Simple-To-Use One Remote Control System for Oldies

I use a Logitech harmony smart control. Works via wifi and a phone or tablet app.

coolaboola wrote: »

Is thata remote control? Any ideas for the system itself... Really struggling to find a simple out-of-the-box solution that meets my functional specifications.

A Logitech Harmony will do what you're looking for. Yes, it is a remote control but a pretty expensive one. There is a relatively complicated setup procedure which obviously you will have to do but after that it's a piece of cake. You define 'activities' like 'Watch a DVD' and when you select that option off the touchscreen, it will switch devices off and on as appropriate, exactly what you need.

The only thing that may be a stumbling block is that on certain TVs the source input selection (HDMI1/HDMI2/HDMI3 etc.) is done off a scrollable menu rather than by a direct command and it can be difficult to get the Logitech gadget to handle this part of the operation though in most cases, simply switching on a DVD player will cause the TV to automatically switch over to that source so it may not be necessary to include source switching as part of the operation.

coolaboola wrote: »

I'll have a look at it again and see if I can figure out how it can meet the functional specification...

It won't, what it does do is through one device allow you to holistically control several devices under something called an activity.

In my case, one activity is called watch tv, when I turn it on, it ensures the tv is on (it assumes a state) changes to hdmi 2, turns on the upc box.
volume +- goes to the tv, channel+- goes to the stb.

Another activity is watch a movie, which changes to hdmi 1, and turns on the PlayStation. Volume again goes to the tv, play pause etc goes to the ps3.

listen to iTunes turns on my amp, switches to analog 5. Now I manually have my MacBook powered up, run iTunes and select play on airport express. Volume-+ goes to the amplifier.

Contrary to Coylemj, most electronic devices have discreet input selection including power on and off.

coolaboola wrote: »

Thanks for your response. So we'd be looking at using their existing hardware and using the remote control to bring them all together and get each of the components to talk to each other?

No, they don't 'talk to each other' at all. It's as described by Idleater above, each activity involves the Logitech device switching units on or off and sending appropriate commands to them.

The setup procedure involves connecting the Logitech device to a PC and programming all of the activities. You first of all tell it what devices you have so you pick your TV, DVD player etc. from a menu of common makes and models and then for each activity you tell it which devices are involved.

Idleater wrote: »

The current harmony software accesses the inputs directly

What version are you using? I have 7.7.0 which hasn't changed in a long time.

I can't see how Logitech s/w can do something that you can't do with the TV remote i.e. jump direct from one source to another???

I bought a remote control from lidl for 7.99 it controls my Sony amp, Humax freesat, Sony TV, Saorview box ( little thing i bought in dunnes last year, I dont really watch RTE but I have a portable hd connected to it for watching vids) also can control apple tv, it is simple enough to use lights up so you can see waht you are doing and it can learn any remote ( if it is not already preprogrammed into it, most are) 2 rechargeable AA's and bobs your uncle, you can't get much cheaper than that.
The remote is a silvercrest (SFB 10.1 C3). it has controls for TV, VCR, DVD, CD, BD, satbox, cable, amp and 2 aux, easy to set up and use. is layed out like most remotes also, tis a schteal i tells ya.