Harmony Remotes - Programming

[WLW]

I have a problem programing my Harmony 610 remote to correctly start-up my systems to "Watch TV". 

My systems are as follows:

• Samsung LCD TV- LN-40B530
• Samsung DVD Home Theater System- HT-Z320
• Cable Box- Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8000

Correct settings for "Watch TV":

• TV set to  "TV" and "Channel 4"
• DVD set to "Aux 2" (this is in order to use the Home Theater surround sound with my TV)

Problem:

I can't get the DVD system to correctly go to "Aux 2" when pushing the "Watch TV" button.  It always seems to cycle through different inputs but never stays on "Aux 2".  Most often, the input ends up on DVD, and then it loads the DVD sound (even though the TV is set correctly and showing the TV images- but without sound).  When I push the Help button, it eventually let's my cycle through to "Aux 2" after several steps, but it never works correctly the first time.

Notes:

• The problem happens whether I start from an off position, or whether I switch from another activity. 
• There is also no consistent pattern with how the DVD inputs cycle through at start-up (e.g. sometimes it starts on "Aux 2" and then changes to "DVD", other times it starts on "Digital In" and changes to "Aux 1" or to "DVD", etc.) 
• I've spent a long time on the phone with Logitech support and they've tried many different ways of correctly configuring the DVD Inputs settings, changing the time/delay settings, etc., and we still can't get it to correctly go to Aux 2
• For other activities (e.g. Watch a Movie) the remote works just fine

It seems to be something unique about the interaction between the Harmony 610 and the Samsung DVD Home Theater System (HT-Z320).

Does anyone have a similar set-up and have managed to get it working?  Please help!

Thanks!

[hhatkin]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

The first thing that Support should have told you is that it may be the two Samsung devices that have an "interaction" - an automatic switching system of their own that can conflict with the Harmony's.

You would then have the choice of disabling that system or disabling that aspect of the Harmony's.

After that the thing to do is check that the Harmony is set to use the correct one of the four Harmony Input Methods.

That is Method 2, but your reference to "cycling" suggests that one of the others is selected.

Let us know when you have covered those two points, and then we can look further into the problems for you.

H H

Message Edited by hhatkin on 08-12-2009 11:34 AM

[WLW]

Thanks for the quick support!

Good idea about the interaction between the Samsung devices (the feature is called Anynet+).  I wondered if that may be causing some problems.  The Anynet+ feature causes e.g. the TV to be forced to DVD input once the Samsung DVD player switches to DVD output (and it overrides the Harmony commands).

I've now disabled the Anynet+ feature, and it has helped a little.  However, I still can't consistently get the DVD to switch to "Aux 2" when selecting "Watch TV".  This is especially a problem if I've been watching something else and want to switch to watching TV.

It seems like the problem is related to the correct Harmony settings for the Input/Output Methods for the DVD player (as you noted).  The Samsung DVD remote takes a hybrid approach to selecting the  different outputs.  This caused some confusion also when talking with Logitech support, so I thought this might still be a problem.

Here are my Samsung DVD remote's source settings:

• There are 4 buttons on the Samsung remote- DVD, TUNER, PORT, and AUX
• When you select DVD or TUNER, it goes straight to those sources- no problem
• When you select PORT, it cycles through several options each time you push the PORT button (USB, Digital In, iPod Audio, iPod Video)
• When you select AUX, it cycles through AUX 1 and AUX2 each time you push it

So, it's not very clear to me which of the Harmony Input Methods to select.  The method is a hybrid between options 1 and 2 in the Harmony software.  Currently, I have selected method 2 for the DVD player.

What steps should I take next to try and resolve the problem?

[WannabeActuary]

as you said, it's a hybrid of method 1 and 2...this is actually how almost any HTIB (home theater in a box) works.

IF the default settings don't work for you (sounds like they don't ), you'll need to contact support to have them setup what we call 'method 5'...aka multimethod.  it can only be setup by tech support and will appear as method 2 in your setup, but it's best not to go in and even view the input adjustments, as that can cause the changes to be lost.

so, once they make the changes, just update the remote and test

[hhatkin · Accepted solution]

Support may have missed another factor in dealing with this problem.

Your system defaults to Method 2, with the Input Names Digital In and Aux 1 and 2 all set to SetInputType Aux, but the list of input commands also includes separate commands SetInputType Aux1, and SetInputType Aux2.

You can't check those in the usual way by sending them direct from the Devices area of your remote, but it would be worth trying them within your Activities - unless you HAVE already been pointed to them, of course.

Otherwise it IS back to support for Method 5 - let us know how you progress.

[WLW]

Thanks for all your feedback and support.  I've managed to resolve the problem now by following your advice.  The solution was:

1) Disabling the Anynet+ functionality on the Samsung TV and DVD player

2) Working with Logitech support to configure the DVD player to a hybrid inputs setting ("Method 5" as described above)

3) I then needed to go back and adjust some settings with the TV inputs because they were no longer working consistently after disabling the Anynet+ functionality.  Although, following the guidelines, it seemed I should select Method 3 for the TV inputs (because my TV is a Samsung), it worked better when I selected Method 2. 

As hhatkin proposed, I was able to assign specific commands in Method 2 for selecting the TV inputs and this has led to a more consistent performance with the remote.

Everything seems to be sorted now!  Thanks again for your support.

[hhatkin]

You're welcome, and thanks very much to you for letting us know of your success.

The note in the software about Samsungs and Method 3 can safely be ignored, and when Method 2 is available it is always much the best option.

[scuccia]

I have a similar problem with my setup.  My HTIB will not go back and forth between DigitalIn and USB input.  There are a couple ways to get to these inputs... Cycle through using InputAux to get to either or InputUSB to get to USB.  There is also Aux1 and Aux2.

I've tried every method and the only one that comes close is Method 2 since.  Method 1 would work but there is no way to cycle from remote, only with a button on the receiver.

Can anyone help me?  I'd have to pay for support since I've had the device longer than 90 days.

[kfudge88]

I have the Harmony 659 and Samsung DVD Home theatre System (HT-Z221)

I had the same problem when I use the "Watch TV" activity where when I activate it,  it starts on AUX then switches to D-IN after a few seconds.  After much playing around with the software I added an action on the dvd player SetAUXInput to AUX as well as added this same action to the "when you leave this activity"

I have a Samsung TV as well and I did not have to disable the Anynet+ function for it to work this way.

Just another solution hope it helps with anyone who is experiencing this problem as it made me pretty frustrated