Sunfire Theater Grand Processors (thread to share advice,info,thoughts, etc) - Page 39

Good news and thumbs up to Harmony !
I have been contemplating this Harmony device for my Sunfire TGP-5 based system.

Definitely you should go for it -- it really can control everything -- room lighting, fan, etc -- the devices for even obscure devices are there. I have the 880, but the buttons for volume/channel aren't that great. The Harmony One has better buttons, also I think it can shows fewer activities on the LCD screen than the 880. Most people that have switched seem to prefer the Harmony One.

I found a problem with the subwoofer test tone on the TGIV. I'm trying to set it with the RS sound level meter and it works fine for the front/rear/center, but the subwoofer test tone is warbled (for lack of a better word) -- the signal goes up and down by about 8db somewhat randomly so it's impossible to set the sub level. Has anybody seen this issue and is there a solution?

hey there avs, i have an old sunfire theater grand processor, i believe this is the first one so it much be ancient. I lost the remote to this one , and i was wondering if there was any possible way of getting the tg-2 remote to work with this machine...

Something like a Harmony 880 would likely support it. It should already be in their database, but Harmony is very helpful at finding the codes even if they are not in the database (when the TGIV setup in the Harmony database was missing codes for arrow keys on a Sunfire TGIV, they pulled them from another users setup and loaded them into my profile).

I think generally manufacturers tend to keep codes the same (Sony especially),so it may be that a later remote will work but this is a complete guess. You might want email Sunfire from www.sunfire.com -- they replied to my questions about the TGIV, so they do respond about older models.

I have two questions regarding the TGIV:

1. Does anybody find the IR receiver on the TGIV weak?
2. Is there a simple IR receiver that can plug into the rear jack?

My equipment room is in the back of the room and every other component responds to IR signals from a Harmony 880 pointed at the front of the room because signals reflect back from the projector screen. The TGIV is the only one that must be pointed at directly to work reliably.

Assuming I can't improve the built-in IR receiver -- is there a simple external IR receiver I can add to improve performance? I tried using a remote IR receiver I had spare from a cable box -- it has the proper plug but doesn't seem to work at all (no response if I block the built-in IR) -- so I guess that IR receiver isn't compatible with what's required for the Sunfire. I'm looking for an IR receiver that is as simple as possible since it will sit just one shelf up from where the TGIV sits now.

Re : "I have two questions regarding the TGIV: 1. Does anybody find the IR receiver on the TGIV weak?"

PJP -
I have the TGP-5 and share your experience - a very weak IR remote function. You must be close to and point it directly at the TGP 5 for the remote to work well.
Jack

Jack,

Thanks for the feedback -- it's helpful to know that this is typical behavior for the TG series. I'm hoping there's a simple external IR sensor I can plug into the rear IR in jack to resolve it, but the one I have on-hand doesn't seem to work at all so I'm hoping somebody will be able to recommend a specific one that works.

Thanks,
Peter

I can not get the ps3 to work with the tgp-5. I am running an HDMI and optical cable from the tgpV to ps3. Is there a setting that I am missing, there is a black screen that flutters and no sound.
thanks

I have an original Sunfire Theater Grand with the touchscreen remote. The remote doesnt function properly. (I put fresh batterries in and I hear the slight beep when it gets power, followed by the backlight coming on and quickly fading out. The screen is very dim but appears to show the buttons, however touching thme does nothing)
I'd like to know if anyone has replaced their unit with one of the MX-5000 Theater Master universal remotes OR can recommend another that will be able to access and use all of the functions of the unit, not just volume and source selection. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE provide the codes used as well. Thanks !!!

If you take a look at my post many pages back.. I have the same basic issue.

The remote has been sent back TWICE ($30 the first time and $75 the second) but has never been properly re-programmed. I purchased a USED URC remote FROM sunfire (another $100) that was supposed to be pre-programmed to replace the touch screen remote. It barely controls any of the functions of the receiver and is somewhat a joke. So in effect I only have partial function of the TG processor.

As silly as it may sound, this issue has changed my view of the company and when I replace the TG, it will not be with a sunfire or any other Elan product. Previous to this issue, I would not have bothered even looking at other brands, I was a happy sunfire customer.

I hate my harmony remotes, but am going to try and work with support to see if we can get something working.

Let me know if you find something that works.

A Harmony 880 or Harmony One remote will do everything. Harmony's support is great -- so if there is a function missing they will add it to the library. They did this a few hours after I made the request when I first started using an 880 on a TGIV -- they actually pulled the codes from users that learned the command from the original remote, which is easy for them to do because everyone's setups are stored in their central database.

If you haven't used a Harmony remote before, it is life changing in simplicity -- hit one button to "play DVD" and it will intelligently turn on all required devices and do the AV/TV input settings for the display. You can then hit listen to CD and it will power off the TV and DVD (if you want it to) and start up the CD and set inputs correctly. You can also control things like lighting with a low-cost Lutron switch.

All this being said, I've found the TGIV has one of the weakest IR sensors of any device I've used, you really need to be pointing at it to ensure the commands get picked up and sometimes I've seen it get confused and change inputs if I hit the volume too fast for example. Not sure why the IR is poor -- not sure if it's that the Harmony is less than perfect (I don't have a working Sunfire remote) or if it's just weirdness in the Sunfire IR processing. Another user commented that the IR sensor is weak, so it may very well be the latter.

You won't have any trouble getting all the features to work with a Harmony and there are many benefits to using a Harmony type remote for controlling the whole system with one button.

Over a year has passed (actually several) and I am still in search of codes (IR or serial) to control all of the function of my Theater Grand Processor 1

I hve it setup on a logitech and basic functions work but I need to be able to set the speaker levels, etc.

Elan support is worse than a joke, in fact they are clueless and rude and are unable to find the documentation for the TG1 product. I contacted Rita's but Elan assumed all of the original programming information when they purchased Sunfire and are unable to help.

Anybody?

Are these the same as later TG versions like the TG3 or TG4?

I'm pretty sure Bob Carver still ran Sunfire back then when the TG1 was introduced so I'd suggest you email Bob and see if he might be able to help you out with the codes. Info@BobCarver.com

There is also The Carver Site where you might be able to find the code you're looking for. http://thecarversite.com/yetanotherforum/default.aspx?g=login\ http://thecarversite.com/yetanotherforum/default.aspx?g=topics&f=94

Cheers,
Robin

Can you convert from pronto:

http://files.remotecentral.com/view/3163-6896-1/sunfire_grand_i_preamplifier.html

I have found another source code for the RTI remote.

http://files.remotecentral.com/view/6346-17524-1/sunfire_theater_grand_preamplifier.html

Anyone have the code for the Harmony?

Bob and Rita's (now defunct btw) was no help. They simply said they don't have the codes or documentation for the original TG. As mentioned, Elan was no help either.

Neither of the linked codes are remotecentral (Pronto or RTI) are anything more than what I have and therefore not going to help. To be clear, the original Theater Grand has several functions that were ONLY available from the remote. These included the Subwoofer and Surround level and crossover settings. The linked codes are in one case, not complete and only have basic functions (that I already have) and on the other case are for the TGII or newer and don't work on the TG1.

If anybody has a working remote, I would be more than happy to pay them for their time in learning the codes to a universal. It is hard to fathom that nobody out there has done this yet!

Thanks,

Bill

Replying to my own post to update with the solution. The external IR input on the back of the Sunfire (TGIV in my case) will NOT work with a passive IR cable (i.e. an unpowered IR sensor with a 1/8" mono jack) -- a passive IR cable will plug in but it won't do anything. However, it will work with a powered IR repeater that has mono 1/8" outputs. I used the Sewell SW-29311 kit. It comes with only IR blaster cables, so if you want to connect it to the external IR input on the back panel of the Sunfire, you need to supply your own cable with 1/8" mono plugs on both ends. The listing on Amazon gives about 5 close-up pictures of what the unit looks like. There is a different style of Sewell IR repeater on Amazon that's a little cheaper (about $27), but reviews weren't as good on it and I couldn't confirm that it used mono 1/8" jacks because the listing didn't have pictures. The Sewell model I bought has 6 output jacks, so it could support 6 directly connected devices (using your own cables). For IR blasting, it comes with 4 cables, with each cable having 2 IR blasters, so it can control 8 devices by blasting out of the box and apparently could support a total of 12 if you buy 2 additional IR blaster cables.

I think the Sewell is well designed and seems pretty high quality, so I would recommend it. That being said, my feeling is that any powered IR repeater that has mono 1/8" IR output jacks would probably work. Monoprice has a powered repeater that is under $11 (plus shipping) and appears to have mono 1/8" jacks on the blaster output from the photos, so I would guess that this one would also work with the Sunfire (I haven't tried it obviously, so I can't be 100% certain). I went with the Sewell SW-29311 because user reviews are better and quality seemed higher than the Monoprice unit, but on a tighter budget monoprice would seem worth a try.

If you have flaky IR response on the Sunfire, this should fix it. Mine has always been flaky because the Sunfire seems a little weak on IR reception to start with and the IR path in my room is partially obstructed (by drums that can't be moved). It is 1000% better since I added the external IR sensor, so I am pretty happy to have it solved.
Edited by pjp - 3/10/13 at 12:03pm