Harmony Remote Discussion

[LCSeminole]

I'd like to invite all of you Harmony Remote users to join in and add to this thread. I'm sure we all can learn from one another on programming these remotes, the settings, the MyHarmony software and the Harmony Hub and whatever else you may need/want to know to become more familiar with your chosen Harmony remote.

[AudioHTIT]

Great idea LC! I use a Harmony Ultimate Home Hub based remote for my main system, and I added the Hub Extender for mostly ZWave home automation. Also have an IR based 900 in the bedroom. I’m sure we can help each other out here,

I’ll start by adding a procedure I have to use now and then with my Sony TV, which uses Harmony Hub IP based control. Occasionally it seems to lose the permissions or pairing it gives you to control it, they call it registration, the common symptom is that the TV doesn’t turn on with an activity, but everything else works.

Here’s how to un-register and re-register a display, these steps are for Sony, but may be similar for other brands with IP control, also your model may be slightly different. Deregistering the Harmony from your TV will display the registration number

STEPS TO DEREGISTER
Using the TV remote
1. Power ON the TV
2. Press the HOME button
3. Navigate to SETTINGS
4. Navigate to NETWORK & ACCESSORIES (now Network & Internet)
5. Select NETWORK
6. Navigate to REMOTE DEVICE SETTINGS
7. Select DEREGISTER REMOTE DEVICE
8. Select LOGITECH HARMONY
9. Select DEREGISTER

After doing this the TV should display a code on the screen for you to re-register your Harmony. Hub. Word to the wise, if you’ve had to do this once, you’ll probably have to do it again, keep this procedure handy.

[ttocs]

Due to all this talk about the Harmony remotes, I ordered one. So this thread is perfect timing for me. Thanks.

I've got an old Harmony Touch that I stopped using when I went to a TiVo and just decided to use all OEM remotes for everything. So let's see how this works out.

[tasdom]

Currently, using 2 Harmony Ultimate remotes (one hub based) and are integrated with Phillips Hue lighting and Amazon Alexa for voice control. One quit holding a charge and Logitech states that the battery is non replaceanle. I ordered this thru Amazon and did the replacement. The remote now holds a charge like it did when new. Sad to see Logitech exiting the universal remote category as mine have been a valued addition to my systems...

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EKV70NU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[DYohn]

I tried the Ultimate and didn't like it. Went back to my trusty Harmony One. In fact, since it was a discontinued model, I found two more NOS ones and bought them on EBay as backups.

[tasdom]

Jun 14, 2021 9:05:37 GMT -5 DYohn said:

I tried the Ultimate and didn't like it. Went back to my trusty Harmony One. In fact, since it was a discontinued model, I found two more NOS ones and bought them on EBay as backups.

The Harmony One was my previous remote and was great but I needed to add RF capability as my gear is in a closed cabinet

[jbrunwa]

Using the ultimate and iPad harmony app with hub and XMC-2, the input codes are wrong for some reason when I program it. Say I want coax1 i have to set it to coax 3

[ttocs]

My new 665 does the same as jbrunwa says. It works correctly for all inputs except for Coax 1,3, and Analog 1,3, where the order is reversed. I guess the simple fix would be to rename those, if possible. Or, just use Analog2 and Coax2, these are labeled correctly.

edit: Not possible to fix. Just found this on Logitech's site: "Customized remote screen buttons are not available for Harmony 600, 650, 665, 700, and One+ remotes." We would need to "customize" the screen names, so it's not gonna happen unless there's a xml file somewhere we can edit.

[AudioHTIT]

Jun 14, 2021 14:20:24 GMT -5 jbrunwa said:

Using the ultimate and iPad harmony app with hub and XMC-2, the input codes are wrong for some reason when I program it. Say I want coax1 i have to set it to coax 3

It’s possible to document the problem in a way that it can be passed to Logitech back line support, then open a ticket with them to get the Coax issue fixed. Logitech remote codes are primarily user driven, and not something Emotiva is involved with. One key point to make is that you want to fix the master, as they often want to do a one off that just fixes your remote, though they may want you to test it that way first. Eventually however, to do this you will have to delete your XMC-2 device, recreate it with the new driver, and then fix your activities. It’s worth it in the end to have everything right, but it’s not trivial.

Edit: This is just the place to document any problems so they can all get fixed at once.

[AudioHTIT]

Jun 14, 2021 15:18:17 GMT -5 ttocs said:

... It works correctly for all inputs except for Coax 1,3, and Analog 1,3, where the order is reversed.

Are you saying if you select Analog 1, Analog 3 becomes active? My turntable is on Analog 1 and it works when I select Analog 1. I see now that I’m still using the XMC-1 driver, we should clarify that when we document our issues. On the mobile app (iPad here) you go to Menu > Harmony Setup > Add/Edit Devices & Activities > Devices > (your processor device name) to see what driver is being used. Or shortcut, go to the bottom of the device column, hit edit, hit the device you want to edit.

Here’s my page:

[jbrunwa]

Jun 14, 2021 17:00:35 GMT -5 AudioHTIT said:

Jun 14, 2021 15:18:17 GMT -5 ttocs said:

... It works correctly for all inputs except for Coax 1,3, and Analog 1,3, where the order is reversed.

Are you saying if you select Analog 1, Analog 3 becomes active? My turntable is on Analog 1 and it works when I select Analog 1. I see now that I’m still using the XMC-1 driver, we should clarify that when we document our issues. On the mobile app (iPad here) you go to Menu > Harmony Setup > Add/Edit Devices & Activities > Devices > (your processor device name) to see what driver is being used. Or shortcut, go to the bottom of the device column, hit edit, hit the device you want to edit.

Here’s my page:
View Attachment

I’m using the XMC-2 driver

[AudioHTIT]

Jun 14, 2021 17:26:47 GMT -5 jbrunwa said:

Jun 14, 2021 17:00:35 GMT -5 AudioHTIT said:

Are you saying if you select Analog 1, Analog 3 becomes active? My turntable is on Analog 1 and it works when I select Analog 1. I see now that I’m still using the XMC-1 driver, we should clarify that when we document our issues. On the mobile app (iPad here) you go to Menu > Harmony Setup > Add/Edit Devices & Activities > Devices > (your processor device name) to see what driver is being used. Or shortcut, go to the bottom of the device column, hit edit, hit the device you want to edit.

Here’s my page:
View Attachment

I’m using the XMC-2 driver

So most likely, someone had them copy the XMC-1 driver (that I added years ago), to an XMC-2 driver and something got ‘confused’ along the way.

[ttocs]

Jun 14, 2021 17:00:35 GMT -5 AudioHTIT said:

Jun 14, 2021 15:18:17 GMT -5 ttocs said:

... It works correctly for all inputs except for Coax 1,3, and Analog 1,3, where the order is reversed.

Are you saying if you select Analog 1, Analog 3 becomes active? My turntable is on Analog 1 and it works when I select Analog 1. I see now that I’m still using the XMC-1 driver, we should clarify that when we document our issues. On the mobile app (iPad here) you go to Menu > Harmony Setup > Add/Edit Devices & Activities > Devices > (your processor device name) to see what driver is being used. Or shortcut, go to the bottom of the device column, hit edit, hit the device you want to edit.

Yes, when Analog1 is selected, the XMC-2 switches to Analog 3, and vice-versa. Same with selecting Coax1 and Coax3, the reverse Input is switched to on the XMC-2.

I deleted the XMC-2 driver from the 665 remote, synced, and Added the XMC-1. Got the same results.

So I charged up my old Harmony Touch which I was playing with a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, at some point in the last year I deleted the XMC-1 and added XMC-2. This is the only device programmed into it because the last time I actually used it was years ago with all different devices. So I deleted the XMC-2 and Added the XMC-1 driver with the same results, reversed switching.

[DYohn]

Have you tried manually programming the Harmony with the remote that came with the unit?

[AudioHTIT]

Jun 14, 2021 19:08:17 GMT -5 DYohn said:

Have you tried manually programming the Harmony with the remote that came with the unit?

The Harmony XMC-1 driver does much more than the physical remote.

[ttocs]

Jun 14, 2021 19:08:17 GMT -5 DYohn said:

Have you tried manually programming the Harmony with the remote that came with the unit?

No. I hadn't gotten that far with this new remote since reading that info from Harmony, so THANKS! for the kick in the butt. Just started playing with it this afternoon.

Short answer, it works!

I programmed Button-7 on the XMC-2 Remote to be Analog 1.
Then with the Harmony app, go to Devices, Add Fix Command, InputAnalog1, Right-Arrow, Right-Arrow, Right-Arrow, then aim the XMC-2 Remote at the bottom of the Harmony Remote and press Button-7 normally, and repeat pressing it at different angles, length of time, etc, until the Harmony app responds. For me it took just one press.

Then go back into the XMC-2 Menu and repeat the process with each other Input command needing to be programmed.

edit: aaarrgh!
After programming one input, it works. The second input edit works. The third one fails! After fiddling with it for the last hour the Harmony app has crashed about 10 times, I've had to put the remote into Safe Mode 3 times which then requires the app to function without crashing while a verbose utility plays the blow by blow, which is comforting at least. So then I wiped it all back to no devices, then added the XMC-2 and the tv.

From all of this I have to conclude that it does not like to be edited! Plus, there are other entries which are not what they say they are, here's what I know so far. 
Input Optical1 = Station 6
Input Optical2 = Optical 1
Input Optical3 = Optical 2
Input5 = Analog 1
Input6 = Analog 2
Input7 = Analog 3
Input8 = Analog 3
Coax1 = Coax 3
Coax3 = Coax 1
Analog1 = Analog 3
Analog3 = Analog 1

If I have more trouble tomorrow, I'll wait till the weekend to have more fun. If this continues, then it's unfortunate that it'll need to be returned. There's got to be a better way. I never had this trouble with the Harmony Touch. My main complaint with the Touch is that it's pretty slow to react to any touch, so then I tap it again and it ends up doing two things, which is why I stopped using it.

edit2: Harmony Desktop Version 1.0.271 (1)
Copyright © 2019 Logitech Inc. All rights reserved.

[jbrunwa]

Jun 14, 2021 19:45:18 GMT -5 ttocs said:

Jun 14, 2021 19:08:17 GMT -5 DYohn said:

Have you tried manually programming the Harmony with the remote that came with the unit?

No. I hadn't gotten that far with this new remote since reading that info from Harmony, so THANKS! for the kick in the butt. Just started playing with it this afternoon.

Short answer, it works!

I programmed Button-7 on the XMC-2 Remote to be Analog 1.
Then with the Harmony app, go to Devices, Add Fix Command, InputAnalog1, Right-Arrow, Right-Arrow, Right-Arrow, then aim the XMC-2 Remote at the bottom of the Harmony Remote and press Button-7 normally, and repeat pressing it at different angles, length of time, etc, until the Harmony app responds. For me it took just one press.

Then go back into the XMC-2 Menu and repeat the process with each other Input command needing to be programmed.

edit: aaarrgh!
After programming one input, it works. The second input edit works. The third one fails! After fiddling with it for the last hour the Harmony app has crashed about 10 times, I've had to put the remote into Safe Mode 3 times which then requires the app to function without crashing while a verbose utility plays the blow by blow, which is comforting at least. So then I wiped it all back to no devices, then added the XMC-2 and the tv.

From all of this I have to conclude that it does not like to be edited! Plus, there are other entries which are not what they say they are, here's what I know so far. 
Input Optical1 = Station 6
Input Optical2 = Optical 1
Input Optical3 = Optical 2
Input5 = Analog 1
Input6 = Analog 2
Input7 = Analog 3
Input8 = Analog 3
Coax1 = Coax 3
Coax3 = Coax 1
Analog1 = Analog 3
Analog3 = Analog 1

If I have more trouble tomorrow, I'll wait till the weekend to have more fun. If this continues, then it's unfortunate that it'll need to be returned. There's got to be a better way. I never had this trouble with the Harmony Touch. My main complaint with the Touch is that it's pretty slow to react to any touch, so then I tap it again and it ends up doing two things, which is why I stopped using it.

edit2: Harmony Desktop Version 1.0.271 (1)
Copyright © 2019 Logitech Inc. All rights reserved.

Respect for your effort!

I took the easy way out, I didn’t try to fix it, I just used Coax 3 in my activity knowing that it selects coax 1.

[AudioHTIT]

Jun 14, 2021 19:45:18 GMT -5 ttocs said:

[…If this continues, then it's unfortunate that it'll need to be returned. There's got to be a better way. I never had this trouble with the Harmony Touch. My main complaint with the Touch is that it's pretty slow to react to any touch, so then I tap it again and it ends up doing two things, which is why I stopped using it.

So not sure why you’re getting different results when you load the XMC-1 driver that I’m using. However it seems someone has created some imperfect copies, and the XMC-2 may be one of them.

I added an RMC-1L device, tested every input from the Harmony iPhone App, while watching the results on the Emotiva Remote iApp for iPad (nice I can do that from bed!). Every input worked correctly, that is, when I chose a specific input (like Analog 1), the Remote App displayed that input. The only error I could find was that AES/EBU caused Coax 4 to be selected. There are two anomalies (old XMC-1 code), Analog 7.1 works and displays that (non-existent) input, as does Tape In.

I then added a XMC-2 device set and ran a few tests. Note, you don’t have to add a device to an activity to test or use it, just choose the Device and try it. I could not duplicate the switched Analog 1 / 3 and Coax 1 / 3 errors. I also checked that my inputs are labeled correctly, that is, in setup Analog 3 is labeled Analog 3. I also know when I select Analog 1 my turntable works, and it’s plugged in there. I did not check the other analog or any coax inputs, though Optical 1 & 2 are used regularly and are labeled properly.

Someone might try adding the RMC-1L driver for a quick test. Not sure why my results are different on my Harmony Ultimate Home, hub based remote. 🤷‍♂️

Edit; So at this point it seems we have XMC-1, XMC-2, and RMC-1L driver names in the Harmony database, there is no RMC-1 which hopefully can be reserved until Emotiva releases a more complete command set. For instance we know the Harmony drivers actually control the Height channels when the Back control is used, the Emotiva Remote App correctly controls Back for Back. This tells us there are two discrete codes, but no one App has them both.

[ttocs]

I just tried the RMC-1L driver and got the same results as XMC-1 and XMC-2 drivers. I wonder if the Harmony app and version has anything to do with it?

Last year, don't recall when exactly, when I resurrected my Harmony Touch from a long rest I was forced to update the software to the 2019 version that's now installed on my Mac. At that time I could've kept the devices which were loaded on the Touch, but alas, that did not happen and everything was wiped from it and the XMC-2 and Sony tv devices were added.

[AudioHTIT]

Jun 15, 2021 7:34:45 GMT -5 ttocs said:

I just tried the RMC-1L driver and got the same results as XMC-1 and XMC-2 drivers. I wonder if the Harmony app and version has anything to do with it?

Last year, don't recall when exactly, when I resurrected my Harmony Touch from a long rest I was forced to update the software to the 2019 version that's now installed on my Mac. At that time I could've kept the devices which were loaded on the Touch, but alas, that did not happen and everything was wiped from it and the XMC-2 and Sony tv devices were added.

Ok, let’s focus on analog, when you hit Analog 1, it reports Analog 3 and that input becomes active? and visa versa, A3 button gives you A1? Is yours IR or Hub based remote?