[mythtv-users] FYI: harmony 650 37.99 @ costco (instant 17 rebate)

[Kris B.]

On Wednesday, November 30, 2011 1:27 PM, "Steven Adeff"
<adeffs.mythtv at gmail.com> wrote:
> wait, how exactly, using the windows software, can you get "rid of"
> the Activity mode? I don't follow...

Well, what you are doing is lets say Watch a DVD - You set up the TV
with a NO CODE setup where it doesn't turn on the TV, then you program
each key in that mode to your DVD player, save for maybe TV input and TV
ON, perhaps TV volume which you use the appropriate buttons or alternate
buttons.  This way when you hit Watch a DVD, basically you are just
using the device keys, save for the few you need.  Same for any of the
other Activity buttons.  You can tell it in the Windows software to not
use the TV associtated with that activity so you don't have to actually
have it turn on the tv and cycle the inputs - it isn't very intuitive,
actually it is downright confounding, but you can outsmart the program
if you keep at it.

Now, if your device has a power on button and not simply a toggle, it is
actually quite a nice setup using the activity buttons.  I lucked out
all of my devices except the DVD player.  If I aim wrong, it goes
bonkers, but everything else is awesome - it turns on the TV and
switches the input.  If the TV is already on, the command is ignored for
power (because the TV is on) and switches input, and then gives me the
appropriate device.  Now that I think about it, I MUST have been the one
who did that, using a macro like setting.  Anyway, the point is, with
the windows .exe program you can get to all of this stuff - the java
interface is fairly closed off to those of us who dabble :)  

As for the DVD player when I miss aim, I just turn to another activity,
it sends the wrong command to power cycle which turns the DVD player on
instead of off, then I switch back to Watch a DVD and cover the front
with my hand so the signals don't mess up again and I end up with it all
wrong.  

-- 
  Kris B.
  krisbee at krisbee.com