Love this thing so much, thought i'd put a review out there............


Components

• Panasonic TV
• Sony PS3
• Foxtel IQHD
• Yamaha AVR

Activities

• "Watch Foxtel" [Foxtel - satellite - tuner]
• "Play PS3/Blu-ray"
• "Watch TV (FTA HD)" [TV tuner]
• "Listen to Music (Streaming)"
• "Listen to Music (Tuner)"

Setup...
HUB placement: All devices bar the TV (rarely worked) responded to the HUB. So the IR Booster was needed....

http://imgur.com/qXu9g84

IR Booster placement: TV responds every time with the Booster placed just beneath/in front of the TV....

http://imgur.com/Le3PGyo

HT components...

http://imgur.com/LO2KnP9

Remote...Great little thing - thin, well laid out & has a grippy, beach-pebble-like feel on the underside & lower front section, as seen below....

http://imgur.com/9xPEWBb

This is Harmony's 'low-end' Bluetooth-supported Universal Remote. Though not cheap (RRP $180, but should be found for $120-$130 at many retailers), it is what those with a similar setup to mine want.

Mine is not the most complex, nor the most straight-forward home theatre setup - due to the Foxtel satellite service, to access HD Free-to-Air channels, there's a need to switch to the TV's tuner. SD Free-to-Air channels are then accessed via the Foxtel IQHD tuner. & then there's the switch to/from the PS3.

The Harmony Smart Control (HSC) handles all input/device switches easily & fast enough, turning on/off all relevant devices, whether they be IR or Bluetooth...every time, anywhere in the house (WiFi) or abroad (Cellular) - I didn't realise this last feature; due to the HSC syncing via Harmony servers, it allows you to - via the internet - turn any Activity on/off whilst away from home.

So it works - one remote to turn all required devices on & off....no worries there.

But the added benefits are in the configurable settings; You can add commands to the remaining unused remote buttons. For eg. To access Subtitles before, I had to use the PS3 controller & press 6 buttons to get to them. Now, 1 button does the job.

You can adjust the order at which components turn on, the time it takes for them to respond to on/off commands, edit button layouts in the App, add/edit gestures within the App (1 or 2 finger gestures supported) add favourite channels/logos (FTA & Foxtel) to the App..See below...

Foxtel screenshot (iPad)...

http://imgur.com/fND3tRb

FTA Screenshot (iPad)...

http://imgur.com/f8ZrbyO

Foxtel Screenshot (iPhone 6S)...

http://imgur.com/jGA047S

Music streaming is also user-friendly - I use Apples Music App/Spotify/Apple Music all via Apple AirPlay...& controlling the pause/play/next/previous/volume etc. of the music via either HSC remotes is too easy...as it should be.

In summary, it's a brilliant thing. I'm using the supplied remote mostly, but the more I customise the App (like being able to leave the phone on in a dimmed state whilst the App is running, preventing need to unlock the phone), the more appealing it becomes. Having the option there is what you want though - to use the physical remote or App on phone/tablet.

Most reviews online state it takes awhile to set up....I didn't think it was too bad. Maybe an hour to 1:20 for initial setup (to get the basic Devices & Activities registered). Add another hour to tweak things to how you want & it's pretty much set.

It can take a bit to navigate the menus to find that setting you want to change, mainly due to there being so much you can do within the software. But after using it more often, you become familiar with the GUI.

3 remotes & 1 games controller now become 1.

9/10.

Edited January 17, 201610 yr by Ralfi

Spotted this for ~$77 at Dick Smith a couple of days ago. Bargain!

Agree this is a great remote. I got the next model up for the programmable buttons (i.e. LCD touch screen). (NB The Elite is just a waste of extra dosh IMO)

The only quibble I've had is the popular hard buttons (rew, play stop) are placed a little awkwardly at the top of the remote. Also never use the gestures FWIW.

The remote handles all the syncing and FW updates effortlessly. You can tweak it using the remote or use the very good online software (either way changes are wirelessly transmitted)

On the specific issue of the TV requiring a blaster, I've set all my equipment up in closed cabinets and use the RF. For the TV I specified to use the remotes IR and just point it direct when I want to turn it off/on (all other functionality is run by the units plugged in).

Sequence programming is powerful and easy. Price is great and if I ever break my remote I know I can grab another one and download my complete setup to it in two minutes.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

Edited March 16, 201610 yr by pgdownload

I use both the one you reviewed as a simple remote for TV etc in conjunction with the more featured harmony ultimate for more complicated tasks and to control more equipment all through the same wifi hub.

JDH

Dick Smith have these for $39!!

If you're lucky enough to find them at your local store...

Discovered Paint.Net & re-did many of the Favourite Channel icons, by making them transparent...

http://i.imgur.com/pE7fjm1.jpg

I love them also. I have the elite in my HT room when it used to come bundled with the hub. I have all my gear in a seperate room and it works 95% with the bonus that the remote can control the Sony PJ in the room with me. Just bought the harmony home same remote as ralfi so I can get the hub, however I am having some annoying problems with tn app where it takes a long time to r connect and the hard remote seems to rarely work..

May be faulty, fixed the PVR problem by making it the first unit to start..still experimenting.

HT - Foxtel, PS3, Yamaha avr, Sony PJ, WD Tv, Sony blue ray.

I have found most of my problems in initial setup was the order of when the gear turns on. I have also noticed the amp on and off control when using the macros can cause some grief with sound. Ie if I switch on the system and the AVR is already on, I get picture and no sound. I fix this by turning off the amp and then using the remote to turn it back on again.

I am looking at getting the Harmony Elite, (I currently have the Ultimate  as pictured 5 posts above) with the Elite does it work between walls RF I believe, if so I am concerned that it will also start up the television in the bedroom at the same time (both TV's Lounge & Bedroom) are Sony and are on the same frequency for remotes).

 

Will it create havoc with the TV in the other room?

2 hours ago, robertr said:

I am looking at getting the Harmony Elite, (I currently have the Ultimate  as pictured 5 posts above) with the Elite does it work between walls RF I believe, if so I am concerned that it will also start up the television in the bedroom at the same time (both TV's Lounge & Bedroom) are Sony and are on the same frequency for remotes).

 

Will it create havoc with the TV in the other room?

Hang on, the Harmony Ultimate has RF and a hub just like the Harmony Elite so you should know if it's going to be a problem now seeing as though you think you have a Harmony Ultimate, perhaps you have the Harmony Ultimate One which is not the same thing.

For what it's worth I don't think it will be a problem just as long as you position the IR emitter blasters that attach to the hub only in one room.

Edited October 4, 20169 yr by Satanica

Yes I have the harmony ultimate one apologies for the misinformation.

On 19/05/2016 at 5:38 PM, Ralfi said:

Discovered Paint.Net & re-did many of the Favourite Channel icons, by making them transparent...

http://i.imgur.com/pE7fjm1.jpg

Can you please explain how you did those favourites for your Foxtel activity ... I would like to have some favourite Foxtel channels defined for my Harmony Elite.

7 hours ago, robertr said:

I am looking at getting the Harmony Elite, (I currently have the Ultimate  as pictured 5 posts above) with the Elite does it work between walls RF I believe, if so I am concerned that it will also start up the television in the bedroom at the same time (both TV's Lounge & Bedroom) are Sony and are on the same frequency for remotes).

 

Will it create havoc with the TV in the other room?

As far as I can see the Elite is just a waste of money. The Ultimate provides 95% of the functionality for half the price. 

The Ultimate does RF anyway. The TVs in question don't receive RF they need a 'blaster' / converter placed next to them to relay the remote signal.

So no havoc if you 'upgrade'. You just need to decide if 'upgrading' provides anything extra.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

 

16 minutes ago, pgdownload said:

As far as I can see the Elite is just a waste of money.

Last week I got the Elite for $200 off ... I paid $204 from JB HiFi (a special deal of $200 off).  So it depends on what you pay !!!!

Can anyone advise if the Harmony Elite is exactly the same as the Ultimate One in regard to the  numeric touch screen  pad as In size. I have difficulty sometimes with my Ultimate One with the numeric keypad which takes getting used to.

29 minutes ago, robertr said:

Can anyone advise if the Harmony Elite is exactly the same as the Ultimate One in regard to the  numeric touch screen  pad as In size. I have difficulty sometimes with my Ultimate One with the numeric keypad which takes getting used to.

Hard to say. You can also add the Harmony App to your smart phone and use that however you like, it mirrors the setup on the remote and presumably the bigger your phone screen the bigger the number buttons.

Regards

Peter Gillespie 

Thanks Peter

2 hours ago, pgdownload said:

Hard to say. You can also add the Harmony App to your smart phone and use that however you like, it mirrors the setup on the remote and presumably the bigger your phone screen the bigger the number buttons.

Regards

Peter Gillespie 

I've found it doesn't mirror my remote, actually it's quite different. I found the phone app completely useless.

16 hours ago, MrC said:

Last week I got the Elite for $200 off ... I paid $204 from JB HiFi (a special deal of $200 off).  So it depends on what you pay !!!!

Yep, same here and I bought it just to put in the cupboard so if my current elite or advance one dies I have an instant upgrade replacement ready to go ......... or just list it on eBay for +$300 and make a tidy profit

On 04/10/2016 at 5:08 PM, MrC said:

Can you please explain how you did those favourites for your Foxtel activity ... I would like to have some favourite Foxtel channels defined for my Harmony Elite.

What you need is the Paint.net App. It's able to save pictures with transparent backgrounds, unlike the standard Windows Paint App.

So then all you do is Google search for your logo in the highest resolution you can find, save it, open it in Paint.net & adjust the background so that it's transparent - pretty sure it asks you to save it with a transparent background when on the 'Save as' screen....if not, have a look around the (background) settings.

Let me know if you can't get it working & i'll see if I can fire up ye olde memory again......

NOTE: I MAY have used this guide.... http://www.mercurialmarketeer.com/2013/03/21/how-to-make-your-image-background-transparent/

------------

Another great thing about the Hub, is that it's updated pretty regularly - 2 updates ago it slowed down the response time of turning devices on for the first time & whenever you pressed a button after not using the remote for a while, as if it was in a sleep-mode of sorts. Made things feel sluggish, especially after getting used to the swift response of prior software versions.

Luckily, the next update fixed that issue & it's back to it's snappy self again.

Edited October 5, 20169 yr by Ralfi

12 hours ago, Ralfi said:

What you need is the Paint.net App. It's able to save pictures with transparent backgrounds, unlike the standard Windows Paint App.

So then all you do is Google search for your logo in the highest resolution you can find, save it, open it in Paint.net & adjust the background so that it's transparent - pretty sure it asks you to save it with a transparent background when on the 'Save as' screen....if not, have a look around the (background) settings.

Let me know if you can't get it working & i'll see if I can fire up ye olde memory again......

NOTE: I MAY have used this guide.... http://www.mercurialmarketeer.com/2013/03/21/how-to-make-your-image-background-transparent/-----------

How did you import the edited images (via Paint.NET) into the Harmony App/hub ?

20 hours ago, womble66 said:

Yep, same here and I bought it just to put in the cupboard so if my current elite or advance one dies I have an instant upgrade replacement ready to go ......... or just list it on eBay for +$300 and make a tidy profit

Yes this was a great deal ... so much for those people saying they are a waste of money !!!

3 hours ago, MrC said:

Yes this was a great deal ... so much for those people saying they are a waste of money !!!

Just to clarify, I said there was little point paying extra for the (IMO heavily overpriced) Elite as almost all of the functionality most people need is available in the much cheaper model. But, if you can get the Elite for the same cost, well then why wouldn't you?

Regards

Peter Gillespie

2 hours ago, pgdownload said:

Just to clarify, I said there was little point paying extra for the (IMO heavily overpriced) Elite as almost all of the functionality most people need is available in the much cheaper model. But, if you can get the Elite for the same cost, well then why wouldn't you?

Regards

Peter Gillespie

Yes you are correct .... the Elite for a tad over $200 was a great deal.

2 hours ago, pgdownload said:

Just to clarify, I said there was little point paying extra for the (IMO heavily overpriced) Elite as almost all of the functionality most people need is available in the much cheaper model. But, if you can get the Elite for the same cost, well then why wouldn't you?

Regards

Peter Gillespie

I actually prefer the button and screen position of the Ultimate and Ultimate One over the Elite.

The way I see it, you're pretty much limited to using two hands to work the screen part of the Elite.

With the Ultimate I can just use one hand (this is not sounding good) with my thumb pressing the screen.

With the Elite the screen is up at the top of the remote pretty much requiring the other hand (still sounding bad) to press it.

Edited October 6, 20169 yr by Satanica

38 minutes ago, Satanica said:

I actually prefer the button and screen position of the Ultimate and Ultimate One over the Elite.

Interesting. Most people I read (including myself) found it awkward to use the often used hard PLAY etc. buttons at the top of the One. In general I rarely use the touch screen - its just really handy for storing sequences and those occasional unusual buttons if required, so I don't mind going two handed (sorry) for that.

I did find it strange the Elite lacks backlit buttons and haptic (vibration) feedback that come standard with the One

Regards

Peter Gillespie