Hi Pioneer 1015 owners... can you PLEASE help me here?

[lithnights]

I just bought a Pioneer 1015 based on so many of your suggestions. And based on the many positive comments on this forum, I know you owners are out there!

I have set it up and read the manual. Here are some questions I haven't found answers for...

1) With the remote, how can I mute my TV? I've tried all the buttons. The manual doesn't mention a mute for TV. Am I out of luck?

2) With the remote, how can I previous channel my TV? I see the CH RETURN button (which should do it), but it doesn't work. Why would all the other buttons work for my 2 year old Toshiba TV?

3) Is there any way to "delete" some of the inputs from the remote? e.g. When I hit INPUT SELECT, it cycles through 8 different modes (DVD/LD, TV/SAT, CD etc.) I will only be using 3 or 4 of these, so can I get rid of the others somehow or am I stuck having to cycle through all 8?

4) Should I be concerned that the volume at -60 is almost barely audible? It runs from -80 to +12. Most of my movie watching is around-10 to 0. But it seems odd that from -80 to -60, there's almost no sound.. and at -40 it’s still not very loud. Is this normal? I guess the MCACC calibrates the reference level so it's probably not a concern right?

5) I learned about the DIRECT FUNCTION ability. With it ON, this is nice in that if I want to control the DVR, I hit DVR and it turns remote and receiver to DVR automatically. The downside is that if I am listening to the TUNER (local football game radio broadcast) while watching the game through TV or DVR, and I want to rewind or delete a recording on my DVR, I can't do it unless I cover the sensor and hit DVR. If I don't cover the sensor, the signal will tell the receiver to change from TUNER to DVR, which means I lose my radio sound. What do most of you do about this? A) Just keep DIRECT FUNCTION ON and use the INPUT SELECT or B) cover the sensor?

I know this is a lot but it would really help me learn about my new receiver. I’ve read all that I can.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Zuke]

1 and 2- you are going to need to "learn" the button functions from your TV remote.
3- No but not 100% sure
4- No It has plenty of power left. "0" is the reference level. Your speakers efficiency will also play apart in this.
5- the remote is ok but has a lot of limited functions. If you are really interested in a "one" touch remote that has macros try the Logitech Harmony series.

 

[Hi Ho]

I agree with what Zuke said for number 5. It sounds like a Logitech Harmony remote would be right up your alley.

 

[jaxvon]

The other issues have already been covered, but for #3, you can select whatever input you want by pressing the associated button at the top of the remote. When you push that, it sends a signal to the receiver to change inputs as well as changes the remote mode to control whatever device you have programmed for that mode on the remote.

 

[lithnights]

1 and 2- you are going to need to "learn" the button functions from your TV remote.
3- No but not 100% sure
4- No It has plenty of power left. "0" is the reference level. Your speakers efficiency will also play apart in this.
5- the remote is ok but has a lot of limited functions. If you are really interested in a "one" touch remote that has macros try the Logitech Harmony series.

1) I attempted to LEARN my two remotes but it did not work. I tried to assign my TV MUTE button to teach the receiver MUTE button but no luck. I guess I'll live without it.

2) I attempted to LEARN this as well by teaching the CH RETURN button on the receiver to my Previous Channel button on the TV but it did not work. This I don't understand because the manual specifically says that button on the Receiver should do the trick. I guess I'll call Pioneer.

3) I doubted this was possible. No big deal.

4) Understand what Zuke is saying. No problems.

5) I did check out the Logitech website for remotes. I guess I was trying to avoid getting a $150 remote since this remote is totally fine for me except for the MUTE and Previous Channel. Perhaps I will look into these at a later date.

Also, Jaxvon, I realize one can just push one of the buttons and it will switch to that input. But as you state, "it sends a signal to the receiver to change inputs as well as changes the remote mode to control whatever device you have programmed for that mode on the remote" What I DON'T want to happen is have the input change. What if I am listening to the radio, and I want to change the channel or delete something on the DVR. If I just hit DVR button, the remote control controls the DVR (which is good) but also the input gets changed from TUNER to DVR, which I don't want because now I lose my music I was hearing... thus I have to cover the remote sensor, hit DVR, so the remote goes to DVR, but the receiver stays at TUNER.
SO I was wondering if folks handle this like I do by covering the sensor...

Thanks everyone for your responses.

 

[Zuke]

You can get Harmony remotes alot cheaper than that. Check online and or ebay.

 

[Hi Ho]

THIS is the Harmony I have. It was worth every single penny. There are others to choose from as well. They are all basically the same in regards to functionality. The differences lie in the layouts, button styles, fancier color screens, and rechargable batteries.

 

[fergusonv]

I'm also going to recommend a Harmony remote. I love mine and it was worth every penny.

 

[lithnights]

Now you have me thinking....

Wow, from the last 3 posts, it appears that everyone loves the idea of a Logitech remote. Now you have my attention...

I guess my question is.. what can this do (for $100 or so) that my receiver remote cannot do? Because right now, I can control my TV, DVR, VCR, and receiver with my receiver remote..(with the exception of mute and previous channel on the TV).

So is it the macro ability that makes this remote so nice? The fact that the wife can walk in, press a button and she can watch what she wants without configuring much? I am assuming yes.

BUT.. what happens if you set up a macro to watch a DVD on my DVR. The macro would turn on the TV, set it to Video 1, turn on the receiver, set it to DVR, turn on the DVR. OK, that's cool. But what happens if the TV is already on for some reason? Would it thus turn it off since that is what the POWER button would do since it's already on? Or is it smart enough to know to ignore the TV step since it's already on? We often have the TV on or just the receiver on or just the DVR on for whatever reason. Would these macros only work if everything was OFF before hitting the macro? Or does it know to ignore the steps for things that are on?

Thanks everyone!

 

[fergusonv]

That is correct. If it is already on it is ignored. I have my activities setup so that everything form light controls to surround modes are all done by selecting an activity (single button) and the Pioneer remote will not do that. More than anything else though I like my Harmony because it really just makes operating the system easier and it is easy for guests/signifigant other to use as well.

Edit: I went with the 880 and I'm not sure which one in perticular you are looking at but I believe the macro's work the same for all of them.

 

[lithnights]

That is correct. If it is already on it is ignored. I have my activities setup so that everything form light controls to surround modes are all done by selecting an activity (single button) and the Pioneer remote will not do that. More than anything else though I like my Harmony because it really just makes operating the system easier and it is easy for guests/signifigant other to use as well.

Edit: I went with the 880 and I'm not sure which one in perticular you are looking at but I believe the macro's work the same for all of them.

OK, now that is definitely cool. My 10 year old Kenwood receiver actually had a macro function (I'm surprised the Pioneer 1015 10 years later does not), but it wouldn't recognize whether the TV or receiver etc. was already on. But if the Logitechs can know that, that is nice.

I was questioning this because I read the 688 reviews on newegg.com and I had seen some of the posts say to make sure things were already off when using the remote. Or perhaps they meant make sure things were off when PROGRAMMING the remote... can you all confirm what is the case with the 688 that Hi Ho suggested? I'll go and reread those posts again to make sure..

Thanks,

 

[Hi Ho]

The remote "remembers" whether or not it has turned a component on or off. It remembers the state of each component.

What can confuse the remote is if you walk up to a component and turn it on manually. No remote can possibly know that you have turned that component on. There is only one-way communication between remotes and components. If you use the remote for everything you won't have any problems.

If something gets out of sync, pressing the help button will fix it. It asks you a few questions such as, "Is the TV on?".... "Now is the TV on?"... etc. and it will get things back in sync.

I literally have not touched any of my original remotes since I setup the Harmony, not once. It's one button operation for everything. One of the more complicated setups I have is my Xbox. Due to the limited inputs on my receiver and the lack of upconversion, it's a multi-step process. When I hit "Play Xbox" on the LCD screen the following sequence of events occurrs: Receiver On > TV On > TV Video 1 > Receiver VCR 1 > Receiver CD > Receiver Digital Optical In 1. All with one button. It is very nice.

 

[lithnights]

The remote "remembers" whether or not it has turned a component on or off. It remembers the state of each component.

What can confuse the remote is if you walk up to a component and turn it on manually. No remote can possibly know that you have turned that component on. There is only one-way communication between remotes and components. If you use the remote for everything you won't have any problems.

If something gets out of sync, pressing the help button will fix it. It asks you a few questions such as, "Is the TV on?".... "Now is the TV on?"... etc. and it will get things back in sync.

I literally have not touched any of my original remotes since I setup the Harmony, not once. It's one button operation for everything. One of the more complicated setups I have is my Xbox. Due to the limited inputs on my receiver and the lack of upconversion, it's a multi-step process. When I hit "Play Xbox" on the LCD screen the following sequence of events occurrs: Receiver On > TV On > TV Video 1 > Receiver VCR 1 > Receiver CD > Receiver Digital Optical In 1. All with one button. It is very nice.

Very cool! I never thought I would be so excited to go out and buy a remote! Although I think my wife is going to appreciate it more than I will.. since I don't mind pressing multiple buttons to watch tv or a dvd... while that confuses the heck out of her.

I'm assuming you paid around $120 off newegg? Any other better prices out there?

 

[Hi Ho]

I bought mine on sale at Newegg for about $80. At the moment, the Newegg price is about as good as it gets (see PriceGrabber). I'd say it's worth 18 cents extra for garanteed good service from Newegg.

 

[lithnights]

Just an update...

I ended up getting the Harmony 676. Oh my gosh, this thing is amazing. It handles my tv, dvr, vcr, cd player, ps2 etc.

It is a lifesaver. Thanks to all that recomended I look into a Harmony. Originally, I doubted I would want to spend $100 but it was so worth it.

Thanks!

 

[Nuzy]

You may already know this, but there is a $50 rebate on that remote and the 880 through 4/25/06.