Logitech Harmony 885

t_aitch · 11 Jun 2006 at 21:58

Im moving in with a mate in about a months time, and between us we have about 10 remotes, and one of these babys seems like the way to go.

I was wondering if it can be used to control a pc as well?

Were gonna be having a HTPC in the lounge so it would be convenient to have one thing control the lot.

If the harmony doesnt, can anyone recommend anything else?

Thanks

Richiev4 · 12 Jun 2006 at 01:52

Hi

I have the Harmony 625, which work exceptionally well, the web site you use to program the remote does it by device, rather than by a specific computer.

I believe that the Harmony web site offers a demo mode so you can see which devices are supported, failing that the remote can learn any remote codes as long as you have the original.

Have a look here and see if you kit will work.

You can always email there customer support before you buy, I have used it twice and had a quick reply each time

If that fails let me know what kit is in your PC and I will see if its supported.

Rich

clockworks · 12 Jun 2006 at 07:25

Harmony remotes can do anything that a standard remote does, as long as the standard remote is infrared, not RF.

Toekiller · 12 Jun 2006 at 08:52

The Harmony 895 is rf and infra red.

pinkaardvark · 12 Jun 2006 at 08:53

Yeah I use mine to control all my TV stuff/amps/DVD's etc as well as using with IRMan and Girder to control the PC.

I will say that you should look at the cheaper harmony's though as all remotes in the range have the same functionality, the more expensive ones simply add a colour lcd and a few more buttons. The programming is stored in an account on the webserver so if you start with say a 525 and upgrade to a 885 you won't lose your settings and as the software is identical for all units it's cross compatable.

t_aitch · 12 Jun 2006 at 11:42

Yeah someone on another forum recommended me to get a 525 as a starter as it has the same functionality as the others just without the colour screen, cheaper too

So where abouts can i get this girder software from then?

Also im guessing that the 525 doesnt come with everything out of the box to connect with a pc, so would i need a IR to USB dongle, or something similar?

pinkaardvark · 12 Jun 2006 at 12:32

t_aitch said:
Yeah someone on another forum recommended me to get a 525 as a starter as it has the same functionality as the others just without the colour screen, cheaper too

So where abouts can i get this girder software from then?

Also im guessing that the 525 doesnt come with everything out of the box to connect with a pc, so would i need a IR to USB dongle, or something similar?

Yes you'll need a IR dongle as you say. Best having a look at girder website, the software supports many different varieties. The IRMan one I use is serial port so that could be an issue if you don't have a com port on motherboard.

http://www.promixis.com/ Girder website

t_aitch · 12 Jun 2006 at 13:24

Could i use the receiver that comes with the MS Media Centre Remote? As i want to get that MS Media Centre Keyboard as well?

pinkaardvark · 12 Jun 2006 at 14:01

Well the 525 will emulate a microsoft media remote yes, but can you use the IR sensor with girder.. I dunno. Worth finding out as I wouldn't mind the keyboard as well.

clockworks · 12 Jun 2006 at 15:51

Toekiller said:
The Harmony 895 is rf and infra red.

The 895 uses RF to communicate with it's IR extender. AFAIK, the only other RF devices it can control are ones that use the new Z-Wave protocol - it can't learn or send the normal RF signals that are used by some remote controls.