Logitech Limits Harmony Hub Resets
techuck_ (via Hacker News):
After resetting my Hub last night, I was shown a message in the desktop + mobile apps saying my Hub had been disabled and to contact Customer Service. I tried several additional resets, a new Harmony account app re-installs, etc. and the message wouldn’t go away.
Logitech:
Our system will lock out a remote when it has detected excessive additions and deletions of devices to your remote account. Expected use would require only periodic additions/deletions of devices. This time I’ve enabled your remote account. So avoid deleting and adding the devices frequently.
Due to the product Terms of Use. Next time, your remote will no longer be able to make further updates to its configuration, when it gets disabled.
I guess this is to get you to buy the hub that supports more devices, instead of rotating them on the smaller hub.
My fridge has an RFID chip in the water filter, which means the generic water filter I ordered for $19 doesn’t work. My fridge will literally not dispense ice, or water.
I have to pay @generalelectric $55 for a water filter from them.
Last month I canceled a random charge for $4.99 per month from HP called “InstantInk”. Wasn’t sure what it was for. I’ve had it for over a year but had no idea what it did.
I just found out what it did
[…]
Apparently HP remotely disabled perfectly good ink cartridges because I don’t pay a monthly fee?
Previously:
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@Tom Thanks for explaining that.
>I guess this is to get you to buy the hub that supports more devices, instead of rotating them on the smaller hub.
But this is so cumbersome that I doubt anyone would actually do it. Maybe they're afraid that people would programmatically rotate devices? But that's such a niche case that it seems unreasonable to punish everybody for the ten people in the world who would actually set up something like this.
>Next time, your remote will no longer be able to make further updates to its configuration, when it gets disabled
So Logitech will just destroy your remote if you buy new remote-controlled devices too often. Which is probably what the kinds of people who own a Harmony tend to do.
I have an old 00s-era harmony that has this weird soft plastic that starts to turn into goo after about one or two decades. It's slowly getting sticky now, and I was thinking about getting a new one. Thanks for the warning.
After resetting my hub last night I got a message on the desktop and mobile apps saying my hub was disabled and to contact customer service.
I get the following message when I try to add a new device to my system:
"Your remote has been disabled. Please contact customer support for assistance.
[HP1020]"
How can I contact customer support?
Thanks,
Fred
Regarding Ryan's rant, that charge didn't magically appear on his credit card. One has to sign up for the InstantInk service. It is subscription based and cancelling the service stops the cartridge from working. You pay for pages printed per month no matter how many ink cartridges you use. The printer tells HP when the ink is low in order for them to send a new cartridge. You send the old cartridge back in the provided box and prepaid postage. It is a great service but completely voluntary. All Ryan needs to do is buy ink on his own dime. He doesn't need a new printer.
I am always amazed at the incompetence of people who work in IT.