Hi,

I have several remotes for a number of different bits of AV kit of 
various vintage.. is there a single remote that can cope nicely with all 
of it?

I've tried loads of cheaper 'universal' remotes but they all seem to 
cover *almost* everything, but not enough to retire all the others.

What I've got:

Panasonic widescreen TV
Sherwood AV amp
Virgin cable
X-Box running XBMC - Xbox Media Centre - uses the Xbox DVD remote


On the face of it it's not too complex, *but* what I can't get anything 
to do is timed commands: for instance you have to turn the TV and AV amp 
on then wait about 10 seconds for the TV to get to the point where it 
will listen for the 'switch to AV' command. The AV amp is putting out 
composite video, so there is no Scart active signal to use.

Why can you never set a TV to default to an AV input instead of the 
tuner? I've never yet seen one that can...

Anyway, I'm looking for advice regarding a smart-enough remote that will 
run everything neatly without constant mode-switching (and can be used 
by the rest of the family as well) for about £50.

Any suggestions?

PC Paul wrote:
snip
> What I've got:
> 
> Panasonic widescreen TV
> Sherwood AV amp
> Virgin cable
> X-Box running XBMC - Xbox Media Centre - uses the Xbox DVD remote
> 
snip
> 
> Why can you never set a TV to default to an AV input instead of the 
> tuner? I've never yet seen one that can...
> 

Several TVs have that option.  I've got a panasonic widescreen TV too. 
Press Menu, go to TV setup, go to power up preference and select either 
TV or AV.

On Sun, 04 Nov 2007 00:31:45 +0000, Ian
 wrote:

>PC Paul wrote:
>> 
>> Why can you never set a TV to default to an AV input instead of the 
>> tuner? I've never yet seen one that can...
>> 
>
>Several TVs have that option.  I've got a panasonic widescreen TV too. 
>Press Menu, go to TV setup, go to power up preference and select either 
>TV or AV.

I wish. I also have a Panasonic widescreen TV, but there's no sign of
that option on my menu. I guess that perhaps it's something they've
introduced fairly recently?

Peter.

On Sat, 03 Nov 2007 22:07:51 GMT, PC Paul  wrote:

>I have several remotes for a number of different bits of AV kit of 
>various vintage.. is there a single remote that can cope nicely with all 
>of it?
>
>I've tried loads of cheaper 'universal' remotes but they all seem to 
>cover *almost* everything, but not enough to retire all the others.

What do you mean by 'almost'? You'll have a lot of difficulty finding
one that'll do the more esoteric things. I keep my URC on the coffee
table and the manufacturer-supplied ones in a drawer. For day-to-day
use, the URC is sufficient, but I still get an original out for odd
things - perhaps once a month I resort to that.

<snip>

>On the face of it it's not too complex, *but* what I can't get anything 
>to do is timed commands: for instance you have to turn the TV and AV amp 
>on then wait about 10 seconds for the TV to get to the point where it 
>will listen for the 'switch to AV' command.

I use a Marantz RC 1400, but have to wait before switching to AV: it
has no timed commands option. (But don't you have that trouble with
your original remote, too?) Apart from that minor drawback, I find it
excellent for my system, which is even more complicated than yours:
Panasonic TV
Denon AV amp
Topfield 5800 PVR
Pioneer DVB set-top box
Panasonic DVD-R
Denon DVD
Pace Sky box

AND
Denon stereo amp
Marantz CD player
Denon DAB/FM tuner
Denon MD recorder

The Marantz remote copes well with all of those! I'm not sure that
it's still available, though. If you can find one, I think that it'll
probably turn out to be as good as you can get. By the way, if you'd
like a secondhand Marantz RC 1200 (older model, good, but not as good
as the RC 1400), contact me by e-mail.

Peter.

> I have several remotes for a number of different bits of AV kit of various 
> vintage.. is there a single remote that can cope nicely with all of it?
>
> I've tried loads of cheaper 'universal' remotes but they all seem to cover 
> *almost* everything, but not enough to retire all the others.
>
> What I've got:
>
> Panasonic widescreen TV
> Sherwood AV amp
> Virgin cable
> X-Box running XBMC - Xbox Media Centre - uses the Xbox DVD remote
>
>
> On the face of it it's not too complex, *but* what I can't get anything to 
> do is timed commands: for instance you have to turn the TV and AV amp on 
> then wait about 10 seconds for the TV to get to the point where it will 
> listen for the 'switch to AV' command. The AV amp is putting out composite 
> video, so there is no Scart active signal to use.
>
> Why can you never set a TV to default to an AV input instead of the tuner? 
> I've never yet seen one that can...
>
> Anyway, I'm looking for advice regarding a smart-enough remote that will 
> run everything neatly without constant mode-switching (and can be used by 
> the rest of the family as well) for about £50.
>
> Any suggestions?

I have been using the very expensive Philips Prontos for several years but 
recently switched to a Logitech Harmony which works for me at a fraction of 
the price. Programming is simple and you can test to see if it will work for 
you on their web site. I have a set up for every room in the house.

In the main room to watch sky (press one button):

Switches on Sony Bravia, delay.
Switches on Sky HD
Switches on Sony AV Amp
Changes the TV to hdmi input
Changes the amp to Video 2 input
All the Sky functions available on the buttons, Amp volume with some TV 
aspect etc.

To watch DVD:

Switches on Sony Bravia, delay.
Switches on Philips DVDR
Switches on Sony AV Amp
Switches on Sky HD (in case I want to record)
Changes the TV to AV1 input
Changes the amp to DVD input
Long delay, changes DVDR to Ext2 (SkyHD)
Most buttons DVDR functions etc.

etc.

I see the cheapest is £70 but you may be able to shop around.
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/&cl=gb,en

On Sun, 4 Nov 2007 08:06:41 -0000, "remblancecouk"
 wrote:

>I have been using the very expensive Philips Prontos for several years but 
>recently switched to a Logitech Harmony which works for me at a fraction of 
>the price. Programming is simple and you can test to see if it will work for 
>you on their web site. I have a set up for every room in the house.

This is undoubtedly true. However, the Logitech Harmony is not for
everyone. I tried one, and didn't like it at all. I found the buttons
too small, and the action rather unpleasant - a very crude (IMO)
click.

I recommend seeing if you can try one for feel before buying.

Peter.

Peter wrote:
> On Sun, 4 Nov 2007 08:06:41 -0000, "remblancecouk"
>  wrote:
> 
>> I have been using the very expensive Philips Prontos for several years but 
>> recently switched to a Logitech Harmony which works for me at a fraction of 
>> the price. Programming is simple and you can test to see if it will work for 
>> you on their web site. I have a set up for every room in the house.
> 
> This is undoubtedly true. However, the Logitech Harmony is not for
> everyone. I tried one, and didn't like it at all. I found the buttons
> too small, and the action rather unpleasant - a very crude (IMO)
> click.
> 
> I recommend seeing if you can try one for feel before buying.
> 

I've got one I tried from Aldi (I know...) which *looks* very like a 
Harmony, but isn't.

The Harmony 525 looks like it might do the deed *except* that 
Telewest/Virgin will insist on using IrDA remotes which screws up the 
5xx Logitech remotes (the 8xx series can cope but at a significantly 
higher price) and also screws up all but the most expensive remote 
repeaters.

I've also looked at the Red-Eye remote transceiver - basically a gadget 
that takes 'standard' RC6 infra-red and translates it to IrDA suitable 
for all sorts of IrDA kit. That would add another £35 to the budget but 
then I could at least use a remote extender from upstairs as well.


Oh, and BTW my Panasonic TV is getting on a bit and definitely doesn't 
have an 'AV at power on' option on the menu :-(

"PC Paul"  wrote in message 
news:Xi6Xi.41864$c_1.31959@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk...

> Anyway, I'm looking for advice regarding a smart-enough remote that will 
> run everything neatly without constant mode-switching (and can be used by 
> the rest of the family as well) for about £50.
>

Sony RM-AX4000

Cracking bit of kit
-- 
Alex

New laptop - Sig missing

On Sun, 04 Nov 2007 07:06:58 +0000, Peter
 wrote:

>On Sun, 04 Nov 2007 00:31:45 +0000, Ian
> wrote:
>
>>PC Paul wrote:
>>> 
>>> Why can you never set a TV to default to an AV input instead of the 
>>> tuner? I've never yet seen one that can...
>>> 
>>
>>Several TVs have that option.  I've got a panasonic widescreen TV too. 
>>Press Menu, go to TV setup, go to power up preference and select either 
>>TV or AV.
>
>I wish. I also have a Panasonic widescreen TV, but there's no sign of
>that option on my menu. I guess that perhaps it's something they've
>introduced fairly recently?

A week or so later....

My TV died at the end of last week. It just stopped working. I've now
bought a new one, another Panasonic. The new one does have the 'power
up = AV' setting. As far as I can tell, it works as Panasonic
intended... but not as I'd like it to.

It only sets to AV at power up if there's an AV source connected,
turned on and sending a control signal. Unfortunately, my only source
(the S-Video output from my Denon AVR-3805) doesn't seem to
incorporate a control signal. This option simply doesn't work for me.
Although it's there, it's useless.

Peter.

On Tue, 13 Nov 2007 17:37:23 +0000, Peter wrote:

> On Sun, 04 Nov 2007 07:06:58 +0000, Peter
>  wrote:
> 
>>On Sun, 04 Nov 2007 00:31:45 +0000, Ian
>> wrote:
>>
>>>PC Paul wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Why can you never set a TV to default to an AV input instead of the
>>>> tuner? I've never yet seen one that can...
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>Several TVs have that option.  I've got a panasonic widescreen TV too.
>>>Press Menu, go to TV setup, go to power up preference and select either
>>>TV or AV.
>>
>>I wish. I also have a Panasonic widescreen TV, but there's no sign of
>>that option on my menu. I guess that perhaps it's something they've
>>introduced fairly recently?
> 
> A week or so later....
> 
> My TV died at the end of last week. It just stopped working. I've now
> bought a new one, another Panasonic. The new one does have the 'power up
> = AV' setting. As far as I can tell, it works as Panasonic intended...
> but not as I'd like it to.
> 
> It only sets to AV at power up if there's an AV source connected, turned
> on and sending a control signal. Unfortunately, my only source (the
> S-Video output from my Denon AVR-3805) doesn't seem to incorporate a
> control signal. This option simply doesn't work for me. Although it's
> there, it's useless.

You *can* fix the control signal yourself - but it's non trivial.

The control signal is a voltage on pin8 of the SCART. Between 4.5-7V 
tells the TV to switch to widescreen AV, 9.5-12V to 4:3AV.

If you really wanted to you could wire an S-Video to SCART converter that 
also handled the audio and the switching signal. The easiest way is 
probably to take one of those adaptors with an S-Video socket and RCAs on 
and hack it to add a 4xAA battery pack between pin 17 (composite ground) 
and pin 8 (switching). The batteries should last forever.

Caveat: I haven't tried it.

On Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:47:03 GMT, PCPaul  wrote:

>You *can* fix the control signal yourself - but it's non trivial.

Thanks, but non-trivial = beyond me. Anything requiring a tool more
complicated than a screwdriver is out of the question. Soldering irons
are a big no-no: I'm dreadfully ham-fisted.

I've been thinking more about my system setup this evening. The new TV
will take a component input (which the old one wouldn't). Since my DVD
player has a component output and the amplifier will upscale the other
input signals to component, I don't think that it'll be long before I
change from using the S-Video signal to component. I might also get an
HDMI cable to connect the DVD recorder (a different, and newer,
machine from the player) directly to the TV. (New TV has loads of
inputs - two SCART, component, S-Video DIN, two HDMI, RS 232.)

Sooner or later, I think I'll probably go all-HDMI by buying a new
amplifier (Denon AVR-3808???), but that's a year or two off. I'll
probably wait for Denon to bring out an affordable HD-DVD + Blu-Ray
universal player first.

Peter.