Viera Link / HDMI CEC - Any good?

[admin_exported]

Hi guys, just wondering if anyone here uses Viera Link or the equivalent on their remote control, and how useful it is? I've got a new Panny plasma and am wondering whether any receiver or blu-ray I might get soon, should be compatible. Does that mean they all have to be Panasonic or would Bravia-Sync work off one remote?

Or should I not bother and just get a Logitech Harmony?

Cheers

 

[Anonymous]

It's a bit of hype IMHO. To make it work fully you need to connect a scart cable as well.

TBH I think a Logitech Harmony would be a better bet. I have one on my Christmas list.

 

[Andrew Everard]

welshboy:
To make it work fully you need to connect a scart cable as well.

What gave you that idea?

No, the whole system doesn't need to be Panasonic. Onkyo receivers, for example, are tested and stated to be compatible with Viera Link and (in the case of the latest versions) several other variations on the HDMI-CEC standard.

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew Everard:welshboy:

To make it work fully you need to connect a scart cable as well.

What gave you that idea?

Page 42 of the Operating manual for the TV in the Link Functions section

without a SCART connection you can't

Direct record from TV

Pause live TV programmes

Execute analogue programme downloads (not that that's important IMHO)

 

[professorhat]

welshboy:Page 42 of the Operating manual for the TV in the Link Functions section

without a SCART connection you can't

Direct record from TV

Pause live TV programmes

Execute analogue programme downloads (not that that's important IMHO)

Which operating manual - the OP seems to be looking at Blu-Ray players and receivers with the Viera Link functionality so would be surprised if any of them offer the above, scart connection or not...

 

[Anonymous]

Having an Onkyo 875, Panasonic plasma and blu-ray player - the Viera link using the Onk remote is pretty unhelpful - it's only the Play button that seems to work...

As my Onk remote will not operate my Pioneer DVD player either, I'm thinking very seriously about getting a Logitech Universal instead.

 

[Andrew Everard]

welshboy:
Page 42 of the Operating manual for the TV in the Link Functions section

without a SCART connection you can't

Direct record from TV

Pause live TV programmes

Execute analogue programme downloads (not that that's important IMHO)

Yes, but that's nothing to do with the Viera Link functionality, which is all about control ratther than signal flow.

 

[Anonymous]

You are correct of course but I really thought the way Viera link is hyped up that it meant that there was full system integration. The video demo on their site implies that if you select a future programme on the TV's EPG for example it will automatically record it on the DVD recorder. It does not actually do this.

I'm not saying it's useless by any means but it is a bit hyped up for what it is and I am still thinking that a Logitech harmony will be a good addition to my system as it is a "one remote does it all" solution as far as I can tell from reading the reviews. At the moment I am blessed with 4 remotes.

Oh - it was the manual for the TV. I imagine all Panasonic TV manuals have a section entitled External Links. I really did think after watching the demo on the Panasonic site that one HDMI cable linking DVD to TV and one linking TV to home cinema box would give a fully integrated - one remote does it all - control system. To that extent it steered my decision on the brand of DVD recorder to buy.

 

[Anonymous]

I did wonder whether that would be the case, that unless you got everything Panasonic, or everything Sony etc, you wouldn't be able to make the most of the Viera Link functionality. My expectation is that once I've set up my system and settings and everything, I'll only need the basic functions on the remote, hence Viera Link and similar systems sounded like they would be quite useful - but I'll want more than just the "play" function!

Maybe HDMI-CEC is something that will be improved with each new generation of kit, but at the moment it sounds to me like it is struggling to compete with a Logitech Harmony 555 at £50 from Amazon.

Thanks for the advice guys

 

[professorhat]

Yup, I'd go with the 555 as it doesn't tie you to any brands and has the useful macro functions as well.