Onkyo 606 Help Please

Craddock01

OK - Some of you that will read this will remember me - I just received and hooked up a Panasonic DMPBD55k BluRay, Onkyo 606 and a Samsung LN52A850. All has been well but I have not had the HD cable box so I had the TV audio connected to the 606 via an optical cable. I got the Motorolla HD STB yesterday and hooked it up. I hooked the coax cable to the STB and one end of the HDMI to the STB. The other end of the HDMI cable went to the Cable/Sat HDMI input of the 606. I disconnected the optical cable and, after a little reconfiguring of the HDMI assignments I got it all working fine. I then went about setting up the universal remote that came with the STB (Universal Electronics Atlas OCAP). I programmed it to each component and then programmed the Master Power option that will turn on up to 5 components in the order in which you program them into the remote. I programmed the remote to turn on the Cable box and then the TV. Once the TV comes on the 606 automatically gets the signal and turns on without needing to be programmed into the remote. All was well with one exception - one big exception. When I turn everything on the 606 comes on but goes into the Game/TV mode rather than the Cable/Sat mode. Nothing is hooked up to the Game/TV HDMI port and I checked and this port is unassigned. The 606 is designed to search for a signal and automatically switch to the appropriate mode but I can't get it to go into Cable/Sat without getting the Onkyo remote and pressing the appropriate button. I could program a macro button on the universal remote but this is a work around and not a "fix". It makes no difference if I turn on the components manually or by remote - the 606 always goes into Game/TV mode and in that mode it receives no audio/video signal, as, its HDMI is unassigned and has nothing hooked to it. Why is the 606 going into this mode when it is clearly getting the signal into the Cabel/Sat HDMI port? Thanks for any help.

Craddock01

OK - apparently a lot of people viewed the posting but no solutions - I've since contacted Onkyo - not much help from them either - I may be asking too much from differing components but I figured I'd post some additional information I found out when I decided to "play" with all of the settings. I may repeat details that were in my earlier post but I cut and copied this from an email I sent to Onkyo. Any suggestions?

Here is what I am trying to do and then I'll go into the settings;

I'd like to be able to push the master power button on my programmable remote and have the Cable Box, the TV and the Receiver all come on (in the correct mode) and then be able to use the same remote (without having to switch modes from the Cable/TV mode within the remote to the receiver mode) to adjust volume and then back to switch channels. I can program the remote to turn on up to 5 components when the master power button is pressed but will only need it to turn on 2 components - the Cable Box and the TV. Once the Receiver gets a signal it "should" come on automatically - depending on how it is configured.

My equipment is as follows;

Samsung LN52A850 HDTV
Onkyo TX-SR606 Receiver
Panasonic DMPBD55k Blu Ray Player
Motorola DCH6200 HD Cable Box
Onkyo iPod dock
Universal Electronics Atlas OCAP Universal Remote

The connections were described earlier but I will repeat;

- the coax cable coming in from cable provider (Time Warner) goes into male cable terminal on cable box.
- HDMI cable running from cable box to HDMI3 port (CABLE/SAT) of Onkyo 606.
- HDMI cable running from Blu Ray to HDMI1 (DVD) of Onkyo 606
- HDMI running out from Onkyo 606 to HDMI in on TV
- Onkyo iPod dock hooked up via component connections (provided) to the GAME/TV L,R, & V ports as described in manual.
- Bose Acoustimass speakers set up in 5.1 surround

Assignments;
- Input display assignment for "GAME/TV" changed to "DOCK".
- DVD assigned to HDMI1
- Digital input of DVD set to HDMI3 (Auto)
- CABLE/SAT assigned HDMI3
- Digital input of CABLE/SAT set to HDMI1 (Auto)
- All other ports left unassigned

OK - here is what I've found -
I have the TV audio turned off since I intend to use the receiver and the surround speakers as my audio source. When I go into the advanced settings within the setup section of the receiver I go to - Menu > #7 Hardware Setup > #5 HDMI there 3 settings that can (and do) affect the system setup with regards to communications with the TV - they are the "Audio TV out" setting, and the "Control" settings - "Power Control" & "TV Control".

I played with these settings to see what results I would get.

There are 5 possible combinations of these settings;
Configuration #1
- Audio TV out = Off
- Control
Power Control = Enable
TV Control = Disable

In this configuration, the Receiver comes on automatically and is in the correct mode (Cable/Sat) when the 2 components (Cable box and TV) are powered on. Volume cannot be adjusted using universal remote without switching the remote to audio portion of the remote. Samsung has a function called Anynet that allow components to communicate with each other. The volume communication between the TV and the receiver works through Anynet in a different configuration but not in this configuration - see below. This is the best setting I've found as the receiver comes on automatically and is set to the appropriate device but the only drawback is the lack of volume control without using a different remote (or remote code).

Configuration #2
- Audio TV out = On
- Control
Power Control = Enable
TV Control = Disable

In this configuration, the receiver does not come on automatically when the other 2 components are powered on. After receiver is powered on manually, volume control does not work unless use another remote or remote code.

Configuration #3
- Audio TV out = Auto (automatically set by settings below - not user defined)
- Control
Power Control = Enable
TV Control = Enable

In this configuration, the receiver comes on automatically when the other 2 components are powered on but receiver goes into "DOCK" mode forcing user to manually select "CABLE/SAT" mode from remote or on receiver face plate. When the receiver is switched to "CABLE/SAT' mode - the volume control from the TV communicates with the receiver through Samsung's Anynet feature.

Configuration #4
- Audio TV out = Off
- Control
Power Control = Disable
TV Control = Disable (automatically disabled - not user defined)

In this configuration, the receiver does not come on automatically when the other 2 components are powered on. After receiver is powered on manually, volume control does not work unless use another remote or remote code.

Configuration #5
- Audio TV out = On
- Control
Power Control = Disable
TV Control = Disable (automatically disabled - not user defined)

In this configuration, the receiver does not come on automatically when other 2 components are powered on. After receiver is powered on manually volume control does not work unless use another remote or remote code.

I'm looking for the best of both worlds - the best of Configuration #1 - where the receiver comes on automatically and is in the correct mode and Configuration #3 - where the remote used to increase the TV volume works through Anynet to control the receiver.

- Would changing the setting on the TV to enable the television speakers help anything (both the TV speakers and the surround sound)?

- Is there anything I've missed?

- Am I asking too much from the components?

I know I can switch between remotes or program the one remote to do it all but it requires the user to switch to audio mode to change volume and then to cable mode to switch channels....and my wife....well, lets just say I'm trying to make it as simple as possible. Thanks for reading this long, detailed email and for any assistance you may offer.

Loves2Watch

A Harmony remote would resolve most if not all of your issues. I have not had much luck with the Universal brand of remotes when attempting to get them to do what you want.

__________________
Theater 1 - Panasonic TH-85PF12U Plasma TV, 6 Conrad Johnson LP275M Amps, Anthem Statement D-2 Pre/Pro, 6 Thiel SCS4 Speakers, 2 REL T-1 Subs, Infinity Interlude 120S Sub, Simaudio MOON Orbiter Universal Disc Player, ELP Laser Turntable, 2 Dish Network ViP 622 DVR's, Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player, Onkyo DV-HD805 HD DVD Player.
Friends don't let friends buy Korean brand TV's.

Craddock01

I could make it work with the remote I have now - but it would just take someone that uses the remote to know the basics behind how it works, and my wife.....well...I'll leave it there. I can program macros into the remote - but was trying to find an easier way. I may look for the remote you referred to though.

Loves2Watch

Harmony makes many models. The feature I like is the one button push where the remote turns on all of your devices and sets the correct input mode for each. Very simple for anyone to use. I find it indispensable.

__________________
Theater 1 - Panasonic TH-85PF12U Plasma TV, 6 Conrad Johnson LP275M Amps, Anthem Statement D-2 Pre/Pro, 6 Thiel SCS4 Speakers, 2 REL T-1 Subs, Infinity Interlude 120S Sub, Simaudio MOON Orbiter Universal Disc Player, ELP Laser Turntable, 2 Dish Network ViP 622 DVR's, Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player, Onkyo DV-HD805 HD DVD Player.
Friends don't let friends buy Korean brand TV's.

Craddock01

Thanks - I'll look for that brand - sounds like it may solve the problem - with that in mind - do you see anything wrong configuring the set-up as in config. 3

Configuration #3
- Audio TV out = Auto (automatically set by settings below - not user defined)
- Control
Power Control = Enable
TV Control = Enable

In this configuration, the receiver comes on automatically when the other 2 components are powered on but receiver goes into "DOCK" mode forcing user to manually select "CABLE/SAT" mode from remote or on receiver face plate. When the receiver is switched to "CABLE/SAT' mode - the volume control from the TV communicates with the receiver through Samsung's Anynet feature.

Am I missing something - will this have unexpected results somewhere else?

Loves2Watch

That still requires you to go to the receiver and change an input. Other than that I don't see where it would cause any other problems.

With that being said, the Harmony remote would resolve that issue without anynet or any other HDMI 1.3 signal feature being required or needed.

BTW - I like the Harmony 659 as it is priced better than most of the other models yet performs as well and controls many devices.

__________________
Theater 1 - Panasonic TH-85PF12U Plasma TV, 6 Conrad Johnson LP275M Amps, Anthem Statement D-2 Pre/Pro, 6 Thiel SCS4 Speakers, 2 REL T-1 Subs, Infinity Interlude 120S Sub, Simaudio MOON Orbiter Universal Disc Player, ELP Laser Turntable, 2 Dish Network ViP 622 DVR's, Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player, Onkyo DV-HD805 HD DVD Player.
Friends don't let friends buy Korean brand TV's.

Craddock01

Yes - I knew I'd still have to either use the remote to change modes or get another remote like the Harmony of which you speak. I'll check out the Harmony 659 and may have to ask Santa for it....My family is always trying to find something that I want/need that is within their reach.... Thanks again.