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Old 04-08-2016, 16:44
berylll
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Can anyone confirm this has programmable buttons when in Watch Tv mode? I want the dedicate a button to access the recorded programmes of my PVR. I have a 350 that will not allow this so may have to upgrade.

Thanks
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Old 04-08-2016, 16:56
gomezz
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Would you not want be in "Watch PVR" mode to do that?

Edit: Just seen the other thread about the not getting the 350 to work they way you want. The 650 sounds like it would suit you much better and was the model I was considering to replace my old 555 before going mad and treating myself to a One.
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Old 04-08-2016, 20:38
berylll
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Would you not want be in "Watch PVR" mode to do that?

Edit: Just seen the other thread about the not getting the 350 to work they way you want. The 650 sounds like it would suit you much better and was the model I was considering to replace my old 555 before going mad and treating myself to a One.
Most people that think about buying a a universal remote surely have a set top box with a recording facility? So a button to access that content I assumed would be on even the budget universal remotes? Not so.
The more I read around this subject the more I see myself spending a (small) fortune just because our hard-used Foxsat-HDR remote doesn't recognise the more modern Panasonic TV we have changed to
I have a suspicion I'm being shafted.
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Old 04-08-2016, 22:56
gomezz
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You can use My Harmony to configure the remote anyway you want it with the remote key of choice being used to access the recordings but the DVR button (bottom left of the cursor keys) is the sensible choice. On my remote I have the DVR button set to show the Recordings List on a short press and the Timer List on a long press.
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Old 05-08-2016, 00:20
berylll
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You can use My Harmony to configure the remote anyway you want it with the remote key of choice being used to access the recordings but the DVR button (bottom left of the cursor keys) is the sensible choice. On my remote I have the DVR button set to show the Recordings List on a short press and the Timer List on a long press.
I've sourced a Harmony 650 for a last go at one remote. If that doesn't work it's not the end of the world.
Reminds me of early Windows. Anything could go wrong and it would. Maybe some enjoy the chaos of so many makes competing? I'd just like three items, telly/PVR/soundbar to work together without days sorting it out. There are common standards so why do different makes not work together?
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Old 05-08-2016, 00:36
berylll
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T
You can use My Harmony to configure the remote anyway you want it with the remote key of choice being used to access the recordings but the DVR button (bottom left of the cursor keys) is the sensible choice. On my remote I have the DVR button set to show the Recordings List on a short press and the Timer List on a long press.
Not on the 350 you can't. It's why I started this tread on the 650. I hope newbies like me won't make the same mistake. To buy a universal remote that won't programme a simple setup of TV/PVR with all necessary functions is outrageous. I'm new to this stuff and am amazed at what peeps put up with or consider normal. I like figuring out stuff but come on
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Old 05-08-2016, 21:37
gomezz
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Until you started this thread I had not realised how limited the 350 was compared to even the 650 which is the one next up in their current range. That said these remotes do need time and trouble to set them up to work just as you want them to but the effort is worth it.
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Old 08-08-2016, 20:42
berylll
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Until you started this thread I had not realised how limited the 350 was compared to even the 650 which is the one next up in their current range. That said these remotes do need time and trouble to set them up to work just as you want them to but the effort is worth it.
I appreciate that and don't expect things to work without a little fiddling. The 350 is sold as the budget Harmony. But it should provide at least a couple programmable buttons when in Watch TV mode. This is probably the only mode a simple system (tv/PVR/soundbar) is likely to need/want. I only need them because the 350 could provide all the functions to replace my Fox-sat remote bar access to the recordings menu

Anyways it's been returned to the unfortunate provider and a 650 arrived today protected from the Royal Mail by just a doubled over Jiffy bag and a bit of parcel tape Saving a tenner can be short-sighted at times... Here's hoping for a result once herself is off the telly tomorrow morning.

At first it was me just being thick but I found this convincing .....

"So, as I said, I went to Fry's today and picked up the Harmony 350. It only has one activity, Watch TV, but that is the only activity I ever set up. Everything else I do with programmable buttons under that activity. However, when I went to set it up, I quickly went through confusion, anger, then rage. See, it has programmable buttons, but only in device mode, and only for the device of that mode, and no macros. I can live without macros, but the idea that it is a programmable remote with only one activity then does not allow you to program ANY button in that activity is, quite frankly, unforgivable.

Trying to keep my frustration under check, I went and programmed in two buttons under TV for HDMI1 and HDMI2. Then went into the wife's room to test it. Pressed Watch TV, everything turns on. OK. Pressed the button to switch to HDMI2, nothing... that is because it was programmed under the TV device. So I press TV, and press HDMI2, it works. Jumps to HDMI2 even though the Wii U isn't turned on yet (good). Press HDMI1 and it jumps back to Uverse. Volume up and down, good. Guide button... nothing. Oh, that is because I'm still under TV. Press cable and I can go to guide, but now lose TV functions. I guess I should be back in Watch TV, press that mode... everything turns off.

So to be clear, you can't use any programmable buttons, really, because the only way to get back to the Watch TV activity turns everything off. And there is no longer any way to stop that. Previously you could tell the Harmony remotes not to mess with the power when switching activities. That has been removed."
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Old 10-08-2016, 10:46
gwillson75
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I'm a bit late to this really.

I had a 650 for a couple of years. Its a great remote, After investigating the cheaper Harmony offerings for a friend I wouldnt recommend anything lower than a 650, due to their limitations.

I currently have a 900 with a humax freesat box, which I think might be similar to the foxsat?
Anyway, I added a custom 'recordings' button , but I have since found that its easier to just press the menu button and select recordings there.

I must say though, these harmony remotes are not the easiest to set up, but thats just a side effect of the flexibility.

BTW A good resource for this stuff is AVForums.
https://www.avforums.com/forums/home...-controls.137/
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Old 11-08-2016, 20:14
berylll
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I'm a bit late to this really.

I had a 650 for a couple of years. Its a great remote, After investigating the cheaper Harmony offerings for a friend I wouldnt recommend anything lower than a 650, due to their limitations.

I currently have a 900 with a humax freesat box, which I think might be similar to the foxsat?
Anyway, I added a custom 'recordings' button , but I have since found that its easier to just press the menu button and select recordings there.

I must say though, these harmony remotes are not the easiest to set up, but thats just a side effect of the flexibility.
BTW A good resource for this stuff is AVForums.
https://www.avforums.com/forums/home...-controls.137/
Thanks! That's turning to be a bit of a goldmine. What with reading the daily/walking the dog/ doing the fiendish Sudoku and herself taking control of the telly at 3pm I've only an hour to physically get hands on the harmony Retirement? I've never been busier.......
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Old 06-09-2016, 16:25
jwball
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Funnily enough the cheaper One4All Essence 4 is capable of doing what you want.
It does however require additional programming via the MagicKey system

See instructions below on post #26

https://hummy.tv/forum/threads/hdr-f...te.3666/page-2
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