Home theater control for a person with a disability.

[LaPsiuta]

Hi,

I have the following devices:
JBL MA9100HP
LG G54 TV
plus several devices connected to the amplifier, such as an Xbox and a satellite TV tuner.

I’m a person with a disability, and that’s why I bought a Logitech Harmony Hub, which allows me to create activity scenarios for turning various devices on and off, including HDMI selection.
For example, I can tap my “Xbox” activity on my phone, and it will automatically turn on the Xbox, the TV, and the amplifier.

Unfortunately, the problem is that the JBL remote only has up and down buttons for selecting the input source. That means I can’t send a direct command to choose a specific HDMI input.
On the other hand, the TV can only remember whether it should start on the Home screen or on the last used HDMI input. So, I can set the TV to start on HDMI 1, for example — but that doesn’t make the JBL switch to its HDMI 2 input, where the Xbox is connected.

It’s really frustrating that I have to use two remotes and keep switching things manually.

In the Harmony Hub device database, there is a profile for the JBL MA7100HP, and it includes HDMI input selection commands — but they don’t work correctly with my MA9100HP.

Is there any solution to this?

 

[RandomEar]

What happens if you continue to push "next input" on the JBL remote? Does it increase until the highest input (should be HDMI 6, right?) or does it wrap around and start at number 1 again?

 

[LaPsiuta]

What happens if you continue to push "next input" on the JBL remote? Does it increase until the highest input (should be HDMI 6, right?) or does it wrap around and start at number 1 again?

You can disable some inputs in setup. I left only hdmi and bluetooth, network which you can disable. You have input up/down and your can move for/back on the list. Gpt says that it has specific codes for each hdmi input but i cant import to harmony. Maybe i shoud buy SofaBaton X1S?

I also can't set jbl to always start to for example hdmi 1. This would give me option to learn harmony how to jump to for example hdmi 4.

 

[kyuu]

Have you considered connecting your sources to the TV and just using eARC to get sound to pass through from the source to the AVR? Then your Harmony would only have to switch inputs on the TV.

 

[LaPsiuta]

The TV doesn’t have enough HDMI inputs for me to connect everything I want.
Besides, by connecting devices through the amplifier, I can set different audio options for each HDMI input, which is very useful. I wouldn’t want to give that up.

 

[Chrispy]

Have you tried JBL to see if they have any insight why it works on the 7100 and not the 9100? Doubt there's much help from Logitech these days but would also look there or check for user forums where it might be discussed. Curious, this is a phone app you use the Harmony with rather than a dedicated Harmony remote?

 

[LaPsiuta]

I think you misunderstood me — Harmony has codes in its database for the 7100HP, but not for the 9100HP. The HDMI input codes from the 7100HP don’t work correctly with 9100HP.
BTW, I’m not using a Logitech remote — I’m using the Harmony mobile app, as it’s much more convenient for me to operate.

 

[arichman]

I gather that you have used profile for the JBL MA7100HP, but found that it did not operate your hdmi inputs in the way you expected. But you say they didn't work correctly, rather than not at all. If the assignments don't line up exactly, you could still figure out which commands correspond to the hdmi inputs you want to use and program the activity accordingly.

 

[LaPsiuta]

I gather that you have used profile for the JBL MA7100HP, but found that it did not operate your hdmi inputs in the way you expected. But you say they didn't work correctly, rather than not at all. If the assignments don't line up exactly, you could still figure out which commands correspond to the hdmi inputs you want to use and program the activity accordingly.

I tried, it starts none or different inputs than hdmi. Not match at all. :/

 

[Chrispy]

I think you misunderstood me — Harmony has codes in its database for the 7100HP, but not for the 9100HP. The HDMI input codes from the 7100HP don’t work correctly with 9100HP.
BTW, I’m not using a Logitech remote — I’m using the Harmony mobile app, as it’s much more convenient for me to operate.

The 9100 wasn't in the Logitech database?

 

[arichman]

According to the document below, the 7100 and 9100 JBL models share all the same remote codes, including unique codes for each hdmi input. Perhaps worth it to just try that profile again?

https://www.jbl.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-masterCatalog_Harman/default/dw5e5cd51e/pdfs/IR_RemoteCodes_MA_Series_v11.pdf

 

[RandomEar]

You can disable some inputs in setup. I left only hdmi and bluetooth, network which you can disable. You have input up/down and your can move for/back on the list. Gpt says that it has specific codes for each hdmi input but i cant import to harmony. Maybe i shoud buy SofaBaton X1S?

I also can't set jbl to always start to for example hdmi 1. This would give me option to learn harmony how to jump to for example hdmi 4.

That doesn't answer the question, though. Does the input list loop or not?

 

[LaPsiuta]

That doesn't answer the question, though. Does the input list loop or not?

Loop. When I select HDMI 1 shows tv arc, when I select HDMI 1 one more time it shows something się different, hdmi 2 shows network. I think something is not correct in harmony database.

When I enable CEC Dune hd can power off tv and jbl, but when i use power on only tv is on.

 

[LaPsiuta]

When I connect LG TV to JBL I have two out in JBL to choose, out and out earc, i shoud use normal out not earc out? And I shoud connect this cable do hdmi earc in tv to get sound from tv on jbl right? Or wrong? Or I need to use earc in JBL and tv? I need only one cable from jbl to tv, right?

 

[JayGilb]

Maybe you could purchase a quality hdmi switcher and use a single hdmi input on the JBL ?
You should be able to integrate the switcher into into your setup if the switcher remote allows you select individual sources.

 

[arichman]

Looking at the remote, it is clear that JBL has created this problem for you by opting for a simplified, modern dare I say Apple-y aesthetic, which cannot implement the extended set of IR commands which could do exactly what you want. I gather the extended set is there for the pro custom market which can implement provide an appropriately customized remote control. In your place I would contact JBL about where to obtain a custom remote with the extended command set. You would then have to teach the Harmony remote those new commands. Or send the document with the extended command set to Logitech tech support, if they have not passed entirely into history.

All in all, not very encouraging. I can see why you might want to go with eARC, but personally I would fight against the dying of the light…