Dangerous Harmony remote - help!

[Dan Turner]

Hi - I have a little problem with my Logitech Harmony 1000 remote, which is threatening to destroy my hi-fi!

Occasionally (and this seems to be getting more frequent) when I press a button the command seems to get sent repeatedly and not just once per press. This at best is annoying, when it happens on a scroll function or something. At worst though, it happens when I press the volume up button and the volume up command gets sent repeatedly. This has happened a few times now and I've managed to stop it in time before any damage is done, but I have this horrible feeling that it's only a matter of time before I or the Mrs is too slow and I'm left with 2 or more busted speakers.

I'm not too sure whether it's a hardware (e.g. button getting stuck down) or software (some kind of bug) problem. It's only happened when using the hard keys which would suggest the former, but then I've discovered that hitting any key will stop it which suggests the latter.

When it happens it's a mad scramble to cover the IR sender and/or hit a button to stop it, but in the panic I don't seem to be very quick at doing either and the volume has ended up getting dangerously high on both my Hi-Fi and home cinema this weekend already....

Has anyone experienced the same issue, and if so do they know of any fix? Long shot I know. Any other ideas? It is out of warranty.

The H 1000 is a great device and it really does knit a whole system together pretty much seamlessly from a use and control perspective, but I am seriously thinking about stopping use of it.

 

[michael hoy]

Hi Dan,

I have been experiencing the same problem myself, fortunately I have set a max limit on the AV amp volume.

The device is great as you said, and this is the first real problem I have had with it, have you done a firmware update recently, mine only started after my last update.

Have you read this from Harmony.

 

[Dan Turner]

Thanks MIchael.

I don't think I can set a max limit on my AV amp volume and I certainly can't on my stereo amp, so that isn't an option for me.

I looked at the Logitech support article - unfortunately that's not the same issue I'm experiencing. Most of the time the number of commands sent per button press is spot-on, the issue is definitely a fault of some kind because I'll press a button and occasionally/randomly it starts sending the command repeatedly and doesn't stop until I intervene.

It's been doing it for a while now, although it has gradually becoming more frequent. It's definitely been doing it prior to and since the last update.

It's definitely getting worse it's done it about 4 times this weekend alone....

 

[michael hoy]

Dan,

You have just confirmed my thoughts as well, I checked the artical and cannot stop the volume command from sending out a continuous command.

As you say, it is intermittent and annoying, I am thinking of logging a call with Logitech, would you do the same, if more than one person complains they may look into it.

 

[Dan Turner]

Certainly - i tried to do it last night but their site was down. Fingers crossed!

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Dan

I would suggest contacting Harmony themselves, warranty or not. Their aftersales service is second to none and they`ve even been know to send out a brand new remore on a few occasions.

good luck to you both

cheers Al

 

[Dan Turner]

Thanks for the tip Al.

I've just checked on the Logitech website and they have a freephone support line for Harmony remotes, so I'm going to give them a call. I'm off on a trip with work tomorrow though, so I'll have to leave it until I get back (Thu), but I'll report back then on how I get on.

Michael - if you make any progress in the meantime then please update the thread.

Cheers.

 

[carter]

i think the harmonys have a sensitivity adjstment ,i had to turn mine up for my plasma as it could not power up by just firing the comand out once..this is a pain in device mode but as its always used in activeties with a source and an amp its ok99.9% of the time and only a problem when setings need adjusment and then i ju st grab the factory control

 

[Dan Turner]

OK - I called Logitech Harmony support, I described the problem and a very nice American chap said it was a known issue and they are going to send me a new one, only they don't make the 1000 anymore, so it's going to be a 1100! No mention of the fact that mine is over a year old.

That's what I call customer service. If anyone else has this issue then it's as easy as a phone call.

Bravo Logitech.

 

[michael hoy]

Dan,

I didn't get chance to ring, so I emailed and have had no reply yet, I think I will ring them on Monday.

Thanks for the update.

 

[michael hoy]

Dan,

Just spoken to a guy at logitech, mentioned you had been in contact, I have had mine since 2007 so not sure if this will be replaced, awaiting a phone call back on Monday.

 

[bob.g]

Dan,

I'm on the verge of buying a Harmony remote with RF. I've narrowed it down to two models, so enquire in your experience what's the benefit of the 1100 over the 900 ?

 

[Dan Turner]

bob.g:
Dan,

I'm on the verge of buying a Harmony remote with RF. I've narrowed it down to two models, so enquire in your experience what's the benefit of the 1100 over the 900 ?

Hi Bob - I'm afraid I can't really advise as I've only had the 1000 so far (which is great other than the issue I have). When I get the 1100 I'll be able to appraise how it compares to the 1000, so I'll certainly post that. The guy reckoned I should have it by this Thursday coming.

 

[Dan Turner]

michael hoy:
Dan,

Just spoken to a guy at logitech, mentioned you had been in contact, I have had mine since 2007 so not sure if this will be replaced, awaiting a phone call back on Monday.

OK - good luck MIchael. As I said mine is over a year old and the age wasn't asked for or commented upon, so fingers crossed that won't come in to it for you either and they'll just replace it.

 

[michael hoy]

Dan,

Best I can get from Logitech is a 50% discount on a new remote.

 

[Dan Turner]

Hi Michael,

Did they explain why they weren't willing to replace your remote with the 1100, when they did that for someone ekse who was experiencing exactly the same problem?

TBH I would have been happy for a 50% discount on a new remote if that was all they had offered me, but in your position, knowing that they had replaced it for someone else, that must be a bit annoying.

All I can say is that if you take them up on their offer and get a 1100 at a 50% discount then financial considerations aside you won't be disappointed. Mine arrived yesterday and it builds on the 1000, offering essentially the same functionality but in a slightly improved and smoother package.

For Bob G:

The main differences between the 1000 and the 1100 are that the 1100 offers an additional page for commands on each activity, allows you full flexibility to assign your own buttons on the left/right hand side of each page plus a range of icons that can be assigned to any command, it gives you a checklist as it powers on/off each item on the screen (so you keep the remote pointed where you should for long enough), and it responds faster to commands. I think those are the main things I've observed so far. On balance if you had a 1000 and it was working perfectly would it be worth paying full price to upgrade? No, not in my opinion. If you were buying one afresh then the 1100 is an amazing bit of kit and worth every penny.

 

[michael hoy]

Dan Turner:
Hi Michael,

Did they explain why they weren't willing to replace your remote with the 1100, when they did that for someone ekse who was experiencing exactly the same problem?

TBH I would have been happy for a 50% discount on a new remote if that was all they had offered me, but in your position, knowing that they had replaced it for someone else, that must be a bit annoying.

All I can say is that if you take them up on their offer and get a 1100 at a 50% discount then financial considerations aside you won't be disappointed. Mine arrived yesterday and it builds on the 1000, offering essentially the same functionality but in a slightly improved and smoother package.

Dan,

Mine has been out of warranty since 2007, looks like too far out of warranty.

 

[micks_address]

Hi

I had the same problem with the volume button on the coupel of 1000's i had.. the 1100 has swapped the channel up/down with the volume button to get around this.. i think the button on the outside was just not durable enough to deal with all the up/down action!

the 1100 is a much slicker remote though.. i'd recommend it over the 1000 any day..