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Guest
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| Posted: 29 December 2011 at 9:27am | IP Logged
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Hi all,
We are hoping to start the Harmony IR Alpha test early in the new year.
What can this do for you ? Infra red controls are the most common remote controls in use for your household equipment, from televisions to satellite receivers, to HTPC control, or even HVAC control.
By adding this to Harmony, you gain interactive control of your existing systems.
My primary use (as stated before !) will be in the lounge with the projector (IR control), the motorised screen (IR control), the AV amplifier (IR control), the Sky HD box (IR control), and the HTPC [Freeview HD/ Motorised satellite HD] (IR control).
By joining in at the Alpha test stage, I want Harmony IR to allow me to:
1. Press one button, and everything will turn on.
2. Dim the lights when I press "Play" on the Sky remote.
3. Brighten the lights when I press "Pause" on the Sky remote.
Since I also have the doorbell as an input into Harmony, I could:
4. Have the Sky/HTPC "Pause" and the lights brighten if the doorbell rings.
And if I can figure out how to get a "phone is ringing" signal into Harmony, then that could do a similar thing.
If you have the Harmony voice software, then you can now use voice commands to control your IR items !
Please let us know:
- If you are interested in joining the Alpha test.
- If you have any questions about the Alpha test.
- If you have any specific requirements for IR control.
The cost to join is expected to be around £75, of which £50 is for the required hardware.
Expand your horizons, use your imagination and have fun 
I can feel a YouTube video coming on when I get this working 
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SteveM
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| Posted: 29 December 2011 at 10:09am | IP Logged
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Homer,
Count me in please.
Steve
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lenny
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| Posted: 29 December 2011 at 12:29pm | IP Logged
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I am interested in this one also. most of my conrol is on the pc
already... tv tuner , blueray dvd player. music etc but one thing that
would be nice is turning the tv power off with voice or have all tvs
auto tune to hdmi, adjust volume etc. for a full house audio
experience.
Lenny
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Rob Iles
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| Posted: 30 December 2011 at 6:39am | IP Logged
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"And if I can figure out how to get a
"phone is ringing" signal into Harmony,
then that could do a similar thing."
Not yet decided if this will be released
separately as "Harmony Caller-ID", or as
a part of "Harmony Announcer".
IMHO, it would make a great
combination with the MCE Component -
see who's on the phone / at the door
before choosing to stop the film, or
divert to answer-phone!
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Guest
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| Posted: 04 January 2012 at 5:33am | IP Logged
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Any more for Infra Red control testing ?
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RossN
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| Posted: 04 January 2012 at 10:15pm | IP Logged
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Homer wrote:
| Any more for Infra Red control testing ? |
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Me please :)
One question I need to ask is will we have to connect the IR unit to the PC running Harmony Core or will it be able to be connected elsewhere?
My pcs are all up in the loft since my computer room was converted into a nursery and as most of the gear I want to IR control is in the living room then it wouldn't really make sense if the IR unit wasn't there as well.
Ross
PS - Happy new year to everyone :):)
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Rob Iles
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| Posted: 04 January 2012 at 10:35pm | IP Logged
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Hi Ross,
Well, the unit will have to be connected to *A* PC (says Rob stating
the obvious). You could use a networked PC, you could look at USB
Extenders (such as over Cat5), or perhaps an IR Distribution system
of some sort.
These are some of the options we can explore :-)
Rob
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Rob Iles
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| Posted: 05 January 2012 at 12:13am | IP Logged
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I would also like to clarify that the Harmony IR Component is *BI-DIRECTIONAL* ! It's not simply about getting Harmony to respond to commands from existing Remote Controls - - it will also enable Harmony to *learn* those commands, and play them back at the appropriate time, thus emulating a press of a button on a remote control.
I genuinely believe this could be *huge* for Harmony - perhaps the single biggest advancement since release!!
Please avoid disappointment - sign up NOW! - there are a limited number of spaces for testers - I'm hoping for 20 or thereabouts.
Those of you who have expressed interest above - you're in. I'll send you an email on what to do next when we're at that stage (Hopefully soon - just waiting for numbers to rise!).
Anyone who's not yet registered interest above, please reply to this thread ASAP. I know I have a couple of people to email - this will happen - - but if in doubt, indicate your desire to participate by replying to this thread!!
Thanks all,
Rob
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RossN
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| Posted: 05 January 2012 at 12:37am | IP Logged
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Rob Iles wrote:
Hi Ross,
Well, the unit will have to be connected to *A* PC (says Rob stating
the obvious). You could use a networked PC, you could look at USB
Extenders (such as over Cat5), or perhaps an IR Distribution system
of some sort.
These are some of the options we can explore :-)
Rob |
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Hi Rob,
I should have been a bit clearer  . Although my pcs reside in the loft, both mine and Irene's netbook/laptop are usually downstairs in the livingroom, and I've also got cat5 down to there with a spare network usb hub, so will be able to connect the unit there.
With that clarified I'm definitely in :):)
Ross
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techno
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| Posted: 13 January 2012 at 6:35pm | IP Logged
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Is there any benift over this device which i was considering buying next:-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310350571290?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX :IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
If you can sell me the benefits im in :-)
Thanks
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Guest
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| Posted: 13 January 2012 at 8:07pm | IP Logged
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Yes there is !
As far as I am aware, that is a basic device which allows 16 on/off X10 addresses to be used to send out 32 IR codes recorded from your existing remote controls.
If Harmony IR works as expected, then we will be able to:
1. Use huge existing libraries of IR codes,
2. Learn specific codes from unknown IR controls,
3. Send AND Receive IR codes,
4. Make decisions using Harmony events, and then send out different IR codes/BBSB codes/X10 codes etc.
5. Use MANY more commands than that.
This really is the biggest thing for Harmony in years
There is also the possibility of network IR control. I would guess that it would require a pc to plug the remote IR device into, but thats not a problem in my house!
Harmony IR is more like one of those incredibly expensive super "home theatre" remote controls 
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Rob Iles
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| Posted: 13 January 2012 at 8:28pm | IP Logged
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Yes - what Homer says!
Key differences:
Bidirectional - control IR devices, and use existing remotes to control
any device that Harmony can control.
32 device limit? Par! We don't do limits  -- (to be accurate, there
will be a point at which it would be unmanageable - but there's no
hard limit imposed)
Sold?
Rob
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techno
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| Posted: 14 January 2012 at 10:45am | IP Logged
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When does the Alpha Test Start?
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Rob Iles
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| Posted: 14 January 2012 at 12:20pm | IP Logged
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I was hoping to get 15 people on board before we begin - however,
will settle for ~10 as take up has been surprisingly low.
So, when we get 10, or 26th Jan (just under 2 weeks), whichever
comes first; unless anyone objects?
If we start on date rather than participants I'd like to keep an open
invitation policy during early stages.
Ok with all?
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Guest
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| Posted: 14 January 2012 at 12:50pm | IP Logged
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Ok with me Rob
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RossN
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| Posted: 15 January 2012 at 12:38pm | IP Logged
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Fine by me as well 
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techno
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| Posted: 17 January 2012 at 9:02am | IP Logged
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Fine by me. the closer to the end of the better though. just be robbed by my son on his Birthday lol
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trueblue
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| Posted: 18 January 2012 at 1:02pm | IP Logged
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Hi all,
Please count me in for the Alpha testing,
Thanks to Rob and Homer for your help over the past few days.
Cheers
Shaun
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pda-prof
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| Posted: 21 January 2012 at 11:12pm | IP Logged
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Hi Rob and Homer
Count me in too.
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Rob Iles
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| Posted: 27 January 2012 at 6:39am | IP Logged
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OK,
Launching on date rather than numbers.
I'll email each of you the necessary details today / tomorrow (just
ending a long Thursday!). Thank you for your continued interest and
support.
Please note, entry is *not* yet closed - you still have the opportunity
to influence design and save money over the released product. Sign
up soon!
Thanks all,
Rob.
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Harmony : CM11 (X10) Controller
Topic: Harmony - Infra Red interface Alpha test
