Harmony Hub: Add Voice Control to Your TV and Entertainment Center

The Logitech Harmony Hub, Part 1:

     

Control your TV, DVR, and Other Entertainment Components with Your Voice

If you have a Fire TV and Alexa, you've probably already played around with voice controlling it.  And you may have wished you could extend these voice-control abilities to your TV itself, as well as your other entertainment system components.  Well, what if I told you there was a way to add this voice control to your existing equipment?  Would you like to learn more?

Today, we're going to tell you just how to do that, using the Logitech Harmony Hub.  In Part 1, we're going to introduce you to the Harmony Hub itself, and talk about how it can enhance equipment you already own.  Later, we'll get a little bit deeper into setting up the Harmony Hub, as well as configuring it to work with your equipment.

What is the Harmony Hub?

The Harmony Hub is a small device that connects to your home wifi and turns your smartphone or tablet into a universal remote control. Additionally, once you activate the corresponding skill, it adds Alexa Voice Control abilities to your home entertainment system. So the Harmony Hub gives you BOTH universal remote and Alexa voice control abilities.

The photo shows my own Entertainment Cabinet.  The Harmony Hub is sitting on top of a Wii, and next to a VCR/DVD-recorder and Blu-Ray player.  You can see the top of the TV below. (Not in the picture is a Hard Drive based DVR that is also controlled by my Harmony Hub.)  The hub itself is just slightly larger than a standard deck of cards.  

Once installed, the Harmony Hub uses wifi, infrared, and Bluetooth to communicate with your various devices.  It can control certain Smart Thermostats, Smart Lights, and other Smart Home appliances as well.  

Do I need to Have a Smart TV to Use a Harmony Hub?

Although the Harmony Hub is compatible with most Smart TVs, you do not need to have a Smart TV to use a Harmony Hub. I have set up Harmony Hubs on Smart TVs and non-Smart TVs.  I have set it up on systems with Cable Boxes, as well as for folks who use Over The Air (OTA) antennae.  

With What Devices is the Harmony Hub Compatible?

Harmony claims compatibility with over 270,000 devices.  That means it is compatible with all of those devices with no further tinkering. However, you can manually configure your A/V equipment if it is not in Logitech's database of compatible devices. You will just have to do a lot of tinkering from within the control app.

And in my experience, you'll probably need to do some tinkering, even if Harmony claims it can auto-configure your device.  During set-up, Harmony will "find" any compatible devices already connected to the same wifi network, and it will automatically configure these devices.  Others, you will need to manually add, using the make and model number.  

Some devices will not be found, either automatically or by inputting the make and model. You still may be able to add  them to your Harmony Hub. If you have the original remote control, the Harmony Hub can "learn" commands using that.  If that original remote is long gone, you can still manually enter information, enabling the Hub to control that device to some degree.  However, adding these types of devices will take a lot of tinkering, and you will probably need to edit the device's commands, using the app, in order to fine tune control.

Harmony maintains a Support Page, where you can search device compatibility before you buy.  You can visit it at https://support.myharmony.com/en-us/compatibility.  The newer the device, the more likely it is to be supported.

What Types of Things can the Harmony Hub and Alexa Do?

With every attached device, the Harmony Hub can control basic functions. That means at the very least, it can turn a device on or off, it can adjust the volume, and it can change channels.  With some devices, it can play, pause, fast-forward and rewind as well.  And it can perform all of these functions via voice, with Alexa.

Similar to with Hue Lights, you can also use the Harmony App to create Alexa Scenes.  This means you can lump a bunch of Harmony Commands into a routine that Alexa will perform with a single voice prompt.  You can also place devices and scenes into Alexa Groups, again to facilitate multiple actions with a single command. For example, you may want the lighting in your TV Room to change when you turn on the TV. You could create a group, in which certain lights are turned on or off at the same time the TV turns on.  You can also create scenes and groups to help you control your devices remotely, when you are not home.

However, depending on your specific devices, there are some functions for which you'll still need to reach for a remote. This can be a Harmony Universal Remote, your Smartphone or Tablet with the Harmony App installed, or the device's original remote.   You can also set up specific scenes to perform certain steps in a certain order, to help eliminate you having to reach for that physical remote.

How well your Hub can control a device really depends on the individual device.  With one of my DVD Recorders, the Harmony Hub can bring up the disk menu and select a recording from it. With my other one, it's still easier to use a physical remote.  In other words, it's not always the Hub itself that's acting quirky.  Sometimes the characteristics of an individual device make voice controlling certain functions a huge pain in the you know what.

Most modern entertainment devices use a combination of bluetooth, wifi, and/or infrared for control. Older devices will use infrared only.  If your device is so old that it does not use infrared, it will NOT work with the Harmony Hub.  That means that old Black and White TV you found in Granny's attic will not work with the Harmony Hub. (But that old TV will not work without a converter box either, and chances are that converter box added infrared to your TV.  So you may be able to control your converter box with the Harmony Hub.)

Is There a Limit to How Many Devices I can Control with One Hub?

On its own, the Harmony Hub can pair 8 A/V devices. However, if you buy an upgraded Harmony Universal Touchscreen Remote, you can increase this to 15 items.  You can also pair the Hub with an extender that can extend control to additional Smart Devices, also expanding the number of things you can pair to a single hub.

So out of the box, and paired with a Smartphone only, you can add 8 audio-visual devices to your Harmony Hub.  If you need to control more than 8 A/V devices, you can buy an upgraded Harmony Remote, and pair it with your Hub. This expands the Hub's ability, and you can now add up to 15 A/V devices. These will also be controllable with your Smart Phone.

The Harmony Hub can also control certain Smart Home Devices, in addition to the 8 A/V items.  A Hub Extender is available that can add control for even more Smart Devices.  Smart Devices that are controlled natively, as well as those that can be controlled with an extender, are listed at  https://support.myharmony.com/en-us/compatibility. These include devices such as Smart Lights, thermostats, and Smart Blinds.

This may all sound confusing.  It really is not. Remember, a lot of Smart Devices already have built-in Alexa compatibility. This means you do NOT need to add them to your Harmony Hub for voice control, unless you want to be able to control them with the Harmony App.  I prefer to control my Hue Lights separately, and so have NOT added them to Harmony, even though I could choose to do so.  I also see no need to add Smart Thermostat control to the Harmony. I already have an app for that, as well as Alexa voice-control.

Does the Harmony Hub Work with Third-Party Apps?

The Harmony Hub comes with its own app.  You'll pretty much need to use the Harmony App for initial set-up.  After that, you'll need to enable the Harmony Skill in Alexa and link your accounts.  However, once you've completed initial set-up, you can use various third-party apps for control.  And the Harmony Hub is compatible with both IFTTT and Yonami.

What are my Purchase Options?

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The Harmony Hub is available as a stand-alone product. It retails for $99.  However, I do NOT recommend purchasing it this way.  Instead, buy one of the Remote Control-Harmony Hub bundles.

The Logitech Harmony Smart Control bundle includes The Harmony Hub and a Universal Remote.  This particular package goes on sale A LOT, usually in the $65 - $80 range, making it cheaper than purchasing the hub on its own.  The included remote is nothing special, but it will give you an extra remote with which you can control all connected products. This way, you do not have to hand your smartphone to a friend (or the kids) when s/he wants to control  the TV.

(This is the bundle I personally own and use, and the one I recommend if you do not need a touchscreen remote.  Watch Amazon, NewEgg, and BestBuy for sales.  This goes on sale frequently, and Amazon and Best Buy will usually match each other's sale prices.  If you click through one of the links here, and add the item to your Amazon Wish List, you should get an alert the next time it goes on sale.)

The Logitech Harmony Companion bundle is virtually identical to the Smart Control bundle. It contains the Harmony Hub and a low-end universal remote. The main difference is that this remote adds a couple of dedicated buttons for Smart Device control. So if you want a dedicated button on your remote to control a Wemo, get this option. Otherwise, you can stick with the Smart Control Bundle.  This bundle retails for about $150, but again, often goes on sale for under $100.

The low-end remotes that come with this bundle are similar to these.  If you lose the included remote, or want to have a second one, you can purchase this Universal Remote.  It costs about $30.  This particular remote will NOT work on its own; it will only work in conjunction with a Harmony Hub. However, if you are debating which bundle to buy, and you'd like more information about the low-end remote, you can read about it here. 

If you want the BEST of the Harmony Universal Remotes, as well as the Harmony Hub, you can purchase the Logitech Harmony Elite Remote Control, Hub & App Bundle, which includes the Hub AND a touchscreen remote, with all the capabilities of the Smartphone app, and then some.  The Harmony Elite Remote Control can handle up to 15 devices, and expands the Hub's capabilities to 15 as well.  This package retails for $350, but usually can be found for between $250 and $325. Again, this package goes on sale frequently, and I recommend watching for a sale. 

The Logitech Harmony Ultimate All in One Remote also includes a high-end, touchscreen remote and the Harmony Hub.  This bundle also can handle up to 15 audio-visual devices.  Retailing for around $300, you can often find this bundle selling closer to the $200 range. 

If you really want the Hub ONLY, and do not have a need for the physical remote, you can purchase a Harmony Hub-Echo Dot bundle for about $120.  Remember, you need a Harmony Hub AND an Alexa-enabled device, such as a Dot or Echo, to add voice control to your Entertainment System.  

If you have an old smartphone, you may NOT need to buy a bundle with a physical remote. Instead, you can turn that old Smartphone into a Smart Home Controller.  I have an old Galaxy S 3 that I use in this way.  I keep it in airplane mode, with mobile data turned off, and wifi and bluetooth turned on. I have installed all of my Smart Home apps on this old phone, including Harmony, Hue, Wemo, Kasa, and Alexa.  I purchased a Hub Bundle that included the low-end remote. But I rarely use the Harmony physical remote. Instead, I usually use a combination of voice control and the smartphone app.  And this way, my guests have full access to all of my Smart Devices without me having to hand over my cell phone.

Again, I want to emphasize that these bundles go on sale frequently, and I recommend waiting for a sale to purchase. You can click through one of the links on this page. That will take you to the product page at Amazon. If you add the product to your wish list, Amazon SHOULD send you a notification when it goes on sale. And most of the "Deals" sites and newsletters will also alert you to sales on the Harmony Hub packages. But these bundles will always cost you more if you buy them direct from Logitech, so I definitely recommend a "big box retailer" over buying direct from the manufacturer.

Can I Upgrade the Remote Later?

If you are not sure what type of physical remote you need, you can always start low and upgrade later. Most of the Harmony Universal Remotes are compatible with the Harmony Hub.  You can add a new remote either via the mobile app or the Desktop App. If you need to expand your hub's capabilities, you can add a remote that will expand the number of controlled devices from 8 to 15 as well.

Do I NEED to Have a Smartphone to use a Harmony Hub?

You do not need to have a Smartphone to use a Harmony Hub.  Harmony has a desktop app that can be used to manage your Harmony Hub. However, the app is limited in what it can do. I highly recommend using a Smartphone to do the initial setup.  It is A LOT easier to set up your devices using the Smartphone app than it is using the Desktop app.  I also recommend purchasing a bundle that includes a physical remote if you do not have a smartphone or tablet you plan to use as a controller.  Without a Smartphone, I'd recommend buying a package that includes  the touchscreen remote.  Remember, not EVERY function is voice-controllable, so you'll still need a physical remote to do some things.  (And the Universal Remotes that come in these bundles WILL do these things.)

Again, if you have an old Smartphone or tablet, you can use that as your Universal Remote.  Your Smartphone does NOT necessarily have to have service to use it for setting up and controlling your Harmony Hub.  So long as you have home wifi, you can use an older tablet or Smartphone to replace a physical remote.  

You can also borrow a Smartphone to do the initial setup, and then use the desktop app from there. We will talk about setting up your Harmony Hub in the next part of this series. However, if you are not very tech savvy, you may want to have your Computer Guru set this up. If so, your Computer Guru will have a Smartphone that can be used for set-up, and you can use the Desktop App for any additions or changes.

I Heard Logitech was Discontinuing Something... is it This?

Logitech is discontinuing another device that allows you to use your Smartphone as a universal remote; it is NOT discontinuing the Harmony Hub. Quite the opposite, in fact. Logitech is upgrading the Hub and expanding the number of Smart Devices with which it will work.  It is actually giving owners of the older product the Harmony Hub as a replacement. So you do not have to worry that you will purchase it, and it will stop working within the year.  The older, discontinued product neither offered Smart Device control nor voice control functions.

The older product was called "The Harmony Link."  DO NOT purchase a Harmony Link by mistake; Logitech is "bricking" The Harmony Link in March, 2018.  That means the Harmony Link will no longer function at all.  You may find a retailer trying to liquidate old stock. DO NOT BUY the Harmony Link under any circumstances, even if they are giving it away.

I have a Fire TV; What Does the Harmony Hub Give Me that the Fire TV does not?

It is true that you can voice control your Fire TV without a Harmony Hub.  In fact, we talked about using Alexa with your Fire TV on this very blog. Without a Harmony Hub, you still need to manually turn on your TV and soundbar, if you have one, and with most TV sets, set the input to the correct HDMI port.  With the Harmony Hub, you can say "Alexa, turn on Fire TV," and your TV (and soundbar) will come on, and the Harmony Hub will change the input to the correct HDMI.  You can also switch back to regular TV, your DVR, etc. with a voice command. Without the Hub, you can still tell Alexa "Watch Sneaky Pete," or "Open Hulu," and she will do it. But she will not change the TV back to Channel 7 when it's time to watch the news unless you add the Harmony Hub. In other words, the Harmony Hub controls ALL of your entertainment components, including your Fire TV; without the Hub, Alexa will ONLY control the native Fire TV functions.

Does the Harmony Hub Work with Other Smart Speakers?

The Harmony Hub works with Google Home and with Alexa. That means it also works with the Google Smart Speaker.  The Hub works with most third-party Alexa-enabled devices, such as the smart speakers made by Sonos and Eufy/Anker too.  At this time, it is NOT compatible with the Apple HomePod Smart Speaker. 

Is the Harmony Hub Really as Cool as it Sounds?

Once you get your Hub set-up, and all of your activities and devices configured, the Harmony Hub is a very fun thing. But it can be a bear to set up, and it definitely has its quirks. Because of this, there is somewhat of a learning curve.  It DOES take some time to program the thing, to figure out what scenes and activities you want, and to learn how to phrase commands in a way Alexa will understand.

Sometimes, you need to rephrase something or ask Alexa to do things twice.  Sometimes, you'll ask Alexa to change the TV to Channel 8.1, and she'll hear it as 81 the first two times you ask. But you ask a third time, et voila! Alexa changes the TV to Channel 8.1.  Often, you'll ask Alexa to change the channel, and she reports "The Harmony Hub is not responding," but it is, and the channel changes.  Sometimes, Alexa seems to forget you're watching TV, and you'll need to refocus her. (Saying "Watch TV," then reissuing the command seems to fix that.)

Despite all the quirks and the wonkiness, this is probably my favorite Smart Home thing, next to geofencing my Hue Lights.   It definitely has a "wow factor" for visitors. And I love to be able to change the channel, pause a show, or adjust the volume from across the room.  Callers are no longer surprised when I say "Hold on...Alexa, volume down on TV," when I answer the phone.  Most are still fairly amused by this.

So yes, in my opinion the Harmony Hub IS as cool as it sounds.  I can even program my DVR from across town, using the Smartphone App, if I forget to set up my show before I leave.  I NEVER have to play "Find the Remote" anymore, nor basically have to find another way to entertain myself if I don't have the right sized batteries when that remote dies.  When friends are over, and they ask if we can change the channel or adjust the volume, it's so cool to say "Sure...just ask Alexa to do it."

This is also a great product for folks with pain and/or mobility issues, as well as folks who have fingers that won't work those tiny remote buttons.  Remotes tend to get lost in beds and couch cushions really easily, and often, can be difficult to retrieve. Your aging Dad can never remember which input he needs to select on which remote to watch that DVD (or VHS Tape)?  Set him up with a "Watch DVD" activity, and he won't have to remember -- Alexa will remember for him.  Mom loves all those decorating shows, but can never remember the channel number or that it's called HGTV? Set up a "Watch that decorating channel" activity for her, and again, Alexa will choose the right channel when she asks.  

And if you are at all lazy, you'll absolutely LOVE the Hub. Ever have one of those days when you're too tired to pick up that dropped remote?  With help from Alexa and the Harmony Hub, you won't need to.  You can even tell Alexa to shut everything off after X amount of time, so you can fall asleep in front of the TV with no worries.

Yes, the Harmony Hub, paired with Alexa, is a really great thing.  It's functional, practical, and has a cool factor that makes it a lot of fun.

Summary

Today, we looked at the Harmony Hub, a gadget that pairs with Alexa to add voice control to your Television System.  We looked at the various things the Hub can do, as well as the various options for purchase.  We also talked about its "cool factor," as well as some of the reasons you may want to add this device to your Smart Home.

This article is the first in a series. Later, we'll look at setting up your Harmony Hub, adding your devices, and programming various activities. We'll get deeper into how to use the Hub in conjunction with Alexa to control your entire entertainment system. We'll talk about how to tinker with the settings to adjust the way Harmony is responding to certain commands. And of course, we'll look at troubleshooting when things don't  quite work correctly.

Personally, I LOVE my Harmony Hub, despite its quirkiness.  But of course, we're interested in hearing about our readers' experiences.  Do you have a Harmony Hub? Do you want one? What do you love (or hate) about your own Harmony Hub?  What issues have you had? Let us know in the comment section.  And as always, thanks for reading.