Can TV input button be programmed to change input via receiver?

CAG45 · 03-04-2012, 04:55 PM

Currently, we have our TIVO remove TV-input button succesfully controlling the TV input.

Some newer receivers let you control TV input through the receiver, not the TV. In this case, can the TV-input button be programmed to change the input via the receiver?

Some background: Other than our Tivo HD DVR (series 3?), most of our equipment is 17 years old. We currently have our DVR and and VCR/DVD player connected to the TV (along with a spare jack for the camcorder) to 3 composite video/sterio audio RCA jacks. The TV's audio output is connected via RCA jacks to the receiver, which in turn is connected to 5 speakers (surround sound).

If we buy a new HD TV, we will also need to buy a new receiver (new TVs don't seem to have analog RCA output jacks, only digital output, and our 17 year old receiver doesn't talk digital). So we can buy a new TV and a new receiver.

The real issue is that most new TVs have limited numbers of composite inputs. I believe the correct way to connect the Tivo box to a new HD TV is via the HDMI port, correct? So that shouldn't be an issue. But our VCR/DVD box and our camcorder both have composite outputs only - and most of the TVs I saw had (only) one composite, one component, and many HDMI inputs. The salesman said that instead of having all the inputs go to the TV, you can have all the inputs go to the receiver, then have a single input go from the receiver to the TV. When I asked him if I could program my Tivo remote "TV input" button to control inputs in this configuration, he had no idea...

So I'm asking you guys!

thanks

windracer · 03-04-2012, 08:54 PM

Yes, you can program the Input button on the learning remote (the Glo and the Slide). So you would have it "learn" the input code from your receiver's remote.

CAG45 · 03-04-2012, 10:11 PM

I actually still have the remote from my older Tivo series 2 DVR (the remote that came with my Tivo HD DVR was given away with the series 2 DVR - long story).

If I understand correctly, the remote from a Series 2 DVR is not a "learning remote", correct? If the code for a new TV/receiver does not exist, you're out of luck (or I guess you have to buy a new "learning" remote). Actually, what are the odds that the code for a new TV/receiver will be ones that a Series 2 remote knows about? Do companies (Sony, Pansonic, ...) reuse their 4-digit codes, or do new TVs/receivers tend to have new codes - even from companies that have been around for a long time?

thanks

windracer · 03-05-2012, 07:19 AM

It's possible it could still work, it just might take more work going through the various remote codes to see if one will work. Since those are TV codes, though, I'm not positive you'll find one for your receiver, which is why the learning remote is probably the better way to go.

wkearney99 · 03-05-2012, 03:20 PM

The Slide remote can do this. I've programmed the input on our Slide to switch only to the input port the Tivo uses on the TV. It's on input 2, so I used the TV's remote to teach that keypress to the Slide on the Input button.

Now any time that button is pressed it always tells the TV to go to the correct input. This solves the previous hassle of accidentally hitting Input requiring going all the way 'round through NINE inputs (each requiring a slight pause for the input to switch before you could press again).

I wish it still had the 1-2 switch found on older remotes (DirecTivo ones, I believe). That'd let me switch between the Tivo direct to the TV vs through the receiver. For that I just use the receiver's remote to handle the volume.

dianebrat · 03-05-2012, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAG45

If I understand correctly, the remote from a Series 2 DVR is not a "learning remote", correct? If the code for a new TV/receiver does not exist, you're out of luck (or I guess you have to buy a new "learning" remote). Actually, what are the odds that the code for a new TV/receiver will be ones that a Series 2 remote knows about? Do companies (Sony, Pansonic, ...) reuse their 4-digit codes, or do new TVs/receivers tend to have new codes - even from companies that have been around for a long time?

Correct S2 remotes are not learning
Companies do tend to reuse codes for a long time, it's always worth a shot, I had a recent JVC Blu-Ray player that used the older JVC DVD player codes.

CAG45 · 03-05-2012, 09:46 PM

Thanks for the replies.

Right now, we have a Sony TV and Receiver, and the Tivo remote Power button turns on/off both the TV *and* the receiver. All the documentation that I can find, e.g.:
http://support.tivo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/294
suggests that you can program the remote the turn off the TV power, but *not* the Receiver power.
I don't recall how I configured the remote - it was a number of years ago. But is it only because my TV and Receiver are the same brand that the Power button turns both off at the same time? In general, can you turn a TV and Receiver off at the same time, if the TV and Receiver are different brands?

thanks

wkearney99 · 03-06-2012, 08:08 AM

I believe the learning remote is capable of learning multiple device power commands. This is the device 'toggle power' command, not an explicit on or off. This is tricky as it may result in devices being out of sync with each other, necessitating toggling it manually.

When you get into dealing with multiple devices it's often better to make use of a universal remote. This doesn't preclude using the Tivo remote as they're pretty nice at handling ffwd and rewind, better than most 3rd party remotes.

CAG45 · 03-06-2012, 10:11 AM

OK - I think the thing that confused me was that (perhaps by luck) I was able to do this with a Series 2 remote (because everything was the same brand). When I upgraded to a Tivo HD DVR (that came with a learning remote), I stupidly gave that away with my Series 2 remote. At the time, I didn't realize there was a difference with the remotes - and the old remote was already programmed correctly...

thanks

Edmund · 03-06-2012, 09:30 PM

No, you can't program the TV INPUT key for AV receiver inputs, not with non-learning preprogrammed remote like the series-two peanut.

But you can control both TV and AV receiver power commands with the same key on the series-two remote:

1. press and hold TIVO & TV POWER until the light remains on, enter tv code
2. press and hold TIVO & MUTE until the light remains on, ener the AV receiver code
3. press and hold TIVO & TV POWER until the light remains on, enter av receiver code again