Harmony Remotes - Programming

[PepiMinka]

Hi

I'm just new here, and have just bought a Harmony One.  Tried setting it up yesterday.  It will take me a while.  I have several devices, but just started with DVD player and TV first.   Problem with just Watch TV - it asks for a channel and input to set it to.  To just watch TV and nothing else on, I don't use an input, just turn tv on and put on whatever channel I want to watch - always different.  The TV does NOT need the DVD player or anything else on at the same time; but on here it did.

The DVD player set up good - works with the remote no problems.  just the watch tv only.  

The TV is a Samsung LA32R7 and has only one HDMI input.  I have 2 devices that use HDMI (not tuned to this remote yet) so I have a Soniq HDMI switcher between them.   The DVD player I use just to watch dvds is Component only, so thats fine. 

Can I use the HDMI switcher to this remote, when I finally do add those 2 devices on - a DVR/VCR combo,  and a DVDHDD recorder?  they are connected thru the HDMI switcher to the TV.

Also, another question:   I also have an old Pioneer receiver VSX D710S  that is connected (just the audio) to the 3 devices separetely,  but I don't want to use the receiver  sound all the time.  Only sometimes..  Is there a way round the Harmony One that I can use it only sometimes, and other times not?

Sorry about all the questions, but one last:  can I also control a camcorder in playback mode with the Harmony One?  there is no list for camcorders in the device list, so I was just wondering?

Thank you in advance.

[hhatkin]

Hi, welcome to the forum, and it's fine about the questions.

First, always select the option to set up Activities manually, not automatically.

A WatchTV Activity needs only a device to display the video, one to change the channels, and one to control the volume, and the TV could be the one to specify in each case, so that it beomes the only device in the Activity.

A PlayDVD Activity needs the display and volume as well as the player, so that would have just the two Devices.

You can have separate Activities in which the receiver controls the sound instead of the TV.

If the switch can be controlled by IR then you'll be able to include that in the Activities as an Additional Device.

IR camcorders can also be used with Harmonys.

Feel free to come back for any further information.

H H

Message Edited by hhatkin on 06-07-2009 04:47 AM

[listener]

..... in addition: Camcorders are set up as Videorecorders.

Greetings

listener

[PepiMinka]

Thank you both.  I still haven't finished setting up everything yet.  Think I'll have to find some time and patience when I am home long enough.  Just got home and am too tired now to figure it out.

Still having probs with watch TV alone set up.  It asked me what device used to change channels - well, the tv remote is the only thing to change channels on, and not the dvd recorder.  so i set up device again,  then it showed 2 tvs.   frustrating.   I'm sure i should get it going one of these days...

How do you set it up manually?  and what to do when it asks what input or channel tv has to be set on? - when it dosen't have a particular input or channel all the time?

sorry again...

Thanks...

[hhatkin]

That's OK.

At the start of the process of setting up an Activity you get two options - to set them up automatically or manually - always take the second.

I gave the details of a WatchTV in my first post - for each of the three choices, display, sound, channels, specify the TV. 

When the only device is the TV the Input selection would usually be Tuner, or something like ATV/DTV to determine which tuner to use.

You could also select a channel, as you can always tune away from that channel as soon as the TV comes on.

Feel free to ask anything at all here - that's what we're here for.

H H

Message Edited by hhatkin on 06-09-2009 04:03 AM

[PepiMinka]

Hi   thank you very much.   I had a quick look into it today, and it works fine..  Both watch TV and DVD.    The only thing is that after the unit has been switched off, and I still have a disk in the DVD player;  it doesn't start from when I left off - when I turn it back on - but right at the beginning of the disk again.

On the DVD remote I could just press *resume* and it would start from when left off.   Sometimes I don't finish watching a show on disk, as many episodes..    Is there a button on the H1 that has a resume function.  there is nothing in the activities screen for it.

I haven't added the receiver in yet, as not everything I watch needs the 5.1 and the sound is actually better just thru tv sometimes  (sounds strange, but it is).     But when I do add the receiver, would I need to add the same DVD player in again  as a device and put receiver in activities (like watch dvd with receiver).  of course I know I'll still have to add receiver in as a device, too.  Or do I just add onto the activities of current dvd player, and have sometimes receiver on and sometimes off???

cheers

[hhatkin]

Hi - that's OK - good to hear you're progressing - and thanks for letting us know.

For your DVD Activity check at Activity> Settings> Change Options whether it is set to automatically send stop when the Activity ends.

You can also look in the dropdown list at Customise Buttons for the resume command, and if it is present then Customise it to a hard button or new screen button.

When you want the receiver in to control the sound go back to my earlier post: "You can have separate Activities in which the receiver controls the sound instead of the TV."

You would then have a TV Activity with the TV speakers and another with the receiver, and the same with DVD.

Message Edited by hhatkin on 06-15-2009 03:05 AM

[PepiMinka]

Hi...  thank you very much.  I will look into that, tho prob won't be until the weekend.  I am too tired now, after work.

Thank you anyway,  and I will come back and let you know how I went.

cheers