I have been loving my Harmony 628. In particular, my entire family loves the activity button feature.

The only drawback for my set-up is that I am using an older Sony HT receiver (strde-445) which has only one digital audio input. So, I have been using a manual HD selector to allow both my DVD player and HD PVR to send a signal to the receiver..which means I would have to get off my butt and manually push the button to select the proper input any time I wanted to switch between the two--practically defeating the purpose of the 628.

So, I figured an IR capable remote switcher would be just the thing and being a budget-minded guy went to the Shack and picked up the 15-1927 (which just price-dropped from $49.99 to $29.99).

It is a four-in two-out selector box with IR capability. It has a "learn" feature which allows you to push a button on the original remote to trigger which device would select which input.

I used the "power on" buttons for the DVD player and the remote to activate the two inputs on the switcher--figuring that those would be the two operations that would be used when the appropriate activity button on the 628 was pushed.

Unfortunately, it is very inconsistent in whether or not it works. Most times it does not. For example, in many cases when I am switching from the DVD player to the PVR, the selector box input WILL switch to the PVR briefly...only to switch back tot he DVD input. On a rare occasion it will work...but I am usually resorting to manually switching the box so I am no further ahead than I was before.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Avoid (Power) Toggle commands. Try to use discrete commands. If your are using your TV or receiver to switch the video for the DVD and PVR activities, and the TV or receiver support discrete input commands (like InputVideo1, InputVideo2 etc.), then teach your switch these commands. If not, add your switch device to the activities, then find any two bogus commands from any of your other devices (look for them in device mode), and teach them to your switch and to the Harmony switch device. Note: I am pretty sure your Sony STR-DE445 receiver supports discrete input commands.

jlet:

I did what you suggested...I think. Forgive my "newbieness" to all this. I even researched the term "discrete" in this site's glossary. I am learning a lot.

The switch device controls BOTH the audio and video before the signal gets to the receiver. So, I thought I would add "bogus" commands to the receiver which would not impact its processing of the DVD/PVR signals. I simply took the command "2" from the keypad of the receiver remote and added it to the DVD activity...and "4" and added it to the PVR activity. But it didn't work. The switch box doesn't move at all when I switch back and forth between the two acitivites. However, let me add that if I use the original Sony receiver remote the "2" and "4" buttons operate the switch perfectly.

I appreciate very much you trying to help me how to understand to do this. Would a different command work better than the keypad numbers?

I assume you added the "2" and "4" command using the activity "Start Action" feature. Make sure you selected the receiver device next to the "Add action for" entry. Also check that the "2" and "4" commands under the receiver device mode operate the switch. The "2" and "4" commands are fine as long as you don't intend to use them later on for direct tuning via your harmony remote.

Correct. Checked.


Good point! While the original Sony remote worked the switcher (as I stated in an earlier post), I also had used that original remote to program the switcher. The Harmony remote on the receiver's "device" setting did NOT work the switcher. I don't know why not. Have a guess?

So, I set the 628 to the receiver's "device" setting and programmed the switcher with those same commands using the 628 and now everything works like a charm! :)

Thanks, jlet, for your patience and for sharing your expertise with me. It is very much appreciated.