Harmony 880

polktiger · April 2009

I see New Egg has this remote (reconditioned) for about $100.

I have resisted buying something like this given past experience with programmable remotes (however, that experience goes back about 10 years or more). Essentially why I have resisted buying one was that I found with those older remotes you still had to keep the "real" remote for that devise to access the special settings menues, calibration options, etc.

For those that use a Harmony remote, will it actuall handle all those commands for the original device?

Conradicles · April 2009

They do it all. Buy it. Trust me. They are fantastic.

Never need to touch any of my remotes except the one for the PS3 and only because it is Bluetooth and not IR. But a fix is on the way for that soon...

Blownrx7 · April 2009

polktiger wrote: »

I see New Egg has this remote (reconditioned) for about $100.
...
For those that use a Harmony remote, will it actually handle all those commands for the original device?

The answer is a qualified yes.
I have the 880 and I have programmed in my system. A usual, the programming is NOT always an exact duplicate of the original remote.
BUT, with some work on your part, you can make it seem identical. It will require using the original remote so the 880 can LEARN the commands.

It's not very hard at all (but it can be time-consuming) and the 880 is especially nice because you get out of the habit of feeding batteries to your remote control.

I actually had the 659 before it died and preferred that one for the button layout (the 880 button layout is inferior imho) BUT the 659 is NOT rechargeable and I was tired of picking up the unit and finding my rechargeable batteries needed charging again...

BTW, if you wait long enough the 880 occasionally comes up for ~$100 NEW
hth...

Sherardp · April 2009

880 isnt bad but if you search around you can find the Harmony One for not much more. I had the 880 and though its a good remote, the One is better. If the you can spend the extra coin 40-50 bucks to be exact, opt for the One.

bobman1235 · April 2009

I have the 880, haven't had to touch my original remotes since I got it. I had the same hesitation as you, but it's really a great device.

Lowell_M · April 2009

+1 to all of the positive responses. I use my 880 exclusively in my HT and even have it programmed for the NYKO PS3 infra red remote dongle.

I have a 659 that is older and not nearly as easy to set up. Harmony has made good strides in recent years.

tryrrthg · April 2009

this will help a bit...

from techbargains.com

Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal Remote (Refurb) $89.99 w/ Coupon, Free Shipping, Apr. 7 7 AM

Dell Home has the Refurbished Logitech Harmony 880 Advanced Universal Remote for a low $89.99 after Coupon Code: EMCLRLV32 (Exp 4/13). Free Shipping. Tax in most.

The Harmony remotes allow you to control multiple electronics from a single remote via infrared. It is very easy to configure using the included web-based setup.

wutadumsn23 · April 2009

+1 again for the 880, I love mine and I bought it back when it cost me almost $200. It is a great remote that can do just about anything (except PS3, but as stated there is a fix in work for that) Software is pretty user friendly in setting it up, and setting up Macros for multiple function commands IE watching a dvd or listening to the radio etc. Def. pick it up if you have the oppertunity. Have heard good things about the Harmony One, but have no experience with it.

kuntasensei · April 2009

+1 for the 880. I'm running a semi-complicated setup (43" RPTV and projector in same room, signal fed to both with a component matrix switcher) and was surprised that it had every freakin' code I could ever want and was super easy to set up. Since you can scroll through the menus on the LCD screen for all the in-depth alternate remote commands you normally can't do on programmable remotes, you will seriously never need to pull your original remotes out again.

SuperG · April 2009

Well, I purchased the Harmony 720 a few years ago and I absolutely love it.

(Not sure if its comparable to the 880). My first thought was; I cant believe I just spent $200 on a fringin' remote:eek:...but I soon realised it was worth every penny.

You can customize this remote the way you want it. Yes, you might need the original remotes to set it up properly. But once done, you might as well remove the batteries on the original remotes...that's how often you will need to use them afterwards.

raidersrule76 · April 2009

Off subject a little bit but I have a harmony 1000 and I love it. I bought it for around 200 and I think that it was worth every penny. I also thought what the hell am i doing spending this kind of coin on a remote, and yes it does everything that the origanal remotes did I haven't had to look at my remotes since and I love the fact that I dont have to hunt for batteries anymore.

Hillbilly61 · April 2009

SuperG wrote: »

Well, I purchased the Harmony 720 a few years ago and I absolutely love it. (Not sure if its comparable to the 880). My first thought was; I cant believe I just spent $200 on a fringin' remote:eek:...but I soon realised it was worth every penny.

You can customize this remote the way you want it. Yes, you might need the original remotes to set it up properly. But once done, you might as well remove the batteries on the original remotes...that's how often you will need to use them afterwards.

I've got an 880 refurb on order from Amazon for $80 + tax, but was really torn between it and the 720 (refurb can be had from Tigerdirect for around $60).

The two are close functionality wise, with the 880 allowing for a few more groups. The 880 appears to have a slightly bigger screen too. Research showed some 880s as having issues with setting correctly in the charging cradle. Frankly, I could not find any complaints about the 720.

What did it for me was the 880 has backlit buttons and the 720 doesn't. It's a small thing, but can be a long term irritant in a dark room.

About either, don't bother with eBay. The refurb bids are going for and sometimes exceeding the same as from large retrailers. Also, I've noticed a couple of suspicous looking vendors from China peddling them there.

fast1 · April 2009

i am gonna ask a noob qns but what is a refurb order?

olilugo · April 2009

refurb = refurbished. It means either it was returned because the buyer changed its mind and the manufacturer decided to run full diagnostics on it anyway but it can not be repackage as new. or it was sent back because of a defect, manufacturer fixes the defect, run full diagnostics and sell it again, either way it can not be sold as new so it sells as refurbished. which means it was re-tested to make sure it is in working condition. Also it usually carries a lower waranty 90 days instead of 1 year.

grif32 · April 2009

I have had my 880 for about a year now and love it. It works for everything including my PS3. The only thing it wont do for the PS3 is turn it off/on which is no biggie since I have to put the movie in and take it out.

Harmony one is a little better remote but you can not go wrong with the 880. Very easy to program via your computer.

Blownrx7 · April 2009

Research showed some 880s as having issues with setting correctly in the charging cradle

No longer an issue.
Just so everyone knows this was a problem ONLY when they first came out. Logitech made some kind of change to resolve the issue. I bought mine almost a year ago and it did NOT have that problem.
That being said, the cradle/remote display does give "feedback" to confirm it is correctly set in the cradle.

shawn474 · April 2009

The problem with the charging in the cradle wasn't as bad as they were originally thought to be. It's a simple fix by yourself or through Harmony. The problem related to the battery not being seated properly and therefore not making proper contact. You can use a folded up index card to snug it in or Harmony will give you a rubber spacer to place in the remote. Problem solved.

I have the 880 and absolutely love it. Can't wait until they come out with PS3 capability.

Hope this helps.

Shawn

Harmony 880

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