I have a 670 and 95% of the time I watch tv, I do not use the receiver's speakers. So the receiver is off when watching tv. What's the best way to go about turning on the receiver during the rare times I need to. Do I:

1. Press Device button and turn it on that way?
2. Add a "turn on ext sound" button on the lcd screen?
3. Turn on the receiver every time watching tv and add a 'mute' option to the activity for the reciever, then create a button for the receiver's 'mute' option?

Which one is the best way to do this, or is there another way it should be done?

Thanks.

No, no, no. Create a new activity for watching TV that includes the receiver. Then if you need to add any commands (to turn off the TV speakers e.g.) just add those to the beginning and/or end of that activity.

Create a new "Watch TV" activity with the receiver set to control the volume. Rename it to "Watch TV w/receiver" or whatever.

Any other method will confuse Smart State tracking.

Hmm, I did this, but this doesn't seem optimal because I have to click the "More Activities" button, followed by the "Next" button to get to this new activity. And all components are turned on already, I just need one additional component turned on, the reciever.

Is there any way to order what gets displayed in the "More Activities" screen?

Yes, you can re-order activities. See [Link: remotecentral.com]
Or you could assign these 2 activities (one with, the other without the receiver) to 2 of the hard activity keys (Customize Activity Buttons).

I actually have this. One activity is "Just TV", one is "TV/Stereo".

jsmiddleton4,

how do you do 2 activities for the same thing like the TV? I tried the add more option and it has a start and end sequence. I have no idea what that means.

Please break it down. TIA

Set up a Watch TV activity. When you're asked what device you use to control the volume say the TV.
Set up another Watch TV activity. When you're asked what device you use to the control the volume say the amplifer.

thanks

Forgot to add - then change the names of the 2 activities so you know which is which:-)

Definitely follow other's recommendation to add an additional activity. This is how I have it.

Problem with your approach by going into Devices to turn on the receiver is the Harmony will still try can control the volume through the TV. Or you could leave the device mode on and use the LCD screen to control the receiver volume. But that is a pain. That's the beauty of the Harmony, just push another activity and now the volume controls the receiver, the up and down channel control the cable box and the

I have three TV activities. One with TV+Receiver+PVR (what does PRV mean anyway????), one with just TV+PVR (mostly for the kids so the receiver does not wake us up) and one for only TV (for the times when we are recording two shows and want to watch a third. We just use the cable feed directly to the TV.

PVR = Personal Video Recorder. As opposed to DVR - Digital Video Recorder. But since they're all Digital I guess they could be PDVRs.

You should think of activities as unique combinations of devices and inputs or settings, as described above. Create one activity for each one and if you've set up each device correctly then you're good to go.

PVR - Personal video recorder - personalized, suggests things, smart search etc.

DVR - Digital video record - It does what you program it to do. basically a VCR with a harddrive.