In my last post, I gave some quick first impressions about the Logitech Harmony One universal remote control that I got from BzzAgent.com.
I've had it for a while now and have been using it, so I can give a lot more detail about it. I'll be spreading this out over a couple of posts because I can tell this is gonna get long. So this post will mostly be about the amazing device database.
I spent the first day charging it up:
The next day, I quickly set it up using the software that comes with it. The remote itself plugs into your computer via USB and the software connects to a huge user-editable database of devices that it programs the remote with. So if your device isn't in the database, you can program it manually and then it'll be added to the database for any other users who may have the same device.
On that note, I have a neat story related to the device database. I own an Adaptec Gamebridge TV, AVC-1410 with remote control. It's a USB video capture device that also lets you watch TV on your computer. Anyway, the remote I had that came with it only worked for me for about a day and then completely stopped working and I had no way to exchange it because the store I bought it from was completely out of stock. :(
So then I had an idea... why not see if I can program my Harmony One remote to work with my Gamebridge? Brilliant, huh? I thought so! :P So I searched the device database and, unfortunately, the Gamebridge wasn't found. Instead, it found a "similar device" so I gave that one a try. And... it also didn't work. :( Bummer.
That gave me another idea, I made a post on CAG, that said exactly this:
I have a request for any of you who have the Harmony One and a Gamebridge TV (AVC-1410 that comes with a remote). Can you program your Harmony One with the Gamebridge remote so that it can get added to the database?
I have a Gamebridge TV, but the remote has been broken for a while now. I tried adding "Gamebridge TV" or "AVC-1410" to the Harmony One, but it wasn't in the database and the similar remote it found doesn't work with my Gamebridge. It'd be nice to be able to use a remote with it again.
There's probably a really slim chance that someone reading this has both, but just thought I'd ask anyway.
I know a bunch of CAGs bought some Gamebridge TVs and I figured maybe some of them would also have the Harmony One Remote, so it was worth a shot.
Within the next hour, the Gamebridge showed up in the device database and it totally worked!!! So that's a really awesome way to use the device database. Make a request, and who knows what'll happen? Maybe you'll finally have a replacement for that broken/lost remote too!
That's one thing I didn't like about all of the other universal remotes that I've owned before. It either had the built-in programming for your remote or it didn't. Some of them you could program manually by teaching it the IR commands, but if your remote is lost or broken, then what? You're pretty much SOL. The internet & Logitech's device database completely came to my rescue! Thanks, Logitech and to whoever that person was who added the Gamebridge!
If you have any questions about the Harmony One, feel free to leave comments! I'll try to answer them in my upcoming posts.
That's all for now, stay tuned to this blog for more!
I've had it for a while now and have been using it, so I can give a lot more detail about it. I'll be spreading this out over a couple of posts because I can tell this is gonna get long. So this post will mostly be about the amazing device database.
I spent the first day charging it up:
The next day, I quickly set it up using the software that comes with it. The remote itself plugs into your computer via USB and the software connects to a huge user-editable database of devices that it programs the remote with. So if your device isn't in the database, you can program it manually and then it'll be added to the database for any other users who may have the same device.
On that note, I have a neat story related to the device database. I own an Adaptec Gamebridge TV, AVC-1410 with remote control. It's a USB video capture device that also lets you watch TV on your computer. Anyway, the remote I had that came with it only worked for me for about a day and then completely stopped working and I had no way to exchange it because the store I bought it from was completely out of stock. :(
So then I had an idea... why not see if I can program my Harmony One remote to work with my Gamebridge? Brilliant, huh? I thought so! :P So I searched the device database and, unfortunately, the Gamebridge wasn't found. Instead, it found a "similar device" so I gave that one a try. And... it also didn't work. :( Bummer.
That gave me another idea, I made a post on CAG, that said exactly this:
I have a request for any of you who have the Harmony One and a Gamebridge TV (AVC-1410 that comes with a remote). Can you program your Harmony One with the Gamebridge remote so that it can get added to the database?
I have a Gamebridge TV, but the remote has been broken for a while now. I tried adding "Gamebridge TV" or "AVC-1410" to the Harmony One, but it wasn't in the database and the similar remote it found doesn't work with my Gamebridge. It'd be nice to be able to use a remote with it again.
There's probably a really slim chance that someone reading this has both, but just thought I'd ask anyway.
I know a bunch of CAGs bought some Gamebridge TVs and I figured maybe some of them would also have the Harmony One Remote, so it was worth a shot.
Within the next hour, the Gamebridge showed up in the device database and it totally worked!!! So that's a really awesome way to use the device database. Make a request, and who knows what'll happen? Maybe you'll finally have a replacement for that broken/lost remote too!
That's one thing I didn't like about all of the other universal remotes that I've owned before. It either had the built-in programming for your remote or it didn't. Some of them you could program manually by teaching it the IR commands, but if your remote is lost or broken, then what? You're pretty much SOL. The internet & Logitech's device database completely came to my rescue! Thanks, Logitech and to whoever that person was who added the Gamebridge!
If you have any questions about the Harmony One, feel free to leave comments! I'll try to answer them in my upcoming posts.
That's all for now, stay tuned to this blog for more!
