Post by indyscammer on Dec 19, 2011 9:57:42 GMT -5
Yesterday I picked up a Harmony 650 at Radio Shack on sale for $50. I did this to replace the AR (Xsight Color) remote I have been using for 18 mos. or so. I picked it up because of the sale and I know that Harmony has the UMC-1 codes. My plan was to move the AR remote upstairs to eliminate the 3 remotes the rest of the family uses (they tend to stay off the theater).
Harmony 650
Right away the programming ease was apparent. ALL components were listed in the database so blam...less than 5 minutes to set up including 4 activities programmed, Watch TV, Listen to Music, Watch a Movie, and Play the Wii. Boom. The activity set up routine (if you have standard components and they are in the database is a snap). The minuses of the remote...while few really are around feel. It feels cheap! With the exception of the channel change and volume change buttons (both are bi-directional rocker designs that feel firm and positive) the rest of the buttons just strike me as cheap.
AR Xsight
I bought this as a cheaper alternative to a Harmony product and already knew that programming this thing was not nearly as smooth as what I had just experienced on the Harmony. I actually had to learn each button sequence for the UMC-1 when I originally programmed it. The buttons feel more firm and positive across the remote. What I would learn over the next 45 minutes while trying to set it up for the upstairs was...well the telling moments. I have a fairly standard Yamaha receiver (RX-V557) upstairs which the UMC-1 replaced. NOT IN AR's database..wha..wha..wha...what? Grr. Ok..calm down skip to the cable box....Pace RNG110 standard Comcast issue. NOT IN AR's database. Already catching flack from the family as I tested codes trying to find an alternative that would work...I boxed it up and put it away.
There you have it...if you want easy and working with out learning each keystroke...Harmony is your bag. As an aside...I have tried to find contact info or some way to get the UMC-1 codes from the .pdf file at Emotiva to AR to load. I can find no way to contact them. Their site has no customer service links or even a "Contact Us" spot. I know that Harmony will actually talk to and respond to their customers based on posts on this forum.
Additional Harmony Fetaures to Like!
1. Dedicated buttons for "watch TV" and "Listen to music" activites as well as button to call "Other Activities" onto the screen. NICE feature. The AR requires entering the activities menu on the screen before choosing one.
2. The Harmony seamlessly integrates individual device control with the Activities functions. Upon executing an activity a screen button lights labeled "Device". Pushing this gives you a menu listing your individual devices. Choosing one gives you full control of that device. Upon entering a device (from the activity) you get another screen button to return to your activity. This is so incredibly handy I can't believe it! With the AR remote busting out to a device busts out of the activity. PERIOD. You have to re-enter the activity from the beginning shielding the IR output so you don't toggle everything (mostly turning stuff off). Great feature!
Harmony has a new fan!
Harmony 650
Right away the programming ease was apparent. ALL components were listed in the database so blam...less than 5 minutes to set up including 4 activities programmed, Watch TV, Listen to Music, Watch a Movie, and Play the Wii. Boom. The activity set up routine (if you have standard components and they are in the database is a snap). The minuses of the remote...while few really are around feel. It feels cheap! With the exception of the channel change and volume change buttons (both are bi-directional rocker designs that feel firm and positive) the rest of the buttons just strike me as cheap.
AR Xsight
I bought this as a cheaper alternative to a Harmony product and already knew that programming this thing was not nearly as smooth as what I had just experienced on the Harmony. I actually had to learn each button sequence for the UMC-1 when I originally programmed it. The buttons feel more firm and positive across the remote. What I would learn over the next 45 minutes while trying to set it up for the upstairs was...well the telling moments. I have a fairly standard Yamaha receiver (RX-V557) upstairs which the UMC-1 replaced. NOT IN AR's database..wha..wha..wha...what? Grr. Ok..calm down skip to the cable box....Pace RNG110 standard Comcast issue. NOT IN AR's database. Already catching flack from the family as I tested codes trying to find an alternative that would work...I boxed it up and put it away.
There you have it...if you want easy and working with out learning each keystroke...Harmony is your bag. As an aside...I have tried to find contact info or some way to get the UMC-1 codes from the .pdf file at Emotiva to AR to load. I can find no way to contact them. Their site has no customer service links or even a "Contact Us" spot. I know that Harmony will actually talk to and respond to their customers based on posts on this forum.
Additional Harmony Fetaures to Like!
1. Dedicated buttons for "watch TV" and "Listen to music" activites as well as button to call "Other Activities" onto the screen. NICE feature. The AR requires entering the activities menu on the screen before choosing one.
2. The Harmony seamlessly integrates individual device control with the Activities functions. Upon executing an activity a screen button lights labeled "Device". Pushing this gives you a menu listing your individual devices. Choosing one gives you full control of that device. Upon entering a device (from the activity) you get another screen button to return to your activity. This is so incredibly handy I can't believe it! With the AR remote busting out to a device busts out of the activity. PERIOD. You have to re-enter the activity from the beginning shielding the IR output so you don't toggle everything (mostly turning stuff off). Great feature!
Harmony has a new fan!
