Since my 990 remote won't handle my Denon 2910, I am trying a Harmony 880. So far, pretty functional but a little buggy at times. I know there are some others here using the 880.

My question is: Since the 990 uses different input signals as "power up" signals, how are you setting the proper input after the 990 powers up. For example, if I use the 7.1 input as the power on signal, it is universal across all activities. Once on, I can not figure out how to get the 880 to automatically change the 990 input to DVD. The help command from the 880 takes care of the switch but requires more buttons for my wife to press.

Any help/suggestions are appreciated. And by the way, the 990/7500 are keepers. It's all the other stuff that's still questionable.

Del

Sounds like you need another 'activity' setup so you can have the 990 turned on in 7.1 for audio listening, and a second activity that turns the 990 on for DVD viewing.
When I press the 'watch TV' activity, the 880 turns the 990 on to 'Sat'. When I press 'watch a DVD' I have the 990 default to 7.1. When I press 'watch a movie' the 990 defaults to DVD player in 5.1 surround (or dts, or DD, or, etc).
Does this make sense?
Lonster

This is exactly how mine functions.

Thanks Lonny-
That's exactly what I tried to do. When I set up a new activity (watch DVD) the input changes in other activities (listen to SACD, for example) It seems like the 880 is passing the power on input across all activities.

Can you share your commands?

Del

Yes, I can, but what specifically are you looking for/to do? Set up another activity or correct a setup feature in an existing activity?

Also, anyone else reading this should remember that Harmony has an excellent customer service support staff that will sit with you on the phone and help you program and edit your 880 remote. They are well versed on the remote and very patient and knowledgeable.
1-866-291-1505

Lonster

Yep- they were very helpful but as confused as me (at least the one I talked with). Maybe I need to try again.

Lonny-
I have 3 activities so far.

1. Watch DVD
2. Listen to SACD
3. Listen to CD-DVD (CD using the DVD player)

#1 and #3 use the same 990 input (DVD), #1 just turns on the TV to it's proper input.

#2 needs the 7.1 input from the 990 but comes up in DVD input. The help button on the 880 corrects this by changing the 990 to 7.1

If I program #2 to turn on the 990 in 7.1 mode, then #1 and #3 come up in 7.1 and require the help button on the 880 to get them to DVD input.

I'm obviously missing a step in the activity setup that the tech I spoke with didn't get either.

Del

Don't give up! I had a lot of trouble getting it right at first. I was at the point where help would fix various things but when I went on-line and tried to fix it, nothing helped. I eventually wiped my 880 clean and went on the web and wiped that clean--started over and did ONE activity. I couldn't get that quite right so I called and found someone very helpful. Moral of story: start simple and keep calling until you find a bright lightbulb. I now have 7 complex activities working just fine with a projector, 990, 3 amps, DEQX electronic crossover, SAT HD tuner, and CD/DVD player. It can be done!

AudioBear,

I have an 880 too and it does one annoying thing that I'm sure can be fixed. Maybe you have had this issue. When I turn on my system it always goes to one input(cable tv in my case) regardless of which activity I select. To work around this I have added a custom button with the appropriate input and so avoiding the "Help" button. The delay settings appear to be the way to fix this but I'm not sure how to set them. Got any advice for me on how to make sure the 880 sets the 990 input correctly?

Hey AvFan

I grew up in the Lemon Grove-La Mesa area and went to SDSU--for what that's worth. I had that problem at first. I wish I could tell you exactly how I solved it but there are so many menus and webpages in the set-up I can't recall exactly. Like I said, I trashed all my initial set-ups and wiped the memory clean in my 880 by a total reset. Then I set up one activity and sat on it until it worked perfectly. I also got better at the logic of the Harmony webpages. Once you have an activity working perfectly, define another one. I will log on and look at the site and see if I can find the page, but there is one page that displays your configuration that allows you to add, remove and change options for each piece of equipment and I recall spending a lot of time on that page. The big problem is once I got it set up months ago I was afraid to ever touch it again and now I have forgotten how. But for sure it should set the right input for every activity and that is absolutely dependent on how you define the activity first time. I also got telephone help once that was useful. Try that too.