Do any of the Outlaws have a specific recommendation for a remote control that works well w/ the 990? And/or does anyone know the code for the 990 itself? I think that this could be an informative and interesting thread AND with any luck I'll be able to program the remote that I have for my system.

Your typical remote code database is not likely to include smaller electronics companies such as Outlaw - this is why the remote that came with your cable box or satellite receiver won't have an Outlaw code. For those brands that do include Outlaw in some fashion, the "code" will vary depending on that company's database. Fortunately, that's not all that big a deal, and here's why...

The two brands I recommend are Universal Remote Control (URC) and Harmony (now owned by Logitech and sometimes marketed under their name). Both brands support learning on basically their entire product lines. URC's higher-end models (the MX family) also include computer programming in almost every case, so you can download a file from other people if you don't want to learn the individual commands yourself. I have a page in my sig with a number of files like this, and I've used several URC remotes (the MX-500, MX-700, and currently the MX-900). They are a bit pricey, but places online like Surf Remote Controls can offer some good values. The computer software offers a great deal of flexibility, if you are willing to spend a little time with it. I haven't used the Harmony remotes, but the general concensus is that they are easier to program - with a bit of a sacrifice in precise control over the nitty-gritty of the programming. The Harmong software interfaces with Harmony's servers, which have configurations for Outlaw products readily available.

I currently own two harmony remote controls. You can not go wrong with a Harmony remote. Extremely easy to program- will run macros and control your lights. you can go to www.harmonyremote.com and "test drive" the remote.

Also, since I didn't include it in my earlier post, I have written up reviews of some of the URC remotes I've used (including the MX-700 and MX-900 ).

Gonk,

I'm curious what you are referring to when you speak of the "nitty-gritty" of the programming. I've found my Harmony remote to be very flexible. I'm just curious what I may be missing.

Thanks.

I will throw in my .2 and say go with URC. I've had several of the MX models and love them all. Very easy for a "novice" to use and after initial orientation easy to program.

Harmony programming is a no brainer. Additionally, if you are not comfortable "programming" the remote (which consists of inputing the model #'s of your equipment and answering basic questions), you can call harmony for free and they will do it for you.

My sales pitch is officially over

I just bought the Harmony One last week after nearly 2 years of owning this set up. This remote has tied it all together. It even has all the functions for a Sirius Sportster Radio which I wasn't expecting. I am satisfied with this purchase.

I concur with WildWolf that the programming is a no brainer.

Add me to the list of happy Harmony One owners. Does everything with the greatest of ease. I am about to install an IR repeater system to have just one target as some of the components are behind doors and I like keeping them shut.

I've just bought the harmony one as well and it works very well. The only issue I am having is in controlling the volume of the 990. The response of the 990 to the harmony one is significantly slower than the original remote. I've checked the 990 device inter key delay and it's set at 100 ms which implies it should be sending up to 10 key commands every second. I am getting at most 3-4 per second being sent from the harmony one to the 990. What kind of volume response is everyone else getting with their harmony one controlling the 990?

My volume response time between the 990 and Harmony One are very similar, but just a tad slower, than the original remote. I also have the inter-key delay set at 100ms. My other delay settings are:

Power Delay: 5000ms
Input Delay: 1000ms
Inter-Device Delay: 500ms

Some of the above are not default settings. If you have not already done it you could lower the inter-key delay to see what impact it has on the volume control. Also the descriptions of all these delays can be found using the "knowledge base" search command. Hit Troubleshoot and then two "none of the above" buttons. At that point it will give you an option to use the knowledge base and you can search using "input delay". And remember, Harmony has a terrific customer service staff and they will work with you over the phone to fine tune your new remote to meet your needs.

Mine works as well as any other remote I have used. Sometimes it doesn't work when it is on a screen which is asking me a question. As soon as I get off that screen it functions normally. I have my system behind a glass door and it works very well except at extreme angles where the signal scatters too much.

I've tried lowering the inter key delay to 0 ms and it hasn't made any difference. I've also tried lowering the inter device delay to 100 ms and that also hasn't made any difference. I've also tried the following suggestion from the AVS forum:

Click on the Device's "Troubleshoot"
- Select "Show me more problems"
- Select "Device doesn't appear to receive every command correctly."
- Select "The device responds too much to some commands (for example, volume up increases the volume too quickly)."

I think the default is 1 so first I rasied the number to 4 or 5 and then when i pressed the volume button once on the remote it changed the 990 volume 2 times. So I changed the number to 0. That has made it slightly faster but it's still certainly slower than the original remote. I just took out the original remote to double check the speed and it is faster than the harmony one.

So for everyone else on here that has the harmony one are you saying that when it changes the volume on the 990 it is at the exact same speed as the original remote?

I never noticed a difference, mostly because I'm pretty slow too. As long as the 990 responds to the command, I have not been concerned with its response time. Perhaps the Harmony website has some tips to turbo the One. Make sure it is fully charged. Does it control other devices slower than their remotes too or is it just the 990?

For my part, yes, the volume control of the 990 with the Harmony One is just about the same as the original remote. Some of the other keys are slower. For example, when I'm in the 990 setup menu the arrow keys are a bit slower, but not dramatically so.

It is very odd that the delay you experience effects only the volume control. Or it could be that the other commands between the Harmony and 990 are equally slow but within the Activity macros (and other delay settings) and so less noticeable. We can rule out the 990 since it responds appropriately with the original remote. Is the line of sight between the Harmony and the 990 good? Have the protective films been removed from the Harmony's IR transmitter? If none of these are the issue I'd call Harmony customer service. They can work you through a programming solution or determine if there is an issue with your remote that would be covered under warranty. Let us know how it goes.

Just for curiousity sake I timed my Harmony and it gives at least 10 db/second change. I didn't time the original remote but I can't imagine it would go faster than what the Harmony does, otherwise it could be uncontrollable.

I haven't noticed any delay in volume setting. I had only one problem with the H-1 that sometimes it missed turning on the Fios box. Went to the web site for my settings and selected troubleshooting and my problem was listed. I selected it and it did an update to the remote. Since then-everythings perfect.

I have a 990 pcf file for the Phillips Pronto TSU7000 if you'd like it. Let me know.

Mike