Harmony 555 question...

[roger06]

Thanks to helpful members here I'm now (successfully) using my Harmony 555 remote again.

Although it works (most of the time) - when I change the input on the TV it brings up the menu then slowly scrolls down to the right one. OK, it's not the end of the world but it takes about 12 seconds so a bit of a pain. The device options for the TV include buttons to go direct to the required input (e.g HDMI 1) and this works fine when done manually.

So can anyone tell me how to just get this incorporated into the activity settings?

thanks

 

[Andrew Everard]

If you still have the TV's remote, and that has a direct-access key for the input you want to go to, try learning that command into the remote, then incorporating it into the activity macro.

 

[professorhat]

Also, pretty sure when you setup the TV as a device, it asks you whether the TV remote control has a button for direct access to a source. So worth running through this again and selecting this option.

 

[roger06]

Makes sense - it turns from TV to HDMI no problem - but refuses to go back to TV... will keep playing.

 

[roger06]

When it fails to switch back to TV the help function sends a signal that does turn it on to TV - so it seems to 'know' it hasn't worked as it tries this first.

When I do it with the help it seems to send quite a long signal to the TV (as I see the TV's light flickering) whereas as part of the activity it doesn't seem to respond at all...

 

[Anonymous]

Roger,

As Prof previously mentioned I think it would be worth re-running the Activity set up on the Harmony software. Delete the existing bothersome Activity and repeat all the set-up steps and re-sync your remote.

Nick

 

[roger06]

Aaaaarrrrrrggghhhhh... this is driving me mad! I've deleted and recreated the activity. I can now get it to switch between HDMI and TV inputs instantly, without displaying and scrolling through the input menu...

However, when selecting the 'watch TV' option when the kit is turned off it turns the components on and switches to TV, great - but then sends the 'TV' signal again thus keeps the TV on the right input but switches it onto analogue!!!

If I then fiddle about and put it back onto digital TV I can switch easily and quickly between TV and HDMI - but as soon as I turn off and on again it switches it back to analogue...

 

[professorhat]

Hmm - it's a Panasonic isn't it? For some reason, Panny's can have a real issue with this remote. Two things you / we can do:

1. Log a call with Logitech on it - they should be able to put in a workaround which sorts it

2. I can try at some point to set up my 555 with my older Panasonic TV and give you the guide on how I get it all setup by sending coloured buttons instead of changing to the specific input. Sounds like you only really need this for when going back to the TV input I guess, so this should save some time.

 

[roger06]

Hi Prof

Thanks for that. I think it was the Logitech workaround I was living with - ie it was working but SO labourious watching it scroll through the input menu each time.

I think I've come up with a compromise I can live with - I've assigned to the * button the 'InputTuner' command which toggles between analogue and digital TV. I can just press this when I start everything up then it switches between the two no probs.

Only trouble is it's yet another change to explain to the other half / baby sitters etc !

 

[Binman]

I can imagine this being a pain. I have the same remote and a Panasonic TV. I use a Freesat box, so don't have the problem.

However, if I use the internal Free-view / Analogue tuner, it does the same thing: Turn on TV, goes to DVB, then sends a signal out which changed it to analouge. If I then turn it off, then on again, it turns TV on, goes to analogue, then sends a signal out which switches it to DVB!

So basically it works every other time I turn it on. It's been bugging me for a while, so I've just had a play and found a workaround...
[*]Open up the software.[*]Under 'Watch TV' click 'Troubleshoot[*]Click 'No, I want to change these settings'[*]Go through the next few questions, which go on about using your TV to control volume etc...[*]Under 'what input channel does your tv need to be on' make sure TV is selected.[*]On the review screen click 'Yes, but I want to add more control of options and devices for this Activity.'[*]Click save on this screen, then click next on the screen which asks what input channel you need (keep as TV)
[*]You come to 'Please review the actions for your Watch TV Activity:'[*]Click 'Add Action for' Panasonic TV, then next[*]On the next screen click 'Set the TVInput state to' and ensure DVB is selected.[*]Next/save/update remote
Your TV should now turn on, and it will send an additional to set it to DVB. This works for me, hope it works for you!

EDIT: the above just automates the extra press of the button you have now done, and saves you needing to explain it to anyone.

EDIT 2: The Harmony software just downloaded an update for my TV. Its now got an extra 'input' on the 'what input is your TV set to' which is called DVB. Just click that, and it should work.

 

[roger06]

Hi Binman

Thanks for those detailed instructions! I can replicate them all until step 10 - this option doesn't exist. How did you get an upgrade for your TV? I get options for Software upgrade or firmware upgrade. The software update doesn't seem to do anything - doesn't give me any meaningful feedback either. I seem to be on version 7.7.0.

Thanks again...

 

[roger06]

This is what I see at step 10...

 

[Binman]

When I went to change the settings for the TV, the software told me that there was an update for my Panasonic TH37 PX 70, i see you have a 42 inch TV, and maybe there isnt an update for your set.

I have done this in the past - I have told the remote that I have a different equipment to the one I have. It may be worth setting up the above TV on your software, and hope fully it will work.

In any case, as mentioned in my 'EDIT 2' there is no need to go through all the steps I mentioned. Try:
[*]Change TV to the Panasonic TH37PX70[*]During the set up:[*]Select I use my Panasonic TV to change channels > NExt[*]Select I use my Panasonic TV to display video > Next[*]Select I use my Panasonic TV to control the volume > Next[*]Then on the 'What input or channel does your Panasonic TV need to be on?' screen select 'DVB (Recommended)'Thats it, it should work without the 'workaround' I detailed earlier.

 

[roger06]

OK I've spoofed it by putting your TV's model in and it does indeed have that option in step 10.

However - am I right in thinking your TV only has 2 HDMI inputs?

How old is yours?

 

[roger06]

Nope - nice idea but back to being worse than square one! Won't turn back onto TV at all set up that way...

 

[roger06]

Right I think I may have got it as good as it gets.

I deleted my TV and re-entered it. The options have now changed - including inputs which don't exist - but the set InputType to DVB is there so I've selected that.

It's not exactly seamless - when I switch back to TV it switches to DVB, then to analogue and then back to DVB. I'll try some more tweaking with a glass of wine this evening but I can probably live with that. I wish I could actually disable the analogue option on the TV itself - won't be able to use it in a year or so anyway...

 

[Binman]

My Tv is about 3 years old, and does indeed have 2 hdmi inputs. Glad yours is (sort of) sorted!