JP1 Remotes

Is there anyone who has not seen information about the Harmony H688 Remote? Looks very interesting with USB programming via a Harmony web site that you customize for your own applications. Has modes, both hard and soft buttons, lighted screen, powered by USB when plugged in, is a learning remote, 2 MB of memory. If the buttons are backlit, they make a secret of that important feature.

Big downside: At $249 a pop, there goes the budget since I have 10 URC-6131's! If buttons are indeed backlit I might consider getting a couple for the most important rooms of the house and if they are totally awesome remotes, I might whittle away at the 6131 stock here. I've contacted the company, but perhaps someone here has one and knows.

Mitch Gossman

http://www.harmonyremote.com/

Actually, $156.13 at www.worthdist.com...

And the website does mention backlit buttons. Hmmmm.

I haven't checked out Harmony in a long time, so I don't know just how much customization you really can do, but even at just $156 a pop, I don't think it's gonna kill the JP1 market, not when you can get a URC-8811 and cable for $34.

Mitch,

I think much of this always comes down to taste. Basically an JP1/OFA remote can do anything any other universal remote can do from a producing IR commands standpoint. It can do a few things the others don't. The others Harmony, MX-700/800, and Pronto's usually are considered to have more polished editing tools.

There is at least one instance where I made something work in an OFA remote (Prismiq Media Player) that someone with a Harmony couldn't even though I created the same commands in Pronto hex (that apparently can be entered and translated using the Harmony software.) The point is that we have a great deal more control over the esoterica, and we can change how many repeats are used in a macro and a whole bunch of things that make a huge difference in probably a very small number of cases.

The Harmony does apparently have a capability like ToadTog where it can keep track of the toggle state. I think they are probably easier to set up for a less technical user.

There are however many Harmony owners who venerate their remotes approaching worship so, I'm back to taste unless you have a Prismiq But then again replacing 10 remotes ...

You might search here for more specific information and less JP1 biased thoughts.

The only complaint I have with the OFA remote (the 6131) is the lack of buton backlighting.