[dismantler]

Remote tangent, the fix for the Ortek MCE IR problem I mentioned earlier (up/down keys getting double pressed) was to set the device 'command repeat' in the Harmony software for the device to 1. (Not 3, not 0, 1.) NOW I have my Harmony remote fully controlling the Fire and XBMC the way I want it to. (*Thinks about making snarky "boyfriend acceptance factor" joke, refrains*)

I have a generic IR learning remote and I'm having the same issue with the Ortek Remote. I've tried hold the buttons down for different lengths of time and at different spacings, but nothing is working. So while the Ortek remote is much nicer than I expected for $12, I'm pretty much right back where I was.

Update: I actually got it to work. I read through this guide: http://www.remotecentral.com/features/irtips.htm
I used the fly boy method (start the remotes far apart and fly in quickly while holding the transmitting button from original remote) from that guide in a dark room with no monitors and after a few tries it works.