Harmony 670

I am interested in the Harmony 670 remote. Can anyone tell me how many activities can be set up on it? Also, can all of the functions of the individual remotes still done independently from the 670 without using the activities? In other words, can I use it just as I would my TV remote today to do all of the independent functions? Also, how long to batteries generally last in these remotes?

I'm not sure the limit of the amount of activities you can set up on it, but I have 8 set up on it right now. I'm assuming I could set up more on it if I wanted to.

You can use the remote as an individual remote for each device, you just have to press the "device" button on the remote, and choose which device you want to control individually. You can do this while you are in an activity or when you're not. You can select any device you want and toggle between them too.

I don't keep a record of how long the batteries last unfortunately. Maybe a month or two? That would be my estimate off the top of my head, but I don't really pay attention to it. It's not so much that I find it annoying, if that helps.

Thank you for the info.

I own both a Harmony 680 in the main HT room, and the 670 in my bedroom. They are pretty much the same with the discontinued 680 having a couple extra buttons and a slightly better layout for me. It could also be that I have had the 680 for 2 years before I got the 670 so I am use to the button placements more with the 680 though.

I think you can control up to 15 devices with even more activities. I have mine set up so when I press the PIC button I use all the buttons just like i do with the OEM remote the display came with. I do the same for the receiver with the SOUND button. It makes it easier than pressing multiple buttons with the DEVICE button. It works out very well for me this way.

As far as battery usage, I use rechargeable batteries and they last about 1.5-2 months with HEAVY usage. I imagine it would be less for alkaline batteries though. I have two sets for each remote and after about 1.5 months I recharge the 2nd set so they are ready to go when the others run out. The more you use the light function in the remote, that faster the batteries die it seems to me.

The 670 is a fantastic remote IMO, and when my 680 dies I will be buying another 670 remote to replace it, so i have the same button layout on both remotes then.

I have Dish DVR (ViP722). Looking at the pictures of the 670, I don't see buttons for the "Skip Fwd" or "Skip Back" buttons. Will these functions work with the 670?

Yes the Skip fwd/back buttons are there right under the directional ring in the center.

Logitec really needs to put better and bigger pictures of the buttons for the remotes on their web page. I find myself looking on the web for better pictures that allow easy reading of what is on the buttons but this takes much more time than it should require if they just use better pictures that can be blown up to be bigger and clearer.