Harmony remote help?

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Vorbis

176 posts

Master Geek

Topic # 23292 24-Jun-2008 19:11

Hi guys, picked up a Harmony 525 from dse for $69 yesterday. It's all working ok, except when I want to bring my htpc out of sleep. The pc fires up as it should, the pioneer receiver switches on, the tv switches on and sets itself to 'pc' input. After a few seconds the TV switches to the 'normal' tv channel...instead of waiting on the 'pc' input. I've hunted through the logitech forum but can't figure out how to fix this. Any ideas?

duckquack

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Reply # 140308 24-Jun-2008 21:02

I don't pretend to be an expert, however I've had a similar problem with another remote that was solved by putting in a few pauses in the macro/sequence file. If the TV pauses for a few seconds before changing to the PC Input, it might give the computer time to start sending the info and hopefully solve your problem.

Worth a try anyway.

Vorbis

176 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 140336 24-Jun-2008 22:28

That's along the lines I was thinking, wish I could find an advanced editing tab. The wizards are fine, but can be a bit painful.

Disrespective

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Reply # 140381 25-Jun-2008 08:56

It could be a few things.

First it could be that the TV doesn't recognise the input signal change as it's still doing its initialization sequence so won't accept any inputs until its done. What will be happening is that the remote is sending the input change command straight after sending the TV on command and the TV doesn't accept it as a proper input.

Secondly it could be that the TV won't change to an input it doesn't have a signal from. Your PC is booting and the TV is starting too soon after the PC starts its boot sequence for it to recognise that there is a signal and then when the remote sends the input change signal the TV doesn't think there is any signal and switches back to default.

To fix these problems you'll need to insert pauses into the macro sequence.

Here's what i've done to do this before:

You need to make a Phantom device which will act as the pause.

Add a new device.
Select Device Name: "-not in the list"
Manually enter the device name as "Phantom Pause"
Next when prompted for the model number enter: "03 Seconds" (e.g. for a 3 second pause device)
Tell Harmony software you don't have a remote for the device.
Tell Harmony software there are no power keys for the device.
Go into the "Setup" of the device, rename it to "Phantom 03 Sec Pause"
Go into the "Setup" of the device, change the device "delays".
Set the interkey and inter device delays to the number of milliseconds you wish to pause.
Go to the "Learn IR Command" menu, teach the device a redundant remote command that will not affect any of the equipment you have running in the room.
Add this device to any activity you need to add pauses to sequences.

Now you have a "Phantom" device you need to add that device to your Activity. Do this by going to the Activity settings and choosing "Review the settings for this Activity", then choosing "Yes, but I want to add more control of options and devices for this Activity." I the subsequent screen that appears you can add your "Phantom" device to the activity.

Now you have the Phantom device in the activity, you can assign your "Pause" command in any sequence.

There might be an easier way with new revisions of the Harmony software but i'm not sure exactly as i haven't bothered to try and change what currently works for me.

Vorbis

176 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 140522 25-Jun-2008 17:56

Disrespective: It could be a few things.

First it could be that the TV doesn't recognise the input signal change as it's still doing its initialization sequence so won't accept any inputs until its done. What will be happening is that the remote is sending the input change command straight after sending the TV on command and the TV doesn't accept it as a proper input.

Secondly it could be that the TV won't change to an input it doesn't have a signal from. Your PC is booting and the TV is starting too soon after the PC starts its boot sequence for it to recognise that there is a signal and then when the remote sends the input change signal the TV doesn't think there is any signal and switches back to default.

To fix these problems you'll need to insert pauses into the macro sequence.

Here's what i've done to do this before:

You need to make a Phantom device which will act as the pause.

Add a new device.
Select Device Name: "-not in the list"
Manually enter the device name as "Phantom Pause"
Next when prompted for the model number enter: "03 Seconds" (e.g. for a 3 second pause device)
Tell Harmony software you don't have a remote for the device.
Tell Harmony software there are no power keys for the device.
Go into the "Setup" of the device, rename it to "Phantom 03 Sec Pause"
Go into the "Setup" of the device, change the device "delays".
Set the interkey and inter device delays to the number of milliseconds you wish to pause.
Go to the "Learn IR Command" menu, teach the device a redundant remote command that will not affect any of the equipment you have running in the room.
Add this device to any activity you need to add pauses to sequences.

Now you have a "Phantom" device you need to add that device to your Activity. Do this by going to the Activity settings and choosing "Review the settings for this Activity", then choosing "Yes, but I want to add more control of options and devices for this Activity." I the subsequent screen that appears you can add your "Phantom" device to the activity.

Now you have the Phantom device in the activity, you can assign your "Pause" command in any sequence.

There might be an easier way with new revisions of the Harmony software but i'm not sure exactly as i haven't bothered to try and change what currently works for me.

Thanks very much for that, I think the TV needs to wait for the htpc to come out of sleep properly before receiving the input command from the remote to switch to the pc input. Should be able to do that with your work-around. Thanks again !

Nety

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Reply # 140565 25-Jun-2008 19:54

Sorry does the 525 have different software to the higher models?

I have a 670. If you want a pause you click on settings ->review settings ->Yes but I want to add more control options
-> run though the wizard until you get to the screen
"Please review the actions for your Watch DVD/Videos Activity"
There you can add pauses at any point.

Maybe the 525 has less options?

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lchiu7

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Reply # 140584 25-Jun-2008 20:54

The online software is pretty much the same for remotes. I have a 800 and 520. The software works the same. If you are finding that you want the TV to wait a bit before responding to the remote command to switch input do the following:

Click Devices and then for the TV click Settings.

Select Adjust the Delays and then Next

For the Power On Delay enter a number of milliseconds you want the remote to wait for the TV to wakeup before sending the input command. For my RP TV it takes about 30 seconds from Power On to being able to respond to a remote signal to change input. So I have the delay setting at 35000 or 35 seconds. So the Harmony waits 35 seconds before sending the input to change input to the one for the activity. Note that this is only a power on delay - not required once the TV is on.

Larry

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Nety

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Reply # 140628 26-Jun-2008 06:55

lchiu7: For my RP TV it takes about 30 seconds from Power On to being able to respond to a remote signal to change input. So I have the delay setting at 35000 or 35 seconds. So the Harmony waits 35 seconds before sending the input to change input to the one for the activity.

Wow and I thought my rear pro was bad at 10 seconds before it accepts inputs

lchiu7

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Reply # 140671 26-Jun-2008 11:53

I think it's about 30 seconds but I wait a bit more just in case. The TV is a D-ILA so the time is waiting for the bulb to warm up. Similarly when shutting down, it takes at least 60 seconds before it completely powers off which helps preserve bulb life. During that time you can't turn it on again. Small price to pay IMHO for a decent 56" RP TV.

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