I have the following system: Marantz RCV SR7000, Toshiba TV 36A50, Sony DVD DVP-S530D, Philips TIVO 312-04, Motorola Digital Cable Box DCT-2244. (In the future a Playstation 2 and S-VHS VCR will be added.)

Right now I run in three configurations:

1. Everything OFF but TIVO, Cable Box (which never are shut off, if you have TIVO you will understand why).
2. Everything ON.
3. Marantz, TIVO, Cable Box, and TV ON while DVD Off (this is my most "common" mode).

I like to leave the DVD off when possible since my setup requires a close stacking of units and I like to minimize heat. I would like to setup my MX500 (I get it tommorow) via Macros to power up the system minus the DVD and then via another Macro power everything down. That is simple enough I suppose but how would you recommend handling the situation with the DVD, I don't suppose anyone knows if the DVD has a discrete ON/OFF (I don't think so, but I have a RS 15-1994 to get the codes and learn them to the MX-500) because if not I suppose it will be complex to make my wife remember to turn the thing on/off if it is not on the main Macro.

I hope SOME of the above made sense. :-)

I have the same receiver as you, as well as DirecTv with Tivo and a separate SA Tivo unit on cable.

90% of the time, all I need to do is turn on the TV and the receiver (which is usually set for the Satellite input and doesn't require a discreet "power off" command). The POWER ON button does this, and also shuts both off with another push. If I'm going to watch cable, DVD or VCR, the macro set on those device buttons switches the inputs and powers on the device as necessary.

If I'm going to listen to a CD initially, and don't need the TV on, I just turn on the receiver and CD player manually, since I have to go to the equipment rack to load the CD in anyway. As a result, I can use the POWER OFF button for individual devices.

My wife likes being able to push the same button to turn on and off the TV and receiver.

Hope that helps you a little.

I have a Sony DVD and was able to get power discretes working with the 15-1994. Use discrete 113 on and 109 off.

mroll:

Let's say I set a Macro on "Power ON" which turns on and off the TV/Receiver combo but nothing else. I understand I can set a Macro to a device key for example... if my wife then presses "DVD" it can switch control to the DVD, turn it on, and set my Marantz to "DVD". This I all understand but does she then have to remember to turn it off or should I rig a Macro that on every other device key press (other than DVD) it should send a discreet power OFF comand to the DVD? I just "know" that if I rig the DVD to auto turn ON but not OFF my wife will be confused... any suggestions?

I use my MX-500 in my home theater, and have set up a device called POWER and all the LCD buttons in it set different useage systems up:

TV /\ (symbol for up) - Turns TV and cable box on.
TV \/ Turns TV and cable box off.
DVD /\ - Turns TV, DVD player, and receiver on.
DVD \/ - Turns TV, DVD player and receiver off.

You get the idea. I have these set up for watching TV, watching a DVD, watching a VHS tape, watching TV through the receiver, and a few macros to set the lights as I like them also.

Works very well. I have the OFF and ON buttons at the top only control each device, never a system wide macro.

Good idea, Randy!

I can't take all the credit - Patrick Navin gave me the idea :)

SC -

I always take the DVD out of the player when I'm done viewing it, so I usually turn the player off by hand. If not, I use the Power Off key, which is setup to work by device. If you want more options with macro controls, use Randy's suggestion.

That's the beauty of the MX 500, you can pretty much create a taylor-made solution for your particular needs.

I am one of these people that does not use the receiver for TV watching, mainly because my lovely wife thinks anything above a whisper is too loud :)

I am fortunate enough to have (or am able to simulate)discrete on/off codes for all my equipment. My CD Player and Subwoofer switch on when I power on my Receiver. From the main screen, I have (single press and macro):

VCR----- TV->VCR and TV-On/VCR-On/TV->VCR
DVD---- TV->DVD and TV-On/DVD-On/TV->DVD
TV------ TV->TV and TV-On/TV->TV
Tivo---- TV->Tivo and TV-On/TV-Tivo
CD------ RCV->CD and RCV-On/RCV->CD
Tuner-- RCV->Tun and RCV-On/RCV->Tuner

On each individual device, I use the Power key to toggle Power On and Off, and under the Power button I programmed LCD functions:
VCR----- VCR On/Off, LCD: TV On/Off and TV->VCR
DVD---- DVD On/Off, LCD: TV On/Off and TV->DVD
TV------ TV On/Off, LCD: TV->TV
Tivo---- TV On/Off, LCD: TV->Tivo
CD------ RCV On/Off, LCD: RCV->CD
Tuner-- RCV On/Off, LCD: RCV->Tun

This way I do not HAVE to go back to the MAIN screen to either use the single press for input selection, or the macro for Powering the required devices.

The System Off key sends a discrete Off to VCR, DVD, TV and Receiver.




This message was edited by Arjen on 08/15/01 13:52.06.

ok, i thought i had a pretty good idea of what could and couldn't be done with the MX-500, but i have to admit i'm confused as to how you are (or seem to be) putting more than one command on the LCD buttons within a device called POWER. or am i reading it wrong? this is a great idea, could somebody please explain it?
thx!
-erk

It's explained here:

[Link: remotecentral.com]

Basically, I rename a device, say VCR2, to POWER, and made it an AUX 155.

I then learned all of the discrete power on and off to various buttons within that device. Then I created macros using the LCD buttons to turn different things on, or off.

I hope that makes sense!

Randy
www.RRDeals.com

I also have a Marantz 7000 with Directv. I thought because the Marantz has separate on/off buttons that you couldn't assign one button to control both functions. How did you do it?

The Marantz remote has 3 buttons across the top: Off, On/Off and On. If you use the On/Off one, it's a toggle that does both on and off. The other two give you discrete on and off control.