Logitech Harmony 520 Advanced Universal Remote FTMFW!

Recently we decided that it was time that we retire our 27″ CRT television and upgrade to something more “modern”.    So after a few weeks of shopping for the best deals we now have a new 50″ Plasma, DVD player, Dolby 5.1 Surround with AM and FM, as well as the DirecTV receiver to control.

I knew right away that living with two women it would be all but impossible to teach them how to swap inputs, enable surround sound, etc.    I was also disappointed that my DirecTV remote would not control my Surround/Stereo or DVD player.  I had setup Harmony remotes for clients before and knew the macro feature was exactly what I needed.

So I began my search to determine the model that was correct for me.   Upon seeing that many of the Harmony remotes were priced between $100 and $300 I was slightly unhappy as this was out of my budget.    I got lucky and found the Harmony 520 from RadioShack (apparently they are blowing out stock because they will no longer carry logitech) for a steal of a price (under $50).

Right out of the box this is an impressive remote.   It feels like a very solid piece that fits in your hand very well.   The buttons are not cheap and depress nicely.  The entire remote has a blue back light which matches my components that all have blue lights perfectly.  It really feels like a very quality piece.

Setup for a Harmony is a breeze.  There is no entering multiple codes for each device, you simply load the supplied software onto your computer, enter the model number of each device (which can be found on the back of the device or on the manual), and then download the program to your Harmony via the supplied USB cable.   Thats It!

My favorite feature of the Harmony is the macro feature.    You can setup “activities” which are lists of commands.    For example I setup an activity called “Watch DirecTV”, and when that button is pressed the harmony sends out the following signals:    All devices off - Surround Sound on - Surround Sound Aux Input - Surround Sound Aux Input  - TV On - TV Input 2 - DirecTV receiver on.     You may notice that the surround sound is set to change inputs twice, I have a unique system that requires the AUX button to be pushed two times and the Harmony handles it with no issues.   If i wanted to I could get more advanced, I could even have the DirecTV turn on with the TV guide open on a specific channel.

Overall, I am amazed with this device - I should have picked one up years ago!  If you are looking for one or for specs here is the link to amazon with more information.   http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Harmony-Advanced-Universal-Remote/dp/B000BDG3HU

America as a whole IS NOT READY for a quality performance vehicle…

Yep, thats right I said it.   America does not want a quality built, performance vehicle, for an affordable price.   You may say, but Mr. Webmaster having such a car for a good price would be the frosting on the cake.  Well, I would ask why you did not buy one when it was available?

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Do people who turn sentences into questions annoy me, yes?

I just don’t understand this phenomenon?

Do you feel smarter because you use more words?

Do you feel like you are quizzing yourself and you allready know the answers?

Does it help you get your point across?

Or are you just trying to read the other persons mind?

How about you make your point, without answering your own questions, and then if the other people in the discussion have another question - LET THEM ASK!

People who loiter in the left lane.

You know what really grinds my gears?  People who loiter in the left lanes while driving.

I always thought that it was called the passing/fast lane for a reason, yet for some reason I always find my self being forced to slow down 20-30 mph for someone who is chillin’ in the left lane.    This really annoys me, not so much because it slows me down or because I am too lazy to downshift again - ok actually I am both of those things, but it also robs me of what little fuel economy I do get by having to accelerate back up to speed again after I pass you.

The simple rule of thumb is that if the traffic to the right is moving the same speed or faster, get the hell over!    If there are cars piling up behind you, get the hell over!    I have no issue getting over when someone behind me is going faster than I am, so why can’t you?

By far my favorite part of this whole ordeal, is the brake check.    First, let me explain something to you, I’m driving a bad ass little sports car with  13″ rotors and Z06 calipers, so unless you are in a Ferrari I am going to out stop you.   Yet it never fails, I courteously give someone the ole flash to pass and they get offended and decide to slow down and then try to lock em up.   :slaphead:

IDIOTS!

People who think their views, should be my views?

Wow, time for my first Rant. I can’t pick a better topic than religion.

My loving girlfriend was talking to one of her relatives recently who insisted that because he believed what his interpretation of my favorite fictitious document, the bible, said - we had to live that way as well.

First off, let’s get this out of the way right now. If you are a religious person, a church going person, etc - more power to you. It only offends me when you try to force me to conform to your ways.

Anyhow, he goes on to say that my family is doomed to go to hell because we are unmarried with a child, that she is living the way of the devil because we are unmarried, that I shouldn’t have the hobbies I do and should provide for my family instead with that money.

Let’s just go off on a tangent right there. My family isn’t overly rich in material possessions, but they aren’t poor either. The only possible thing we could need is a 2nd car for my g/f as hers was recently totaled, but we are working on that. See, I choose rather than throwing money at my family to give them love, and affection, and care and nurturing as I deem a good provider should. So if the bills are paid, our refrigerator is stocked, and there are a few bucks left over - who gives a rats ass what I do with them?

I thought in America we were free to be ourselves? Now I am supposed to live my way because this book says so, even though I don’t believe what the book says and you do? What if I write a book about the way I choose to live, will you conform to my expectations? I would say probably not.