Logitech Harmony Hub Review (with Companion Remote) 

The problem is not with logitech The problem lies with the fact that manufacturers use the exact same command for power on as they do for power off. The conundrum that this creates for logitech is that when you choose an activity, the remote has to assume that the devices are either on or off so they know whether to issue the power command. If the remote removes that variable by making sure that all devices are off when you finish an activity, it can assure that when you choose your next activity the power commands will result in devices being on rather than some of them being off.

you set it up wrong. It will switch to the modes fine for me, unless i press the OFF button. Then things turn off.

Your comment about the two infrared ports are incorrect. Very misleading, This is a blaster not a receiver.

You don't have your settings correct, mine just changes input. Everything stays on

When switching activities it will turn off anything not used in the activity that you are switching to. For Example if you have a "watch tv" activity that turns on the tv, a reciever, and a cable box and switch to a different activity say "Watch Roku" that is set to turn on the tv, and a roku box it will turn off the reciever and cable box. if you want devices to stay on when switching between activities they have to be selected when setting up the activity. So the "Watch Roku" activity would have to be setup to turn on the tv, the reciever, the cable box, and the roku box for everything to stay on. Every time you setup a new activity be sure to select all the devices you always want to be on unless you hit the off button.

have been using harmony products over 5 years now and never had turn off issues when switching activities.

there is a setting "keep this device on until i hit the power button" this works for me and it just switches activities and dont turn off fx. sound until i hit the power button

You're not supposed to use activities when you want to switch stuff. Activities are for staring and ending. You should program sequences/macros within each activity... took me 1 month to figure out and now it basically can do anything i want it to do! I only have one activity now with a bunch of "built-in" sequences.

Not sure why you are having this problem because I don't. I switch from one source to the other without any problems. My sources are TV, DVD and Music. I can go back and forth without any problems. Then I can turn the system off. I can also have Alexa do the same. Perhaps the sequence of your activities have the on and off for each activity.

I have had mine for years and it doesn't shut off my tv

It turns off the devices Because you don't have sensors to tell it the actual state at each device, If you don't want it to do that then you need to buy all the different proves and sensors and integrate them into the system. That's the difference between a $200 system and a $10000 system. It turns all the devices off because the position on the controls in order to do it right is relative to the way that it was before The hub doesn't know if your volume is at 80% or 10% or if a toggle switch is off or on, that's why it has to turn everything off and then start from scratch so that it gives you a relative position on all the controls, It's not a Logitech software problem or hardware problem it's actually the lack of sensors and status feedback in all your other devices.

He had the LG SIMPLELINK (HDMI-CEC) to turn off the TV when the other device turns off. He must check HDMI CEC settings on all his devices not turn on the other devices when one turn off. For example my Androod TV box Xiaomi Mi Box 3 had an option when the box turn off also turn the TV and the TV turn off all other like the receiver and cable box through HDMI CEC standard. LG calling Simplelink Samsung calling it Anynet+. Also in the same company some TVs don't have to option in the TV menu the option HDMI CEC not turn off the whole TV when some device turns off and send the signal to TV to turn off too. Older Samsung TV have the option to ignore not to turn off in their settings newer models the only HDMI CEC option is on/off the whole connection not to ignore that command if other device send it. Also he could use Simplelink to control the Shield TV through LG's HDMI CEC and not with IR built in Shield has.

I love it

Thanks for the in depth review. I can already see I'm a have to take some time properly set up custom commands to create Easter Eggs for the kids.

Yes it is a problem and is related to HDMI CEC if you use it. Those claiming no problem don't use it.

It turns everything off when you change activity because how could remote know if some device is on or off, it does not receive back that information from device. It just cant. So Logitech decided to turn everything off so remote can be sure that device is off so that activity could work properly.

"you can pretty much map any button" ... are you sure??? (I have the companion remote) I am going crazy trying to figure out how to create a favourites button on this remote, so that I can cycle through all my favourites pressing this button without having to go through every channel in between. Why is this so difficult? Can it even be done on this remote? Practically every remote that comes with a cable tv set box and every universal remote I have seen, has such a button. If this can not be done, this remote will be useless for me. Any ideas? Thanks, K.

Googla assistant to start tv and navigate in android TV like you did is probably the most useless thing ever. It took the assistant 10 seconds to do something when I could do it myself in 1

Fake News: my xbox and projector stays on when switching activities. you got your settings wrong. Don't listen to this guy this is a great remote.

So it’s 2020. Has this been fixed?

Please bleep out ‘hey google’

OMFG. I cant get through 3 minutes of him saying "budden" instead of "button"

It’s BUT-TON not BUD-AN

I don't understand where this system fits into everyone's life. If you have an echo dot or smart tv, can't you already do things like turn on the tv/volume up with voice commands etc? $130 seems like a ton of money just to consolidate a couple tv remotes into one? I just don't get why I would buy this....

Try disabling tv exit command

I don't have a Hub but I've been using Harmony remotes for years and never experienced the issue you mention in the video, where all the devices have to power off and then back on when switching activities. Just curious did you try setting it up on your computer instead of your phone? On the PC software for the remotes (not the hub) you can set which devices you want to stay on when switching activities, I'm just guessing here but I wonder if there are more options on the PC vs. your phone.

How do you quickly go to a specific channel number since there is no keypad? Is there a voice command? Or must you only access keypad through a smart device? I know the elite has a screen on it however the price is a lot more. Thank you

thanks for your video- can the companion remote control bluetooth controled devices like those for the Amazon Fire TV etc and are the buttons illuminated for in the dark? I also have a switch for three different devices for my TV (no need for controlling a stereo hifi unit etc)- and one of the switches has another 3 way HDMI switch plugged into it to allow three things to switch on that channel (so 5 devices connected)- will I be able to control all 5 of those devices easily with this remote (ideally without having to go into the app on a mobile device)? Can it also 'learn' no name/generic devices/switches that have IR emitters but aren't well know models? PS- I thought the harmony hub only works with Alexa- does it work with google home by default or did you do something to get it to work with google home..? Thanks for any feedback

So am I right in assuming if I want to dispense with the voice commands I can still operate all my components with the remote buttons? That's all I really care about. Having a remote that will operate my nvidia shield and my IR based devices.

By any chance do you know what to do if you change routers? How do you change the WiFi the hub connects to without erasing commands. Tks.

Hey great video, quick question i am going with RU-vid tv want to map a default channel to open using Apple TV, Don’t know how to setup opening a special channel when turning on activity any help will be appreciated- Thank you

Hi, dear friend, I'm from Israel. First thing, I wanted to know everything is OK with Harvey. I hope that the storm did not catch you and the important thing. I can not create Skype for Google but I can move a channel. You can upload a video but I did it because I also have Google but I do not know how to do it. Thanks in advance

Ran into two issue today that is a deal breaker for me. On the app you can't remap the first page of commands for my primary activity (TiVo, with TV and Zone 2 of AVR). It is hard set to 0-9 plus "." and "E". I have to flip to page 3 to get usable commands ( channel, volume, TiVo button). Second when I create new commands for an activity and sync it doesn't update other versions of the app (iOS vs Android). I updated my SO and checked my iPhone and the iPhone still had the default buttons. Not ready for primetime. Sticking with my 1100.

Great info, I was racking my head trying to figure this out. Also, I am having trouble programming my dish network, any tips on that??

Activities - What makes the hub really unique? Have you owned one of these devices before? I've had 3 Harmony remotes - all of which provide the option for "activities" , and by the way, I've never seen this requirement to switch off the units. Other intelligent remotes offer "activities" too but they call them other things.

I have an older model. Looking at upgrading so I can add voice command. To get around tv on and off issue, I am thinking about just using my tv remote for on and off, that is what i do now for unrelated reasons. But was thinking, then the new harmony for everything else, that way it never has to turn on and then off the tv. I am also thinking i can get to netflix through my apple tv to avoid this situation or using ifttt somehow...

Beware. Over time you will notice buttons not working or it shooting the wrong commands. This has been a problem since the original Harmony remote (Pre-Logitech acquisition). Expect to reprogram your remote every year or two. Not a problem if you originally programmed the remote, but can be very inconvenient if you set this up for a family member, friend, or customer.

When I power off on remote, everything powers off but shield. How did you get it to sleep while everything else is off?

You should mute the Hey Google command next time

This "Turn everything off then on" issue is absolutely shocking! How can Logitech not see this as a MASSIVE roadblock?!? I'll be returning my newly bought hub tomorrow. What a disapointment!

I believe it turns off all the devices when changing activities because then it knows it's always starting from a known state. A common problem w/ these remotes is if one device misses the signal, esp. any based on IR. That places one of the devices in a bad state (some on, some off). And now you can't get back to a known state unless the end-user manually puts everything back to the off state. I think Harmony is simply trying to avoid that hassle/confusion by turning everything off between activities. It's crude, no doubt, but fixes the problem.

I still enjoy my 350 but I’ve been thinking about getting a new one I still prefer the IR ones though

Awesome review! I am really considering purchasing this device. I am wondering if it will work well with an android streaming box and or an Amazon fire stick. Keeping these two streaming boxes in mind do you think I will be able to operate the devices with this remote and hub?

Nice review man, bought this on a whim and setting it up tonight!

You are a tech geek and you can't figure out how to setup a remote control?. You are doing something wrong, because I can make it work perfect. use a PC and the harmony app and it will guide you through the setup. it that easy.!

Is the "huge issue" still a thing?

The complaint about turning everything off before starting a new activity seems universal. Choosing a dummy button instead of the power button seems like a solid work-around. Thanks for the idea.

"Smart" :D

Are you Ok? Of course they can't change it because the hub needs a same starting point. Next time use your brain.

How do you Pronounce the word "BUTTON" ?? is it Budden ?

that's a lot of buddin pressing.

Dude, it's buTTon not buddon...

what's a buddon? Isn't it a buTTon?

I returned mine after spending 5 hours and web searches and could not find a single buddon anywhere on the remote!!!! I got ripped off...

You talk to fast. BTW it is not but in. It's pronounced bu tin

Why oh why oh why must you say “hey google” in your video....