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Post by garbulky on Jan 5, 2018 14:21:14 GMT -5
Edit: I purchased this. Feel free to skip down a few posts to where I'm struggling with customizing it to work for me.
I want to control a Sharp aquos tv, and a DC-1 with my echo dot.
I want to
- Very important - change the inputs on the DC-1
- Very important - Change the inputs on the TV
- turn on and off the tv
- Change the volume on the DC-1
- Mute/unmute the DC-1
- I also have a Fire TV. I'm not sure if the harmony can do anything with that but that's a pleasant optional bonus if it can.
I heard the Harmony Hub is the way to go. It looks like there are different configurations.
1. Is this really what I want? Are there better options or any other options?
2. Which configuration is ideal to purchase the harmony on amazon? I don't understand the differences.
On amazon I'm looking at the $71 Home hub.
But there's also Harmony smart control $78 which looks appealing. I assume it does the same thing with the echo dot plus it comes with a remote?
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Post by garbulky on Jan 5, 2018 16:25:11 GMT -5
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Post by novisnick on Jan 5, 2018 16:28:26 GMT -5
Sounds like you want a fully automated world, not sure it’s powerful enough for all that. But it will satisfy many of your requests. The Hub is great i just don’t know it’s limits |
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Post by garbulky on Jan 5, 2018 17:35:15 GMT -5
Sounds like you want a fully automated world, not sure it’s powerful enough for all that. But it will satisfy many of your requests. The Hub is great i just don’t know it’s limits Can it change the inputs on the tv and on your XMC-1 with your echo dot? Like you want to switch to HDMI 2 on your TV will it do that? |
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Post by novisnick on Jan 5, 2018 17:39:05 GMT -5
Sounds like you want a fully automated world, not sure it’s powerful enough for all that. But it will satisfy many of your requests. The Hub is great i just don’t know it’s limits Can it change the inputs on the tv and on your XMC-1 with your echo dot? Like you want to switch to HDMI 2 on your TV will it do that? Have you looked at the app at all? |
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Post by garbulky on Jan 5, 2018 17:42:46 GMT -5
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Post by novisnick on Jan 5, 2018 17:45:18 GMT -5
Look at the app, its free, ill check what you posted |
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Post by novisnick on Jan 5, 2018 17:52:37 GMT -5
I only use the hub and alexa, not the remote
Edit: I do use my IPad for setup , its been some time since Ive used it. TIME is what I don’t have lately. Ill try to find some time
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Post by mgbpuff on Jan 5, 2018 18:10:44 GMT -5
1) Your component must be in the list that Harmony supports. 2) For programming purposes, you are limited to 8 devices. 3) It uses IR and IP to communicate with components, so line of sight (or IR repeaters) are needed. 4) It uses WiFi to communicate with it’s app and Alexa. 5) If you have a Harmony remote, the hub communicates to it with RF ( not other RF components, however). 6) If you have a Harmony remote, especially the Elite, memory is expanded to allow up to 16 devices to be programmed.
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Post by garbulky on Jan 9, 2018 0:52:41 GMT -5
Harmony Hub struggles
I got the Harmony Hub.
The good news - it's definitely communicating with all my devices. And obviously great potential. It also CAN switch inputs using Alexa - just not in a straightforward manner so far.
The bad news - NOT user friendly.
Stupid things I encountered:
- It turns off any devices that are not included in the routine. So if I set it where all it does is switch the input on my DC-1 - it TURNS my TV off.
- It turns my TV on and off before doing anything with it. So "switch inputs on tv" means the tv turns OFF. Then on. You can imagine this takes some time for it to boot up. Then there is a long pause. And finally it switches inputs.
Good god! Who thought of this?
Finally I figured out that at the beginning of any routine is a default command called "turn on" which turns on the power. And hidden somewhere is a turn off unused devices when not in use - which is the cause for all this mess.
I had to do some roundabout way to disable the power controls on each and every device = which means this device does NOT turn the power off ever - even when I would like it to.
There must be another way, but I have not found it.
Also I haven't found out how to change the volume by a set amount of units on the DC-1. It will reduce the volume - but not by much.
So far the experience has been frustrating to say the least. However I have managed to get some basic input switching commands going which honestly feels pretty expensive for what I spent on it. It looks like it's going to take a lot more time to figure this thing out. This is the first time smart home set up has actually felt clunky and slow. I may end up sending it back.
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Post by knucklehead on Jan 9, 2018 1:20:47 GMT -5
I gotta look into this Harmony Hub stuff. Glad you created this thread Gar. Maybe I can learn something!
I have surrounding me ATM ELEVEN!!! remotes! Seems crazy, but everything comes with a remote these days! I remember the first remote in my family. It was whomever my dad dictated to - to get off their butt and change the channel! First real one was at an aunt & uncles home. It had three tone prongs on it and was purely mechanical. With it you could turn the TV on or off - and change channels up or down depending on which prong got struck. The thing was spring loaded. Anyway...
In order of significance:
Harmony 650 universal remote - does the display switching - a little of the Yamaha & STB (Dish)
Yamaha remote for the A5000 - does the A5000 and nothing else
5 outlet remote controller - controls 5 outlets - strong wireless signal and works great
Amazon Fire TV remote - does the Amazon Fire Box
Oppo 103 remote - used 4-5 times per week
Credit Card sized 10 stage LED under-cabinet lighting remote - nifty item
Palm sized 'Holms' remote for tower fan
Remote for kitchen window fan - 3 speeds and reversible - nice and I have two - one in bedroom
Heat Pump/AC remote - not used much cause it's always on when the window fans aren't in operation - COLD out right now
very small remote start for my Buick
Display's dedicated remote - hardly use
Thats all of em. And more than enough. I'm ready for the Hub. Or the nuthouse.
I have found the browser based control for the Yamaha processor handy. I listen to TV news while I'm cruising the internet. I keep a browser tab with the "CX-A5000 Web Control Center" open much of the time. I'm wondering if there are any of these new gadgets like the Echo that could be controlled in such a manner? Using my most powerful wireless gadget - my HTPC. I have an iphone and those are utilized a lot to control things I'm interested in but I don't find small screens very handy at my age. I have an 8" Tab A Samsung 32gb tablet but that seems too big! I like a mouse and keyboard and a 55" display.
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Post by garbulky on Jan 9, 2018 1:37:32 GMT -5
I gotta look into this Harmony Hub stuff. Glad you created this thread Gar. Maybe I can learn something! I have surrounding me ATM ELEVEN!!! remotes! Seems crazy, but everything comes with a remote these days! I remember the first remote in my family. It was whomever my dad dictated to - to get off their butt and change the channel! First real one was at an aunt & uncles home. It had three tone prongs on it and was purely mechanical. With it you could turn the TV on or off - and change channels up or down depending on which prong got struck. The thing was spring loaded. Anyway... In order of significance: Harmony 650 universal remote - does the display switching - a little of the Yamaha & STB (Dish) Yamaha remote for the A5000 - does the A5000 and nothing else 5 outlet remote controller - controls 5 outlets - strong wireless signal and works great Amazon Fire TV remote - does the Amazon Fire Box Oppo 103 remote - used 4-5 times per week Credit Card sized 10 stage LED under-cabinet lighting remote - nifty item Palm sized 'Holms' remote for tower fan Remote for kitchen window fan - 3 speeds and reversible - nice and I have two - one in bedroom Heat Pump/AC remote - not used much cause it's always on when the window fans aren't in operation - COLD out right now very small remote start for my Buick Display's dedicated remote - hardly use Thats all of em. And more than enough. I'm ready for the Hub. Or the nuthouse. I have found the browser based control for the Yamaha processor handy. I listen to TV news while I'm cruising the internet. I keep a browser tab with the "CX-A5000 Web Control Center" open much of the time. I'm wondering if there are any of these new gadgets like the Echo that could be controlled in such a manner? Using my most powerful wireless gadget - my HTPC. I have an iphone and those are utilized a lot to control things I'm interested in but I don't find small screens very handy at my age. I have an 8" Tab A Samsung 32gb tablet but that seems too big! I like a mouse and keyboard and a 55" display. Hi Jones, I'll tell you where I'm at and then in the next post, I believe I have something of a solution for your situation. Well, now I'm a little more calm after my initial dismay. I finally figured out somethings that work. After I checked that "these devices have no power buttons" setting I was able to get to doing what I really wanted it to do. So right now, I figured out a few things. The echo dot has two different skills - harmony - which is the basic. With this I was able to sync up the alexa. It puts the custom activities I made in to the "scenes" section. After that, all I say is "turn on "name of scene". The names I'm still working on so they may not make sense but you get the gist. So I've got it where I say "Alexa, turn on computer" the tv switches to the correct HDMI channel which my computer is hooked up to. Then it changes the input on my DC-1 remote. "Turn on (brand of tv) mode" tv switches to my primary viewing input which is the fire tv. The firetv automatically detects that it was switched to using the HDMI sync feature and turns itself on. Then the DC-1 gets switched to the correct input. "Turn on blu ray mode" - You get the idea - switches the tv input and dc-1 input. Other things I found it does - turn up the volume. It does so. But only by a few units. Since the DC-1 goes by a 0.25 db adjustment or something, this means it gets turned up barely any. So you can say turn up the volume by 20 units and then the volume change is more noticeable. The Harmony second hub skill allows you to change the default "turn up the volume to whatever scale you want within 20 units" so you're not constantly saying "by 20 units". It's still not quite as much as I would have liked but it is usable. "Alexa mute." Mutes the DC-1. "Alexa unmute" = you get the idea. So this is great because that's why I bought the Harmony. To do just that. Now I have to figure out how to make it turn on and off the devices without causing a big mess. I'm sure it's possible, I just have to figure it out. |
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Post by garbulky on Jan 9, 2018 1:50:26 GMT -5
I gotta look into this Harmony Hub stuff. Glad you created this thread Gar. Maybe I can learn something! I have surrounding me ATM ELEVEN!!! remotes! Seems crazy, but everything comes with a remote these days! I remember the first remote in my family. It was whomever my dad dictated to - to get off their butt and change the channel! First real one was at an aunt & uncles home. It had three tone prongs on it and was purely mechanical. With it you could turn the TV on or off - and change channels up or down depending on which prong got struck. The thing was spring loaded. Anyway... In order of significance: Harmony 650 universal remote - does the display switching - a little of the Yamaha & STB (Dish) Yamaha remote for the A5000 - does the A5000 and nothing else 5 outlet remote controller - controls 5 outlets - strong wireless signal and works great Amazon Fire TV remote - does the Amazon Fire Box Oppo 103 remote - used 4-5 times per week Credit Card sized 10 stage LED under-cabinet lighting remote - nifty item Palm sized 'Holms' remote for tower fan Remote for kitchen window fan - 3 speeds and reversible - nice and I have two - one in bedroom Heat Pump/AC remote - not used much cause it's always on when the window fans aren't in operation - COLD out right now very small remote start for my Buick Display's dedicated remote - hardly use Thats all of em. And more than enough. I'm ready for the Hub. Or the nuthouse. I have found the browser based control for the Yamaha processor handy. I listen to TV news while I'm cruising the internet. I keep a browser tab with the "CX-A5000 Web Control Center" open much of the time. I'm wondering if there are any of these new gadgets like the Echo that could be controlled in such a manner? Using my most powerful wireless gadget - my HTPC. I have an iphone and those are utilized a lot to control things I'm interested in but I don't find small screens very handy at my age. I have an 8" Tab A Samsung 32gb tablet but that seems too big! I like a mouse and keyboard and a 55" display. So if you combine the echo dot the harmony and some smart devices, you get a powerful yet simple voice control. So for instance, I use smart plugs. They used to cost $5 if you buy an echo dot with it for a total of $35 but those smart plugs were bulky - though they were capable of 15 A throughput (TP-link). With these you just shove them in your outlet and then plug whatever device you have like 15 LED's or your fan right in to it. The smart plug will turn the power on and off. Simple but surprisingly powerful. So in the case of your fan - you set it at the speed you want and leave it turned on. Then you plug in to the smart switch. Then you say "Alexa turn on the fan." Voila your fan turns on. Now it won't CHANGE the speed. But if what you really want is some blowing, this will do it. Same for the lights. "Alexa, turn on the leds" and it will turn the LED's off. Thermostat - I got this fantastic and reasonably priced unit [urlhttps://www.amazon.com/Sensi-Smart-Thermostat-UP500W-Amazon/dp/B00HHE6CW2/[/url] What's great about it is 1. It's $90 2. It works with old houses without the c wire. It runs the wireless on 2 AA batteries and I can tell you right now that it has gone about two and half months without draining the AA batteries on wifi. I think it still says it's full. Impressive. 3. "Alexa set the thermo stat to cool. Or Alexa "set temperature to 68. Or Alexa turn off the heat. Yes it's fantastic to just say it and your AC stops freezing you. The Harmony hub - though I do have my reservations due to the usability should enable you to both turn up the volume and change inputs on both your Yamaha and your tv. Basically it's your Harmony remote turned up to "automatic". You can get the hub WITH the universal remote. And I believe you can set the routines to numbers too. But it integrates with alexa so you can just tell her to do what I mentioned in my previous post. Though I have not tried it yet with my Blu ray player controls - it should also let you control your Oppo's basic functions by voice. I DO know the Oppo is supported. There is a page where you can check if your devices are supported on the Logitech Harmony website. As for the remote start - I got no clue how that works. Hope this helps. |
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Post by flamingeye on Jan 9, 2018 9:53:40 GMT -5
you have to first use the harmony app to setup your commands/micros for the hub once you have everything set for each component and command - like watch TV - turn on TV turn of AVR use TV volume , watch movies - turn on TV use input HDMI 1 turn on AVR use AVR for volume up down use output HDMI 1 turn on Blu-ray player use HDMI 1 output turn off CD player , play music etc.. to your liking then you connect you dot to the hub , but you do have to set up each and every command - the harmony app does have some of the steps per -configured once you tell it what components you have but you should go through all the setups to make sure it's how you want everything and check it twice on the app and in how it works on your gear before closing the harmony app. hope this helps I'm not great with explaining things
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Post by garbulky on Jan 9, 2018 10:06:46 GMT -5
you have to first use the harmony app to setup your commands/micros for the hub once you have everything set for each component and command - like watch TV - turn on TV turn of AVR use TV volume , watch movies - turn on TV use input HDMI 1 turn on AVR use AVR for volume up down use output HDMI 1 turn on Blu-ray player use HDMI 1 output turn off CD player , play music etc.. to your liking then you connect you dot to the hub , but you do have to set up each and every command - the harmony app does have some of the steps per -configured once you tell it what components you have but you should go through all the setups to make sure it's how you want everything and check it twice on the app and in how it works on your gear before closing the harmony app. hope this helps I'm not great with explaining things I think this is where I'm at - figuring out the customizations. I figured out how to switch inputs on both my tv and dac in to one routine. But I haven't figured out a routine to do volume up or down. I mean I figured how to say "volume up" and it increases the volume. But I wonder if there is a way to do a routine which includes that? Reason I say is that I set the scale of the volume up command to the max 20 units/steps. But that only marginally increases the volume for the DC-1 because it has so many steps - it goes in 0.25 db steps. So I'm looking to do a routine that does "3 volume up" and call it something like "loudness mode". That way I get 60 units increase which is usually what I'm looking for. |
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Post by millst on Jan 9, 2018 12:05:17 GMT -5
I disagree. Logitech makes some of the most user-friendly remotes out there, but you do need to take some time to learn the ins/outs of programming it. Once that is done, it should work quite smoothly (just have to get over the initial learning curve). Also, be prepared to spend time here and there to tweak things the next few weeks after initial config and any time you make changes to your hardware setup. If you want to leave a certain device on all the time: support.myharmony.com/en-us/changing-when-a-device-powers-on-or-offIf you want to prevent the activity from adjusting power: support.logitech.com/en_us/article/12372One key thing when choosing hardware: avoid devices that don't have direct buttons for inputs. If you have to use a popup menu to select an input, it almost always works poorly with a universal remote. -tm The bad news - NOT user friendly. Stupid things I encountered: - It turns off any devices that are not included in the routine. So if I set it where all it does is switch the input on my DC-1 - it TURNS my TV off. |
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Post by adaboy on Jan 9, 2018 12:17:51 GMT -5
Harmony Hub struggles I got the Harmony Hub. The good news - it's definitely communicating with all my devices. And obviously great potential. It also CAN switch inputs using Alexa - just not in a straightforward manner so far. The bad news - NOT user friendly. Stupid things I encountered: - It turns off any devices that are not included in the routine. So if I set it where all it does is switch the input on my DC-1 - it TURNS my TV off. - It turns my TV on and off before doing anything with it. So "switch inputs on tv" means the tv turns OFF. Then on. You can imagine this takes some time for it to boot up. Then there is a long pause. And finally it switches inputs. Good god! Who thought of this? Finally I figured out that at the beginning of any routine is a default command called "turn on" which turns on the power. And hidden somewhere is a turn off unused devices when not in use - which is the cause for all this mess. I had to do some roundabout way to disable the power controls on each and every device = which means this device does NOT turn the power off ever - even when I would like it to. There must be another way, but I have not found it. Also I haven't found out how to change the volume by a set amount of units on the DC-1. It will reduce the volume - but not by much. So far the experience has been frustrating to say the least. However I have managed to get some basic input switching commands going which honestly feels pretty expensive for what I spent on it. It looks like it's going to take a lot more time to figure this thing out. This is the first time smart home set up has actually felt clunky and slow. I may end up sending it back. You can adjust power settings so that it doesn't turn off your devices. Also it shouldn't turn off devices just to switch inputs. I set these up for clients all the time. Lets walk through it later today. |
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Post by garbulky on Jan 9, 2018 12:45:49 GMT -5
I disagree. Logitech makes some of the most user-friendly remotes out there, but you do need to take some time to learn the ins/outs of programming it. Once that is done, it should work quite smoothly (just have to get over the initial learning curve). Also, be prepared to spend time here and there to tweak things the next few weeks after initial config and any time you make changes to your hardware setup. If you want to leave a certain device on all the time: support.myharmony.com/en-us/changing-when-a-device-powers-on-or-offIf you want to prevent the activity from adjusting power: support.logitech.com/en_us/article/12372One key thing when choosing hardware: avoid devices that don't have direct buttons for inputs. If you have to use a popup menu to select an input, it almost always works poorly with a universal remote. -tm The bad news - NOT user friendly. Stupid things I encountered: - It turns off any devices that are not included in the routine. So if I set it where all it does is switch the input on my DC-1 - it TURNS my TV off. You are right about the learning curve - a bit steep. But I'm willing to try to put in the legwork. Okay the steps in this url support.logitech.com/en_us/article/12372 reflects steps that aren't actually there in the harmony app. Maybe it's an old version of the help guide. This url is more useful. support.logitech.com/en_us/article/12372[/quote] Unfortunately it also has the options changed so that it no longer reflects what's in the harmony app. So the only one that works is the option on my app that says "this device has no power buttons". But what that does is that then I can no longer actually power it on and off if I want to. There are other options there that could be a lot more useful - like only use power buttons when told to. But then it goes to a second screen that says does your device use one or two buttons for power. Then whatever option I select it takes me to another screen where I have to enter power commands which is where I get stuck. |
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Post by garbulky on Jan 9, 2018 12:47:02 GMT -5
Harmony Hub struggles I got the Harmony Hub. The good news - it's definitely communicating with all my devices. And obviously great potential. It also CAN switch inputs using Alexa - just not in a straightforward manner so far. The bad news - NOT user friendly. Stupid things I encountered: - It turns off any devices that are not included in the routine. So if I set it where all it does is switch the input on my DC-1 - it TURNS my TV off. - It turns my TV on and off before doing anything with it. So "switch inputs on tv" means the tv turns OFF. Then on. You can imagine this takes some time for it to boot up. Then there is a long pause. And finally it switches inputs. Good god! Who thought of this? Finally I figured out that at the beginning of any routine is a default command called "turn on" which turns on the power. And hidden somewhere is a turn off unused devices when not in use - which is the cause for all this mess. I had to do some roundabout way to disable the power controls on each and every device = which means this device does NOT turn the power off ever - even when I would like it to. There must be another way, but I have not found it. Also I haven't found out how to change the volume by a set amount of units on the DC-1. It will reduce the volume - but not by much. So far the experience has been frustrating to say the least. However I have managed to get some basic input switching commands going which honestly feels pretty expensive for what I spent on it. It looks like it's going to take a lot more time to figure this thing out. This is the first time smart home set up has actually felt clunky and slow. I may end up sending it back. You can adjust power settings so that it doesn't turn off your devices. Also it shouldn't turn off devices just to switch inputs. I set these up for clients all the time. Lets walk through it later today. This sounds great adaboy! Can't do later today but I will get with ya! |
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Post by LuisV on Jan 9, 2018 13:01:51 GMT -5
Maybe a couple of screenshots will help. Within the desktop app, under customize activity and device power settings you can make changes based on your needs.   support.myharmony.com/en-us/harmony-experience-with-amazon-alexaI have been using the Harmony Ultimate Home along with an Echo dot without issue for a while now. Integration with Lutron Caseta, Nest, and TP-Link have been flawless. |
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