Need advice and how to match Humax Handset with Sony TV.

I can control my TV with the Humax HS, and control the Humax PVR, but to make sure I am controlling the correct unit I have to Press either PVR or TV. The big problem is when turning on the TV, if you forget to press PVR, but say want to got to channel 101 (bbc), the TV instantly goes to channel 1 on the inbuilt Freeview tuner in the Sony TV. It gets worse as the volume control on the PVR requires 60-70 % to be comfortably audioable, I supplement this with upping the volume on the TV to 75%. so when the Sony TV goes to channel 1 the whole room is blasted with 75% volume. The only way I overcome this was to unplg the terrestrial aerial from the TV, which surely is crazy.

To get the Sony TV back to matching the Humax, I have to goto Setup on the Sony and set the External Input to channel 4, even though its selected, this then displays the current channel on the HUmax.

Sorry to go on about this, but this problem drives my wife nuts, If I am out and forgets to press PVR before entering a Freesat Channel code, she is totally lost on what to do.

I am considering changing the Humax Box with the Echostar 600, but need advice if the problem will just be the same on that box.

Again apologies for going on so much.
Last edited by cemhlm : 07-03-2012 at 20:44

I have a Sony TV & Foxsat HDR. I have set the TV volume to the level I want for the TV channels and then set the HDR's volume to 100%. This gives similar volume levels when you change between viewing the HDRs channels and the TV channels.

To change the TV input back to the HDR - On the HDR remote press TV button and then the Source button which will display the TV inputs and keep pressing until the correct input is selected. The TV will then change to that input.

One option is to get an activity based universal remote to get round the forgetting which device mode your existing remote is in.

David500. Thanks tried that it works to a degree, but until you press PVR, none of the other function keys on Humax Remote i.e guide - media etc ., work, I know its a minor thing, but its not "Wife" proof.

You could deprogramme the Humax remote so it no longer controls the TV and tell the wife she needs to use the TV remote to turn the TV on?

These systems are a nightmare. I have a Sony TV, Sony AV system and the Humax HDR.

I gave up using the Sony TV remote as it kept 'losing' the AV amp and reverting the audio to the TV's speakers. I now use the AV amp remote to switch the TV on/off and control the volume. I only use the HDR remote to control the HDR, with the HDR volume set to 100% - no need to mess about trying to control the TV with the HDR remote. However, there is a massive sound level difference between SD and HD programmes, with HD being very quiet. So there is always the danger of being blasted into the back wall when changing channels.

There are two issues with the Sony/HDR connection. 1. Sometimes, when switching on the TV, it fails to find the HDR's signal on the HDMI input, leading to a blank screen. Solution; switch TV off and back on again. 2. Despite Bravia-Sync, switching off the TV often fails to switch off the AV amp. Solution; switch the TV back on and then turn it off again. All a bit of a faff, really. Why can't manufacturers ever get things to work properly?

cemhlm- My Echostar remote controls our Samsung tv no problem. Functions that it controls are- Mute
Volume
Tv On/Off
A/V button
In the Echostar manual i used one of the numerical codes for Samsung tv's. Seems fine

No, on the Echostar remote, the volume control always controls the TV volume, while the channel numbers (and up and down) always control the PVR. No chance of getting confused.

As well as built-in codes for loads of TVs, the buttons to control the TV are also fully programmable, if you need to. I deprogrammed the TV-AV button to make very sure that my relative would never knock the TV off the HDMI1 input - because (with the Sony TV's own remote hidden away ) there's no way for her to change the input (unless she starts fiddling with the buttons on the TV itself - and I haven't told her that there are any ).


The Humax remote is more flexible if you can remember to switch to the correct mode. But it lacks the dedicated TV power and TV volume buttons, without which you need to change modes very often IME.

I have our Humax volume set at 100%, and try not to touch it. Luckily our TV won't change to terrestrial channels at all when it's on an AV input, so I don't get your problem. I just have the problem that I often hit volume, channel change or pause and find nothing's happening because it's in the "other" mode. OTOH my children usually seem to get it right first time - but they can't remember another remote control, so just accept pressing "mode" all the time as a fact of live.

Cheers,
David.

Thanks erveryone, I think I will go for the Echostar option, the other options still rely on using the Humax PVR and TV buttons correctly, which infurates my wife, as coming from a Sky box/RC she expected the Humax to react the same way. Looking at various reviews on the Echostar the Remote Control seems far better than the Humax, which can drive you nuts.

On the Sony TV you can adjust the sound level of every individual input ( Freeview, AV1, AV2, HDMI1, HDMI2, Component etc.) separately relative to the others. Set your Humax on 100% sound and choose HDMI1 as the input on your TV. Using the Sony remote go into the Sony menu - choose 'Sound'. In that sub-menu the first option is 'Target Input' which will be set either to 'Common' (for all inputs) or 'HDMI1'. Change it to HDMI1. Make sure the 'Volume Offset' is set to '0'. Leave the menu by pressing 'Return' and switch to Freeview (channel 1 on your remote) . Go back into the Sound menu again. This time the 'Target Input' will show the options of 'Common' or 'Digital TV'. Change to 'Digital TV'. You can now set the 'Volume Offset' sound level for Freeview relative to that for HDMI1. Repeat for each input. You won't be blasted out of the room any more and SWMBO will be happy. Also, the 'Auto Volume' setting will adjust the sound levels on any channel if you find differences in the sound level between programme content and adverts. Works on my Sony (KDL-40WE5) although the menu may be slightly different on other Bravia models.

I think the menus are basically the same for the Bravia's as mine has the same thing regarding sound offsets etc.

Perhaps a better option for the OP is to get a Logitech Harmony 300 from Amazon for about £17.

Once programmed, it will control the TV volume regardless of what input you're using and the buttons that control each device are quite a bit bigger and clearly labeled so it's less likely people will get confused.

You also have the ability to be programme the buttons to how you want them. A much cheaper solution to the problem that buying another Freesat box imo.