X10 Community Forum

🎭Entertainment => Entertainment General => iconRemote => Topic started by: JJL on December 28, 2008, 03:26:16 PM

Title: Replacing Harmony 880 with icon remote
Post by: JJL on December 28, 2008, 03:26:16 PM
Been having trouble with a Logitech Harmony 880 remote. It is a good product but has been locking up and expensive to replace. It lets you select an activity like watch TV and turns on TV, av receiver and hd DVR. I found the icon remote on line listed as the Harmony 880 killer and bought one the directions and wizard are good and easy but there is not any information to replace an 880. You can run macros to make it work but I wanted to do it correctly and easily. Anybody else have been through this?
Thank You!
Title: Re: Replacing Harmony 880 with icon remote
Post by: -Bill- (of wgjohns.com) on December 28, 2008, 04:44:18 PM
Been having trouble with a Logitech Harmony 880 remote. It is a good product but has been locking up and expensive to replace. It lets you select an activity like watch TV and turns on TV, av receiver and hd DVR. I found the icon remote on line listed as the Harmony 880 killer and bought one the directions and wizard are good and easy but there is not any information to replace an 880. You can run macros to make it work but I wanted to do it correctly and easily. Anybody else have been through this?
Thank You!

I and several others have been testing the eventual replacement for the current Icon remote.  We asked the same question.

X10's response was that due to patent and / or licensing issues, the US version of the Icon is not allowed to support activity based infra-red macros.   ???

Title: Re: Replacing Harmony 880 with icon remote
Post by: bitman on December 28, 2008, 04:46:38 PM
The icon will not let you include any IR controlled devices in a macro. They state legal reasons!?
So you cannot macroize your tv unless it's connected to an appliance controller or you use an x10 pyramid.

Otherwise the icon can control your x10 stuff run x10 macros and control ir stuff too.
Title: Re: Replacing Harmony 880 with icon remote
Post by: bitman on December 28, 2008, 04:50:16 PM
Been having trouble with a Logitech Harmony 880 remote. It is a good product but has been locking up and expensive to replace. It lets you select an activity like watch TV and turns on TV, av receiver and hd DVR. I found the icon remote on line listed as the Harmony 880 killer and bought one the directions and wizard are good and easy but there is not any information to replace an 880. You can run macros to make it work but I wanted to do it correctly and easily. Anybody else have been through this?
Thank You!

I and several others have been testing the eventual replacement for the current Icon remote.  We asked the same question.

X10's response was that due to patent and / or licensing issues, the US version of the Icon is not allowed to support activity based infra-red macros.   ???



It is out yet??!! Shesh..
Title: Re: Replacing Harmony 880 with icon remote
Post by: -Bill- (of wgjohns.com) on December 28, 2008, 04:53:43 PM
It is out yet??!! Shesh..

Last update I heard is X10 is working on difficult code to support some of the newer devices that people haven't been able to control with the current Icon.

No release date even guessed at at present. 
Title: Re: Replacing Harmony 880 with icon remote
Post by: HA Dave on December 28, 2008, 06:01:56 PM
..... I found the icon remote on line listed as the Harmony 880 killer and bought one the directions and wizard are good and easy but there is not any information to replace an 880.

I bought the Harmony/logitech 628 for my Home Theater (http://davesdomainonline.com/ht/ht.htm) and I am part of the beta-test for the Icon remote also.... So I own both.

Both remotes are awesome! But they are like apples and oranges (both delicious fruit... but not the same). The Web based interface for setting up the Harmony can be trial and error... and requires a geek. If you ARE a geek... your in luck. The Icon really does setup quicker and easier than any other [after-market theater-like remote] I've seen. Each has their own advanages... I really like them both.
Title: Re: Replacing Harmony 880 with icon remote
Post by: JJL on December 28, 2008, 09:36:16 PM
Appreciate replies from what I gather the icon remote will not replace the functionality of the Harmony 880? Even using macros to turn the components on? What would be the best approach to try and set it up? I used the wizard now I am using the learn mode and also tried to use macros to turn on the components we use the most like watch TV so TV power on, Cable box which is a HD DVR power on, AV receiver power on but I guess I am not sure where you can then start the initial "watch TV" command? The icon seems easy to set up, etc. but I am still trying to understand how it is marketed as a Logitech Harmony 880 killer? If you do not want and computer connections and a rechargeable battery I guess those are the killer apps
Title: Re: Replacing Harmony 880 with icon remote
Post by: HA Dave on December 29, 2008, 06:09:28 PM
......... but I guess I am not sure where you can then start the initial "watch TV" command? .....

I built the watch TV macro into the "quit" button. However I think it might be best to use a "screen button".