The Logitech Harmony Elite Experience: Ultimate Control
by Brett Howse on February 14, 2017 8:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Accessories
- Logitech
- Remote Control
- IoT
- Smart Home
- Harmony
Programming The Remote
Whether you use the smartphone app, or the PC application, the basic process of setting up a Harmony is practically the same. The app contains the instructions on initial setup, and if you’re using a PC, you have to connect the remote to your PC using a USB cable, but if you’re using the smartphone app that’s not necessary. It recommends using a laptop in the same room as your TV, and that makes a lot of sense especially for the older Harmony remotes, but with the ability to reprogram the Elite using the Hub, you can make changes at any time and save them.
Basically, the entire point of hooking the remote up the computer is so that you can join the hub to your Wi-Fi network. Once that step is complete, you can add your devices regardless of whether the remote is connected to the computer. The initial setup is likely the one stumbling block that Logitech has worked hard on making smooth, and the latest software version really is a big step forward in usability.
What the Harmony software used to look like
Once you’re ready to add devices, select the Devices tab for a view of what you have added, and how you can add more. You can add traditional devices, or the Harmony Hub can scan your network for devices to add automatically. Without creating a tutorial on the setup, which of course Logitech already has, when you add a device, it asks for the manufacturer, and the model number, and the software shows you in animated images examples of where to find the model number. You can also add a Windows or Mac computer, which will allow you to use the remote as a virtual keyboard, and it connects over Bluetooth.
And the new software looks much better
This step is where the huge database, built up over years, really plays into the Harmony’s favor. Harmony now boasts over 270,000 entertainment and smart home devices in their database, so odds are that if you search for it, they will already have the device’s control mapped out. If for some reason they don’t have the device listed, you can also have the remote learn the IR commands from the original remote. This is certainly a tedious process, but luckily, it’s not called upon very often.
Once you get your devices added, you can group them into activities on the Activities tab. Just select Add Activity, and then run through the steps depending on what you are up to. If you’re adding “Watch a Movie”, for instance, you’ll select what input for the TV to be on, what devices to be powered on, what input for the A/V receiver, and what controls the volume. You can change the icon as well from the standard one to a JPEG or PNG image.
Once you have your activities mapped out, you’re done. Sync the remote to the hub, and give it a try. The Harmony Elite features on-screen troubleshooting steps if something doesn’t function, but that is only for if a device is on, and on the right input. If one of the activities is missing steps, or controlling the wrong device, you’ll have to use the app or software to sort that out.
If you’re into technology, the Harmony setup is easier than it sounds. The biggest things are to know your model numbers, and how your gear is connected. If you have that knowledge, or can get it, the process is pretty straightforward. I’m not sure how Logitech can make it much simpler than it already is, but it’s definitely the one part of the usage that would deter a lot of people.
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Azethoth - Monday, February 20, 2017 - link
Teach them how to use the help button then.I had to teach my Mom that one and now she can fix her own issues.
kpb321 - Tuesday, February 14, 2017 - link
Devices certainly can get out of sync but to some extent it depends on your devices and what commands they support. If your devices support discrete codes for the major things you do like switch the input and turn off/on then if you set it up correctly then it doesn't really matter if things are "out of sync" because they still work. For example my receiver has discrete codes for turning off and on and for switching to a particular input. Switching to an input will also turn it on if it is off so it never suffers from out of sync issues. The biggest out of sync offenders seem to be TVs when you have to switch their inputs as discrete input codes seem to be much less common there.Unfortunately the one issue I haven't been able to figure out yet is that my harmony remote seems to be really slow sending the commands to multiple devices so my wife has problems not waiting long enough for all the commands to be sent. In that regard my previous universal remote with some simple macros actually worked better as it blasted the commands to the different devices very quickly.
schizoide - Tuesday, February 14, 2017 - link
I strongly suggest the Harmony Smart Control over the Harmony Elite.https://smile.amazon.com/Logitech-Harmony-Control-... (not a referral link)
The main difference is the remote has no touchscreen. It's smaller, takes a coin battery, and the battery lasts for an ENTIRE YEAR.
The Harmony Smart Control also comes with the Harmony Hub so you get the same functionality. It's normally priced at $125, which is a bit over a third of the ridiculously expensive $300 Harmony Elite, but is frequently available factory refurb (essentially new) for $99, and just last week I saw a sale on slickdeals.net for $65.
Get the Smart Control. It's worth every penny. The Elite is overpriced and IMO actually offers an inferior experience as it needs to be constantly recharged.
archon810 - Tuesday, February 14, 2017 - link
This. I have a Harmony Smart Control and 3 Home Control remotes, all purchased at around $100-130 each, and they do almost everything this Elite does, for 1/3 the price. Plus, no need to look down - everything can be done by touch.Logitech is insane for charging $300 for something that is completely unnecessary. It should be at $180 max. DOA otherwise.
alfredoh - Tuesday, February 14, 2017 - link
This x1000. Not only is it fairly cheap at $125, but if/when the buttons on the remote break (or you lose the remote), you can buy JUST the remote for $30 and re-pair it with the existing hub in 10 seconds. I'm tempted to buy a few extra remote's for $30 just in case they stop selling the things cause they realize that people have caught on and aren't stupid enough to buy these fancy touch remote's for hundreds.ABR - Wednesday, February 15, 2017 - link
+1, just bought one in Europe, but I think it might be discontinued now? The size is really nice, I mean most of the time anyway you are using just volume, play/pause/next, and maybe channel change. Programmable buttons and, if needed, the app, cover the rest. Two minuses:- Requires a 2.4GHz network to set up, and every time to boot up. I mean, really? Solved by temporarily activating connection sharing from my smart phone, but a pain.
- Flaky sometimes, especially with sequences.
Guspaz - Tuesday, February 14, 2017 - link
Two things that I'd like to know as a Harmony One user:1) Does it support macros, so that you can program the remote to navigate a menu? For example, my Harmony can turn "night mode" on and off on my soundbar, but this requires the macro to push something like "menu-down-down-right-down-down-right-menu". That's over the max length limit on the macro so I had to combine some into custom signals. I know Harmony dropped support for macros entirely at some point, do they support macros today?
2) The Harmony One is super slow at pushing individual buttons, making it very painful to use it to navigate an on-screen menu. Did they fix this in newer remotes?
schizoide - Tuesday, February 14, 2017 - link
1) I know you can create macros with >20 discrete steps tied to activities, but haven't really played around beyond that. The software is very powerful so I expect it is possible to tie them to any button. But research it first, if you don't get any other responses.2) You can adjust timings in the harmony software down to tenths of a second.
OzzieGT - Tuesday, February 14, 2017 - link
I'm using the much cheaper harmony companion with the most basic remote in my home theater. It works great. No need for a fancy touch screen remote, the basic remote does what I need and if I need more advanced functionality I just load up the app on my phone.pookguy88 - Tuesday, February 14, 2017 - link
the thing I hate about the hub is it adds a delay whenever you press a button on the remote, can you opt to only use the remote to output IR?