Logitech Remote

Logitech Harmony 650 Remote: Control TV, Roku and Raspberry Pi

I tried many different remote controls. I tried cheaper ones. I tried lirc and flirc. My favorite is the Logitech Harmony 650.

To setup your devices (TV, DVD, Projector, Raspberry Pi, and so on) you need to know the manufacturer and model number.

The Raspberry Pi is a bit unique. I couldn't find anything that worked properly. So, I setup the Raspberry Pi as an Apple TV. Apple Remote A1294 controls Apple TV A1378. A1294 remote is preloaded in Kodi.

In my setup, the Raspberry Pi runs Kodi on OSMC and is really only used for broadcast TV.

Step 1. Overcome My Harmony's Limitations

I worked on hospital TV start up for about a year. Eventually, I gave up and got a job. But I was left with a lot of TVs. So, I have 7 rooms with televisions or projectors.

The My Harmony app has a limitation in that it doesn't allow naming of the room the remote is in. So, I keep these in a text file.

For whatever reason, my family likes to walk around with the remotes and bring them from room to room. Each remote only controls the devices in that room. I put a small sticker on the inside, where the batteries are that indicate the room name for the remote.

Step 2. Download and Install app

Download and install the Logitech's MyHarmony app.

Downloading and installing the app is self-explanatory.

Step 3. Setup the remote to control devices

Within the MyHarmony App, do the following to setup the Raspberry PI:

• • Add Device:

    • Manufacturer: Apple

    • Model: A1378

    • The A1378 corresponds to the Silver Apple Remote

    • Rename the device to Raspberry Pi

  • Add activity Watch TV

    • The TV should control volume

  • running Kodi as Watch Apple, rename to "Broadcast TV", manufacturer: Apple, model: A1378, select Apple Silver remote from Kodi,

Setup the rest of the devices using manufacturer and model number. Add activities. Sync, and then go back and edit On Screen buttons and physical buttons, and sync again. I remove the premium buttons (NetFlix, ...) and add Options, Home, Menu, Select and direction buttons to on screen

Step 4. Control Raspberry Pi

To continue setting up the 650 to control the Raspberry Pi, on the TV with it connected to Raspberry Pi and with a mouse and keyboard connected to a Raspberry Pi:

• • go to My OSMC : Pi Config : Hardware - to determine GPIO pins used.

  • My GPIO pins are in=18, and out=17

  • go to My OSMC: Pi Config: Remote - select the remote Apple Silver Remote A1294

Enable LIRC GPIO Support OK Reboot