Easy to set up but may confuse some – get a techy type to help.Amazingly comprehensive database of entertainment and IoT devices.The Hub is necessary for setting up complex AV systems.Simple set up if everything is working fine first (Wi-Fi, devices etc).These still access the Harmony cloud for all those devices but have less functionality. If the $449.95 price scares you then consider fewer featured remotes like the Harmony 350 at $49.95 (no hub needed), Harmony 650 at $90.95 (no hub) or Harmony Companion At $249.95 (with hub). If you get stuck there is also a Help feature that will guide you through any setup issues. There is a tutorial here that shows the simplicity of setup. It also supports SmartThingsSM, INSTEON, Nest, EcoBee, and more smart platforms (not Apple HomeKit yet but there is a Logitech POP button workaround) – Logitech is constantly adding features and support for various smartphone voice assistants is on the cards. Or on Christmas Eve turn off the motion detectors to allow Santa in! It also supports IFTTT – if this then that – to set up triggers and corresponding actions.įor example, if a motion detector sees activity in Zone 1 then turn the lights on there and send an email alert. While I have explored TV/AV use it will also control Wi-Fi/Bluetooth enabled devices like blinds, lights, locks, thermostats and more. It supports Alexa and Google Assistant on these – no Siri yet. Or use the Harmony app on your smartphone as a remote. Charge time for the replaceable battery is around 1 hour. One thing – you will need to discipline yourself to placing the remote back in the cradle as battery life is around two to three days. I am learning to use gestures (swipe/tap on the Harmony remote screen) to make it even faster to use. Yes, it is simple.Īfter that you can setup up to 50 favourite channels, modify what the remote buttons do (I did not venture there as they worked just fine). It is pretty much the same for the Free to Air TV tuner (in the TV), DVD, Telstra/Roku and media PC – just need to set up the HDMI inputs on the Pioneer. It has to select HDMI 1 input on the TV, Video 1 HDMI input on the Pioneer and optionally a starting channel on the Foxtel. In my case, it must turn on the TV, Foxtel IQ3, and a Pioneer AV receiver. Once you have devices you can set up activities – this is what you want it to do when turning on multiple devices to say watch TV. Save yourself time and take it from me – if it recognises them it will work. The remote then shows all the devices and you can have fun testing if it switches them on or off, recognises channels, volume etc. If it does not detect a device, it means it is not on the home network (older devices don’t have Wi-Fi or Ethernet connections) and you can search by brand and model. It even found a $40 Dgtec DVD player from Kmart – I was impressed. It detects all devices on the home network (wired or Wi-Fi). Download the app, pair the remote to the hub via Bluetooth, create a Logitech Account, and add devices. Setup is easier using an Android smartphone or an iPhone 5 or later or you can use Windows or Mac desktop versions and the USB cable to connect to the Harmony. If you have multiple devices, say connected to a home theatre amplifier or a TV/Sound Bar’s HDMI inputs make sure these are all working properly first. Micro-USB to USB-A cable (used for computer setup)Ī word of advice before you start.It also uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for control. It has a pretty good Infrared range but if devices are inside a media cabinet the range can be extended. Harmony Hub – this is to control the devices and is placed near them.Charging station for the remote – make sure you have an AC power outlet close by.Harmony Elite remote (with replaceable rechargeable battery) – this is the single remote.Setup – simple yet can be complex if you don’t read the manual If you don’t believe me click on the link here and search for your device – it is very comprehensive and if it is not there it can learn from the device’s remote. From TV and cable boxes to disc players and gaming consoles to AV receivers and streaming media players-plus smart lights, locks, thermostats, and more-Harmony Elite proudly works with just about everything. The power of the Harmony Elite is not initially obvious until you realise it is connected to the Logitech cloud (you need an internet connection and Wi-Fi router) that contains over 270,000 (and constantly growing) entertainment and smart home devices (6000+ brands) so you can enjoy single-touch control with your favourite brands, right out of the box. While the A$449.95 price may put off some consider that the value of the connected equipment may be worth many thousands – it is a small price to pay for peace! It is a universal home control comprising yet another remote control (to rule them all – up to 15 at a time) and a hub (essentially an infra-red and Wi-Fi controller) and smartphone app.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |