So after doing some shopping around I found a good deal at JB Hi-Fi and got myself a Logitech Harmony Smart Control.
After unpacking it and successfully connecting it up with my devices, the frustration started to creep in. And it only grew as the compatibility problems could not be resolved. To this day, I am unable to effectively create any workable solutions. The dream of getting rid of these four remote controls...
After unpacking it and successfully connecting it up with my devices, the frustration started to creep in. And it only grew as the compatibility problems could not be resolved. To this day, I am unable to effectively create any workable solutions. The dream of getting rid of these four remote controls...
...by replacing them with this universal remote...
...seems as though it may never become a reality.
After literally spending hours and hours, day after day, configuring "activities" (that's Logitech Harmony lingo), I just couldn't get the remote to reliably do what I wanted. The culprit, though, I believe is my TV rather than the remote itself. Let me explain...
The devices I have are:
- LG 55" LED LCD Smart TV (55LN5710)
- Philips Soundbar Speaker (HTL3140B)
- Amazon Fire TV (1st Generation)
- LG DVD Player (DV7821P)
The basic "Watch TV" Logitech Harmony activity that I setup uses the LG TV and the Philips Soundbar.
Now, the fundamental problem I have with the LG TV is an inconsistent input changing method - menu toggle (or menu cycle) - due to media server connectivity. Logitech has a very good support article explaining the different input changing methods, but there is no way that I know of to work around an inconsistent listing of inputs. The LG TV may or may not have my DLNA media server and / or my Plex media server showing, and there are no LG TV settings to disable them from showing or to change the order in which they appear.
Here is the LG TV input list without any of the media servers showing:
And here is the LG TV input list with both of the media servers showing:
This is a big problem, as the remote needs to know precisely in what order all the inputs are listed otherwise it will select them incorrectly.
The LG TV does have a direct input button for TV / Radio, but that simply toggles between the two. So if it is used with a Logitech Harmony activity, you'll get TV one time and Radio the other time. No good.
About two months ago, I lodged a support request with LG via their website asking for assistance, specifically seeking a direct method of selecting the TV input. I have had no response. And since then, the Logitech Harmony remote has been gathering dust on our cabinet. I'd love to be able to use it, but if every second time it is used you have to go back to the original remote, it's pretty much useless. It just defeats the point of having a universal remote.
I intend to research this in more detail and will attempt to get technical support from Logitech and / or LG (again). With some luck, perhaps this dream of a universal remote can become a reality. If it can, maybe then I can look at integration with the likes of IFTTT and Alexa. Scheduling the TV to turn on at specific times or instructing it with your voice - now that would be neat!
About two months ago, I lodged a support request with LG via their website asking for assistance, specifically seeking a direct method of selecting the TV input. I have had no response. And since then, the Logitech Harmony remote has been gathering dust on our cabinet. I'd love to be able to use it, but if every second time it is used you have to go back to the original remote, it's pretty much useless. It just defeats the point of having a universal remote.
I intend to research this in more detail and will attempt to get technical support from Logitech and / or LG (again). With some luck, perhaps this dream of a universal remote can become a reality. If it can, maybe then I can look at integration with the likes of IFTTT and Alexa. Scheduling the TV to turn on at specific times or instructing it with your voice - now that would be neat!
how were you able to add the phillips sound bar? i am lost on how to do it
ReplyDeleteHey Kenny. I've actually got this all working now and we absolutely love it. I should make another post to provide full details.
DeleteOriginally we had the soundbar connected via HDMI, but found this problematic (due to the LG TV, not the Logitech Harmony remote), so went with a TOSLINK optical cable instead and it works flawlessly.
Hi Greg. I'm having the same issue with my LG TV toggling the TV/Radio button with Harmony Watch TV. How did you manage to sort this?
ReplyDeleteHi Dave. For me, it was a matter of playing around with what key sequences I could use on the Harmony App as part of setting up my activities. What I found was the HDMI2 was a hard-coded button. HDM1 and HDMI3, for whatever reason, where not. But this at least enabled me to create key sequences that - once on HDMI2 using the hard-coded button - I could navigate either left (for HDMI1) or right (for HDMI3) from the input selection screen to consistently have my activities work correctly. It does mean that when turning on the activities it takes a few seconds, but I was just happy to get it working.
DeleteThanks for the quick reply Greg, I was hoping you may have found another DTV button, I had a similar sequence but my 2 year old LG TV is giving me problems (it has a power supply issue and is taking a long time to power on) this makes adding delays in the Harmony a problem. I was playing with the LG TV's hotel mode (hold settings button for 5sec enter code 1105 OK), I can get it to always power to DTV but can't disable the radio.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the problem with the radio?
DeleteJust trying to stop the LG TV toggling between TV/Radio and never use radio on the TV.
ReplyDeleteBut if you are able to select a HDMI input or get to the input screen, you should be able to have the Harmony activity navigate left or right to the appropriate input selection.
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