Simple Question on Harmony 525 Before I Buy

[finst3r]

Hi all,

After reading through some of the threads on here I'm thinking of buying a Harmony 525 remote (or at least asking for one for Christmas!)

I want it to control my Sharp LC32AD5E TV, Philips DVD Player and Sky+.

I'm just not sure if it will do what I want - on the TV, to select a different source you have to press the "input" button a number of times (e.g. 5 times to get to EXT5 which is my DVD player). Would the 525 support this? I've seen mention of "discrete codes" which I think means that there's a code that takes the TV straight to EXT5 but where would I be able to find out if these codes exist for my TV? I've already downloaded the Harmony software but it won't let me install it without a remote connected.

Thanks in advance.

[Abbeygoo]

I've got the Harmony 885 and would presume it works in the same way.

When you set up the Harmony remote via the Logitech website you CAN program it to do exactly as you have described. So, when you press the 'watch TV' button on the remote, it will take you to the correct input for the activity you have described.

If it helps, when I press "watch TV" it turns my TV on to the right input (component) and when I press "play game" it turns the TV on to the right input again (RGB ext 1). You don't need to keep pressing the input button the remote does all that for you.

Hope that is clear!

[finst3r]

Cheers,

Just so I can get my head around it, when you choose "play game" etc does it press "input" 3 times itself, or does it know how to go directly to the input source? I guess I'm wondering what would happen if it loses track of which input source the TV is on, or one of the "presses" doesn't get through to the TV (cat walks past etc!)

Also, is there somewhere I can check if my TV is supported?

Sorry if I'm asking daft questions!

Thanks again.

[Abbeygoo]

I would check the Logitech website if you're unsure on anything.

But, yes, as I understand it the Harmony knows how to turn to the correct input each time you turn on. When you program the remote via the website it asks you to confirm which input is used for each function and it simply turns to the correct input depending on which activity you select.

It would make sense to keep the remote pointed in the general direction of the appliances you are controlling ..... even if it doesn't work first time, the 'help' button on the remote is a remarkable piece of work!!

[finst3r]

Cheers but I can't find much info about which TV's are supported (or much more information) on the Logitech website.

Does anybody know if Sharp TV's have the ability to have their input source selected directly?

Thanks.

[PD_BARBS]

Originally Posted by finst3r

Hi all,

After reading through some of the threads on here I'm thinking of buying a Harmony 525 remote (or at least asking for one for Christmas!)

I want it to control my Sharp LC32AD5E TV, Philips DVD Player and Sky+.

I'm just not sure if it will do what I want - on the TV, to select a different source you have to press the "input" button a number of times (e.g. 5 times to get to EXT5 which is my DVD player). Would the 525 support this? I've seen mention of "discrete codes" which I think means that there's a code that takes the TV straight to EXT5 but where would I be able to find out if these codes exist for my TV? I've already downloaded the Harmony software but it won't let me install it without a remote connected.

Thanks in advance.

Yes, it will do this.

I have a 555, and you can pre programme it to go to certain inputs. For example, set up an activity for DVD. When seleceted it will power up the DVD player switch to the relevant input and power up TV, amp or whatever else you have programmed into that activity. This is all done from selecting one button.

You can also customise individual buttons, based on the piece of kit you want to operate.

It is a really good remote, well worth the money.

[sp_harris]

Originally Posted by finst3r

I'm just not sure if it will do what I want - on the TV, to select a different source you have to press the "input" button a number of times (e.g. 5 times to get to EXT5 which is my DVD player).

If the 525 is like the 885 (I presume it is) then when you select your devices (TV, dvd, etc...) before you create the activities (watch tv, watch dvd, etc...) during the device settings you tell it whether your tv changes input by either
a) a certain button for each input
or
b) press the input button a number of times to cycle through the input (as you do)

so yes it should work.

My advise is to get one, they are great - very easy to use for kids and wife regardless of how many devices you have, easy set-up via web-site, great customer support. We only use the harmony and hide the rest of the remotes.

[finst3r]

Thanks everybody,

Is it possible to check the database online so that I can check my TV is supported (with direct input select)? I've seen mention of checking the logitech website in other posts but can't seem to find the harmony remote database...

Cheers.

[czzer]

You can't access the database until you have a remote.

I added that TV to my account and it has discretes listed for InputExt1 thru InputExt6. Of course this isn't a guarantee they actually work, but it looks like you should be fine.

[finst3r]

Originally Posted by czzer

I added that TV to my account and it has discretes listed for InputExt1 thru InputExt6. Of course this isn't a guarantee they actually work, but it looks like you should be fine.

Thanks - good enough for me. I'll get it and see if it works - at least I'm fairly confident that it will work now.

Thanks again!

[Oily]

If you can't get it working how it should,just contact support,they're excellent,they spent about an hour on the phone(from Canada!)sorting out the problem selecting inputs on my LG.