Hi All,

I posted this in the pronto forum, but I was advised to put it in here as it's more a HDMI/CEC problem...

Just upgraded my AV setup and have come across a little niggle that perhaps someone else has worked around.

Running a Sony KDL-46EX723 and STR-DH820 Amp plus other things. My problem is finding the best of both worlds... I like the HDMI control over the amp as it allows me to see the volume level of the amp on the TV (the amp is in a cupboard where I can not see it, and there is no volume indication anyway)

I have an ir extender so direct control is no problem, so I can turn the HDMI control off. But then I can't SEE how loud the amp is. I can hear how loud it is but that is sometimes problematic when I play something in the night and the kids have been playing something loud earlier...!!! The other situation is when I want to listen to the radio, which comes in from my cable TV box. It's nice to see the TV to change the 'channel' to radio. But then you want to turn the television off...

So is there a way to keep HDMI control on and have the television power off without powering down the amp.

I had a trawl round the postings here and the rest of the net but I can't find anything on this subject.

I have tried discrete power off but that still powers down the amp.
I can turn off HDMI control but then I don't know how loud the amp is.


My current solution is to have the HDMI control on, power off the television and then send the amps input select to power the amp back up. This works fine...

But what it does do is power off the amp long enough for the computer to loose sight of the amp and switch from multichannel on the Radeon card to stereo. To fix that the computer needs to be rebooted with the amp on.

So just a niggle but has anyone found another workaround for this?

Cheers,

Marcus

The only way I can think to do it is before you turn the TV off you would have to turn CEC off.

Wait a sec..... There should be an On Screen Display even with CEC turned off.

If all you are looking for is the volume bar/level to be displayed on the TV that should just show up period.

I say turn off the CEC on both units and give it a try with just IR.

+1

Yeah. Maybe since RS232 is or can be two-way, the receiver's video output of volume level is cut off in favor of the volume level information fed back to the RS232 control system...which I guess you're not using. Just a guess.

Something is missing from the equation. Are you using ARC, thus the volume readout is tv dependant and not the OSD capability of the receiver? Can you describe how EVERYTHING is wired and list model numbers.

What a unique idea. Read my signature:

Receiver and TV model are in the first post. How wired is different story. :-)

Model Numbers as per my profile:

• Pronto RU950
• Sony KDL-46EX723
• STR-DH820 Amp
• BDP-S350 BD
• D-Link DSM-520
• SA Virgin Media Box
• Compaq pc
• Canon XH-A1
• Avid Media Composer

The wiring is simply hdmi box to box (well tv > amp > SA Box/BD Player and D-link)

What I like is the CEC display on the TV screen of the amps volume level (or Audio system volume as in the pic below.)

The only other thing I've yet to try is an ir on off for the TV mains supply (aka pull the plug out of the wall)

What I am looking at on the screen is the OSD of the Television, I don't see what is going on in the amp as it's not in it's GUI mode.

Hopefully this sheds a bit more light on the subject, sorry I didn't reply earlier I thought that there would be a 'reply to this post mail!!!'

Thanks all for your input so far.

Cheers,

Marcus

Don't know these models but is there a "Setup" for HDMI in either the TV or receiver? Some systems allow ou to set what gets turned on and off over HDMI. If you have looked then disregard my note ...

I've not seen any models that allow you to turn off some CEC features and leave others on. I'd expect that it you want to see the volume on the TV and it's a CEC feature, you're out of luck turning off the source and expecting the TV to stay on.

However, you've got a Pronto remote, and I think the extended Sony Receiver IR codes have commands that allow you to set the volume to specific levels. Maybe adding a "Volume = -30 dB" or some such command in your System On macroes would solve your problem.

Actually, I don't use aSystem On macro, instead fashioning each source selection macro to turn on the entire system in the most rapid fashion, with timing and interleaving of commands for different devices worked out experimentally to get the shortest macro. You'd add a "volume =" command to each of those macros.

Will certainly go look that function. Thanks for that pointer.

Currently sitting here listening to the radio from the cable box with the TV on, with a black screen.....

Why are you trying to reinvent the wheel? Turn the receiver GUI on and turn CEC off.

Regarding, the ability to turn certain features off, I have only seen the ability to control power or not as an option. Which would help here.

Still I think CEC is harmonys cousin.

Marcus, if you go into the TV's menu to "Channels & Inputs" > "HDMI Settings" > "Device Auto Power Off" and set this to "Off" then when you turn off your TV your HDMI connected devices will remain on.

The phrase "red-headed stepchild" comes to mind, and I mean the Langston Hughes version of it. And ALL HDMI stuff is in that family.