If you are looking at the Logitech Hub, chances are you are either meaning to purchase this to work with your srmartphone or table -or- integrate it with Amazon Alexa.
If you are looking for smartphone or tablet integration, let me say up front that it works great. You can be up and running in no time. This tutorial will help you get started.
If you are looking to integrate with Alexa, be prepared to spend a significant amount of time to get it working. I have been a die-hard Logitech remote owner for well over a decade. Have bought every one of their remotes, and am thoroughly educated in setting up their products. This wasn't a difficult product to set up as far as its basic functions, but when it came to integrating with Alexa, there was a lot of trial and error. I hope to give potential buyers an easy tutorial on setting up their device.
1. Upon receiving your Logitech Hub, the best way to get started is with a desktop or laptop computer. Log on to: myharmony.com and click on the Sign in/Setup icon to begin. What you ultimately want to do here is download the Harmony App for Mac OS X or Windows. I am using Mac OS X.
2. Sign into the app either by creating a new account, or, using an existing account. You will want to add a new product. Have your hub and the included USB connector ready to hook up to your laptop. Once you sync the hub to your computer, it will find your WiFi network. You will also have the opportunity to give your hub a name.
3. Adding devices to your Harmony Hub via desktop software couldn't be easier! All you need is the manufacturer and model number of each device. Add your television, Blu-ray/4k/DVD player, receiver/stereo, Tivo/DVR, Apple TV/Roku to devices. When you add each device the software will ask you specific questions regarding how you control each device.
4. Next, you will have the opportunity to add Activites such as "Watch Television," "Watch Blu-ray," "Watch Roku." When adding each of these activities, the software will give you the opportunity to link up those activities to each device. Do remember that most televisions are actually controlled by cable company DVR devices so be certain to add those devices and indicate (if applicable) that changing channels are controlled by the DVR box.
5. This is very important: Go to FAVORITES in the Harmony desktop software app. Be sure to put in your Zip Code, select your local cable provider, and enter your absolute favorite TV channels. These are channels you will ultimately be telling Alexa to TURN ON.
Find the Sync button on the Harmony desktop Software App and sync the settings to your connected hub.
Now disconnect your hub from your computer and plug it into the wall near your display and components. Plug in the IR blaster to either one of the two inputs on the back of the hub and place that blaster in a centralized location within your system so it can reach all devices.
6. Install the Harmony App on your smartphone or tablet. Log into the account you created on the desktop software. The smartphone or tablet app will download your configuration. You now have a remote on your portable device.
This is a good time to test all your functions from your mobile device to make certain each of the commands (such as WATCH TV) are working correctly before moving on to the next step...
If you are planning to integrate with Alexa, you will need to do the following additional steps...
1. Download the Amazon Alexa app on your smartphone or tablet. If you already own Alexa, you already have this app downloaded.
2. Go into the app. Open the side panel (click on the 3-lines on top left of app) and select Smart Skills
3. Do a search for: Harmony
4. The two main apps you want are the BLUE "Harmony - Optimized for Smart Home" and "Yonomi." Now "Yonomi" may not be essential, but I could not get Alexa to recognize the hub without it.
5. Download and install Yonomi first. It will ask you to create an account. It will then ask that you link your Amazon App. Don't worry about any of the settings inside of Yonomi. You really only want to link it to your Amazon.
6. Next, install the BLUE Harmony App. It will ask you to link to your Harmony account -and- your Alexa account. The big thing you want to do here is giving all your devices and TV channels "friendly" names. These are names that you will give commands to Alexa. For instance, "Alexa, turn on CNN" or "Alexa turn on CBS"
7. After you have completed setting up the BLUE app, make certain that Alexa discovers all your devices. You should be automatically prompted to have Alexa do a Discover.
Go into the Alexa App side panel (remember the 3 lines on the top left), select SKILLS and then DEVICES and make certain that the hub is online (it should be tied to Yonomi)
Now it is time to test Alexa...
Say, "Alexa, turn on television."
Say, "Alexa, turn on CNN"
Say, "Alexa, turn on Channel 2"
You can also have Alexa turn on and off your other activities.
OPTIONAL....
If this has worked successfully for you, the next thing to do is repeat steps #6 and #7 immediately above and install the RED Harmony skill. That skill enables you to control volume and other more advanced functions. What needs to be done diffferently with those commands is that you have to tell Alexa: "Alexa, tell harmony to turn up the volume." "Alexa, tell harmony to....."
So, the red app is a companion to the blue app. It can be a little more complex with its commands as they aren't as straight-forward as the blue app commands but both these apps are designed to work together. Just remember which commands to use for which functions,
This wasn't the easiest thing to set up, and really, I can't believe that Amazon and Logitech couldn't get their act together to make an app that is more straight-forward to use. Hopefully, in time both companies will put out another app that solves the problem of having to use two different apps and two different set of commands to control your entertainment system.
Hope this tutorial helps.
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From the manufacturer
Logitech Harmony Hub
Control home entertainment with your voice
Turn your TV to sports, crank the volume, play and pause the action all with one touch or voice command. Works with Amazon’s Alexa to provide easy voice control.
Customize your own home experiences
Get your lighting, speakers, TV and more* to work together for one-touch experiences like Welcome Home or DateNight. Set room lighting to automatically dim when you start a movie. Turn on multiple devices at a touch or create custom schedules.
Control your home from your smartphone
Harmony Hub turns your smartphone or tablet into a universal remote and integrates home entertainment devices in one easy-to-use Harmony App.Take control of your smarthome and entertainment devices directly from the Harmony smartphone/tablet app.**
*Smartphone, lights, locks, thermostats, sensors, blinds, and other products sold separately.
**Initial online and/or mobile setup required. Data rates may apply for mobile app download.
Highlights
- Includes Harmony Hub and Harmony App for home entertainment and automation control
- Works with Alexa for voice integration
- Controls up to 8 devices from set-top boxes to Philips hue lights
- Harmony App turns iOS and Android smartphones/tablets into personal universal remotes
- Closed-cabinet and game console control
Features
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Alexa voice controlUse Amazon Alexa with your Logitech Harmony Hub remote to start and stop Harmony Activities, or to turn on your television to your favorite channel. For example, say Alexa, turn on the TV to power on your Harmony Watch TV Activity, or Alexa, turn on Sports to begin watching your favorite team on the big screen. |
Integrated home entertainment controlHarmony Hub works with top entertainment devices, such as Apple TV, Roku, or Sonos and game consoles such as Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation3 or Wii. Create custom activities, such as Movie Night, to turn on the TV, cable box, Netflix and then turn on the speakers - all in one touch. |
Closed cabinet and game console controlHarmony Hub sends commands to your devices using IR, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth wireless signals***. So you can control devices behind closed cabinet doors and access online entertainment services like Netflix and Hulu on your PS3, Wii or Xbox One. ***Wireless and IR range may vary due to environmental conditions. |
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Turn your smartphone into a personal remoteThe Harmony App lets you and anyone in the house turn iOS or Android smartphones or tablets into universal remotes. Start multi-device Activities with one touch. Adjust volume, change channels and control movies and shows with on-screen gestures. Jump right to favorite channels with 50 customizable channel Favorites. |
Simple setup on computer or mobile appSimply connect Harmony Hub to your Internet-connected computer, go to setupmyharmony website, and download the commands for your devices. Or use the Harmony App† to setup control for your devices in just minutes—right on your smartphone or tablet. Either way, Harmony Hub and the app are automatically synced up with the commands for all your devices. Initial online and/or mobile setup required. Data rates may apply for mobile app download. |
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What’s in the box
- Harmony Hub
- IR mini-blaster
- USB cable
- AC adapter
- User documentation
System requirements
- Internet access: Wi-Fi: Supports 802.11g/n, WPA Personal, WPA2-AES and 64/128-bit WEP encryption.
- For iOS mobile setup and control: iPhone 4S or later, iPad (3rd generation or later), iPad mini, iPod touch (5th generation or later) device with iOS 6.0 or higher.
- For Android mobile setup and control: Wi-Fi enabled smartphone with Android 4.0 or later.
- Harmony App: download from the App Store or Google Play. A supported mobile device is required for setup and control of some home automation devices.
- For Windows-based PC setup: Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
- For Mac OS computer setup: Mac OS X 10.6 or higher.
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| Harmony 650 | Harmony Ultimate One | Harmony Home Hub | Harmony Companion | Harmony Elite | |
| Highlight | Bright, brilliant home entertainment control | Powerful, seamless home entertainment control | Turn your smartphone into a powerful universal remote control | Control your entertainment and your home from your smartphone | The most powerful, intuitive Harmony remote for home entertainment and home control |
| Number of devices controlled | 8 | 15 | 8 | 8 | 15 |
| Works with Alexa | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Full-color touchscreen: Tap/swipe channels, control volume/playback; launch multi-device Activities | - | ✓ | - | - | ✓ |
| Harmony mobile app: Turn iOS and Android devices into personal universal remotes | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Closed cabinet control: Control devices behind cabinet doors and walls | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Home automation: Start/stop Activities or devices according to schedules or in response to sensors | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Compatibility | Mac/PC | Mac/PC | iOS/Android, Mac/PC | iOS/Android, Mac/PC | iOS/Android, Mac/PC |
| Favorite channels: Customize remote with favorite channels | 23 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
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Customer Questions & Answers
Customer reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2017
Style: Logitech Harmony HubVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2018
Style: Logitech Harmony HubVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2018
Style: Logitech Harmony HubVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2018
Style: Logitech Harmony HubVerified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
Poetry Coder
Great for centralizing simple setups. Not recommended for voice command.
Reviewed in Canada on August 25, 2018Style: Logitech Harmony HubVerified Purchase
Pierre-Luc
Controls everything
Reviewed in Canada on January 5, 2018Style: Logitech Harmony HubVerified Purchase
G.L.
Very poor design.
Reviewed in Canada on July 15, 2020Style: Logitech Harmony HubVerified Purchase
Johannes Doreleyers
This unit never worked
Reviewed in Canada on July 26, 2019Style: Logitech Harmony HubVerified Purchase
Fernando
No gasten su dinero
Reviewed in Mexico on April 30, 2020Style: Logitech Harmony HubVerified Purchase
