Harmony 890 or Harmony 1000? URGENT!

Seabreeze

Hello everyone, Now that my 60" Plasma is up on the wall and all the components are hidden in my closet behind the wall it hangs on. I urgently need to get a RF Remote..... I have been considering the Harmony 890 and the Harmony 1000.... Right now the price on the 1000 is very low, at amazon!!! This is of some concern to me as when it first came out it was so much more! Why do you think the price has dropped? OK so I need a remote that will work through the walls and will be very easy to work......I have read some reviews on the 1000, which state that it freezes, at which point the batteries have to be removed and one has to re-set it!!!! Seems like a pain... People who own it, can you comment on this issue.... Also tell me how easy it is to use?..... Thanks so much......

Codes20

The button issues and the horrible battery life (both charge and lifespan) would make me go with the 1000. Not to mention the buttons on the 1000 are nice and simple. I've sold many on that concept alone.

Seabreeze

codes20 I just bought the 890 from BB, made them price match to circuit city. The sales guy told me that I had 30 days to try it out. I read too many issues with the 1000/ as in you have to be looking at the screen to control it. And getting to some of the picture settings was a 6 step process. I also read that it became slower the more functions you add. So I am going to try out the 890. Apparently there is also a 890 Pro, which is Black. But BB knew nothing about it!!!! And I could not wait. My Tv is up and I have to walk to the closet to change the channel! Not TOO GREAT!!! Thanks for your help.... Hope this remote works....I have a 6010, plus a fios box and a blu ray to hook up to it....

holyhoohoo

I've used both in the demo lab at work and didn't really notice any problems with the 1000. The having to look at he 1000 has more to do with it being a touch screen but it's got tons of different things it works in there from multiple pcs to a 360 and The demo lab manager somehow set it up to work the lights in the rooms. It's really cool but i can't see spending that much on a remote. there's so many things i could buy with 250 dollars.

Codes20

I hope you got the PRP (product replacement plan). You will be using it within a year. I never liked the 880 or 890s because of the battery life and button issues. You did need an RF remote right away though.

Seabreeze

Codes20, I asked about the warranty, they told me it was 1 year with Logitech and none with BB!! No one offered me a PRP!!! I have 30 days to return it.... It came with a RF Extender. I have been trying to set it up for three hours now! Am giving up and going to bed!!!! Hopefully you will answer some of my questions by the morning....

I have Fios, what is that? "CABLE" or a "DIGITAL SET TOP BOX"? What is a PVR? When I was first setting up the 890, I was told to connect the RF Extender, except they only gave one USB, so I connected the 890 instead.... Then I did the set up as best I could, and just plugged the RF Extender in the closet and placed it near the components.

There has to be an easier remote than this? IS the 1000 easier? Can i take this back, even though I have opened it? What do you suggest.

Thanks.

DEVO

Seabreeze...have you looked into the URC lineup?
http://universalremote.com/pro/products.php
The MX850 is my favorite, and you can use any of the RF extenders. What happens when you upgrade the RF extenders is that the MRF250 or 300 can individualize each component so that if it is receiving too much data, you can adjust it down or up (this is more of an issue for cable boxes). I am no longer in the industry, but after about 15 years of selling high end systems...this is my favorite!

The MX350 is non pc programmable, and very easy to program and does about the same.

raylock

Hope you had a good nights sleep I have te 890 and quite frankly, for the first couple of weeks I was ready to pitch it! After I got a little familiar with it, I have found it to be relatively easy. You just have to learn to deal with some of the operational quirks. For example, the screen does freeze occasionally. This is a PITA, but actually, it takes about 30 seconds to pull out the battery and reinsert it. And another 30 seconds to re-identify the unit with the extender. Having to unplug the extender when you update it can also be a nuisance if it is plugged in to a difficult to reach electrical outlet. Setting up the 890 for the first time was a challenge. I didn't recognize some of the terminology. PVR, for example. I don't know what that stands for but that is where I found my set top digital receiver. I was initially concerned because I had two DVD players and some other descriptions that I didn't think my wife would remember. After it is set up the first time, however, you can go into setting on the device screen (or the activities screen) and change the descriptions. I also found that for some functions I had to go to the device screen on the remote to get them to work (changing the brightness on my projector for example) and then the volume control would not work anymore. It took me a while to realize that I needed to re-select the activity on the activity screen to make that work. Now that I am used to it, I have it set up so it is easy for my wife and I have the updating routine down so it is no longer a hassle. I think the major difference between the 890 and the 1000 is just the presentation. The 1000 has the touch screen. I think that would be a hassle and I like the fact that the 890 fits in my hand just like the 7 or 8 remotes it replaces

The one real problem with the 890 (and I assume the 1000) is that the IR extenders do not stick to your equipment with any authority. They constantly drop off and you are left wondering why the darn remote doesn't work. If you keep the unit and if you are going to use the extender transmitters, call customer service and have them send you some sticky boots. These will keep the little transmitters attached.

Good luck. Hope maybe some of this helps.

Ra

DEVO

The trick for keeping emitters stuck to your components is to use a glue gun. I always just took the glue and a lighter to get it moist then got where the IR sensor is, then stuck the repeater to it.
Stock stickers never maintain their stickiness.

fkjr2

I own the 890 Pro - Crutchfield - I can't see using a touchscreen - I need hard buttons - thats just me

danboyd

I just switched from a pronto Pro TSU7500 (screen Failed )
It is not as easy to set up, cannot add extra buttons to a device (page 1) as easy as the pronto but it seems to work, i have 30 days to try and if not I will return it
I need to make a PVR button on Page one of the PVR (bell express VU)
I can program one of the other icons but then i loose that one
Im using the Menu button to bring up PVR recorded events
there should have been an icon in thew harmony group for Xpressvu PVR 9200

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scubabel

I found the 1000 better.

east71

Hello boys I'm new here and are italian, but I hang up on this to expose my big problem I had with my Harmony 1000, already solved by Logitech, who sent me a new one, even a 1100, but my heart bleeds no use the old me was left.
In practice after the initial boot (clock), the remote screen freezes Logitech 5.0, and remains so. I tried 1000 times by removing the battery for 10 mins ...... but nothing. I ask if anyone knows how to do a hard reset button or within combinazione HD)
Thanks and I look .....

Loves2Watch

The Harmony One is also another option which seems to work much better than any of the previous mentioned models.

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