Do you have to "switch" to GB-PVR every time you turn on the tv?

[reckoning]

Do you guys know if there is anyway to get my tv to automatically switch to av2 when I turn the tv on? My gf is not very happy with the new setup because she says that before if she wanted to watch tv she could just turn the tv on. Now she has to turn the tv on, turn the computer on, switch the channel to av2 and then start the live tv thing.

Now I want to make it as quick and simple as possible to watch tv when she turns the tv on. I can leave the computer on, it's just the problem of having to change to av2 (which is a scart connector linked to a s-video cable that goes into my graphics card) everytime the tv is turned on. I thought that if I turned the tv on first and then turned the computer on the tv would "detect" the input signal and switch to av2, but it isn't doing this. It also means having the tv control out just to switch to av2 everytime.

What do you guys do?

Many thanks

[sub]

Use a learning remote that supports macros, and program the 'power button' to turn the TV and send the AV key a couple of times.

[dazzyb2k3]

I use a Phillips Pronto touchscreen remote to do just that. Not the cheapest around but v.snazzy. I've programmed a button as '1 click TV' This turns on the PC, turns on the TV, sets the AV input and jumps to Live TV.

I've also owned a couple of harmony remotes which are very good at this kind of thing. Be warned though - any macro remote will need a little programming and can be quite time consuming to set up.

Worth it when you've finished though

There's a great site at http://www.remotecentral.com/ which will tell you everything you need to know.

[KiwiKid]

You let your gf touch your system . Do what I do - make her go and watch in the kitchen.

I have the same trouble with our HT. My wife cannot turn it on because of all the various devices that need setting up - especially when we've been watching DVD which is tuned to AV2 for component connection, and everything else is through AV1.

For me, it boils down to getting some new gear - a new amp running full component (everything through AV2) and a HTPC (only one input for everything). It's not far away now - I'm almost counting the days.

[A_Brass]

I suggest the learning remote route. One Macro could turn everything on and tune your TV to the AV input you need and even your stereo to the right audio input. But its still not going to help with the delay as the HTPC boots. or even comes out of stanby/hibernate.

Can you hook up you tv like normal and still have your htpc on your AV input. I don't have any cable or satalite box's so that's what I do. The wife can watch regular TV while GBPvr records another channel in the background. The only thing she has to deal with is the fan noise. When she wants to use GBPVR she just has to press the Video button. (If my son left the stereo on the right audio/video selector -- 2yr olds, they think they know everthing.)

[mikaelgu]

Do you guys know if there is anyway to get my tv to automatically switch to av2 when I turn the tv on? My gf is not very happy with the new setup because she says that before if she wanted to watch tv she could just turn the tv on. Now she has to turn the tv on, turn the computer on, switch the channel to av2 and then start the live tv thing.

Now I want to make it as quick and simple as possible to watch tv when she turns the tv on. I can leave the computer on, it's just the problem of having to change to av2 (which is a scart connector linked to a s-video cable that goes into my graphics card) everytime the tv is turned on. I thought that if I turned the tv on first and then turned the computer on the tv would "detect" the input signal and switch to av2, but it isn't doing this. It also means having the tv control out just to switch to av2 everytime.

What do you guys do?

Many thanks

I've been thinking about this aswell.
Pin 8 on the scart lets one choose between 3 modes. 0-2 V gives TV (ie nothing) 5-8 V give wide and 9.5 - 12 V gives 4:3. So if the computer could output either 5-8 or 9.5-12 (naturally depending on the current aspect of the material being shown) as it's booting up it should put the TV on the appropriate AV-input automagically. Of course there'd need to be some way of checking wether the picture is 4:3 or 16:9 at any current time. Menus could naturally be configured since they don't change on the fly but video might be trickier. I know TV signal includes a signal on line 23 that tells TVs if it's wide or not, but I don't have a clue if it's preserved in recording and of course there's live TV to consider too. Building a serial or parallell device that sends a suitable voltage to pin 8 on the scart shouldn't be a problem though, not that I have any experience in the matter.
Maybe some of the more technically minded and programming skilled ppl have any thoughts?

[reckoning]

Thanks for the tips guys, time to start looking at remotes.

[stefan]

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I bought a philips ru760, it's a simple and nice looking one, but with learning/macro capabilities. I like it.
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