PS3 and the Harmony 880 Remote.

mitch · 01-07-2008, 05:50 PM

Hi All,

I just purchased the PS3 [my son uses it for the games and I'm using it for the Blu-Ray player]. Pretty good timing anyway considering the recent announcements, although I also own the Toshiba A2 HD DVD and still love it for HD DVD's and the upscaling of SD DVD's. So now I'm format neutral. I have to say, I'm very impressed so far.

I want to use my Harmony 880 Remote to control the PS3 as part of my home theater system. I know that the PS3 uses Bluetooth. I want to find out what other members have done to use their Harmony Remote for their systems with the PS3.

I'm looking into the NYKO remote available from Amazon for $13.99. It comes with a USB IR converter that allows this remote to work with the PS3. Then I'm supposed to be able to use this remote to teach the Harmony.

Has anyone else had any luck with this? Please excuse if this has already been posted or if I'm in the wrong place.

Jamey K · 01-07-2008, 07:15 PM

The 880 will do a lot of things but it won't control your PS3. Sony does make a nice blue tooth remote, that's cheap, and works well for both movies and gaming. I've got one and it's nice to have around so you don't have to deal with the game controllers. I got mine at BB.

mitch · 01-07-2008, 07:31 PM

Jamey,

You are partly correct about the Harmony 880 not controlling the PS3. There is an IR remote available from a company called Nyko which comes with a USB dongle that fits into one of the PS3's USB ports.

When you insert this USB dongle into the PS3, you can then control the PS3 with the Nyko remote. You can also then program [teach] the Harmony with the functions and buttons of the Nyko IR remote so that you can use the Harmony to control the PS3. I've spoken to the folks over at Logitech and they told me that it works.

I just wanted to find out if anyone else has done this successfully and what their experience has been.

By the way, I have purchased the Sony PS3 Bluetooth remote as well to use for Blu-Ray DVD's and it does work very well. I would just rather be able to control everything in my home theater with my Harmony 880 as I do now.

Thanks,

Mitch

Jamey K · 01-07-2008, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mitch

Jamey,

You are partly correct about the Harmony 880 not controlling the PS3. There is an IR remote available from a company called Nyko which comes with a USB dongle that fits into one of the PS3's USB ports.

When you insert this USB dongle into the PS3, you can then control the PS3 with the Nyko remote. You can also then program [teach] the Harmony with the functions and buttons of the Nyko IR remote so that you can use the Harmony to control the PS3. I've spoken to the folks over at Logitech and they told me that it works.

WOW! Thanks Mitch. I didn't know that at all. If you are able to do this...please post it up!

Patrick Mason · 01-07-2008, 08:19 PM

Hey Mitch,

I don't have a Harmony remote, but I do have the Nyko remote and was able to program its commands to my Sony universal "learning" remote, so I'm sure it should work for you just as well.

Among the things the remote can't do is turn the PS3 on/off or eject the disc. It also doesn't have many buttons beyond the basic DVD commands.

If none of that bothers you, it works perfectly well. I've been using it for months now and am grateful to be back to my one remote.

Hope that helps,

Patrick

**HTF Ads**

Man-Fai Wong · 01-07-2008, 11:51 PM

Yeah, I will likely try the Nyko dongle as well unless something else comes to market soon.

_Man_

nolesrule · 01-08-2008, 12:26 AM

There appears to be a profile for the Nyko Blu-Wave USB remote in the Harmony setup software. I found it under Game Consoles (with DVD), under the Nyko manufacturer.

So it shouldn't even require having to learn any IR codes.

wendortb · 01-08-2008, 08:47 AM

schmartz.com
This guy is selling a little nicer infrared device for the ps3. He also sells one that will turn off the ps3, but it is about $50. They do look better on the front of the ps3 also. This is what I will buy when I get tired of using the controller.

Man-Fai Wong · 01-08-2008, 02:17 PM

Hmmm... Sounds nice though I wonder how well it really works in practice compared to the Nyko option since it seems to rely on your remote's preprogrammed codes unless you happen to have a perfectly matching Sony DVD remote to learn from. The one that offers power on/off seems a bit too klugey to me though -- and you need to use a PSP for that(??).

_Man_

MarkHarrison · 01-08-2008, 05:16 PM

I ordered one of the Nyko remotes this morning (along with my first Blu-ray titles

). It was only $14 on Amazon. I'll keep my eyes open for something better down the line, but this ought to do the trick for now.

wendortb · 01-09-2008, 08:11 AM

I just wish Sony would realize the market that wants infrared ability. I am sure there are a lot of people who would love to be able to completly control their ps3 with an infrared remote. Right now you have to use the controler or actually touch the ps3 to turn it on and off.

My g/f doesn't understand right now how to turn on music from the ps3. If I had the ability to turn on and off the ps3 and control it from the remote, I could make it so you press 1 button and everything is set up.

That schmartz one with the power on/off is the best option so far. It does suck you need a psp to have the ability to turn the ps3 on. I also don't like the wire going to the power button with the sticker, but there aren't any other choices right now. Come on sony, give us some features that we really want.

Maybe, someday, the ps3 will have all of the features that I want.