Love my 550 and it works flawlessly. Just one thing I need it to do.

I have set up the watching of DirecTV via two activities:

"Watch DirecTV Regular Mode": Uses the Sony XBR2's speakers. This is the mode the kids use and they don't need the home theater audio kicking in. Nice and quiet-like for Teletubbies.

"Watch DirecTV Theater Mode": Uses the Sony 5.1 Receivers speakers. This is the mode I use when they're asleep and I want to watch sports or movies. Loud and robust, subwoofer, center, great for dad.

Since I'm toggling back and forth between these two modes all day, I have one frustration which is.......when I switch from "Regular" to "Theater", I have to remember to hit the volume down button on the Sony TV so that it's off before choosing the "Theater" activity so that the speakers on the TV are shut off. Conversely, when I switch back to "Regular" mode, the TV's speakers are soundless and I need to hit the volume up key to get the sound back.

So.....is there a way I can solve this? If there's a way to tell my 46XBR2 to kill its speakers in "Theater" mode and then enable them again in "Regular" mode or just a simple macro to have it hit the volume up or down key 25 times I'd be happy as a clam.

Help.

TIA

BJ

I have the same two acitivities. I added extra commands to my entering of each activity. Entering the 5.1 activity, it has commands to mute the television (this can be a problem if your TV keeps the mute display on the screen), and entering the Watch TV activity it shoots out one volume up command. If you TV keeps mute displayed on the screen, the only real way around it is to add several volume down commands - but that is a pretty crappy way to have to do it.

The added commands at the end/begining of activities can be very handy. I also have other simple stuff like making the DVD player eject when I use the watch DVD/listen to CD commands.

Thanks!

Can you give me a step-by-step on how to add the commands (I have the 'mute' logo problem)?

I have searched in the software and cannot find out where to go to add 20 or so 'volume down' commands.

Thanks.

BJ

I too have the same issue (mute display's on screen) and would like to know how to setup a command to lower the volumne.

On a side note, my subwoofer(on/off switch on back) get's turned on seperately from the Onkyo Receiver. Is there a command to turn on the subwoofer as well?....

I'll keep searching the forums for answers....thanks.

You know what - I am having a hard time finding it myself now - I thought you had to redo the wizard and select

"Yes, but I want to add more control of options and devices for this Activity"


...when it asked if the settings were correct at the end of the wizard. When I do this now, it doesn't allow me to enter in the additional commands (just ends the wizard or asks you to add more components). The software changed recently - I wonder if this is a glitch or if I am just in the wrong spot...

Sorry guys, but I think that i where it is supposed to be...

Kevin, you are on the right track. At the "add more component", just click "Save" to proceed to the next step (adding activity start/end commands).

I am pretty sure that is different from last time I used it - but that is the ticket! Strange way to do it - you would think once you hit save you are done.

The software isn't very intuitive unfortunately.

As if the S/W was written by "ET" people and/or people under the "influence". See [Link: remotecentral.com]

The good news:

Found the way to add the "volume down" command in the spastic software. Thanks guys.

The bad news:

When I entered "volume down", the only way to actually get the TV's speakers to zero was to have the "volume down" command repeat itself 20 times. Since the volume level is set to "20" when we watch it, it takes 20 "volume downs" got get it to zero out which takes over 30 seconds (around 1.5 seconds per command to get this done).

Please, someone, tell me that the Harmony can be told to "press and hold the volume down button for 5 consecutive seconds" which is what it takes to go from 20 to 0 when I do it with my finger. This "volume down" (wait) "volume down" (wait) "volume down" (wait) "volume down" (wait) - repeat 16 more times - just is not a valid solution.

TIA

BJ

Unfortunately, I don't think there is a direct way. What you "may" be able to do is try a RAW learn on a custom command "Volume 0" and when it tells you to press the desired key - press and hold the volume down as long as you can before it stops learning the command. This should at least minimize the amount of commands you have to send. If it will learn the 5sec long command you will be all set - if it only learns for 2sec, then 3 "Volume 0" commands should do the trick. Worth a shot.

I know what you mean though - I originally did my volume down this way and it is a poor solution, but later realized that the mute does not remain on screen with my tv, so I was able to use mute instead.

Thanks. How do I go into an existing Activity and program a key with this manual RAW custom command?

BJ

The same way you did with any other standard or learnt commands. RAW mode is just a learning option. It is accessed by clicking custom at the bottom of the learning page interface.

I use the mute command entering activities w/ surround but still get the "mute" display on the TV (Olevia 37V). If I manually send even one "volume down" command, the mute display disappears but the TV stays muted. Next time I'm brave enough to try and modify & update I'll add the volume down to the start of the activity. (Too many recent problems reported on here to risk messing up what mostly works now) .
Try this w/ your TV manually, it might just work the same and then no repeat volume commands!