Harmony 1000i Programming Idea.

[Sivdogg]

Well I will start by saying I stumbled upon this by accident.

I bought a Digitech remote from Jaycar to find it doesn't have a live tv button nor does it put the vista media centre to sleep when you press the PC button it just closes the window like a alt-F4 command.

So I bought a proper vista media centre remote, apparently the digitech cheap ass remote is actually an xp version. I was able to up load the remote settings from Logitech's database for the exact remote which gave me all the functionality of that remote as well as the fluidity of moving through menus that was a problem with the digitech cheapy.

I discovered the vista remote does not have My Video, My Pictures, My Music buttons on it and the Digitech cheap remote has so I decided to leave both IR receivers in the USB slots on my media centre and program my Harmony remote to learn the controls for My Videos, My Pictures and My Music from the Digitech cheap remote and have the best of both worlds. IT WORKS!

I figured that there are probably others with a harmony remote and the vista media centre remote that a ****ed off that they cant add more functionality to their remote than dvd library and tv in activities. Well now you can for a measly $14.50 from jaycar. If you don't want the unsightly USB receivers visible, RF extenders are you friend.

If this somehow doesn't make sense to you or you want to know more feel free to post here I have subscribed to this thread.

[philzgr8]

Interestingly the downloaded MCE device I got from Logitech's online database does have these functions. Even if it didn't, all you'd have to do is google the keystrokes for MCE and teach them to your Harmony with a MCE IR keyboard as I have for some specialised functions.

Now if you really want to improve your remote, take the 1000i and throw it off the end of the nearest pier and buy a real remote like the Harmony One. It's far more usable and has all the functionality of the 1000i plus an ergonomic shape with tactile "real" buttons for most common functions. My 1000i is in a drawer gathering dust!

[ozbear]

As Phil said, all you have to do is add the "Media Centre PC" device to your remote's device list (I think the "device number" is something like 1309 or something) and your 1000i will have all the functions of a native Microsoft remote.

Then, I have two Activities defined on the remote (in addition to other Activities), one called Watch Free To Air and the other Watch Foxtel. Watch Free To Air uses the MCE device and Watch Foxtel uses the Foxtel IQ box device. Simple.

I like mine more than he does though and use it everyday.

Oz