[Best Buy] Logitech Harmony Smart Control with Home Hub $79.99

I am not that tech savvy but I will tell people my setup. I have a receiver, satellite, shield. I used to have 4 remotes (tv, shield, receiver, satellite). Now I use the logitech remote, I press 1 button on it, and it has a sequence. It first turns on my receiver, satellite, then tv, puts it to the right hdmi source. Then for the shield, I press another button on the logitech remote. It switches my receiver to another input, then turns off my sat, turns on the shield. I use the logitech remote instead of the shield remote. When you turn things off, it turns off all the items you want in an activity so I turn it off on the remote and all my things turn off together. It's unpaired once from my shield, so I am going to keep testing it. But so far it's been worth the money paid just to not have 4 massive remotes on my couch all the time.

engman13 wrote: ↑ Can someone ELI5 what the hub does? Does it control all devices similar to a wink or smartthings hub?

With a regular Harmony programmable remote, the remote has infrared output to devices (and bluetooth in the more expensive ones for those devices that support bluetooth input). All the Harmony remotes have three big advantages: easy internet programming, a huge database of device control codes, and a convenient "Activities" model that lets you combine control functions for different devices in one Activity layout (for example controlling the TV, a separate set-top box, and an AV amp in one common control layout).

The hub adds a WiFi network connection so that you can control it remotely using Google/Alexa and other smart home automation routines. For example you could tell Alexa "Cinema Mode", and it could turn down the lights and tell the hub to turn on the TV, and connect it to Netflix. While you can send commands from the hub to control other devices, it does not support Zigbee or Zwave like a SmartThings hub. (There is an optional accessory to add this, but it's too expensive, and the Harmony Hub isn't really the best choice to control all your smart home devices anyway.)

In addition to a built-in infrared emitter, the hub has a wired infrared extender that you can place inside a cabinet or at a better location for your devices to see it (optionally 2 extenders).

The hub comes with a small remote that's not as good as the regular Harmony remotes (no backlight, no LCD screen, fewer buttons), but it communicates wirelessly with the hub so you don't have to worry about line-of-sight.

Got mine yesterday from BestBuy and Amazon (saw it for $59.99 used). Returning the BestBuy one today.

Setup was easy, it took the setup from my Harmony One remote easily. Had to remove the tasks that use Bluray commands so it could pair with the devices correctly (that took some frustrating amount of time ugh). Once that was done - programmed the buttons on the remote and good to go.

Works great with my google home as well. Kids are excited and no more finding my remotes. No to find a proper place to put it.

Oh and agreed on the remote, the Harmony One is amazeballs, no backlight on this ugh.

devilsknight wrote: ↑ Got mine yesterday from BestBuy and Amazon (saw it for $59.99 used). Returning the BestBuy one today.

Setup was easy, it took the setup from my Harmony One remote easily. Had to remove the tasks that use Bluray commands so it could pair with the devices correctly (that took some frustrating amount of time ugh). Once that was done - programmed the buttons on the remote and good to go.

Works great with my google home as well. Kids are excited and no more finding my remotes. No to find a proper place to put it.

Oh and agreed on the remote, the Harmony One is amazeballs, no backlight on this ugh.

how did you get it to work with google home? I tried linking it but it doesn't show up

mtlboy wrote: ↑ I am not that tech savvy but I will tell people my setup. I have a receiver, satellite, shield. I used to have 4 remotes (tv, shield, receiver, satellite). Now I use the logitech remote, I press 1 button on it, and it has a sequence. It first turns on my receiver, satellite, then tv, puts it to the right hdmi source. Then for the shield, I press another button on the logitech remote. It switches my receiver to another input, then turns off my sat, turns on the shield. I use the logitech remote instead of the shield remote. When you turn things off, it turns off all the items you want in an activity so I turn it off on the remote and all my things turn off together. It's unpaired once from my shield, so I am going to keep testing it. But so far it's been worth the money paid just to not have 4 massive remotes on my couch all the time.

how did you get the input to switch? I have the following setup - TV logo for the TV + Sound Bar + Rogers box; Movie Logo for TV + Sound Bar + Android box.

When i switch from TV logo to Movie logo, it will turn off my TV and does not change input.

Any help is appreciated

Androidmarshmellow wrote: ↑ how did you get it to work with google home? I tried linking it but it doesn't show up

Once I got it connected to my wifi i went into the google home app, clicked add, setup a device, works with google and then went down the list and found Harmony and it added it for me.

Hope that helps.

Androidmarshmellow wrote: ↑ how did you get the input to switch? I have the following setup - TV logo for the TV + Sound Bar + Rogers box; Movie Logo for TV + Sound Bar + Android box.

When i switch from TV logo to Movie logo, it will turn off my TV and does not change input.

Any help is appreciated

You probably need to change the power settings of the TV in the Harmony app. You should see an option in the settings where you can select one of a few options:

Turn off when not in use (default)
Leave powered on all the time
Keep this device on when switching Activities

You're going to want to make sure that the 3rd option is selected for your TV and it should work after that.

Androidmarshmellow wrote: ↑ how did you get the input to switch? I have the following setup - TV logo for the TV + Sound Bar + Rogers box; Movie Logo for TV + Sound Bar + Android box.

When i switch from TV logo to Movie logo, it will turn off my TV and does not change input.

Any help is appreciated

I change the input on my receiver, but it is the same HDMI source on my TV. But, I recall seeing a TV option to change the HDMI option on your TV. Do you have that in your devices? For that activity you should have the option to edit the device input on your TV when you edit it.

mtlboy wrote: ↑ I change the input on my receiver, but it is the same HDMI source on my TV. But, I recall seeing a TV option to change the HDMI option on your TV. Do you have that in your devices? For that activity you should have the option to edit the device input on your TV when you edit it.

Do you have multiple video sources ? An android tv with a dvd player or something that requires you to change tv input from a HDMI 1 to 2 to 3, etc?

I bought the 76 dollar version on amazon

yurong wrote: ↑ Bought from Amazon, received Saturday. Remote looked brand new, but the box and the hub were not.
Bought it to control STBEmu on an Nvidia Shield TV. The hub found the Shield, but I could not add the hub to the Shield.
Returned this morning. Thanks OP, upvoted.

Same for me, although I have n o idea what the contents look like as I haven't opened the box yet. It literally looks like it's been refurbed and repackaged. The box is all scuffed up and faded, and there's a new sticker placed over the original barcode on the box. The sticker says "new" but the box sure doesn't look like it (and why would they put a sticker on that says "new"? It might as well say "Definitely not used"). I bought this for the hub and to replace my beloved old 650, but the lack of a screen with custom buttons makes the deal cold for me. Returning.

I also purchased from Amazon third-party seller because I wanted to use up a gift card. Big mistake! The box looked terrible and the contents inside did not appear remotely close to new. The remote was just rattling around inside and I am sure Logitech would never send it out that way! Definitely pay more to buy from Best Buy!

My order came in yesterday. As a long time Harmony user - these are my observations.

1. Form factor for remote is very good. Comfortable to hold. And commonly used buttons are easy to reach. Only real complaint is the number buttons are a bit small.
2. The set up is very easy and is 100x better than the old clunky software
3. Set up was not problem free. My app hung out on me the first time I tried configuring. Had to reset the hub a couple of times before it got working properly. But it's been fine since.
4. The hub seems to be able to reach all my components without issue even if it's sitting in another


And by far the biggest plus for me is that the remote uses RF. This solves to 2 big pain points for my TV watching experience.

- my wife really hated my old Harmony - she just couldn't grasp the concept that you need to keep the remote aimed at the TV for longer than 1 second. With the RF - she can wave that thing like a baton and it will still switch the inputs as required.
- First world problem here but when I'm wrapped up snug as a bug in my blanket - I don't have to keep my arm outside when using the remote.

Thanks OP!!

TorontoR wrote: ↑ Bought this on Amazon last week for 69 bucks. Yes it includes the hub, got it next day on prime. Save yourselves 10 bucks. And yes it's the exact same model.
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00BQ5RYI4/ref ... UCb7XJX4HJ

Did you buy from Gadget Universe? Was it brand new and sealed? Or refurbished?

AEmgee wrote: ↑ I also purchased from Amazon third-party seller because I wanted to use up a gift card. Big mistake! The box looked terrible and the contents inside did not appear remotely close to new. The remote was just rattling around inside and I am sure Logitech would never send it out that way! Definitely pay more to buy from Best Buy!

Which seller did you buy from?

I purchased from Best buy and the box looked pretty beat up as well. Debating to return.

User822657 wrote: ↑ I purchased from Best buy and the box looked pretty beat up as well. Debating to return.

If it makes you feel any better it's packaged pretty well for safety, and you can safely throw the packaging out right after you open it. And if something is wrong after opening it, you can still return it.

cardenas wrote: ↑ Which seller did you buy from?

Mega PC Mall

I received mine from the Amazon $70 deal yesterday.
The packaging and contents are new.