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Comparisons of Logitech's Harmony Remote Models
Deutsche Version
(updated April 1st, 2010)
Compiled by Beverly Howard with help from Harmony User Forum Members especially HHAtkin & WannabeActuary. Thanks also to Dane from Logitech.
This page offers comparision data on all Harmony remotes since the line was introduced in 2002 (?) As a result, many of the models show may not be available for purchase or available only from surplus vendors.
The Harmony models currently offered by Logitech can be seen on this Logitech page.
The features for each remote below will give an indication of price within the range of $70 to $500 depending on sources and current sales... If you want to find current prices, it's Google Time.
Harmony Remote Links: Bev's Harmony FAQ | Harmony User Forum
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Show all models (all ever produced Harmony) Show recent and still available models (including discontinued but still available models)
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| Remote | max dev |
fav supp |
batt | tilt mot |
screen details |
touch screen |
RF ext |
macro supp |
page butt |
snd/pic butt |
usb | Firmw. | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 One |
15 | 24 | Lio | Tilt | color | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | hid | 3.4.0 | Release Date: Jan 08 |
 300 |
4 | 4/5 | AA | -- | -- | No | No | No | Yes | No | hid | ? | EU version with 4 favorite channel buttons, coloured buttons: RGYB Release Date: Apr 10 |
| 600 Series | max dev |
fav supp |
batt | tilt mot |
screen details |
touch screen |
RF ext |
macro supp |
page butt |
snd/pic butt |
usb | Firmw. | Comments |
 600 |
5 | 23 | AA | Tilt | b/w | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | hid | 0.2 | Not rechargeable Physical Activity buttons. 4 Soft (LCD) buttons. "Micro" USB connector Release Date: Mar 10 |
 650 |
5 | 23 | AA | Tilt | color | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | hid | 0.2 | Not rechargeable Physical Activity buttons. 4 Soft (LCD) buttons. "Micro" USB connector Release Date: Mar 10 |
| 700 Series | max dev |
fav supp |
batt | tilt mot |
screen details |
touch screen |
RF ext |
macro supp |
page butt |
snd/pic butt |
usb | Firmw. | Comments |
 700 |
6 | 23 | Ni-MH | Tilt | color | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | hid | 2.5.0 | Physical Activity buttons. 4 Soft (LCD) buttons. "Micro" USB connector Remote does not operate while charging Release Date: Sep 09 |
| 800-1000 Series | max dev |
fav supp |
batt | tilt mot |
screen details |
touch screen |
RF ext |
macro supp |
page butt |
snd/pic butt |
usb | Firmw. | Comments |
 900 |
15 | 24 | Lio | Tilt | color | Yes | 5 | No | Yes | No | net | 7.4.0 | New RF Blaster Design/Freq Remote does not operate in cradle No Macros Release Date: Sep 09 |
 1100 |
15 | 24 | Lio | Tilt | color | Yes | 3 | No | Yes | No | net | 7.6.0 | A "2 Hander" Remote does not operate in cradle No Macros 1100i has no RF Release Date: Feb 09 |
| Remote | max dev |
fav supp |
batt | tilt mot |
screen details |
touch screen |
RF ext |
macro supp |
page butt |
snd/pic butt |
usb | Firmw. | Comments |
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Harmony Accessories
RF Extender (RF/EXT)
RF (Radio Frequency) IR Extender for Harmony 890, 1000 & 1100 Models. Allows sending 890, 1000 or 1100 IR commands through walls or cabinets to devices which are not positioned where they can receive "line of sight" IR emissions.
Note! NA & European versions use different RF frequencies and are not interchangable between NA & European Harmony Remote Models!
RF Blaster (Harmony 900 Only)
RF (Radio Frequency) IR "Blaster" for Harmony 900. Same as above but not compatible.
Note! Different Frequency. Same Unit used for all regions
Playstation3 Adapter
Bluetooth Adapter for Harmony. Allows control of Playstation 3 systems.
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Favorites
"Favorites" on the Harmony are user defined entries containing a full channel change command such as "24.1" Favorites are displayed on a dedicated LCD "soft button" screen, so the user can enter the channel name such as "NBC" and on some models, downloadable icons can be used to make channel selection easier. Favorite counts are "per activity" so, it's possible to have more favorites than this limit by using multiple activities... for example, a "watch soaps" activity for her and "watch sports" activity for him... (taking cover...)
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Tilt Motion Sensor
Some models offer either a Tilt or Motion sensor that is used to turn on the remote's LED illumination when the user picks up the remote. The "Motion" sensors are more sensitive such that they often trigger the remote to turn on when not needed such as someone walking by or touching the table where the remote is located.
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Macros
Logitech has elected to use the term "sequence" to describe the ability to string multiple remote controller commands together and assign them to a single button press despite the long standardized use of the term "macro" that most universal remotes use to describe the same.
In addtion, where there is no practical limit on the number of commands most universal remotes allow per macro, Logitech limits the maximum number of commands per macro to five.
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Sound and Picture Buttons
Discussions (and lack thereof) of the "Sound & Picture" buttons available on a limited number of the harmony models make it clear that this feature has not been well documented and isn't really well understood. What do they offer???? There is no obvious info on this, but, if you pull up the software and if your remote has these buttons, when you open any activity and select "Customize Buttons" you will see a nondescript "pulldown" above and to the left of the button definitions which will show "Activity" by default. (If your remote does not offer this option (such as my 720 and 1100) the pulldown does not exist.)
A little investigation shows that this feature is a very powerful option which allows you to completely remap the remote within each activity!!!
When you select "Sound" or "Picture" a caption indicating the button state appears on screen. What has happened is that you are looking at a separate and complete button layout where you can customize the entire remote for different actions... for example, you are using a TV to view and an AudioVideo receiver for the sound... you can map the "Activity" to best serve the activity as a whole, then map "Sound" to give you full control over the AV Receiver if you need to tweak the sound experience with equalization, etc during the activity.
Similarly, if you are using a Projector, you can do the same with "Picture" to give you instant access to the projector menu and controls while remaining in the activity. One example would be the need to map the cursor pad to control the TV source for use within the activity, but, in the "Picture" mode, the choice would be to map the cursor pad controls to manipulate the projector menu.
However, in the tradition of protecting the user from himself, the button mapping for these additional maps are restricted to only the devices that logitech feels are appropriate... for example, only the audio device(s) in the current activity that are principally audio related will be offered for the "Sound" button's mapping.
These buttons also give you a completely different set of LCD "softkeys" customizable for your needs. However, since the screen displays the button state, buttons #1 and #2 are not available on the remote although the software shows six button options, so, group in "four's" rather than "six's"
On the 620, when you press either of these buttons, the remote remaps.
Press the same button again, and the original activity keys are mapped and the name of the activity reappears on the LCD screen.
Note that one unusual aspect of this temporary "remapping" of the keys is that hard keys not used for the button remain the same as they were in the activity. For example, if your primary use of the "Picture" button is to allow access to the projector's menu and cursor pad, assuming the volume buttons are not used, they will continue to control the activity's volume.
This is a very powerful option for the serious user, but, keep in mind that it has the potential to confuse low tech users if they accidentally press one of these buttons within an activity... it probably also explains a couple of confusing incidents when I accidentally pressed them as well.
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USB Connect Method
The primary reason for including this column is to facilitate diagnosing Windows USB connection problems using the windows device manager. Most of the Harmony Remotes use HID (Human Interface Device) Windows USB drivers. The more recent models (the 1000 and 1100 at this writing) use USB "Network" drivers (Network Adapter as RemoteControl USB LAN LINK)
On the Mac, All show up in Hardware -> USB -> USB Bus. (1000/1100 Belcarra Generic MDLM-BLAN, All Others, HarmonyRemote.com)
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Firmware
The Firmware versions are from this forum post dated July 22, 2009
They are also updated as soon as we get information about updates.
© 2010 Harmony-Remote-Forum.de & Beverly Howard