Looking for advice on how to replace a Harmony Elite Hub system

Questions
#1

Hi. I’m totally new to HR and I hope someone can answer some newbie questions.

For years I’ve been using a Logitech Harmony Elite remote and hub, but sadly it has finally died. I’ve been looking around for an alternative replacement, but I’m dismayed to find there is very little out there to replace the Logitech setup. Indeed, it looks as though similar remotes have all been discontinued.

Then I discovered The Home Remote and I’m excited by its possibilities. I do some programming so hopefully it won’t be beyond my capabilities.

However, since most of my equipment is IR or Bluetooth based, I’m confused as to what I require to work with HR. Any advice will be gratefully received. I have a limited budget, around £100, right now (don’t we all!). Hopefully there’s something available within that price.

Also, is it the IR emitter that has the required codes for controlling the devices, or does all of that come from HR? Assuming the latter, can HR “learn” commands or do we have to rely on requesting unknown remotes are added to HR?

Apologies if this has already been covered. I did a search, but nothing came up that answered my questions.

Thank you in advance of any suggestions.

#2

Global Cache is the go to for IR control. Codes are imported into home remote from Global Cache’s database of codes. Codes that don’t exsist in the database can be learned. The iTach line which interfaces with Home Remote is there more popular offering which is a hardware module that offers connections for 3 hard wired IR emitters one being a.blaster which will flood an area with the sent IR signal which enables it to manage several IR devices from the single blaster port as long as they do not share codes. The iTach is offered in both wireless and hardwired ethernet for connection to your LAN.

Also rather than purchasing multiple itachs for several rooms I recommend x10 powermids which you can blast the x10 transmitter with the iTach and have it wirelessly sent to a x10 receiver which will then blast the IR signal to the IR devices in that room with no lag from my experience. This is definitely more economical than purchasing multiple itachs for multiroom setups. You would only need one transmitter and mutlple receivers, one for each room. Keep in mind that if you have devies that share codes across different rooms this x10 powermid solution will not work for you since shared codes can ot be isolated to a single room using the x10 powermids.

#3

If its just the remote that is broken on your Logitech equipment, and the hub still works, you can also route IR commands from HR through the hub. Otherwise Global Cache is the way to go.

1 Like
#4

Thanks, David. I didn’t know that I could communicate with the Harmony Hub! It is just the remote that’s died, so I can certainly use the Hub for now. I’ve taken a look at the design software and I see the Hub in the Devices list.

I know Logitech have discontinued their remotes, but as long as they continue to support what’s out there I can save my money for now.

Thanks again.