[Riverdome]

I got the crazy idea to buy four thin bezel TVs and create a TV wall. I think I understand the controller side of things where I define which input is displayed on which screen, or if I want to stretch one input across all four screens.

I'm stuck on how to manage the channel each input device (Tivo in this case) is displaying. Back in the S2 days there was a physical switch on the remote that allowed changing between two Tivos. That switch is gone and I'm thinking 4 minis so the 2 position switch wouldn't help anyway. Any thoughts on how to manage each? Tivo mobile app?

 

[302481]

I programmed a $15 universal remote for a guy to control 8 Minis in the same room a few years ago:
Can Harmony Elite Remote control up to 8 running Tivo's

As I say in that post, the Minis are the easy part. The TVs are the hard part. Unless you want to spend a lot of money on an IR distribution system or using wifi, you need to get 4 different brands of TVs.

 

[Dan203]

Actually if you have 4 TVs that are exactly the same then the on/off command and input commands would all be the same, so it would make using a universal remote like a Harmony even easier. Since the channel itself is controlled by the TiVo it wouldn't really matter when changing the channel.

The audio would be the bigger issue. Most receivers only have one input that accepts ARC from a TV and only 1 or 2 outputs. So I'm not sure how you'd wire it to only hear sound from one at a time. (having them all 4 play simultaneously would be chaos) Maybe some sort of dedicated HDMI switch that could be programmed into the remote to feed the ARC output of the four TVs into a single input on the receiver? I'm sure something like that probably exists, but not sure how expensive it would be.

 

[brimorga]

I have 2 minis and 2 rokus hooked up to a massive tv with a multiplexer, so I can watch 4 different things at once. It's great for football. The key for me to have 1 remote to rule them all. I use a remote that can work on RF that connects to a IR distribution box. It's a URC MX-900 that I connect to a Mrf-350.

This way, each box gets it's own signal from a IR blaster. Might be a bigger project than you are looking for though, I've been programming my own remotes for years so it was fairly straight forward.

 

[kpeters59]

The TVs are the hard part. Unless you want to spend a lot of money on an IR distribution system or using wifi, you need to get 4 different brands of TVs.

The Harmony Hub can control Sony TV's over IP. Other brands, too.

Probably mostly Android TV's. But, a HiSense TV I was forced to work on wouldn't do Power over IP, but would do other functions.

-KP

 

[302481]

The Harmony Hub can control Sony TV's over IP. Other brands, too.

Probably mostly Android TV's. But, a HiSense TV I was forced to work on wouldn't do Power over IP, but would do other functions.

-KP

Yeah, I control pretty much everything via IP too, including my Sony TV. I was only saying that a solution other than the one I posted is a lot of money ( > $15 ) ;-)

 

[brimorga]

The Harmony Hub can control Sony TV's over IP. Other brands, too.

Probably mostly Android TV's. But, a HiSense TV I was forced to work on wouldn't do Power over IP, but would do other functions.

-KP

So you use a harmony remote with a harmony hub and you can hook up your whole stack over IP? Samsung tv, denon avr, roamio pro type setup is possible?

 

[kpeters59]

I'm still waiting for Harmony to start controlling receivers over IP. I can't explain the delay, but I'd sure like it to happen.

And, I can vouch for good control of a Sony Android TV with IP. Others, you're on your own. Please report back with your experiences.

TiVo is also in the list of 'not yet' devices.

-KP

 

[Dan203]

There is an IP control protocol for TiVos too. Does Harmony support that?

 

[kpeters59]

Not that I've seen.

I'd sure like it, though...

There is support for all the IR Address' though.

-KP