Hi,

Just received my SST-768 in the mail today. Initial impressions are a bit frustrating. Other than Harmony's own website and RemoteCentral, doesn anyone have any suggestions on web links to get me started on how to program my remote?

I'm finding the online programming doesn't cover everything I want. I'll probably have to do the XML programming to get exactly what I want.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Shneebs.

p.s. Some examples of the problems I'm running into...

1. When switching to "Watch TV", my crappy RCA TV requires a signal from the source before it accepts it. The default changes the input on the TV before the input on my receiver changes, meaning I get an "Unusable Signal" message. I'm sure this is just a matter of finding the proper place to change the order of which signals are sent... Currently I just have to re-enter the TV input as "S-Video" and everything works fine.

2. Some of my TV channels are analog signal only - others are digital or analog - I want the remote to automatically change to digital input when it is available...

3. I can't even figure out something simple like: how do I assign commands to the hard buttons!

Sorry for the newbie questions....

Don't apoligize for the "newbie" question. We were all there, me just a couple of weeks ago.

I agree with you, I also found it frustrating.

I don't have any great resources for you to tap besides the ones you have already listed. However, I do want to mention that Harmony's Tech support (while apparently very busy right now) is very good and helpful. I have e-mailed them several questions regarding issues with my config. It has taken over 3 days in some cases, but so far they have been able to accomidate all the changes I needed.

Your first point, shouldn't be much of a hassle for them, they should be able to re-order the commands for you.

2. This might be tougher, but ask them and see what they can do.

3. This is trickier than it should be and a little confusing. Basically, there are two types of "Activities." You are pretty familiar with the first one, they show up on the main screen and are things like: "Watch TV." The second are hidden and only seen when you ask to edit activities (at the top of the list, not off of a specific activity.) The change button basically becomes one of those "hidden" activities. To get into it, you might need to be in advanced mode, so go through that at the upper right. This is NOT a sticky setting, you need to set it every time you visit the site. (Bit of a drag.)

Then edit the activity you want to change the button in, like Watch TV. Then at the bottom is an option to: Change a buttons function or behavior in this activity. Select this, then you will need which MODE you want this change to occur in. You can also select all modes for this activity. Then select the button from the drop down list. Then you will add an operation from a particular device.

This will create one of those "hidden activities" so be sure to name it something that identifies it for you. I name mine something like: Zap to Info in TV. The reason for this, is the button change activity is NOT listed under the activity you created it for. It can get VERY confusing if you remap all the keys.

Note: if you cancel the wizard you will get an empty activity called "Change Button Function." Be sure to clean this up, so you don't get confused later.

Hope this helps, and good luck.

1) For the order of the IR signals sent to your devices, try changing the XML code in the Watch TV activity to the order of the IR signals you wish to send. They show up in the (SETUPACTIONS). I have never had the opportunity to test this, but I see no reason why it would not work.

2) Switching between digital and analog inputs would appear to be a function of your TV and receiver. I don't see how the remote could sense the signal and respond appropriately.

3) ruexp67 covered for you.

This message was edited by HarmonyNut on 02/12/03 16:43.

The timings that signals are sent are based on the delays set for the components. The programming makes all attempts to reduce the overall time by organizing the signals so that they make the best use of the delay times for Startup, mode change, and each transmission. I played with the timings on my equipment for a while (15 minute download per attempt) until I got the order to work best for my setup. Was frustrating, but in the end it worked.

Hi, GunTeach, glad to see you back. If the order of the IR commands sent is determined by the time delay set on each component, which device's IR signals are sent first, long or short delays?

I also noticed in my last post that(SETUPACTIONS)was deleted, likely due to gt and lt symbols. I've fixed it.

I'm just curious: What is the size of Your .EZHex-file if You download it to Your filesystem? I guess that the size of the setup is pretty much decided by the number of channels and the corresponding program-listings. My setup is pretty quick to download/install. Here's the basic of my setup:
- 6 devices
- 3 "Watch TV" activities, with respectively 19, 13 and 3 channels
- 4 other activities
- A lot of Configurators (Custum menues, Button mappings, New menu items, +++)
- I don't use the program-listings. (<NUMDAYS>0</NUMDAYS> in <TELEVISIONGUIDE>)

This make my setup 203kB


This message was edited by janid1967 on 02/13/03 06:33.

Harmony Nut,

Lets say your receiver takes 6 seconds to warm up on initial activation, the TV takes 4, and each uses an input switch of 2 seconds.

The Harmony is smart enough to turn on the amp first (start 6 seconds on that)
activate the TV Immediately after(start 4 seconds on that)
Switch the TV after 4 seconds
Swith the Amp <2 seconds after the TV switch (actual time is 6 - (tv on sequence+wait) - (tv switch sequence)

So, the actual total time the remote is red lighted is just over 6 seconds. In other words, it integrates as many commands as possible to minimize the overall time required. I had to set my receiver to be a LONG startup because if you try to switch early it tended to 'hang' and not work at all. Made it 6 seconds and all the problems vanished.

I asked Harmony how I could ensure that the amp was powered on first to minimize the time, and they gave me the whole skinny on the ordering. The only real control you have is with the timings, but by playing with them, you can make the system happy and know your overall time will be optimized.

Interesting, GunTeach. I'm printing this out and including it in my Harmony information since I never encountered it in any of their FAQ's. I have not needed it yet, but I know the day will come when it will be required.

I really appreciate your input in this forum, I find that you are a wealth of knowledge!