Harmony 525

$anch3z · 8 Feb 2006 at 23:55

i got this remote today and just thought i'd do a quick post about it as i have so far found it to be exellent. Incredibly easy to set up and all done through the harmony members page, i think i was ready to go after 25mins max. I have full control of my Samsung 32' LCD TV, Denon AV receiver, Cambridge Audio CD, Dk Digital DVD, Xbox 360 and my Telewest Pace set top box.

I was initially a bit worried about going for this version and contemplating the more expensive 885, however after reading through some useful stuff over at av forums i took the plunge. Saved nearly £100 for the sake of a colour lcd screen on the remote and a few other minor sacrifices.

Only gripe being the sensivity control between the remote and the Pace box but that problem was easily solved by altering the sensitivity. This is my first all in one remote and i really expected this to be a right pain to set up. Awesome bit of kit and am able to put away 5 remotes...added bonus - its so simple to use even the missus sussed it :cool:

pinkaardvark · 9 Feb 2006 at 01:11

I have to say the design of the 525 is 100% more sexy than the other ones which all look like those dreadful NTL digital remotes *Shudders*

I have been patiently waiting for the 895 for a while but I may just get a 525 to tide me over and keep it if it's up to scratch. I want one to do pretty much the same as you with sky+ instead of telewest.

DRZ · 9 Feb 2006 at 04:11

When you say it has control over your Denon AV amp, can it control every single feature that the Denon remote can, without resorting to huge amounts of fuss to get it all programmed in?

Only reason I ask is that when I had a Denon 2805, the remote was rather hefty with rather a lot of buttons that changed use depending on what you were doing with it - a nightmare should you lose the remote!

pinkaardvark · 9 Feb 2006 at 10:58

DRZ said:
When you say it has control over your Denon AV amp, can it control every single feature that the Denon remote can, without resorting to huge amounts of fuss to get it all programmed in?

Only reason I ask is that when I had a Denon 2805, the remote was rather hefty with rather a lot of buttons that changed use depending on what you were doing with it - a nightmare should you lose the remote!

My 1906 is the same but most of them are for multi device control as there's a load of switches to change between TV, STB etc etc. I never use much more than change source buttons and up and down volume as well as on and off lol

pinkaardvark · 9 Feb 2006 at 12:00

pinkaardvark said:
I have been patiently waiting for the 895 for a while but I may just get a 525 to tide me over and keep it if it's up to scratch. I want one to do pretty much the same as you with sky+ instead of telewest.

Just ordered a 525 couldn't resist at only £49

$anch3z · 9 Feb 2006 at 17:48

Good move you wont regret it

re: denon amp: It has most if not all of the options for the amp under a device screen...well 23 pages of 4 options of them for the 1906. £49 is a good price was that delivered?

Shimmyhill · 9 Feb 2006 at 18:06

Ive been using a Harmony for ages now, i dont like pronto's and the Harmony has been ok.

I use it for basic controls of Denon Amp, Sky+, DVD + video player. For basics its fantastic. When you need to get down and dirty then its not so good. For this iuse the original remotes.

In Summary - as a day to day remote for multiple devices its fantastic, for setup its useless. Also Harmony support via email + phone is fantastic !!

Btw - have they released the White 525 here yet ??

pinkaardvark · 10 Feb 2006 at 06:13

$anch3z said:
Good move you wont regret it re: denon amp: It has most if not all of the options for the amp under a device screen...well 23 pages of 4 options of them for the 1906. £49 is a good price was that delivered?

No it was 4.99 del on top, but I was ordering other stuff like a USB hub as well so not so bad. SHould have it today if citylink do their job

JET_PILOT · 10 Feb 2006 at 14:26

Just got myself one of these, should be here in the morning (just had email saying it has been sent via special delivery)

Hopefully will be easy enough to set up

Scope · 11 Feb 2006 at 08:45

I understand there are 2 types of remote IR signals being used? For example, it was impossible for me to control my xbox and NTL cable box using my current universal control due to them using a different type of signal (not even able to learn the commands)..

Does the 525 support both of these type? Has anybody been able to control an xbox (not 360) or NTL (old pace) box?

MrM3 · 11 Feb 2006 at 08:53

Scope said:
I understand there are 2 types of remote IR signals being used? For example, it was impossible for me to control my xbox and NTL cable box using my current universal control due to them using a different type of signal (not even able to learn the commands)..

Does the 525 support both of these type? Has anybody been able to control an xbox (not 360) or NTL (old pace) box?

you can do a trial run and see if your unit is listed maybe?

http://www.logitech.com/promotions/promo.cfm?countryid=18&languageid=1&contentid=8788

MrM3 · 11 Feb 2006 at 08:53

JET_PILOT said:
Just got myself one of these, should be here in the morning (just had email saying it has been sent via special delivery)

Hopefully will be easy enough to set up

there is a learning curve...

MrM3 · 11 Feb 2006 at 08:55

Shimmyhill said:
Btw - have they released the White 525 here yet ??

in the states for the 360 ... if that is the one you mean?

Scope · 11 Feb 2006 at 08:56

Scope said:
I understand there are 2 types of remote IR signals being used? For example, it was impossible for me to control my xbox and NTL cable box using my current universal control due to them using a different type of signal (not even able to learn the commands)..

Does the 525 support both of these type? Has anybody been able to control an xbox (not 360) or NTL (old pace) box?

I found the answer on the Logitech website:

Pace Cable Boxes (mainly used in the UK)
Pace cable boxes use an infrared protocol called IRDa. Only the 800 series of Harmony remotes can send these infrared commands.

So it seems it wont work with the NTL cable box.. Shame.. I thought the Xbox used the same protocol, so that probably wont work either.

$anch3z · 11 Feb 2006 at 10:30

It controls my pace telewest box abeit a little slowly....i think i need to tune the response times more

pinkaardvark · 11 Feb 2006 at 12:42

It works fine on my xbox 360 and Pace 3100 sky+ box.

Big problem i'm having with it is it won't do the input signals for my TV properly. Well it will but the software setup is so nasty that it won't let me change it so it sends an IR signal to switch input seems to think my TV has only one input called video despite having all the individual comands on another screen.

Good remote infuriating and slow setup.. if it works first fine, but changing stuff is a mare and I'll have to phone support I think.

$anch3z · 12 Feb 2006 at 17:21

I phoned the support line yesterday and got a vry friendly and helpful guy who managed to iron out the niggleing glitches

pinkaardvark · 13 Feb 2006 at 00:22

I managed to sort it out myself this morning. I can only guess that something was screwed with there server the previous night I was trying it.

Shimmyhill · 13 Feb 2006 at 09:12

MrM3 said:
in the states for the 360 ... if that is the one you mean?

Thats the one i mean, i wondered if it was over here yet but it appears not.

Just a headsup - the software works really well on a Mac now, i tried it ages ago and the mac software barely worked. been using on a pc for a while but then all of a sudden i couldnt sign in so i gave up 'tweaking' my settings. Tried the mac software again and it works a charm now