I'm trying to figure out the best way to deal with programming my mom's Onkyo AV receiver Off and On. Right now the audio and video of all of her devices are running straight into the Onkyo with it's video output going back to Video Input 1. Of course to watch her outside antenna for her local hi-def channels I have to switch the tv input to Ant 1.

Anyway everytime my mom turns on the tv I also need it to turn on the Onkyo (or there won't be any sound) plus when I turn off the tv I need it to turn off the Onkyo. How do I accomplish this?

I've never used a Power On and System Off Macro before but if I do that won't I loose the ability to actually use the Power button to turn off and on all her other devices idividually? I would like to keep the ability to power on her dvd and vcr (her other two devices) off and on using the power button if possible, I'm open to idea's on how to do this...

James Paul has offered:

I haven't used a MX-500 in years so I'm not sure but my best guesses:

1) Create a macro on the power on and off buttons for the tv that turns the TV and Receiver on/off together
2) Create a dummy device that you use to control power for devices
3) If the 500 has a favorites button map on and off inside those pages

I didn't think the first option would let me do what I wanted and I guess I don't fully understand the other two.

I use the two power buttons for system ON and OFF macros and I set up a “POWER” device where I keep all the discrete ON and OFF commands for every device and use these in the macros.

I use the top left LED button on page 1 for each device for the toggle power command for that device.

Also, don’t forget that on the MX-500 that you have the 3 dedicated macro buttons.

Okay thanks I'll have to see if I can track down some Descrete ON and OFF codes for her other devices.

I have another problem that I just realized my mom has Dish Network and planned on upgrading to their dual tuner 625 DVR. She currently has two older model receivers (non dvr) but thought she might replace both of them with just the 625, one tuner going to each tv. The problem this creates is that it comes with two remotes one IR and one RF to control the two tuners if they used in a dual mode installation, when used in this mode it has a UFH antenna (plugs into the back of the receiver) to control the Dish RF remote.

She's already using a MX-500 to control one tv and I was adding a second one to control the other one. I know the MX-500 can't learn from the Dish RF remote but could something like a MX-350 do this or is it impossible to learn commands from a RF remote?

I guess I'm wondering if we will have to give up on this idea of using one dual tuner dvr going to two different tvs?