I have some new equipment and have finally learned the new cable box and most of the TV functions to my VL900. I am having problems switching the video input on the TV using a macro. It works great by selecting the TV device button, pressing the learned button and selecting the input (0-7). But it won't budge using the macro. I read about other Sony remotes where a long or short press during the learning process can make a difference. Any ideas/sugestions? Thanks in advance.

I need a little clarification on what you mean by “selecting the TV device button, pressing the learned button and selecting the input (0-7).” I am not aware of a procedure like this that will select inputs on other than Sony tv’s (as described on page 14 of the manual), and even then you could not use it in a macro.

What button did you learn from your Toshiba TV remote, and do you mean you can press that button and select the input (0-7)?

The learned button is TV/Video, used for selecting video inputs on the TV. Once depressed, you select the desired input using a number (0-7). I just figured since the Input was programmed on a button that I could select the sequence (tv on, tv tv/video, tv 1) and it would work similar to the macro for my amp (amp on, amp video 4).

I don’t think it works that way. If I am reading the operating manual correctly, when you press the tv/input button on the Toshiba remote, you get a menu screen, and then you can select the number of the input you want. To make a macro, you would have to select the tv/input button first. I don’t know how long it takes for the menu to appear on the screen, but you would have to make your macro wait until it appeared before entering the number you wanted to select. The macro works for the amp because it is a direct input and doesn’t require a menu operation.

Since this is the way it works, you can’t make a macro to turn on the tv, select the tv/input button, and then the number of the input, since it takes a little while for the tv to warm up and the picture to appear, after which time you could select the tv/input button, and then the numeric button. You can only make this macro work if the tv picture is present and the menu can be made to appear, and there is no way you can delay the operation of the macro in the 900 to allow time for the tv to warm up before selecting the tv/input command and the numeric command, but you can make a macro to do this after the tv is warmed up and the picture is present.

I think I rambled on a little, but I am trying to make the explanation clear and hope I have done so. Let me know if you have any questions.

Ron

Thanks for taking the time to research and explain this to me. SInce we mostly watch DVD's as a family, I figure leaving the TV video input set for cable will be the easiest solution. The wife and 5 year old will have to read my instructions if they want to watch a DVD until they learn to change inputs!

Thanks Again!

If you leave the tv input set to cable, and the tv is on, then you can easily make a macro to change the input from cable to dvd so the wife and 5 year old can watch if you are not there.

For the macro, select the following keys:
TV device key
TV/Input (which will turn the menu on)
The number of the input your DVD is on (this will switch to that input)
DVD device key
Play (which will turn on the DVD and start the Play mode)
Anything else you might need to allow them to watch the DVD

You may have to play with this a little to make it work, because I am not familiar with your components, but you should be able to make it work without any problems. Then, all they have to do is remember which macro key to press when they want to watch a DVD (as long as the TV is already on).