[Pincho Paxton]

Got any special setups on your Harmony Remote that could be handy to pass to the forum members? This is the thread to post your ideas...

First, I will say that Activities are the way to use the remote. The devices should be used sparingly.

Customise ALL of your buttons, do not leave a button blank.

Here's a Template of the 525/555. You can print it, and write your keys on it....

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...teTemplate.jpg

Check if your Devices are in the Harmony Database.. HERE

Check the 4 Timing/Delay explenations here....

Power On Delay. When a device receives a PowerOn command, it takes a certain amount of time to "warm up" the device and resume normal operation. For most devices this happens very quickly, but for some devices, such as televisions and receivers, it can take up to 3000 milliseconds (three seconds).

Inter-key Delay. When a device receives an infrared command the device is considered"busy" while it processes the command. The amount of time required before the device will respond to another command is known as the inter-key delay, and normally ranges from zero to 300 milliseconds. Devices with long inter-key delays take longer to respond to multiple infrared commands (e.g., when changing television channels).

Input Delay. When a device switches inputs (e.g. goes from Video 1 to Video 2) the device is considered "busy" while it processes the command. The amount of time required before the device will respond to another switch input command is known as the input delay, and normally ranges from 500 to 3000 milliseconds. Devices with long input delays take longer to change inputs.

Inter-Device Delay. When an infrared command is sent for a particular device, each device in your system will receive the command, but only one will respond to it. The other devices will ignore the infrared command. Sometimes, when this happens, a device will ignore the infrared signal and then stop accepting infrared commands for a period of time. This period of time is known as the inter-device delay. During this time no infrared signals are generated by the remote. In rare cases this delay can be several seconds.

OK

Tip 1

The first idea is thanks to Bachstrad...

The # key is often ignored, but # means number, so a good idea is to put your 4 digit Satelite/Cable passcode in there. One press will enter all four digits....

Customise Buttons
Add Sequence
Name it Enter Passcode
Put your passcode in each box.
Done
Find The customise # key, and change it to Sequence... Enter Passcode.

Tip 2

Next to standard buttons you have Additional Buttons menu. Use up a few pages of these. 3 pages should be enough. On a HDD device with TV Pause/stop Put the 'Record Stop' up here, and you wont press it by accident when you stop a tv playback feature. Put your Amp Audio Effects up here too, it is easier if you can see the effect names clearly.

Tip 3

Move you Devices Additional Buttons around, because they are alphabetically ordered, and the front ones are usually useless. Put the most useful ones at the front of the screen.

Tip 4

Slow button clicks on the remote are often created by the Harmony's default Inter-Key Delay setting. You can often put this speed on 100 or even 0. My remote is on 100, and it's actually faster than the original remotes.

Tip 5

Turn off 'Remote Assist' in the Harmony's option screen. Getting rid of it means that you can pick up your remote, and use it right away without pressing ACTIVITIES.

Tip 6

If you only have some of your Inputs as Discreet codes you can get to the Inputs faster (like HDMI) by using the discreet code nearest to the one that you are trying to get to (HDMI). Then just add one, or two TV..Input Next.. in the 'Yes, but I want to add more control of options and devices for this Activity..' pages.

A few tips there. If other people post tips, I will move them up here.

Please Restrict Questions to the actual Remote Forum. Do not ask for help in here.

[saintalan]

Tip 7 - For those of you that would like the Channel Favorites you get on the higher end models.

On the Harmony 785, 885 & ONE, Channel Favourites with Logos are available by pressing the MEDIA button, those with 525/555 or HK TC30 don't have that capability directly. However you can get the facility without the Icons.

All you need to do is (as an example, I will use Sky News channel 501 on my UK Sky box):

1. In your Watch TV/SKY Activity go to Customise Buttons>Additional Buttons and ADD a 3 step Sequence.
2. Label it say, FavSkyNews with 3 commands from your Sky device, 5 0 and 1
3. In the First page of Additional Buttons (you may have to move/delete existing) create a new command
4. Label it SkyNews, select Device>Sequence with command FavSkyNews
5. Repeat for 3 (525/555) or 7 (TC30) more Favorites or more if you wish to scroll pages.

Now when you select your Activity you will have SkyNews displayed, select it and it will send 501 to your device, (standard Harmony Rules apply - keep the RC pointed at the device!). It worked for me and you don't even have to key a (Media) button to display them!

You obviously get no icons but can have a max of 10 favs per activity and even get round that if you want, by having more Activities e.g. Watch Sports, Watch Movies etc.

Hope that helps some of you out there. Any further help let me know.

Cheers

Alan

[saintalan]

Tip 8 - For those of you with Sound & Picture Buttons

The Sound & Picture Buttons can be used (like a sub function) to switch the remote buttons for use with your own mapped commands. They are designed to give ease of access to, you guessed it, Sound & Picture functions and Logi have deemed that they are only available in a WatchTV Activity.

However with many other devices now having Picture & sound functions Logi's logic is illogical

However we can fool these smart/stupid remotes to use these for anything we want for any device type.

It will take a little time depending on how many commands you want to map and requires the OEM RC. I will use an example to illustrate, but you can use what you want.

Change TV DEVICE Settings>Customise Buttons> (Additional Buttons if you want) and learn the RED command from a SKY RC and call it SkyRED. Your TV now thinks that the Sky command is one of its own.

Then go in to your Watch TV/SKy activity and under Customise Buttons>Picture> you will see that only the TV is available BUT it has the SkyRED command. Map that to a button say MUTE and Hey Presto!

Now when you Press Picture>Mute in that Activity it will send the RED command to the SkyBox.

Obviously my choices were not logical but you get the PICTURE

But you can share your logical uses with us.

Alan

[monksy74]

Tip 9 - Always try and use discrete on / off commands for devices

Using discrete commands for on and off (rather than a power toggle) makes it less likely to get out of sync and a lot easier to fix when it does. If it does go out of sync (e.g. someone walks past while changing an activity) pressing the help button will send discrete power commands without asking whether the device is on or off.

If your original remote doesn't have discrete on / off commands they may still be in the database (E.g. Panasonic Plasmas PX/PZ, xbox 360). Have a look if they are in the list of commands, test them and, if they work, change the power settings for the device to use them.

If discrete on / off commands aren't there it may still be possible to fake discretes using combinations of other commands, E.g.

Sky+ / Sky HD
Discrete On - Sky
Discrete Off - Sky followed by power toggle

DVD Player - if pressing play powers on the DVD player use play as a discrete on and play followed by power toggle as a discrete off.

[saintalan]

Tip 10 - POWER DURATION (particularly Panasonic TV)

After about a minute on Standby my Panasonic, clicks and goes in to a deeper standby, which requires a longer Key press to power on.

If this is the case, don't mess with Input delays etc (just yet!) eMail Logitech and ask them to add a DURATION setting to your TV Power Setting, mine was set up, in less than 24 hours, at 2000ms (although you can vary it) and it works fine.

Unfortunately, I think it's only available for Power.

I don't know why they just dont add it as standard!

Alan

[monksy74]

Tip 11 - Sky+ / Sky HD

Sky Plus / Sky HD useful commands / sequences:

Discrete On: InputSky
Discrete Off: InputSky, Power Toggle

Hard Buttons
Exit: InputSky (exit any menu)
Up Arrow (Harmony One): Yellow (for +24 Hours in channel guide)
Down Arrow(Harmony One):Blue (for -24 Hours in channel guide)
Menu: Planner - sequence - InputSky, Guide, Green (or put this on the LCD as Planner)
Prev: Backup

LCD buttons
Sky Anytime: sequence - InputSky, Guide, Red
Add Bookmark: sequence - Play, Pause, Red, Play
All Channels: sequence - InputSky, Guide, 1
HD Channels: sequence - InputSky, Guide, 2
Music Channels: sequence - InputSky, Guide, 0, 1
etc.

[monksy74]

Tip 12 - Harmony One Favourite Channel Icons

For a great set of favourite channel icons go to:
www.iconharmony.com

The person that runs this site creates them all for free and it costs him to do so. There's a paypal donation button on the site - if you use his icons please donate.

If the icons you want aren't there then you can request them using the contact me link on the site.

[saintalan]

Tip 13 - Avoiding Family Mistakes!

As you will know when you select an Activity your Display Area will show you a number of other commands for that Activity. In general this is a good idea, but there is a danger when family get to know where their Activity sits in the display (or they are careless) that they forget to hit the Activity key and thus hit some other command within that activity.

If this is a problem for you, then just go into the Customised>Additional commands for that Activity and move them all down so that you clear the first page and then there will be no commands to hit, but you will need to scroll one page in order to see the ones you do want.

Another angle on this is that for those that dont have Channel Favourites on their RCs they could use my Tip 7 and then you would get your Favourites in the display (without having to press a Media (Faves) button). This would mean that any acidental keying would just change Channel rather than say Delete a Recording for example.

At the very least you should keep 'danger' keys like Delete out of the First Page.

Alan

[Pincho Paxton]

Tip 14 Discreet Inputs (even with a single button remote)

You may look at your remote, and all that you see is an input next selector. When you are asked if you have a single button for selecting inputs the most logical way to answer is to say yes.

But this is often not the case. Even with a single button for selecting inputs there are often hidden discreet commands for each input.

Go into customize buttons, and look at all of the buttons that are available to you by scrolling through the list. If you have commands like AV1, AV2, AV3, or InputAV1, InputAV2, then you have discreet commands for these inputs.

So when asked if you have a single button to switch inputs you can say...

NO... I have separate buttons for each input. You can then manually enter the input keys by looking for the commands in the list.

Now you can switch inputs instantly!

[kevmarshall]

Tip 15 - If you use an Amp with an Audio Delay function.............

1. Create a Sequence for it from your Amp's remote.

2. Put it in the LCD and name it "Lip Sync" or whatever.

3. You can then allocate the Harmony up/down arrows ^ v to adjust the delay up or down while still in an activity.

NB. If like me you have a Denon AVR Amp you will need to allocate the Amp's Direction LEFT to v (down) and Direction RIGHT to ^ (up)

[Nivek TT]

Tip 16

Obvious but not mentioned, the Sky HD Installers menu can be programmed to a single button press via:

Services -> 4 -> 0 -> 1 -> Enter

For those with the new EPG its:

Services -> 0 -> 0 -> 1 -> Enter

For Sky HD I use TVGuide, Planner and Anytime on the first page of my 525 LCD display and Services, Interactive, Box Office and Installer on the second.

[kingtj]

Hi,

Got the Hatmony 525 from Comet today £39.14 (priced at £49.99 but comes up at till at £39.14..bargain)
Any how must be thick or something can't figure out tip 1.

Please help ?

[Pincho Paxton]

Originally Posted by kingtj

Hi,

Got the Hatmony 525 from Comet today £39.14 (priced at £49.99 but comes up at till at £39.14..bargain)
Any how must be thick or something can't figure out tip 1.

Please help ?

First thing to do is to setup an Activity like Watch TV, include the satellite/ cable, maybe an amp if you have one. Then customise the activity buttons.

[Oxide]

Originally Posted by saintalan

Tip 10 - POWER DURATION (particularly Panasonic TV)

After about a minute on Standby my Panasonic, clicks and goes in to a deeper standby, which requires a longer Key press to power on.

If this is the case, don't mess with Input delays etc (just yet!) eMail Logitech and ask them to add a DURATION setting to your TV Power Setting, mine was set up, in less than 24 hours, at 2000ms (although you can vary it) and it works fine.

Unfortunately, I think it's only available for Power.

I don't know why they just dont add it as standard!

Alan

I have found this 'Power Duration' setting hidden within the software. It may have been added with version 7.5.

To get there go to the panasonic device >> adjust power settings >> Turn off this device when not in use >> Different button for ON and OFF >> Dont have original remote but I know the command >> set it to 'PowerON' which should give you the power duration setting

Mine is set to 2000ms and works a treat

[logiciel]

It's in the base for some Pana models. For others Logi support will add it on request.

[D4RK1]

"Tip 4

Slow button clicks on the remote are often created by the Harmony's default Inter-Key Delay setting. You can often put this speed on 100 or even 0. My remote is on 100, and it's actually faster than the original remotes."

I want to speed up the button clicks on my 1000 but cant find the menu to do it in. Any help would be really appreciated. (its for a couple of sequences i have setup plus my fave channels)

[logiciel]

You need to run the Troubleshoot at "Responds too many times..." for the "repeats" settings - another Logi-oddity!

[m4rky_m4rk]

Tip 17

If you're making a lot of changes, click done frequently and continue making changes. I found this out the hard way The software can refresh automatically loosing any unsaved changes. Clicking done saves the changes so far made.

[m4rky_m4rk]

Tip 18

occasional problems with devices get out of synch with power on and off?

I found that sometimes the default setup for power on and off is not the best. Check if the power on and power off are actually discrete commands and not just power toggling. If power on is actually using a power toggle command then it may be possible to replace it with a better alternative, such as: play, channel number, input selection.

These often power up the device and obviously do not switch off.

Check with the original remote if any of these type of commands power up your device and replace the power on toggle with it. pick one that doesn't actually do much such as stop or pause if possible. This helps prevent synch problems.

[Normal Bias]

Tip 19

On my Panny plasma (TH-42PZ700B), pressing mute causes "mute" to be displayed for what seems like about 30s.

If the info button (to the left of zero on the keypad) is pressed, the info panel appears for about 5s and soon after that the mute box disappears.

Might be useful for anyone trying to get rid of the mute box a bit quicker...

[logiciel]

Posters please restrict posts here to tips tricks and ideas for general use.
Post specific questions and comments to existing or new threads.

[prodrigo]

TIP 20

Using Sky TV with the new EPG and don't like using coloured buttons, or have a Harmony One and don't like the touchscreen coloured buttons?

I've just about managed to get around using coloured buttons at all (with the new EPG). I've done this by setting up very specific commands on the touchscreen that perform a sequence; Search (Guide+Blue), Anytime (Guide+Red), Planner A-Z (Guide+Green+2), Favourites (Guide+Yellow).

As well as this I've mapped yellow to the + (Clear) button for deleting shows from the planner and FastFW to Yellow and FastRW to Blue for +24Hrs & -24Hrs respectively in Guide.

This actually makes it easier to use than the coloured buttons IMHO, and we don't miss them at all.

[imnotrich]

TIP 21

My tips for the new Sky EPG are:

Create the following sequences :

Prev - Blue, Select, Backup (then assign to the PREV button)

For the rest of these sequences, assign them to Additional Buttons...

Installer - Services,0,0,1,Select

ITVHD - Services, DirectionDown, 5, Select, SelectX2
(you need to create a RAW command from your original Sky remote which is a double press of the Select button and call it SelectX2 - this is due to only have 5 sequence spaces and this command needs 6!) Obviously you need to have added ITVHD to your other channels section - see other threads for details on how to do this.

Recorded - Guide, Green, DirectionLeft, DirectionDown

Resume - Play, Play, Play, Play (this is for when you're watching a recorded program, press stop to watch live TV then wish to resume, before the new EPG, you could just press play, this is no longer the case!)


Hope this helps

[prodrigo]

Tip 22

Originally Posted by imnotrich

My tips for the new Sky EPG are:
ITVHD - Services, DirectionDown, 5, Select, SelectX2
(you need to create a RAW command from your original Sky remote which is a double press of the Select button and call it SelectX2 - this is due to only have 5 sequence spaces and this command needs 6!) Obviously you need to have added ITVHD to your other channels section - see other threads for details on how to do this.

In much the same way you can have a Toggle MiniTV option to turn off/on the Mini TV in the EPG - this is handy for browsing the guide with the maximum number of channels displayed.

Services, S8S, DirectionRight, Green, Guide

In this case S8S is a RAW command you have to teach your remote which is a press of Select then 8 then Select again.

It would obviously be great if Logitech could remove or expand this limitation of 5 commands in a sequence!!

[MarkBR]

TIP 23

This tip is for those TV's that don't have direct input keys to all the inputs, so that the only way to access them is with a single "Input" or "InputNext" key which first displays the list of inputs, then sequentially moves along from the current input. On my LG, as probably other makes too, the problem is that it misses out any inputs not currently connected.

Configuring the Harmony Input Method:

Method 1 inputs (sequential) won't work as the List of inputs varies depending on whether items are connected/on or not - so if you include them in the list and they are not "seen" by the TV, Harmony will count incorrectly and go to the wrong input.

Method 2 (direct inputs) won't work if your TV doesn't have Inputxxx commands that go straight to the right input.

Method 3 might work, using "Input" as the key that shows the input list, "DirectionRight" (or "DirectionDown" if your list is vertical) as the key that moves along the inputs, and "Select" as the key to select. This works because cycling the inputs with the direction key rather than the "InputNext" key on some TV's bizarrely DOES stop at every input, regardless of connection status. So you can set up the full list of inputs, regardless if they are used or not, and the Harmony will (eventually) get to the right one.

It can takes ages to cycle all the inputs, so it is worth reducing the InterKey delay as much as possible to speed it up.

Hope this helps someone!

Mark

[Strawbs]

Tip 24

For All Harmony remotes with skip forward\back buttons.

30x Forward\Reverse with 1 touch in SKY Planner, Anytime & Live Pause mode.

Create a sequence labelled "Max Forward" or similar & map it to

Satellite > FastForward
Satellite > FastForward
Satellite > FastForward
Satellite > FastForward

Save and assign it to the "Skip Forward" button. Create a similar sequence labelled "Max Rewind" using the "Rewind" command & assign it to the "Skip Back" button.

Very simple, but it saves a lot of button pushing.

[sobeitjedi]

Originally Posted by imnotrich

TIP 21

My tips for the new Sky EPG are:

Create the following sequences :

Prev - Blue, Select, Backup (then assign to the PREV button)

For the rest of these sequences, assign them to Additional Buttons...

Installer - Services,0,0,1,Select

ITVHD - Services, DirectionDown, 5, Select, SelectX2
(you need to create a RAW command from your original Sky remote which is a double press of the Select button and call it SelectX2 - this is due to only have 5 sequence spaces and this command needs 6!) Obviously you need to have added ITVHD to your other channels section - see other threads for details on how to do this.

Recorded - Guide, Green, DirectionLeft, DirectionDown

Resume - Play, Play, Play, Play (this is for when you're watching a recorded program, press stop to watch live TV then wish to resume, before the new EPG, you could just press play, this is no longer the case!)


Hope this helps

Hi.

I have setup ITV HD in my other channels, and have added a shortcut sequence. But I don't think it's possible to add the ITV HD shortcut sequence to a favourite channels shortcut (with image) - or is it?

[Strawbs]

Originally Posted by sobeitjedi

Hi.

I have setup ITV HD in my other channels, and have added a shortcut sequence. But I don't think it's possible to add the ITV HD shortcut sequence to a favourite channels shortcut (with image) - or is it?

I don't think it's possible because you need to enter a channel number in favourites. I have it as a "Command" for now (just below the Red, blue, yellow, green), and since it's not mainstream yet, that suits me - I personally wouldn't want it as a favourite when there's rarely anything on.

No doubt when it gets its official Sky launch and a 3 digit channel number we'll be able to add it as normal to favourites.

[sobeitjedi]

One more thing I'm struggling with ...

I've set up a new activity, which I want to switch on the TV, Sky and go to channel 0101 to play Radio 1.

Thomson PVR Thomson PVR is on
Samsung TV Samsung TV is on
Other All other devices are off
Thomson PVR Thomson PVR is set to "Tuner"
Samsung TV Samsung TV is set to "HDMI 1"
Thomson PVR Thomson PVR is set to "Channel 0101"

However, when running the activity, the TV and Sky switch on, but I'm presented with BBC 1 (101). So I tried ...

Thomson PVR Thomson PVR is on
Samsung TV Samsung TV is on
Other All other devices are off
Thomson PVR Thomson PVR is set to "Tuner"
Samsung TV Samsung TV is set to "HDMI 1"
Thomson PVR "InputSky" command is sent to the Thomson PVR
Thomson PVR The remote pauses for 5000 milliseconds
Thomson PVR Thomson PVR is set to "Channel 0101"

Which still left me on BBC 1.

Any ideas?

[monksy74]

TIP 25

Originally Posted by sobeitjedi

One more thing I'm struggling with ...

I've set up a new activity, which I want to switch on the TV, Sky and go to channel 0101 to play Radio 1.

Thomson PVR Thomson PVR is on
Samsung TV Samsung TV is on
Other All other devices are off
Thomson PVR Thomson PVR is set to "Tuner"
Samsung TV Samsung TV is set to "HDMI 1"
Thomson PVR Thomson PVR is set to "Channel 0101"

However, when running the activity, the TV and Sky switch on, but I'm presented with BBC 1 (101). So I tried ...

Thomson PVR Thomson PVR is on
Samsung TV Samsung TV is on
Other All other devices are off
Thomson PVR Thomson PVR is set to "Tuner"
Samsung TV Samsung TV is set to "HDMI 1"
Thomson PVR "InputSky" command is sent to the Thomson PVR
Thomson PVR The remote pauses for 5000 milliseconds
Thomson PVR Thomson PVR is set to "Channel 0101"

Which still left me on BBC 1.

Any ideas?

This is a bug in the Harmony software - if you enter a number that starts with a 0 it ignores it.

There is a workaround that does the same thing:

In the review activity settings, when you say "I want to add more control", instead of choosing the option to set it to a specific channel, for activity start choose add additional command and choose the 0 command, repeat this adding additional commands for 1, 0 and 1. This will then send 0,1,0,1 when the activity starts, which is all the set to a specific channel would do anyway.

P.s. shouldn't really post questions in this thread as it's a Tips thread. Better to start your own thread, or add to the thread for your model. In this case, though. This question is asked quite often so the answer should be in here.