How to mute tv when watching DVD?

mystic7

OK, like most or all of you I use my receiver and 5.1 speakers when watching a movie. I have the Harmony 520 remote, which turns on my tv and sets it to the dvd input, turns on the reciever and sets that to the dvd input, and turns on my hd-dvd player.

How do I go about having it mute my tv sound automatically when I press "Watch a DVD"? Sometimes I forget to mute it, and it really cuts down on the spatiality of the sound field, having all 5 channels of sound coming through the tv's speakers.

anythingwt

This is a good question and I look forward to someones response on this thread. I have the same issue with my 880, and it drives me crazy. What I end up doing is just pushing device, then controlling the TV itself, and muting the volume. This is a hassle though because I haven't been able to figure out how to get back to the screen where it is controling everything again.

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Rick-F

When I set my Harmony remote up for an ACTIVITY-- it asked me which device controls the sound. I use my sound system almost all the time-- but when the cable box is down, I use the QAM and the speakers in the TV-- and the remote turns ON the TV speakers (also turns the sound system & STB off). My TV has an option to turn the speakers on or off.

Many DVD players have options to turn the sound off on the HDMI going to the TV.

How is you equipment set up? on my set up a sound signal can only get to the TV via the HDMI on the STB (but the TV's speakers are turned OFF) or through the standard cable TV coax (used with the QAM).

Loves2Watch

I always go into the TV menu and turn the speakers off that way you will have no TV sound issues.

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mystic7

ok, I found the answer. Rather than spell it all out it's easier to open the program you use to program the remote, click on "Help", go to the FAQ and read "Adding an activity".

Choose "Watching a DVD".
You have to go through a few screens that show your current setup before you get to the part that says "Add an activity". Once you get there, there's a dropdown list of your components. Mine defaulted to the tv, but you might have to choose tv. Click next and then choose to have the remote send a signal to "mute" the tv when turning on whatever components you're turning on to watch a DVD.

Like I said, read it in the FAQ. It's much clearer.

LuvMyCableCard

I would think that would make yout TV display the MUTE label/icon/whatever. My TV displays it the entire time it is muted. A more elegant solution would be to turn the TV speakers off but then you would have to make sure you turn them back on with subsequent activities.

I simply program the volume up/down to control the receiver and the arrow up/down (not direction up/down) to control the TV volume.

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mystic7

My tv shows "Mute" for about 3 seconds, then disappears. You should be able to go into your tv's menu and have "onscreen alerts" turned off. Seems to me, anyway.

Tulsaboyw

my mute...if i use the cox dvr ..shows its mute..
I like the reciever mute because it controls my tv and theatre/dvd.

I hate my pre-harmony remote setup.

Volume via the tv remote which does the theatre/dvd volume.
channel chg via only the dvr remote ...

Getting a Harmony will definately improve our handling of stuff.
Currently if I goof and start up the equipment in the wrong order...I end up starting all over.

My wife ends up not getting theatre (5.1) per this.
I have a quick fix when IM there... but I work during her time off till evening.

My home is to use HARmony to have full control of all 3 remotes.
I will need to remember to 'reset' all 3 remotes to normal setup.

But despite that, will need to 're-anynet' the theatre and tv once done.

The anynet is a 'samsung?' deal that combines tv & theatre..
Nice up to a point, but it conflicts with 'combination codes that merge the remotts.