttons or buttons with labels like M1 that have no clear
meaning
Controls that as far as possible work consistently regardless of the
input source - FF works for TiVo, DVD, VCR etc.
One remote that does it all - no "other remotes" lying around for the
odd function that the master remote cannot handle.

I am sure that there a bunch of other considerations, but the real test is
giving the remote to someone who has never seen it or your set up before to
see how they cope.

My parents visited a few weeks ago, they are not used to having to control
the TV, the TiVo and an AV receiver just to watch the news! They have a TV
and an antenna and the VCR plugs into the TV. It took them no time to get up
to speed.

"Randy S." <rswitt@nospamgmail.com> wrote in message
news:d8pbsc$13fe$2@spnode25.nerdc.ufl.edu...
> Stephen Harris wrote:
>> Randy S. <rswitt@nospamgmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I believe the Harmony remotes are some of the new "state" oriented
>>>remotes. IOW, each device button is supposed to represent a "state" of
>>
>>
>> Well, that's hardly "new". The JP1 guys hacked up software for various
>> remotes (eg the All In One 8811) to do similar a couple of years back.
>> With a cheap ($10) cable you can plug the (cheap) remote into your
>> parallel port and reprogram the remote quite flexibly.
>
> Well, "new*er*", is that better? And I would say the Harmony has the
> tremendous advantage of not having to create your own macros, you can get
> them already created from the web. For a technophile that may not be a
> big deal, but the average person doesn't want to mess with programming
> them.
>
> Randy S.

 

[sinner]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

* Z Man wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:

> "Randy S." <rswittNO@SPAMgmail.com> wrote in message
> news:d8o2p2$1cbs$1@spnode25.nerdc.ufl.edu...

>>>> This makes the whole entertainment center 'Wife Friendly', you sold me
>>>>

>>> Unfortunately the *price* is not so wife friendly! But the harmony
>>> series of remotes are probably the best out there.

>> On second thought ;-), I've been putting serious thought into getting one
>> of these myself. Those of you who have one, which model would work best
>> with an HD TV set, SA Tivo and 5 disc DVD player all connected through an
>> 7.1 A/V receiver? None of my components are off-brand (the TV's a
>> Samsung, the receiver is a Yamaha, the DVD is a Panasonic?). I don't
>> really need a full color screen like the 880 ;-).

> I'm going to go for the 880, unless some features were removed when the
> color screen was added. Even though I could live without it, a color screen
> would be kind of nice. Interestingly, several people are selling this model
> on EBay, but some say it will be shipped when released (and they give dates
> varying from 6/15/05-6/22/05), while some vendors seem to have it in stock
> for immediately delivery.

Logitech's site says its available at BB which it isn't and if you try
to order from their [logitech] site, it is out of stock. Many months
ago I signed up at the site to be notified when the 880 was released. I
still haven't got that email.

--
David
10.0 times 0.1 is hardly ever 1.0.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

"Z Man" <z1z@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:qHyre.27$Lg4.15@fe12.lga...
>
> "Fred Bloggs" <SPAM@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:OB4qe.26$Bi1.118@news.oracle.com...
>>I also recommend the Harmony. It is like TiVo - hard to explain the
>>benefits, but once you have one, you will not give it back!
>>
>> Yes they do eat a set of batteries every 2 months or so, but that is a
>> small price to pay!
>> "Z Man" <z1z@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:nAOpe.13966$So7.13057@fe10.lga...
>>> Can anyone recommend a good home theatre remote that is very
>>> Tivo-friendly? I have several remotes and would like to cut down. The
>>> most important components are my Tivo and Denon AVR-5800 receiver. I
>>> also use an older Sony 61HS10 television. Thanks.

I received my Harmony 880 (purchased from Crutchfield) a couple of days ago.
I think I'm going to like it, but it will take some getting used to. One
quick question: when I press the OFF button at the very top of the remote,
it correctly turns of my receiver and television. However, at the same time
it places my Tivo in standby mode. Prior to getting the 880, I had never in
life used Tivo's standby. I am not certain what standby mode does. Will Tivo
record my shows when in standby mode? Can the 880 be told to NOT set Tivo to
standby when I press the OFF button? If so, how?

One related question: If my television is already on, initiating the
sequence to watch Tivo will turn the TV off. It appears to be a toggle. Is
there any way to tell the remote to not toggle the TV on/off if the
television is already on?

 

[sinner]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

* Z Man wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:

> I received my Harmony 880 (purchased from Crutchfield) a couple of days ago.
> I think I'm going to like it, but it will take some getting used to. One
> quick question: when I press the OFF button at the very top of the remote,
> it correctly turns of my receiver and television. However, at the same time
> it places my Tivo in standby mode.

Hmm, I want mine to do that but it wont. I assume you have a SA Tivo?

> Prior to getting the 880, I had never in
> life used Tivo's standby. I am not certain what standby mode does.

On an SA Tivo it activates pass through, on a Dtivo it also kills the 30
minute buffer.

> Will Tivo
> record my shows when in standby mode?

Yes.

> Can the 880 be told to NOT set Tivo to
> standby when I press the OFF button? If so, how?

It must be possible. Adjust the settings of that activity on the
website.

> One related question: If my television is already on, initiating the
> sequence to watch Tivo will turn the TV off. It appears to be a toggle. Is
> there any way to tell the remote to not toggle the TV on/off if the
> television is already on?

It should not be doing that. The harmony includes smartstate technology
which is supposed to remember the state of all the components it controls
and only turn it off if its not needed for the activity selected. The
only time I have seen this fail is if you use another remote to change
the state of a component and the harmony doest know about it.


--
David
Q: What's yellow, and equivalent to the Axiom of Choice?
A: Zorn's Lemon.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

"SINNER" <99nesorjd@gates_of_hell.invalid> wrote in message
news:nr5dp2xivs.ln2@news.gates_of_hell.com...
>* Z Man wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:
>
>> I received my Harmony 880 (purchased from Crutchfield) a couple of days
>> ago.
>> I think I'm going to like it, but it will take some getting used to. One
>> quick question: when I press the OFF button at the very top of the
>> remote,
>> it correctly turns of my receiver and television. However, at the same
>> time
>> it places my Tivo in standby mode.
>
> Hmm, I want mine to do that but it wont. I assume you have a SA Tivo?
>
>> Prior to getting the 880, I had never in
>> life used Tivo's standby. I am not certain what standby mode does.
>
> On an SA Tivo it activates pass through, on a Dtivo it also kills the 30
> minute buffer.
>
>> Will Tivo
>> record my shows when in standby mode?
>
> Yes.
>
>> Can the 880 be told to NOT set Tivo to
>> standby when I press the OFF button? If so, how?
>
> It must be possible. Adjust the settings of that activity on the
> website.
>
>> One related question: If my television is already on, initiating the
>> sequence to watch Tivo will turn the TV off. It appears to be a toggle.
>> Is
>> there any way to tell the remote to not toggle the TV on/off if the
>> television is already on?
>
> It should not be doing that. The harmony includes smartstate technology
> which is supposed to remember the state of all the components it controls
> and only turn it off if its not needed for the activity selected. The
> only time I have seen this fail is if you use another remote to change
> the state of a component and the harmony doest know about it.
>
>
> --
> David
> Q: What's yellow, and equivalent to the Axiom of Choice?
> A: Zorn's Lemon.
You can tell the Harmony not to power on/off a device on the web config
screen - I use this setting for the TiVo and for my DVD player.

If you are not turning the TV on without using the Harmony, could it be that
you have more than TV device configured and watch TV and watch TiVo set to
different operations, and that each operation thinks that it is controlling
a different device?

Also, play with the "device" menu to see if there is a discrete on/off code
for your TV (press device then select the TV from the LCD menu) the LCD
display will have lots of commands in the control set for your TV
manufacturer. Some of these may work with your TV, even if the remote that
came with the set didn't have button. Discrete on/off and direct access to
inputs are often possible. If you find discrete codes you can edit the
sequence for the Harmony to use the codes.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.tivo (More info?)

"SINNER" <99nesorjd@gates_of_hell.invalid> wrote in message
news:nr5dp2xivs.ln2@news.gates_of_hell.com...
>* Z Man wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo:
>
>> I received my Harmony 880 (purchased from Crutchfield) a couple of days
>> ago.
>> I think I'm going to like it, but it will take some getting used to. One
>> quick question: when I press the OFF button at the very top of the
>> remote,
>> it correctly turns of my receiver and television. However, at the same
>> time
>> it places my Tivo in standby mode.
>
> Hmm, I want mine to do that but it wont. I assume you have a SA Tivo?


I have a DirecTV HD Tivo.