HDTV Forum

You have several options. First, you can customize the hard buttons for each activity. e.g. in your watch TV activity the transport buttons are not normally used so you can have them control your lights or any other devices listed for that activity.

Second, the picture and sound buttons allow you to customize the hard buttons for the TV (or display device) and receiver (or audio device) respectively. So you hit Picture then one other button. Not perfect but better than scrolling through the LCD menu.

It is also possible to program hard buttons for the TV or receiver in the activity buttons and vice versa. e.g. to add a TV command to change aspect ratio to the Watch a DVD activity, customize the DVD device and add a learned IR code to the DVD device using the TV remote control and whatever button does the aspect ratio you desire. This will now be available as an IR command under the DVD device in the customize activity buttons menu and can be tied to a hard button or lcd button for that activity.

This would allow you, e.g. , to use the PLAY button in Watch Television activity to change the aspect ratio of the TV without having to hit Device and scroll through the LCD or having to hit the Picture button first.

There are many 'tricks' to do things like this. Try the harmony forum on remotecentral.com .

If you're not sure how to do something just call Harmony support and they'll even set it up for you.

OK, with all of the good comments and my wife

I hope you realize it will not have a warranty and if it breaks Harmony will not fix it or replace it for free. Even if they say they're factory authorized most are not. Check the harmony website to get the official list.

These have been trouble prone (out of the box - DOA within a day or two) so I recommend the warranty.

www.surfremotecontrol.com sells them for just a few dollars more and you get a full factory warranty and a 30 day return policy.

I hope you realize it will not have a warranty and if it breaks Harmony will not fix it or replace it for free. Even if they say they're factory authorized most are not. Check the harmony website to get the official list

Akirby is absolutely right. We have had several clients tell us horror stories about their internet purchases and so-called great deals. Only to suffer weeks or months of fighting to return product and possibly receive a refund from the seller.

Always find out if the company is an authorized reseller and the product is warranted via internet purchase.

FYI - now that Harmony is owned by Logitech they appear to be relaxing their warranty restrictions. I've heard that as long as you don't buy it off Ebay and buy through a normal retailer that Logitech will most likely honor the warranty. Of course this is not official and you should contact them if you want to know for sure, but that's the rumour.