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Thankfully, you can add or subtract items from an activity simply by checking a box. It made the occasional misstep, such as suggesting the Sonos Play 1 be used in home-theater mode, even though that’s not possible. In general, Logitech does an excellent job lining up and organizing activities.
#Harmony home control review software#
The only additional step is telling the Logitech software which input to use on which device.
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It’s usually correct, such as turning on the cable box, AV receiver, and TV but not bothering with the game consoles or disc players. The system will suggest an activity, such as watching the DVR, and then recommend which devices to turn on. Logitech allows you to do this with relative ease. However, the real benefit of the Harmony system is being able to coordinate them all and have them work in concert with the push of a single button. On the remote control, you can switch between each piece of equipment by making a selection from a list of devices you’ve installed. Logitech now allows you to add home control devices like lights to an activity. This can be take some time if you have a lot of equipment, but it’s well worth the trouble. To allow the Harmony system to control other devices, you enter the brand and model numbers for each item. I also had to disable the HDMI-CEC feature on some newer consumer electronics so that competing instructions didn’t confuse the equipment. It found only a Roku 3 box other devices were on a different band of my router, so the Logitech system could not detect them. I found the setup needlessly awkward and irksome the installation required four separate steps when it should have required only one.Īfter the basic installation is finished, the Harmony Ultimate Home will look for compatible devices on your Wi-Fi network that it can control. Client software had to be downloaded and installed on a PC, and then the remote control had to be plugged into the computer’s USB port to receive the update. In addition, the remote control needed a firmware update, which could not be done wirelessly.
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I discovered one caveat: It would not work using the iOS app on an older iPad 2 because the installation requires a device that has Bluetooth Smart, the low-power version of the wireless standard.
The remote control itself has to be set up separately using the Harmony smartphone app. Once that’s accomplished, you then switch the phone back to the same Wi-Fi network to communicate with the hub and remote control. The phone then makes a Bluetooth connection to the hub in order so you can feed it your home’s Wi-Fi information.
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To hook up the Logitech hub, you can use a free smartphone app. The question is, can Logitech ramp up its support for devices like the Nest thermostat and home automation gear as quickly? Installation and setup That’s a considerable investment and a database no competitor can match. Logitech claims its remote and hub can control over a quarter of a million different consumer electronics devices ( and, no, they’re not kidding) from over 6,000 manufacturers. The handset is rechargeable and has the standard dedicated up and down channel and volume buttons, so you don’t have to futz around with the touchscreen for basic functions. It has a color, 2.4-inch touch screen, and its motion sensor turns it on the second you pick it up. The remote control itself is a model of simplicity and thoughtful ergonomics.
The combination imparts a level of comfort for families who don’t want to rely on balky smartphone apps and appreciate the quick response of a dedicated remote control. You can manage the hub using an app (available for iOS and Android), or reach for the standalone remote. The hub sits on your home Wi-Fi network coordinating everything from DVD players to smart thermostats via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or IR. The $350 Harmony Ultimate Home combines the company’s universal remote control and hub controller with two infrared blasters for beaming signals to home entertainment gear. In some cases the Harmony offered more control over a device than the original remote that came with it.
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