Harmony Remotes - Programming

[Lightloch]

Hi, I've been reading through the boards but have not seemed to find a similar issue with a solution that helps me. Here is my problem:

I've successfully programmed multiple devices and activities into my Harmony One remote, including the TV, surround tuner, DirecTV receiver, DVD/VHS player, HDMI switch box, and Roku Netflix box.

Everything works except that I cannot figure out a way (even after multiple tries and changes) to get the controller to correctly be able to change inputs on the TV after it makes an initial selection. For what it's worth, all of my devices are hooked in through the HDMI switch box, with the exception of the VHS portion of my DVD player, which uses its own set of RCA inputs plugged into the TV.

So if the last time I turned the TV off it was on HDMI, then all of my HDMI activities power on and work perfectly from the get-go. However, if I turn everything on and tell it to watch a VHS for example, or anything else on another input other than HDMI, it will go to the wrong input. I will then proceed to use the Help feature, which will attempt to move to another input, but it won't... it will just stay and select the same one over and over, but this does not make sense, because it was able to move the input earlier, except that it chose the wrong one.

I am able to change inputs correctly on the original controller or the TV itself, and the Harmony appears to have all of the database buttons from my original remote programmed into it. On the Harmony program I choose input selection number three for my TV, the one that says to use one button to bring up the input menu, another to move around the menu, and a third button to select an input. I am sure it has to do with Mitsubishi's annoying "NetCommand" system on its televisions which tries to manage everything and has a very slow menu system, but I am unaware of any way to disable it and go to a simple, quick input selection menu like most TVs.

As far as I know I have perfectly matched the order/names of inputs listed on the controller's program and the TV, but apparently it is not reading them right in addition to not being able to move again after it makes an initial (incorrect) choice.

Anyways, sorry for the confusing post, but hopefully someone hear either knows how to disable NetCommand or otherwise work around it and get it to function correctly.

Thanks!

Message Edited by Lightloch on 07-28-2009 08:34 AM

[hhatkin]

Welcome to the forum.

Are you using the Harmony to control the inputs of the HDMI switch?

And does the TV use only two Inputs - the HDMI from the switch and the RCA sockets?

H H

[Lightloch]

Thanks for your reply.

Yes, the Harmony One controls my HDMI switch perfectly fine and all of my HDMI devices function great as long as the actual TV input is already set on HDMI when the TV is turned on (the TV always remembers the last input it was set on - usually HDMI). My problem has solely to do with the actual TV inputs and getting the Harmony One to learn how to control and switch the actual TV inputs correctly so I can use my non-HDMI devices (currently only a VCR) and then switch back to the HDMI input in case I want to go back to any of those devices.

I have the following inputs on my TV:

HDMI 1 (only 1 port - this why I use a 4-port switch, and it functions great with the Harmony One) 

RCA 1

RCA 2

RCA 3 

Component 1

Component 2

Antenna A

Antenna B

In the TV input menu they are listed in this order (displayed from left to right, though Antenna A and B are below on a new row), and the nature of the menu allows you to move the arrow cursor (on the TV controller) left/right/up/down to highlight the desired input and then push Enter to go to it. My VCR is plugged into RCA 1.

Message Edited by Lightloch on 07-28-2009 10:20 AM

[hhatkin]

And thanks for the details.

There shouldn't be a problem, as the switch works perfectly, and you use only two inputs in the TV.

The TV defaults to Method 2, so you shouldn't have needed the hassle of Method 3.

Edit the list of Input Names down to the two you use, and assign the correct Commands to them.

Then check that each Activity is set to the correct Input Name - mostly HDMI of course!

Let us know the result.

H H

Message Edited by hhatkin on 07-28-2009 09:43 AM

[Lightloch]

I appreciate the suggestion. I went in and changed it to method 2, and although the original controller itself has no direct input buttons, the direct input commands that come with the Harmony One database for my original TV controller work like a charm, all except HDMI that is.

In fact, there is no HDMI input command in the list of the controller's commands that I can see. There are some that I don't know what they would be for, so I am trying each input command one by one until hopefully I find the one that activates and switches to the TV's HDMI input. I've tried about five so far with no luck and am running out of possibilities.

[hhatkin]

Yes, it's odd that the names of the database commands are so different from those you listed.

There are actually 22 of them so it will be quite a hassle to test them all!

The way to approach Method 2 is described in WannabeActuary's FAQ at Section 26b.

It would be a good idea to report the discrepancy to Logitech support as they need to know anyway, and because they may  have more details of your particular model of TV.

[Lightloch]

I called tech support and they were unable to fix the input over the phone, so I am told they're going to program it into the database manually within a few days and let me know when to update it to be able to use the correct input.

Thanks for your assistance so far, and hopefully whatever they do will fix it without a hitch!

[hhatkin]

OK and let us know how things progress.

If you have a few minutes during the waiting time you could try testing each of that long list of input commands to find out what, if anything, each actually does!

[Lightloch · Accepted solution]

After some help from a Level 2 technician, it was determined that the discrete command, "InputSTB" was the correct solution for getting to the HDMI input. I thought I had tried it before with no success, so maybe they gave it a little corrective nudge.

In any case, "InputSTB" is the answer and now everything works great.

Thanks for all your help and advice!

Message Edited by Lightloch on 08-11-2009 05:02 PM

[hhatkin]

That's OK and thanks for letting us know.

H H