Like many of you, I own a Samsung LCD, Scientific Atlanta DVR, Playstation 3, and Onkyo TX-8522 receiver. I understand that the Harmony can't control the PS3 but I still setup an activity to "Play Games."

Everything works fine except for one thing--the blasted change input command on the Samsung LCD. I have gone into advanced setup and added the following inputs TV (I don't use this, but it is always there when I cycle through inputs), HDMI1 (DVR) and HDMI2 (PS3). If I switch back and forth between "Play Games" and "Watch DVR" I seem to always have to use the Help feature to get the Harmony to switch to the correct input.

I understand the Samsung TV accepts discrete inputs and to the best of my knowledge I setup the Harmony to enter them using Method 2 under advanced setup. However, it seems the Harmony defaults back to trying to remember which input it was last on which WILL NOT WORK on the Samsung TV as HDMI2 is only active when the PS3 is turned on, and the same thing for HDMI1 with the DVR.

It's after hours now, but has anyone encountered a similar situation and if so what did you do? It's really a pain to have to go through the Help System everytime I want to switch between playing games and watching TV.

I may have fixed it but would still like advice on best practices if any are available.

What I did was to add a rule when EXITING an activity to always flash back to HDMI1. I did this for both my "Play Games" and "Watch PVR" role. As far as I can tell things are working fine.

I have a quick question, might be dumb, but so what. I have a Activity set up to turn my S LN S5296, TOS A-2 and my Sony STR DA30ES on, change inputs to DVI 2, change to DVD on the Sony and play the DVD on the A-2. SOOO,...if I turn the DVD player on to insert the DVD the Activity does everthing right but it turns off the DVD player! I have left the DVD out, started the Activity. Then after it sees no DVD I put it in.

Any Ideas?

I have a quick question, might be dumb, ... if I turn the DVD player on to insert the DVD the Activity does everthing right but it turns off the DVD player! ... Any Ideas?
Are you turning the DVD player on manually to insert the DVD? If so: you should only use the "activity" button to turn on the DVD player and then insert the DVD.

Are you turning the DVD player on manually to insert the DVD? If so: you should only use the "activity" button to turn on the DVD player and then insert the DVD.

I do need to put some time into the sequence using the activity. I did a quick program through Harmony.

I guess Im kind of lookin at it as, whatever the status the equipment is, on, off. That it can recognize this and just play the DVD. Seems if the DVD is on instead of off after programming it on, it shuts it off using the activity, it just doesnt by pass the On/off.

Confusing??

... I guess Im kind of lookin at it as, whatever the status the equipment is, on, off. That it can recognize this and just play the DVD. Seems if the DVD is on instead of off after programming it on, it shuts it off using the activity, it just doesnt by pass the On/off ...
If you are going to turn it on "manually", I think you need to use the "device" button first to do so, not the button on the unit. In that case, the Harmony will "know" that the DVD player is on before you select the activity. A simple fix would also be to close the DVD tray by pressing the off button on the player (turning it off). In this way, when you press the DVD activity button it will just get turned back on by the Harmony, but will have remained "in sync" with the remote state management. No big deal.

Players only have an IR sensor, not an IR emitter, so they cannot communicate their status to the Harmony. The Harmony has to "remember" that for itself. That is why using manual commands will confuse it and require using the "help" wizard to get things back in sync.

If you are going to turn it on "manually", I think you need to use the "device" button first to do so, not the button on the unit. In that case, the Harmony will "know" that the DVD player is on before you select the activity. A simple fix would also be to close the DVD tray by pressing the off button on the player (turning it off). In this way, when you press the DVD activity button it will just get turned back on by the Harmony, but will have remained "in sync" with the remote state management. No big deal.

Players only have an IR sensor, not an IR emitter, so they cannot communicate their status to the Harmony. The Harmony has to "remember" that for itself. That is why using manual commands will confuse it and require using the "help" wizard to get things back in sync.

Thanks Kex

CORRECTION: For those searching this thread, make sure your exit activity for both "Watch PVR" and "Play Games" defaults to TV, NOT HDMI1 as I had originally mentioned. This starts the input sequence from the beginning and ensures that your activities will change your Samsung TV to the correct input.

CORRECTION 2: I just got off the phone w/ tier2 technical support and have now eliminated the work around I previously posted.

Despite the name, HDMI1 on the Samsung LNT-4665f is referred to by the Harmony as HDMI2v2. HDMI2 on the TV is referred to by the Harmony as HDMIv3. Hope this helps someone