Do I need a new receiver?

#1

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9/6/09 at 11:34am

deb27
Debbie
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Post Count: 7

I have an Onkyo TX-SR501 receiver.
It's been working great but today I ran into a problem.

I tried to add a DVD player to my collection and discovered that no matter which input I chose in the receiver, I couldn't get it to work. :(

I've got:

cable box (component output)
Wii (component output)
26" LCD TV (accepts component, s-video or composite input)
CD player (audio only)
DVD player (composite or component output) <-- NEW device I want to add to my stuff
2 speakers

Even though the SR501 appears to have many input choices on the back, apparently, if you are using component inputs, you can only attach two video input devices. There are only two sets of inputs for component connections. And (reading between the lines in the manual), you can't use a composite input (i.e. my DVD player) unless the TV is using composite which would mean that my cable box and Wii would have to use composite too.

Is there any way I can get my DVD player added? Or do I have to invest in a new receiver?

I really don't want to upgrade anything. This is a small room and infrequently used. It's not worth investing much money into the system. In fact, the DVD player I bought was only $30. I don't need more speakers. I don't need HDMI. All I want is to hook up my very cheap DVD player.

Suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

#2

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9/6/09 at 11:58am

SethH
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Location: Charlotte, NC
Post Count: 2,812

If you have a digital audio port available on the receiver, you could run the video through component directly to the TV (assuming you have another input there) and then run the audio to the receiver.

#3

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9/7/09 at 9:13am

deb27
Debbie
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Thanks the for reply. That was the only cheap solution we could come up with either. All I'd have to do is buy an audio extension cable. I don't really like that because it means manually changing the source on the TV and I'm now up to 5 remotes I have to juggle just to use my TV.
But I do appreciate the reply.

#4

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9/7/09 at 10:05am

David Willow
dewd
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Location: Mechanicsburg, PA
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Get a universal remote and put the other 5 in a drawer

Check out the Harmony (Logitech) remotes. You can get a very good one for less than $100.

This is the one I use: http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Harmony-670-Universal-Remote/dp/B000IMSK8Y/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1252343102&sr=8-6

My Home Theater
Our DVD Collection
Dolby and DTS Plaques (downloads)

#5

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9/7/09 at 6:18pm

SethH
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David is right-on with his suggestion on a universal remote . . . especially a Harmony (Logitech). My Harmony is the only piece of my setup that my wife absolutely loves because it makes everything so simple. These are activity-based remotes which have macros built-in so when you press the "Watch DVD" button, it will set the TV to the correct input, the receiver to the correct settings and turn the DVD player on. You can typically find refurbished models for well under $100. I just picked up a refurb Harmony 550 and love it.

#6

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9/9/09 at 1:10pm

deb27
Debbie
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Post Count: 7

I have a question about the Logitech remotes. How smart are they? Most of my components are either old, or off-brand. So I don't have much information about them (or their remotes). The last time we tried to program a universal remote, there were some features that were just impossible to program (like changing the source on the TV). What are the odds that the Logitech will be smart enough? Can you program all the buttons that come on a remote from the cable TV like the TV guide and the DVR features? (I have Brighthouse cable) It sure would be nice if I could use one remote (except for the Wii of course)!

Thanks for responding.

#7

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9/9/09 at 1:17pm

Mike Frezon
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Location: Rensselaer, NY
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Debbie:

The Harmony remotes are like magic!

I had a 620...which wore out (the contacts) after years of use. I have since replaced it with an 880.

The way the activities work (as described above) is:

I push the Watch TV button and My Dish Network box powers on, my TV powers on, my receiver powers on. The proper input to the TV is selected, the proper audio out of the receiver is selected and the remote then selects channels via the satellite box, operates the volume levels of the receiver. The Logitech software allows you to customize ANY IR control you'd like for each event.

To continue my hypothetical: If I then want to watch a Blu-ray disc, I push that button, the BD player powers on, the Satellite box powers down, the receiver changes to the correct audio out and the remote then controls all the proper functions for each unit.

My wife...who used to scream at me "Why can't I just turn on the TV when I want to watch TV?!?"....LOVES our remote!

There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!

Top Ten Ways to Find Good Deals on DVDs and Blu-ray...

#8

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9/9/09 at 1:20pm

Mike Frezon
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Oh. And about your original question. I have an older entry-level Sony receiver with limited HT inputs and I have, on occasion, used an HD component switcher box which allows me extra component inputs. I picked mine up at Radio Shack.

It was powered and accepted IR commands which I was then able to program into the harmony remote!

There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!

Top Ten Ways to Find Good Deals on DVDs and Blu-ray...

#9

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9/13/09 at 4:21pm

imp3r10
Kyle Rabine
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The Harmony remotes can do it all Debbie. I have the 880 Harmony one and I love it. And I picked it up on eBay for only $70 used.

#10

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9/14/09 at 3:10pm

SethH
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Hi Debbie -- These remotes are great. They attach to software that you load on your computer that attaches to the internet. You configure the software to tell it what equipment you have and then it loads all the appropriate commands to the remote (this is not difficult at all . . . don't be intimidated).

I have an old Denon 3200 (late '90's model receiver, I believe) and it works perfect with the Harmony remotes. I do, however, have a Technics DTS decoder which was not an option for the Harmony. HOWEVER, these remotes can "learn" from your existing remotes. They have an IR receiver built-in so you can actually teach the remote commands from your existing remotes in the rare case that Harmony does not have your equipment listed.

#11

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9/16/09 at 5:10pm

deb27
Debbie
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Well you've all talked me into it. I ordered a harmony 550 off of ebay. I've got my fingers crossed that I can "train" it to work with all the equipment. It would be wonderful if I could get rid of all those remotes! And it would help when I have visitors, (like my mother), who would not ever be able to watch TV if they had to use 4 remotes! If this is successful, I might even be nice and buy one for my husband.

#12

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9/16/09 at 7:51pm

SethH
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I think you will be thrilled with it! Definitely come back here to ask questions as you set it up. Some people get frustrated that the macros are "too slow." But, if you know where the settings are, you can adjust the delays between commands and make the remote very efficient. If you get frustrated at all, just come back here and ask . . . but most of the setup is very straight-forward, so hopefully there won't be any frustrations.

#13

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9/16/09 at 8:40pm

Mike Frezon
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Location: Rensselaer, NY
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We'll be glad to help here...but I've got to tell you that I also find the Logitech Forums very helpful when I need advanced help with a particular issues. The guys that prowl those threads are really knowledgeable and helpful!

Debbie...you WILL be thrilled with the flexibility and capabilities of the new remote. Enjoy! It will do anything you want it to with your IR-controlled equipment!

There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!

Top Ten Ways to Find Good Deals on DVDs and Blu-ray...

#14

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10/10/09 at 11:11am

deb27
Debbie
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Joined: September 2009
Post Count: 7

Ok - to all of you who suggested getting a Harmony remote, you talked me into it. I bought a Harmony 550 off of Ebay.
And now that I've got it, I can't get it to work properly.
I already have a thread going on the logitech forum (no solutions thus far) but I figure I'll toss out the question here in case someone has another brilliant idea.

The entire thread is at:
http://forums.logitech.com/t5/Harmony-Remotes-Programming/Remote-chooses-wrong-source-on-Olevia-TV/m-p/391856#M40522

The problem is that when I choose Play Game on the remote, it does not select the AV source on the TV (which is where the Wii is connected). It pops up the source menu but doesn't scroll anywhere. When I choose Watch TV, it scrolls through the sources just fine and selects the right one. It makes no sense to me that the source selection works properly for the TV and not the Play Game setting - after all, it's the same buttons.

Other than the source selection, everything else is working just fine and was easy to set up.

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