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Help..seems like it should be easy enough but...

post #1 of 8
1/24/12 at 10:12am
Thread Starter 
I just built an HTPC running Windows Media Center for my LG 47" LCD. I bought a Harmony 650 to control everything, but needed an IR receiver, so also bought a cheap MCE remote with receiver listed on Amazon as "Windows 7 Vista XP Media Center MCE PC Remote Control and Infrared Receiver for Home, Premium and Ultimate Edition".

This remote is in the Logitech database as an ORtek VRC-1100. The manufacturer (ORtec) is not listed anywhere on the packaging or device but someone mentioned it in another thread. Everything works, but in order to power up the TV and PC I need to 1st select the ORtek device on the Harmony and select "Toggle Power", and then select the LG and again Toggle Power. Reversing the process shuts everything down (the PC is set to sleep when the power button is depressed).

Is there a way to combine both of these actions to be controlled by a single button?

Thanks!
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post #2 of 8
1/25/12 at 12:01pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by sakle2k View Post

I just built an HTPC running Windows Media Center for my LG 47" LCD. I bought a Harmony 650 to control everything, but needed an IR receiver, so also bought a cheap MCE remote with receiver listed on Amazon as "Windows 7 Vista XP Media Center MCE PC Remote Control and Infrared Receiver for Home, Premium and Ultimate Edition".

This remote is in the Logitech database as an ORtek VRC-1100. The manufacturer (ORtec) is not listed anywhere on the packaging or device but someone mentioned it in another thread. Everything works, but in order to power up the TV and PC I need to 1st select the ORtek device on the Harmony and select "Toggle Power", and then select the LG and again Toggle Power. Reversing the process shuts everything down (the PC is set to sleep when the power button is depressed).

Is there a way to combine both of these actions to be controlled by a single button?

Thanks!

Was hoping someone might be able to provide some help with this. Should this post be moved to the Official Logitech Harmony 650/600 remote thread instead?
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post #3 of 8
1/25/12 at 1:19pm
Are you setting up the proper activity with these devices? By the sound of your description it would seem that you are simply going to each specific device powering them up and controlling them thru devices.

Harmony is an a activity based remote. You assign the devices to the activity you are trying to create. Let's call it Media Center. You tell the harmony that you use the tv and HTPC in this activity and then go thru the routine of assigning, the display input, the volume control, channel settings etc...

When properly setup, you press the selected activity and this should power up the devices you want to use and set everything to the right inputs. Power off button should shut everything down.

Smart state keeps track of what you do in activities, if you go to devices and change something (like what input your tv is on) smart state will not track this and you will now be out of sync. Not a big deal to fix, but just so your understand the process.
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post #4 of 8
1/25/12 at 2:12pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by oman321 View Post

Are you setting up the proper activity with these devices? By the sound of your description it would seem that you are simply going to each specific device powering them up and controlling them thru devices.

Harmony is an a activity based remote. You assign the devices to the activity you are trying to create. Let's call it Media Center. You tell the harmony that you use the tv and HTPC in this activity and then go thru the routine of assigning, the display input, the volume control, channel settings etc...

When properly setup, you press the selected activity and this should power up the devices you want to use and set everything to the right inputs. Power off button should shut everything down.

Smart state keeps track of what you do in activities, if you go to devices and change something (like what input your tv is on) smart state will not track this and you will now be out of sync. Not a big deal to fix, but just so your understand the process.

Thanks for replying Oman321.

Is this possible using the web-based software? If so, I can't see how. I've created an activity named Power and included the TV and the ORtek remote (which controls the HTPC). But there's no way (that I can see) to choose the functions I want to be activated from each device i.e., Toggle Power.

I feel like I'm overlooking a big piece of the puzzle here.
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post #5 of 8
1/25/12 at 6:37pm
You should be able to select to add an activity somewhere in the software. Once you begin the process it should walk you thru the wizard to then choose your devices and all your options.

Another thing is to go thru the device wizard for those devices again and be sure the proper power options are set up for the devices as well, as these will carry thru to the activity wizard. i.e. this device is left on all the time or one button to power on and off.
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post #6 of 8
1/26/12 at 3:57am
Thread Starter 
What you're saying is what I expected to see, but it's not as intuitive or obvious as I had thought it would be. I plan on spending some more time with it tomorrow and will report back any progress or questions.

Thanks again!
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post #7 of 8
1/28/12 at 5:17pm
Thread Starter 
I was able to add an activity to turn everything on (PC & TV) and the All Off button shut's it all down.

Thanks for the help.
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post #8 of 8
1/29/12 at 10:24am
Glad you worked it out. Enjoy your new setup.
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