Source
r/googlehome•
sojun80

Switching inputs with voice?! Take my Money.

Help

My problems: I have an Onkyo receiver TX-RZ620. I have a Vizio TV that's a few years old.

I do a few main things on the TV. We watch the cable box. We stream and we play nintendo switch. The receiver itself doesn't seem to be able to do any sort of smarttv features (netflix/chromecast and the like).

The main problem: We've been using the TV's built in features to stream. This works fine and the receiver plays sound from the TV. It's great, we can call up a show on our phone and forward it to the TV. However once that is done and we want to go back to the cable box we're busy scrambling for remotes. I have to change the input from the TV to the AV reciever.

Any of the following options would help a lot: Have the TV just return it's input to the cable box. Let me tell google home to change the TV to change the TV input.

Now another idea came to my mind: I could setup a chromecast on the receiver and then only have to deal with the receiver. This helps to where I no longer need to fuss with the TV input. Of course I need to be able to change the inputs by voice so I do not need to deal with multiple remotes.

TLDR: I'm sick of changing inputs using remotes and I want it easy enough to where I can get grandma or even my wife to be able to use the system.

I'm willing to buy a new receiver at this point. One that will LISTEN to my commands about changing inputs.

Posted May 16, 2021, 12:10 AM UTC

1013
jkwchan•

A Logitech Harmony might help

7
hshah91•

This - I used this on my 15 year old tv to use google home to control the volume, toggle the power and change inputs etc. Only issue is it is a bit fiddly to set up and Logitech are no longer producing new harmony products (although they still support it for now)

3
linerror•

https://avgadgets.com/logitech-discontinues-harmony-remotes/

1
sojun80OP•

this is unreal

1
chubby_cheese•

I used to want one but now that they're discontinued it seems pointless.

1
jazs20•

Broadlink also works and its a lot cheaper

3
BenBBicklebaum•

This.

I use the BroadLink RM 4 mini to control inputs on my Receiver and projector.

BroadLink RM4 Mini IR Universal Remote Control, Smart Home Automation Wi-Fi Infrared Blaster for TV Air Conditioner STB Audio, Works with Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZSF46BX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_1HANAG0QVNTGG3RW7WB6

The RM4 mini acts as an IR blaster which is a universal remote. You can connect the RM4 to google home, which is how you enable voice commands with the RM4.

The setup is essentially you build out the appliance (in this case you would build your tv remote and make sure the input button works).

Then you create a scene which is a set of commands (in this case it would be pressing the input button and selecting which input you want. You’d build a scene for each input.)

Then you’d import the scenes into google home (I forget the exact process but to find them you go to Google home -> account settings in top right -> google assistant settings -> home control -> scenes).

Then you’d create a routine in google home with that scene. That’s where you’d set what voice commands trigger that scene.

Finally you test it.

It took me about 2 hours to do all the set up, tweaks, get it to where I’m happy, but since then it’s worked perfectly. I have 4 inputs on my receiver, volume control and power options programmed as well as a couple battery powered fairy lights, power settings on the project, and up and down on projector screen.

Hope that helps

1
Nidiocehai•

You can try an IR blaster such as the one made by Tuya (and rebranded by several companies)

You will have to check that it is supported by TuyaSmart though...

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32951202513.html

1
linerror•

since you're already using the smart features of the tv, use the tv's inputs and remote, enable ARC and HDMI CEC. now the vizio remote will control your receiver volume and everything else.

1
sojun80OP•

and this I have done.

The problem is when I want to use the receiver and the things plugged into it. Basically I'm using the CEC to do streaming and using the receiver to send to the TV everything else (nintendo, cable box). Hence the frustration. We do stream likely more than anything else because getting back to the cable box is just exhausting. I know first world problems but we have the technology....just isn't enabled for some insane reason.

1
MisterRajoy•

You can create a simple script and trigger it with google home, I would use home assistant

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
sojun80OP•

interesting. it would be nice if this worked for me.

1
roselanguste•

In my case it works the same, I just have to say for example hey Google switch to hdmi3 and it switches. So long you have Google home on the TV and the box on one of the hdmi ports, you should have no problems with that. But go sure you connect the TV to a room and give it a name and choose the Google home you have in the same room as the TV as main controller for this TV.

1