Remote Control Software

[alextfreeman]

I have a Harmony One, although this problem cuts across all Harmony remotes. 

I made the "mistake" of changing equpment, which I tend to do every year or so. This time I replaced a Panasonic SC-BT230 HTIB with newer model SC-BTT370. Went through the steps to replace a device, per the Logitech support sites' instructions. Now, as has been the case everytime I change a component, I'm screwed. My purpose in having a Harmony is to allow the less "techie" among my family (kids, wife) to operate our set-up without numerous remotes and written instructions. 

I'd appreciate any help (I contacted Logitech support but since my remote is out of the 90 day "free support" period, they want to charge me for assistance. 

The SC-BTT370 has the following Inputs on a TOGGLE button on the remote: Ipod, Digital In, HDMI 1, HDMI 2, FM, AUX, ARC. It also has  DEDICATED buttons on the remote to watch NETFLIX and for Viewing a Blu-Ray/DVD (BD/SD)

Connected as follows:

Directv DVR- Connected to SC-BTT370 via HDMI 1 input

PS3- Connected to SC-BTT370 via HDMI 2 input

Wii- Connected to SC-BTT370 via AUX

Ipod- Connected to SC-BTT370 via IPOD

The SC-BTT370 is then connected to my TV via HDMI OUT

Here's how my activities are SHOULD work:

WATCH TV:

TV set to input HDMI 1

SC-BTT370 set to input HDMI 1

Watch DVD

TV set to input HDMI 1

SC-BTT370 set to HDMI 1

Play PS3

TV set to input HDMI 1

SC-BTT370 set to HDMI 2

Play Wii

TV set to input VIDEO

SC-BTT370 set to AUX

Netflix

TV set to input HDMI1

SC-BTT370 set to NETFLIX

Listen to IPOD

TV set to input HDMI 1

SC-BTT370 set to IPOD

Listen to Radio

TV set to input HDMI 1

SC-BTT370 set to FM

The TV works find, it only has to change inputs for the Play Wii activity and that works fine. However, these are my issues:

1- When turning on from standby, the SC-BTT370 goes to a HOME screen, never to the HDMI 1 input (or whatever input should be selected based on what activity you choose). 

2- When switching between activities, the Harmony only gets the SC-BTT370 to the correct input sometimes. Help always gets it corrected (after numerous Q&A's) but you always have to use help.

3- When I select Watch Netflix, it goes to the correct input, but when I switch back to Watch TV (or any other activity), the SC-BTT370 NEVER switches away from the NETFLIX input. Again, help works but I have to use it anytime.

Currently, METHOD 2 gets me the closest to a working state, but not the way it should. In particular, the HOME screen issue (see #1 above) is most aggravating when turning on the unit from a standby (off) state.

Any help is appreciated.

[gimmecat]

I'm not familiar with the type of entertainment system you're using, but since that's what changed we'll start there.  You were already using a Harmony One, but just to make sure - check your basics: Keep the remote pointed toward your devices until the remote has finished sending all its commands... Make sure you have batteries inserted :-)

Since your system is basically NEVER going to the right input when you power on from standby, then check the Harmony remote's "power on delay" for your new device.  It sounds like the default value is too short.  If that's the case, then the remote may be commanding your new device to change inputs but the device cannot respond because it hasn't finished powering up yet.  Result: the command is not processed and your device sits at the home screen as if nothing happened.

You can measure your system's power-on delay on your own, using the unit's native remote control.  It will probably take some trial-and-error.  Basically you want to measure how long it takes after pushing the power button, before the system responds to input buttons on the remote.  It may take a surprising amount of time, and it may be faster some times than others.  You'll need to measure the *maximum* amount of time it takes, so you can program the Harmony to always wait long enough.

As for the rest of the problems you're experiencing, I'm not completely sure.  But if switching activities sometimes selects the right inputs and sometimes does *not*, then you may also have to adjust the system's "input delay" and/or "inter-device delay".   Those are harder to troubleshoot, but they may be the root-cause.  When these delays are too short, you get the same kind of results (systems are sent commands at times when they cannot be processed).  Sometimes these delays are given default values that are too optimistic; and so the system works "most of the time" but not always.

If any of this helps (or doesn't help) let me know.

Brian

Harmony 890 + RF extender

[alextfreeman]

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, I've tried these things and nothing works completely. The basic problem is that Panasonic HTIB's (I'm on my 3rd one since I've started using Harmony's so I've went through this before), have BOTH dedicated buttons for some inputs and a toggle button for other inputs. This combo means that none of the input methods in the Remote Control Software (1, 2, 3, or 4) work for these units. It requires the "Method 5" or "Mixed Method" for going through inputs, which can only be done by Harmony support. However, I'd have to pay for that now that my remote is out of the service period. For the life of me, I can figure out why Logitech doesn't include the Method 5 as one of the included choices in the software. It seems like it would be fairly simple programming to tell the remote that certain buttons control certain inputs and another button toggles between the remaining inputs. 

As for my other issue (the "Home" screen on the HTIB), I discovered that if I enabled the Viera Link between my Panny TV and the HTIB, it will bypass the Home screen and go straight to the HDMI input. Works fine. Now, if I could just get the input switching worked out.

[alextfreeman]

Thanks for your assistance. 

Basically, the Panny HTIB units just have some funky set-ups. For instance, the toggle for certain inputs (D-in, HDMI 1, HDMI2, IPOD, AUX, and ARC) are in that order on the unit toggle. But, no matter what input you're currently on, the unit always goes back to D-In, then starts scrolling through the toggle order. So, it's always off when it finishes toggling to an input. 

I've adjusted delays, moved input order around in the remote software set-up to accomodate for it always returning to D-In before it starts toggling through inputs but nothing really works.

No problem for me, as I have the patience and intuitiveness to go through the Help process. But my wife and kids are the reason I bought the Harmony in the first place (to eliminate using multiple remotes, etc). I sold them on the Harmony's simplicity and ability to make things simpler but it's achieved the exact opposite...more confusion and frustration on their part (and resultingly, mine).