Logitech Harmony "NOT SO ELITE" Home Theater Universal Remote!

[@BuildMontage]

So Logan from Two Guyz Tech has a soluition!! Watch my video first to see the problem, then check out the solution: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWaccphrn7qfaNk

[@superedge99]

That is ridiculous! I was literally talking to someone about this remote yesterday, and I ASSUMED that this would be a baked in feature. We NEED to know if the Pro does this. Thanks for going over this remote!

[@BuildMontage]

I’d love to know too. Pro looks exactly the same as Elite and I can’t see any differences off hand. Their documentation is quite light!

[@MrJgibo1]

I bought the Pro and it doesn't do it. Still love the device. I added my front door to lock just in case I forgot. If there is something you would like me to try le me know.

[@superedge99]

@@MrJgibo1 thanks for letting us know that the pro is incapable of doing this type of automation! I appreciate the info!

[@BuildMontage]

Dejected J thanks for letting me know. I suspected as much. Then I don’t know why they limited this option.

[@MrJgibo1]

@@BuildMontage Your welcome. I just ask Alexa to turn lights on.

[@marlonking5924]

So you had me working hard this morning (lol) trying to figure this out because it’s something I’ve never really thought about. What I did was I created a play and then a pause activity. The key to this is making sure the power settings for all your devices that were under the original activity are set to “keep Device always on”. This was when you’re changing between activities the devices never turn off. For the play activity I added all the devices and saved it. Then I edited the activity. This is where you add a step and the play command. Then you add the home control such as your lights, set light to how you want them to look when a movie is playing. Repeat the same steps for pause. The reason why I didn’t just combined play pause into one activity is because you may have started the movie using the original activity but now you wanna pause it. Doesn’t make sense to start play if it’s already started. You’ll go straight for the pause activity. I hope this makes sense lol Also now that it’s an activity you can definitely tell Alexa or Google assistant to pause or play.

[@TorinTPG]

Does this method cause the remote to get our sync with your primary activity? Also, can you map the activity to a button or only the touch screen?

[@marlonking5924]

Matt Ording Hey Matt, it doesn’t cause them to be out of sync in my case. When I made the play activity I added my Nvidia shield and my receiver so that I have volume control. I didn’t add the TV and any input settings because it’s all set to that stuff already from the original activity. Unfortunately you can’t map any activities to a button so only the touchscreen. I originally thought maybe I could map an activity to long pressing the play button but you can’t add any home controls devices to entertainment device buttons. 😩 I think that’s where the original problem he was having is.

[@golfingkote]

Same thing I suggested, great minds think alike ;) one thing that blows my mind is I have the cheaper Logitech for my living room that doesn’t have the screen and it lets you do this and map to the launch buttons (non-touch screen) so it should be a easy fix for Logitech.

[@cwhitchblu]

Great video on issue. I have only be able to get this to work with IR based light switches. Any smart home type device that works over IP is locked as you said with only control entering and exiting an activity. I have LED poster frames that I can’t add to a sequence since I control the on/off state with a smart home appliance outlet. I can manually change the state of the ‘device’ while in the activity but I can’t add it to a sequence. I have also wondered if the ‘pro’ versions allow more functionality but it’s hard to get any information.

[@brnmaull]

I totally agree with you. This would be a nice feature to have. For right now I just pause movie and use my Google home and I just made a scene so the lights won't be to bright

[@BuildMontage]

Yes it’s not ideal but it works.

[@TorinTPG]

This is a nice work work around, but pretty silly that Harmony forces is to do this instead of just letting up map a smart device to a sequence 👎

[@sr20spida]

There is a way you can do this Tony, you’ll need to get Home Assistant running. At this point you can use home assistant to emulate a device that Harmony knows how to control. When Harmony sends the command to Home Assistant, you can script it to turn your LIFX on.... Kinda complicated for a KZbin comment but it works.....

[@BuildMontage]

sr20spida thanks! I totally get it. I hacked/coded my own solution in Python for lighting on my plex server so I understand what you mean. Emulated device that is an entertainment device instead of a smart home and then map it that way. Perfect!

[@atanner4]

Umm English please you two! Lol

[@davidearl3602]

Can we expect a follow up video showing us how to do that? :)

[@cinema1356]

I can make a video for you. I have this working in my home theater (similar to what Logan did but not exactly the same). I have event ghost running on my PC. Sequences are mapped to the pause and play buttons that send keyboard commands to event ghost and when it receives those commands it controls the lights and the movie on screen. Using this same technique I can also change the color of the LED lights in my theater room by pressing the colored buttons on the elite remote! Not what they were designed to do but we can do it better than harmony! Let me know if interested.

[@BuildMontage]

Cinema135 hey man join our Discord so u can share. Links in description. .

[@dotnetdevni]

I think I can see where Tony coming from that it should be out of the box

[@AceVPD]

I brought some cheap light strips from Aliexpress that have wifi and IR control. I added the on and red to a pause sequence and off to a play sequence. They are also in my Apple TV etc start sequence. The wifi control works with Google Home.

[@waynerice4918]

I too can only dim lights and turn them on. If I want to change colors I have to use the app on my iPhone. So I just use the color blue around my tv. They're somebody in KZbin that I was watching and he had the Harmony Elite and he was able to control everything. Logitech makes a another Harmony and it's called Harmony Pro 2400 I don't know if this works better. Thanks for the video.

[@bach917]

My work around was to create a play activity and a pause activity but that only worked for one viewing device. I don't use it anymore and now use Samsung smartthings that when my av closet door sensor is closed the lights turn off from their dimmed state that happens when the activity starts. During playback it's two steps, push pause, then I do the voice commands with an Alexa dot to turn on the lights. Painful and wish it was part of a button sequence that you could add to the play/pause buttons.

[@TorinTPG]

This seems to be the common method people use - voice control. It's clunky and a needless extra step. Hopefully @BuildMontage can figure out a step to streamline this

[@spencerbigum1309]

A little off topic, but still about the Remote - Im considering purchasing one: With the Elite, are you able to hide your components in say a closet while still having the projector above you without needing to point the remote at the projector? Thank you sir!

[@BuildMontage]

Yes you can use the two provided ir blasters to achieve that.

[@spencerbigum1309]

@@BuildMontage Awesome! Thanks for that help. Now if Logitech could just turn into a real smart home solution lol

[@wardsam81]

So if Logitech are not going to come to the party, are there any viable alternatives (without going to the extreme of something like control4)??

[@BuildMontage]

Check the pinned comment! We have a solution!

[@valdeze]

I'm glad I watched this video, I thought I was doing something wrong. Thanks for all the videos I'm thoroughly enjoying them. Keep up the good work

[@WHOHATESTOWORK]

Anyone knows if works with sony receivers? Like actual settings? as in change speakers from large to small? Not jus volume up/down?

[@gary4593]

Is Amazon Alexa control would that work for you?

[@BuildMontage]

Nope. Can’t map smart devices to sequences :(

[@JasonLestage]

I don’t have a harmony hub yet but if that allows you to control play and pause buttons, couldn’t you make an Alexa routine where when you say “pause the movie” it calls the pause button on your DVD player, then turns on the light to whatever brightness you want? I know that doesn’t fix the harmony controller issue but you’d have voice control for the same event.

[@TorinTPG]

Diggin’ the Batman hat! I know we chatted about options this week. What a disappointment that there is no way to accomplish this within the Harmony software itself. 🤞 that the community can help find a solution. I’d love to implement it into my home theater

[@gamecock2465]

Can you Link the Harmony hub to an Alexa or Google Assistant? Then have one them execute the sequence with equipment and lights.

[@BuildMontage]

Yes this is also an option. We ended up solving it using an app called harmonyspan.

[@torqueofthedevil8145]

Was looking at buying one of these but if I can’t include lights in a one button press it’s not worth the money.

[@BuildMontage]

We have a solution! I’ll pin it here later!

[@nigelstead7496]

I heard using IFTT works

[@BuildMontage]

Yes but not from a pause or play. Can do it from only the start or end of an activity.

[@thomaswalker9656]

Great chanel mate! Have you ever considered Control4 for home automation. I have it on my setup and it work great.

[@BuildMontage]

I’ve heard it’s pricey - not that I’m averse to spending I just have this one thing to solve and I’m happy!

[@cwhitchblu]

With Control4 do end users have the ability to modify the setup or do you need a Control4 license? That’s why I’m hesitant. I change gear out every 3-5 years. I don’t want to pay someone for updates that I can do myself.

[@golfingkote]

Craig Whitcher there is control 4 HE software that will let you change/program your own routines but you can’t add or remove devices. The software is a few hundred bucks but eventually you will have to call a dealer no matter what with Control4. I have Control4 and it was a mistake. I still use it for multi zone audio across the house and backyard but I’ve migrated all my smart home, security and home theater setup out of control4. The Logitech remote despite Its short comings like this is just way more flexible if you do want to change things over time.

[@cwhitchblu]

golfingkote thanks for the info. That’s what keeps me from migrating over. I have bought some IR controls for my LED poster frames. It’s just a matter of finding the time and motivation to change them over. I refuse to use a system that I have to pay an integrator to maintain.

[@thomaswalker9656]

Yes, i have it fitted to my system and i really enjoy it. Love how easy it is to use and the professional feel of the end result. Unfortunately the down side to control4 is that you do need a dealer to do any modification beside from some basic things, which is my only problem with it. I would love to be able to play around with it. So i cant argue with the other comments. The biggest benefit for me with control4 is when you are using video and audio matrix’s which i have in my system. It will control every tv / project and anything else you have in any room. On the other hand the Logitech system is great i have just fitted one in my friends house for him and he loves it, I guess it depends on the system and requirements but i am big fan of control4.

[@silentblackhole]

You need to go find (Linkedin maybe?) a product or project manager that works in Logitech and get this question in front of them. They usually have the power to get stuff like this on road maps to get it done. I work in tech and that's the way it normally works.

[@BuildMontage]

Not a bad idea! Since this video we crowdsourced a solution which works really well :D

[@silentblackhole]

@@BuildMontage Native support would be nice though right :)

[@johnsmith-qz4bv]

i agree hopfully logitech will see this video and do somthing about it....

[@BuildMontage]

It would be a simple software update honestly.

[@mickdavidson3755]

Have you contacted Logitech yet? They might be able to add the features in.. 🤞🤞

[@BuildMontage]

Yes and it was a big fat no! 😂

[@mickdavidson3755]

@@BuildMontage wow! I can't believe they just said No! 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@mickdavidson3755]

@@BuildMontage love the content mate. Keep up the good work. 👍

[@cwhitchblu]

I mentioned it in their Harmony support forum over a year ago. I just got a standard non-committal response.

[@SikReality]

I wouldn't be surprised if it's to add value to a next version of the remote

[@BuildMontage]

I would be. Logitech have done nothing with this product for a long time.

[@mfkhometheater7742]

It seems to me remotes in general should be obsolete by now. We're not a device driven world anymore, we're an app driven world. We don't carry pocket organizers or pocket cameras anymore, we have one device and it's our organizer, camera, phone, e-mail... everything. So I have to ask, why haven't remotes gone this route??? What if there were an app you could put onto your phone or tablet that would link to individual apps for individual components. Your AVR has an app that allows you to control it with a tablet, your projector probably has its own similar app, your disc players etc etc etc all have their own individual apps that allow phone or tablet control. Why doesn't someone create a "universal remote app" that would link to and in effect combine all these apps allowing you to control everything without having to jump from app to app? Just like a universal remote has codes to instruct it to control a certain device this virtual app based remote could do the same thing. Many devices can use RS232 for control. There could be an optional hardware device that works with this virtual remote with RS232 connectivity to connect to those devices. RS 232 has many advantages because with those commands you can select settings that would otherwise require digging deep into a menu. Instead of needing a macro programmed into the remote to dig into the menu, one button would send the RS232 command to select the setting without stepping through the menus. In my old theater I had an IR to RS232 converter and with an old MX450 remote I could change the vertical stretch in the Anthem D2 to work with the anamorphic lens and various other settings with just one button press. It seems to me it's just a better way to control devices so if there ever is such a virtual remote with the RS232 option, I will definitely go for the option and use it for as much of the system as possible. I really don't understand why someone hasn't done this. It just seems crazy that the universal remote market is still living in a device driven world.

[@prateek0406]

Nice bit of information mate. You really made me thinking if I should buy one harmony elite or I should go for Control 4. Logitech sucks. You videos are awesome.

[@golfingkote]

Control 4 sucks if you plan to change anything it will cost you an arm and a leg. I have control 4 and I bought a Logitech remote to replace it.

[@sr20spida]

Oh man!! I feel your pain so bad. This remote is sooo close without any sign of a cigar. I can see you’re upset so I won’t point out the other super annoying issue with the Harmony 😉

[@BuildMontage]

Please do lol!

[@AwesomeSauceShow]

Could it be done with a raspberry pi to drive all the lights?

[@BuildMontage]

Driving lights isn’t the issue. It’s the mapping on the remote. I’ve done server side implementation for PLEX but I want it for all media players not just plex :( Logitech have blocked them feature :(

[@AdamMarr]

@@BuildMontage yes, but you can use an ir sensor on the pi, and capture the ir commands you want to map, like play/pause, etc, and make the API calls needed. Did something similar for blinds, since they didn't have an ir map. Capture an ir command and send API call.

[@golfingkote]

I found a way to fix this or at least a workaround. Create a new activity, make it turn on the same devices you are already using (projector receiver etc) so nothing new will happen when it turns on. Add a pause button click to the activity so it turns everything on (does nothing) then pauses. Then add your light control. Name the activity pause. You can do the same for the play button. Now you have two new activities that will do what you want with 1 button press but it’s an activity not the play/pause button.

[@TorinTPG]

Seems like might be a clever workaround. How is the response time on this? Most activities seem to take a few seconds to “run”. Also, does this cause any sort of sync issue between your main activity and the play/pause activity? I use different touchscreen buttons depending on my activity I’m using. So would have to recreate each of these for the new activity?

[@aaronman5336]

man I love you such a nice person

[@BuildMontage]

Thanks buddy!

[@diamond6256]

I totally agree. I have the Harmony 510 and everything was great, but it died today and I am afraid I'll have to bury it. LMAO. I need to find an alternate. LOOKS like we have found the NEED and just need a RESOLUTION or a person to take over Harmony.

[@briantidey2225]

There's no Logic in Logitech 😂

[@BuildMontage]

Love it mate !!

[@torqueofthedevil8145]

The Irony

[@droidzhunterz6861]

Has this been fixed?

[@BuildMontage]

Not fixed but we have a work around for it.

[@amaestre82]

Huh, works fine for me with my insteon dimmers.

[@tunintunin3417]

Harmony is just behind in pretty much everything compared to some other solutions out there.

[@BuildMontage]

We got it working ;)

[@paulmardis1512]

Your answer is Control4 or Savant.

[@zcricket3385]

Nice vid

[@MrHerrera805]

I have this remote and it never works right. Somehow I’ll get it all setup and then it will stop turning my monitor on or it gets the inputs wrong. Waste of money. The Apple remote works much better.

[@myhomeaudio8751]

hello elder brother

[@travismayes23]

if you do end up getting it to work make a video so we can see how it actually works why don't you contact Logitech

[@BuildMontage]

Sure did! Check it out on my channel - its two or three videos later :D

[@costafilh0]

That's pretty basic for an universal remote. But know we all know why... discontinued!

[@BuildMontage]

This is true but there is nothing on the DIY market that comes close... I managed to get these features working using Home Assistant :)

[@Soyanation]

First and nice video

[@iampuzzleman282]

Logitech don’t care

[@BuildMontage]

Agreed

[@reginaldnutter6613]

Control4