Harmony Ultimate, Harmony Smart Control, Harmony Link

[Medic27]

Update: The support tech at Logitech that has been working this issue with me let me know that when he hears a fix has been made he will be contacting me directly to let me know. As usual I have offered to help beta test anything they need to help fix this problem. I am still 100% sure that the key renewal interval is still the problem with the link failing to communicate with the network. I have another router a Linksys E2000. This device does not give yout he option to change any "key renewal" time. I have it set to connect to my Harmony Link and have not had problems in 5 days. It still appears all the problems are tied to the key renewal and if your router has this option in it then WPA and WPA2 will not work. I can confirm that WEP does work however you have to deal with an extrememly long key that no one can remember. But it is better than no secuitry at all which works good too if you choose not to have any applied, however I do not recommend this at all.

Something I have not tried (but will tomorrow or Thursday) is to take my Cisco router, the WRVS4400N and create a second SSID. This router has the ability to create a 4 different wifi networks. Basically my thinking is this. I can take this have my normal network that everyone connects through and use my WPA encryption that I want to use. I will then create another SSID just for the Harmony Link except that this network will be WEP security. I will set the main SSID and the one created for the Link operate between each other, this router has an option to enable or disable wireless isolation between SSID's. This will allow me to have my phone and other devices connected on one network but be able to speak with a device on the other such as the Harmony Link. I am pretty sure this will work fine it is just a matter of setting it up.

This still is not a true fix however it allows me to have one router in place instead of two. While I have not seen any speed issues my Cisco router has twice the power as my Linksys router and therefore gives me much better coverage. I will post my results when I get them. But my gut says if you have a router that allows multiple SSID's, then you create one for the LInk with WEP encryption and the other the way you want. Then let the two talk between each other and you should be able to connect.

I hope Logitech gets this fixed. I can tell anyone who is interested the Linksys E2000 is a consumer router while the WRVS4400N made by Cisco (i believe both companies are the same now) is a business class device. Not sure if the "business class" has something to do with it or not. Would be interested to know if anyone else has a Cisco business class router that is having the same problem I am.

[towboy123 Logi Legend]

Also make sure the to WAP points use the same subnet.

I believe your thinking is correct if you still can't connect your phone to the link connect your phone to the same WAP

[Medic27]

Ok kids here is the outcome in my dealings with support and testing on my own.

I am using a Cisco WRVS4400N router which is a business class router with VPN built into it. This device has a setting called "key renewal" under the settings in WPA and WPA2 security. Logitech admits that it is a problem. For some reason the Harmony Link does not respond to the updated key renewal when the router pushes it out. Therefore it may be connected to your network but can talk to nothing. You have a few options that I will list below. I have successfully tested a Linksys E2000 consumer router and using WPA and WPA2 seems to work fine with no trouble from the Harmony Link at all. However there is not setting to change "key renewal" in the WPA or WPA2 security settings. So you can do the following but my problem with the whole thing is that I have to have my Cisco router on for work. This router was purchased for the sole reason that it is wireless N along with VPN (and Cisco is the brand of networking products that my company uses). I don't know if the consumer class routers don't do a key renewal or what but I think Logitech needs to investigate this and make the Link work either way. However if people don't call into support or contact them via their online support form they will not be able to help get a fix for the problem for anyone. According to engineering I am the only one in the world with this problem right now who has it pinpointed to the "key renewal" being the problem. I have spent countless hours forcing updates to my Link (per request of support), and configuring routers. Below are my thoughts on what a person can do to get their link running when "key renewal" is a problem.

1.  Get a new router that doesn't support configuring "key renewal" in security settings. May not be practicle but hey it will work. Looks like to me the bottom line here is if your router supports configuring "key renewal" then you will have the problem noted above.

2. Connect a second access point (one that doesn't use "key renewal") to your router and use it to connect your link and other devices with WPA WPA2 security. While this seems redundant, and it is, it does work and I didn't see much if any of a speed issue on my network while doing so because both of my devices support gigabyte ethernet so they are connected at 1gig instead of 100meg when connected with an ethernet cable.

3. Use WEP security instead of WPA or WPA2. I know it is a pain and less secure but it is better than nothing, of course you could always go BOLD and not use any security at all however I highly discourage this practice.

4. Do what I did. On this router the Cisco WRVS4400N I have the ability to set up multiple SSID's. Namely I can set up 4 of them and configure everything about them independently of the other. So I have the SSID that all my devices in my home connect to set up in WPA, then I have created another SSID with WEP secyurity that only my Harmony Link is connected to. I have the two SSID's set to be open to each other meaning it will not restrict data traffic to stay within that SSID. This allows devices connected on two different SSID's to communicate. However they must be on the same WAP (which they are in this case).

5. You can bump the key renewal up to it's max. On mine it was 99,999 seconds which is a little over 27 hours. However after the device loses communication with the network you will either need to reboot your router or Harmony Link then the clock starts again on the key renewal. Still not very practicle but lets you use the router you want or need to use with the security you want on it.

Option 4 has fixed the problem with my Link losing communication to my network (WEP security appears to have no key renewal setting on either router this is why it works). However it still doesn't fix the connectivity issue with the Link while using WPA WPA2 security that I believe Logitech needs to address and fix. I am happy that I can use one router however I want all my equipment on the same advanced security which I can not currently do.

Make sure if you are reading this thread and having a problem with your link that you call Logitech's support line or send them a support ticket. So far they have responded in a somewhat timely manner (longest was like 2 days) and seem to be willing to help. However being the only person with this problem (which I can't believe) they say they will go no farther with a fix or at least aren't pursuing it very hard at this point. You can get the contact information for support from www.logitech.com  . If anyone hears of anything such as an update that addresses key renewal on the Link please post back so those of us who are can get some resolve to this problem.

Merry Christmas!

[Jan51]

I am so glad you found what works for you.  I would say, however, that this is way beyond the capabilities of many people, myself included.  I should not have to get a computer expert to make my Link work correctly.

[Medic27]

No you shouldn't have to. But the product is fairly new and when a company launches something new there are typically bugs with it. You should be fine with a standard consumer router. Worst case go back to WEP security and you will be fine. Even with the problems this device is outstanding. I have replaced my harmony remotes so many times because of kids and now grand kids. This will end up saving me a little chunk of change. Once I know there is a fix out I will definitely post back. I'm sure they will get it fixed. If they don't then I guess it was just isolated to me which could be possible I guess. This router is a couple years old. I am going to try and reach out to Cisco and let them know of the problem. May e they need to do something with their product. But again I still recommend the product and if you do have trouble their tech support over the phone is great. They will walk you through all the trouble shooting.

[Nephylym]

Hello there...  I am also having the very same problem.  My Harmony Link disconnects from my WiFi at some point and even simply resetting the Link by unplugging it and re-plugging it (from the AC) does not let it reconnect to the WiFi.  I need to go into my office and reset my router.  It is very annoying.

I hope Logitech will fix this, and soon.

[towboy123 Logi Legend]

Have you tried any of the suggestions here to see if they help?

---

Nephylym wrote:

Hello there...  I am also having the very same problem.  My Harmony Link disconnects from my WiFi at some point and even simply resetting the Link by unplugging it and re-plugging it (from the AC) does not let it reconnect to the WiFi.  I need to go into my office and reset my router.  It is very annoying.

I hope Logitech will fix this, and soon.

---

[Medic27]

Nephlym. I can't stress enough the importance of calling them and having run through their support steps with you. It very well could be the same problem I was having. But without more people calling in they won't come up with a fix.

[LuisB]

I need some help!!! I have the Harmony link but I cannot get it connected to my Time Capsule, everytime I put my password a message comes up saying that my password was incorrect. All my home devices (iphone, Ipad, etc) work fine except for the harmony link. At the beggining, I thought that my Harmony link came damaged so I chaged it at the store, but I'm still having the same promblem with the second harmony link that I got. I have read all pages in this section but I haven't found an answer. Can anyone help me please???

[djtripd]

Same issues with an Apple Time Capsule and the Harmony Link, it's not just you.