688 Help please !

[bigbaz]

Just picked up a 688 Remote from Comet. However setting it up is driving me crazy. I've installed the software no problem. My AV equipment consists of TV (Panny TH-42PX60B) DVD Recorder ( Panny DMR-EX75EB) HD DVD Player (Tosh EP30) Amp (Sony STR-K880) However to make things 'simple' I only added the TV and DVD Recorder, 3 hours later I'm still struggling ! Basically when I press Watch TV nothing happens. The only way I get a response is to press help then the TV and DVD Recorder switch on both together ! after that the 688 fails to respond. I have to then revert back to the original remote. Any help would be much appreciated Thanks !

[saintalan]

Originally Posted by bigbaz

Just picked up a 688 Remote from Comet. However setting it up is driving me crazy. I've installed the software no problem. My AV equipment consists of TV (Panny TH-42PX60B) DVD Recorder ( Panny DMR-EX75EB) HD DVD Player (Tosh EP30) Amp (Sony STR-K880) However to make things 'simple' I only added the TV and DVD Recorder, 3 hours later I'm still struggling ! Basically when I press Watch TV nothing happens. The only way I get a response is to press help then the TV and DVD Recorder switch on both together ! after that the 688 fails to respond. I have to then revert back to the original remote. Any help would be much appreciated Thanks !

The answers will lay with Power & Input settings and the way Panny handles them.

There are a few threads active on these topics at the mo. There are a few of you that have got these from Comet this week so it will be a popular topic. Basically all the Harmony software works the same for all models.

Take a look and then you'll have a better understanding and it will be easier to help you.

Think about the activities you want, what devices they use and whether their Power buttons toggle on/off or whether the Harmony shows discrete commands. Also check the Discrete Inputs provided by the Database. Just because the OEM remote does not have them does not mean they dont exist!

Cheers, Alan

[bigbaz]

Originally Posted by saintalan

The answers will lay with Power & Input settings and the way Panny handles them.

There are a few threads active on these topics at the mo. There are a few of you that have got these from Comet this week so it will be a popular topic. Basically all the Harmony software works the same for all models.

Take a look and then you'll have a better understanding and it will be easier to help you.

Think about the activities you want, what devices they use and whether their Power buttons toggle on/off or whether the Harmony shows discrete commands. Also check the Discrete Inputs provided by the Database. Just because the OEM remote does not have them does not mean they dont exist!

Cheers, Alan

Thanks for that Alan, will keep on persevering !

[saintalan]

There are several of us on here that can steer you through it but it will help enormously and save time in the long run if you do a bit of homework.

For you and others who may follow this, get your head around the Software both for initial set up and adding/changing etc.

Explore the Settings for Devices & Activiteis when you have set something up. Follow the prompts and pay particular attention to the Power & Input Settings.

Also be as specific as you can with problems.

Alan

[bigbaz]

Thanks once again Alan. Think I might just keep hold of the generic remotes a little while longer !

[TylerDurden]

I got one of these remotes a few weeks back, its taken be since then to get it just the way I want (well about 90% there), I'd say stick with it as I wouldn't want to be without it. I don't really use the activities just the individual controls for each device

[saintalan]

Originally Posted by TylerDurden

... I don't really use the activities just the individual controls for each device

You really are missing out on the whole point of having a Harmony. I think the word Activities gives people the wrong impression, it just really means "I want to do this and be able to control this, that and the other"!

[TylerDurden]

Originally Posted by saintalan

You really are missing out on the whole point of having a Harmony. I think the word Activities gives people the wrong impression, it just really means "I want to do this and be able to control this, that and the other"!

The problem is that I turn all my equipment off at night, ie not in standby mode. When for example I turn the TV off via the remote, the remote remembers that the TV is off, however, when I power the TV back up it automatically comes on but the remote has not been use and thus as far as its concerned the TV is off, the same goes for my amp etc. The Activities seem to work great if you leave your stuff on standby when not in use. I understand the concept of Activities, ie, Watch DVD, turn TV on, turn Amp on, turn DVD player on, switch to DVD AV channel etc.

Unless I'm missing the point I can't see a way around the problem

[saintalan]

Originally Posted by TylerDurden

...Unless I'm missing the point I can't see a way around the problem

Hi again. I think all you need to do is select Option 1 in each device's Power Settings, to leave the devices on. Then you can power on/off manually without upsetting the Harmony state.

Alan

[TylerDurden]

Originally Posted by saintalan

Hi again. I think all you need to do is select Option 1 in each device's Power Settings, to leave the devices on. Then you can power on/off manually without upsetting the Harmony state.

Alan

Thanks, will check that out later, shame my wife doesn't like the harmony and still uses the original remotes