Official Logitech Harmony 900 thread - Page 84

My TV requires a setting of 14000, so try a larger value.

Never mind. Figured it out.
Edited by carealtor - 12/23/12 at 8:45pm

Hmm... ok, I'll try that. So far though the behavior seems to be that it will flip sources more than once and stay with the source screen on. Or it will switch successfully, but to the wrong source.

Got a couple questions after getting this for x-mas, but I'll start simple:

Is there a way to send "repeating" commands with an activity setting? For example, when turning on my surround sound, I want to turn the volume on my TV all the way down (off).

In my activity, I can include, "volume down" on the TV, but would need to repeat this many times depending on the volume level of the TV.

Why not just send the discrete mute command? Is there an onscreen display or something? If so, check if you can toggle this off.

The best way to solve this would be to run everything through your amp and not ever use you tv speakers. If you're opposed to that you can try to send the command codes to turn the speakers off on the tv. You'll have to figure out the sequence on your original remote and tell the software that your device requires "multiple button press to power on." Then you'd tell it to power on, menu, right, down, ok, down or something like that. It may not work if it's beyond 5 presses because of the rather lame limitation logitech has imposed on the software. Is there a reason you don't always like to use the surround? I had to set up my families house the same way...pita.

I'll try the "mute" option, but don't recall whether my TV has a "mute symbol" on.
Edited by badchad65 - 12/26/12 at 10:20am

If you have tried everything on the programming side and just can't make it happen, why not customize a button (maybe the "+" button on the bottom left) to be your input switcher key?

Most TVs do which is why it doesn't work. If you can toggle it off then you're in good shape and it's an easy fix. If not...?

Here's a walkthrough for what you need/what i was trying to say:
10. Sometimes I use the receiver for sound and other times I use the TV. How do I set this up?

First, you'll want to make sure that you've setup separate activities for each sound option (i.e. Watch TV with receiver, Watch TV). During the setup, you'll be asked what device is used to control the sound. Since you likely won't want the TV outputting sound while using the receiver, at the end of the setup for Watch TV with receiver, you will want to select option 2 (yes, but I want more control). This will make you step through the wizard again, but then allow you to add/delete commands to the start and/or end of an activity. At this point, add the internal speaker mute command (if available), the mute command (if it doesn't display a 'mute' box on your TV the whole time), the sequence of commands to use the TV menu to toggle the internal speaker mute or as a last option, several volume down commands. Keep in mind, that you'll want to undo any changes that you add to the start of the activity by adding commands to the end of the activity (Off does equal exiting an activity). Also, please keep in mind that the more commands you add here will mean the longer you need to hold the remote pointing at the devices (unless using the Wireless Extender with a capable remote).

Simplicity and wife approval factor (WAF). She likes to be able to pick up the remote, fire it at the TV and watch whatever. For the majority of her viewing (and a decent proportion of mine), we don't need surround sounds and the TV speakers are fine. I have no desire to hear Piers Morgan or O'reilly in full surround.

I've also considered sending 20-30 "volume down" commands, but that sounds like a pain. It sounds like my best bet is to search for "internal" or other mute commands. Thanks for the tips!

Unfortunately this is the same issue i have with my parents as they equate "surround sound" to being a big production and turning the volume up to have a theater like experience. TV and movies can be enjoyed at low volumes through the "surround sound" and sound great while not turning into a big production. I actually prefer listening through my audio system because of the opposite, the volume can be lower due to the voices and other sounds coming through much cleaner. If you ever need it to sound like the tv for some reason you can always put it in mono and have the center channel do all the work. Anyway, if i can't change your mind on that then you're kind of stuck with it the way it is.

Here's an option i just thought of, customize a soft button when you hit watch tv to do tv vol down. Then when you get into the activity you can just hold the soft button for a couple seconds and you're good to go. Apologies if you've already thought of this or it's not what you had in mind. Side note, you can't send 20-30 vol down commands as it only allows for 5 extra commands i believe.

It is good the remote does not provide for many out of the ordinary conditions like that or else it would cost much more.

I hadn't considered running the surround sound in a mono mode for day-to-day function. That's a great idea. It's also just as easy for me to turn the volume all the way down manually in the "watch TV" activity, then switch over to the "TV surround sound" activity. I just figured I'd explore some more novel ways of doing things.

I would think you'd rather press the activity you actually wanted to use and have a soft button to turn down the volume instead. I always try to think of others using the remote rather than myself. If i didn't know anything about the remote and wanted to watch tv with the speakers i would hit "TV surround sound" and look for a way to turn the volume down rather than using two activities. Just a thought. I'm glad the mono thing intrigues you. I hope you don't use your tv speakers ever again. You'll never miss them, i promise.

Good idea, I think I'll try that. Thanks

Edit: Works great!
Edited by Vipfreak - 12/29/12 at 9:41am

Any tips for managing the directional pad? How do you guys do it?

For example,on my "movie" activity, the directional pad controls my blu-ray player so I can navigate the menus and start the movie. However, every now and then the bass is too high, or I want to change a receiver setting, and this requires the d-pad to navigate the receiver menus.

Right now, I just switch out devices on the device menu, but was curious if there was a different way. I guess I could set up multiple activities, such as "start movie", "change receiver settings", but that seems a bit silly.

Good question. I think that you have to select the device to do what you are talking about unless somebody on here can tell me other wise. Maybe making specific custom buttons during the activity, but if you are changing a lot of different settings that would not be practical.

Can you be more specific about what settings you need to change? If the "settings" have a single button on your original remote you can make a soft key to take care of them. Here's a thought, because you don't need the number pad when watching movies you should remap the numbers to be your amp navigation buttons. I.E. 4= receiver d-pad left 6= receiver d-pad right etc and the + button at the bottom left of the remote can be remapped to get into your receiver menu. Hope that works for you.

Awesome! I knew that put that + button there for something haha.

Is one restricted by the activities provided on the Harmony software or is there a way to create a new set of activities?
I mean "Watch TV" seems kind of generic now.

Watch TV
Cable Box, AppleTV, Roku, can one create separate Activities for each?

Listen to Music
CD Player, Radio, or from Cable box?

How can I create more specific categories in activities?

You can creat an activity and then change the name.

Thanks for the Quick Replay, will get on it right away.
Thanks

How do I get rid of line 1 "Apple Apple TV" "Set To FrontRow"?

It is the first line of this activity and it has N/A under remove, so I can't remove it.
I do not use "FrontRow" since I am not trying to control a mac, just an ATV box.

Front Row.png 46k .png file

Ideally, the directional pad (e.g., up, down, left, right) would be able to control multiple devices within an activity.

For example, last night I was watching a movie (in my "watch a movie activity). In this activity, the directional pad controls the blu-ray player. I used it to navigate the blu-ray menu and start the movie.

Three minutes into the movie, I realized I need to change my sharp TV to the "movie" setting. While I could bring up the "menu" for the TV, I couldn't navigate the menu with the directional pad, because the directional pad was associated with the blu-ray player in that activity.

Changing the number pad over is a solution, but it would be nice if there were "universal" directional pad controls that would be applicable to ANY device menu displayed. (e.g., I could navigate ALL my device menus with the same control, so I could navigate whatever was on the screen).

Well you can do that through the device menu. When you hit devices and select your tv the dpad will be used for that. Sam thing with the receiver. If not you can map them to. The better solution is to have that stuff all ready before watching the movie. Is there a single button on your tv remote that gets you to the movie mode? If so, tell the remote you need multiple steps to turn on the tv then do tv power on and whatever the movie mode command is 2nd. If it takes more then do power on, menu, right, down, movie mode. For the sub you can either map the buttons the way I said earlier or hit devices, av receiver and you'll be good to use the remote for the receiver.

Is anybody having problems with SOFT button customization on the 900?

All of my customized soft buttons for my activities deleted themselves. If I make any changes in the software, they don't stick. NO MATTER WHAT.

I am super annoyed as I had a bunch of them that got deleted. Other people are experiencing the same issues on the Logitech support forum, but the moderators there seem pretty useless.

I am new to using my Harmony 900, but luckily have not had your issue. I am using Harmony Software version 7.7.0 on a Mac Book Pro using OS X 10.6.8. It sounds to me like a software bug somewhere maybe knowing the background of the software having these bugs will help narrow down the issue.

When I walk in the room and no activity is in progress (Everything off).

How do I set up the Harmony 900 to turn on the lights via a hard button?

You don't. Harmony won't do anything outside of activity or device mode. You'll have to at least select your lighting device or use an activity. If you need a device based remote, you'll have to get a different brand.

Thanks for reply, but too late on getting a different brand, I am stuck with this 900 for now so I have to use all the work arounds I can find. I just added an activity for "Lights On" as suggested and it seems to work, but then it keeps my remote in the "Lights On" activity when I would rather it boot me back to the main menu for a selection of a real activity. I guess that's another issue I have with the 900 so far.

Is there a way to change the icon it has for "Activities"?
I have some image of a Parrot when I select "Watch TV".