Automate turning off bedroom TV

[hgupta1]

We got a new TV for the bedroom, and I hate that it doesn't have a sleep button on the remote. (There is a sleep function, but it takes about 10 button presses through a complex menu on the TV)

Its currently connected to my HTPC in the basement (running Vista Media center) via HDMI cable. Any ideas on how I can make it turn off when the computer goes to sleep? The screen blanks when the computer goes to sleep, but doesn't actually turn off.

 

[sic0048]

Some TVs have a setting where they will turn themselves off after a period of time with no signal. If your TV has this and you enable it, then when your computer goes to sleep, the TV will follow after a period of time.

 

[electron]

I would start searching Remote Central and other forums for discrete codes for your TV. Eventho the remote might not have a sleep button, the code might exist. However, there is an easy solution. Plug in the TV into an appliance module, turn it off when you are no longer able to ping your HTPC.

 

[CollinR]

Install EventGhost and under the system/display plugin you might play with the standy, power off. Worst case get a USBUIRT and put an IR bug on the TV, then you can use EventGhost to do both. It can start a timer based on remote inputs and when the timer expires it turns off the TV.

Definately check remotecentral.com for discrete codes.

If you use SageTV you can also use the Autosleep plugin, this allows you to launch and application when the timer expires. You can use that to trip off EventGhost to power off TVs connected only to hardware clients. I would only do it if EventGhost can't see normal IR events from there.

Autosleep is IMHO quite a bit cooler then manual sleep, I have mine set to 3 hours it's simple if you don't use the remote for more then 3 hours at any time of day it'll kill the TV, without making any specific commands for it to do so. I did 3 hours so you can complete feature films without interuption, I'm sure it could be much much shorter and still suffice just fine.

 

[ctwilliams]

I had a similar situation (what are the manufactures thinking when they do that?) and just bought a cheap $9 universal remote that had the sleep button. That works fine as long as the TV does have an ir code for it. If it is in the menu then you would think that it would.

 

[gfs]

We got a new TV for the bedroom, and I hate that it doesn't have a sleep button on the remote. (There is a sleep function, but it takes about 10 button presses through a complex menu on the TV)

Its currently connected to my HTPC in the basement (running Vista Media center) via HDMI cable. Any ideas on how I can make it turn off when the computer goes to sleep? The screen blanks when the computer goes to sleep, but doesn't actually turn off.

How did you connect your basement computer to your bedroom tv? an HDMI run... or some kind of converter? how far is it?

 

[Steve]

1. Unless you don't care, I HATE shutting power to the TV. My TV's have all had clock and other stuff that is lost on power off. In fact I am putting a UPS on my TV, mainly because of 2.

2. Many TV's in addition to a sleep timer have on/off timers. I just use an off timer set to something like 2AM. I can never trust myself to set sleep timer accurately every night. Been that way for years and works great - until power outage then I have to reset it all.

 

[hgupta1]

Thanks for all the responses!

Some TVs have a setting where they will turn themselves off after a period of time with no signal. If your TV has this and you enable it, then when your computer goes to sleep, the TV will follow after a period of time.

Unfortunately, neither of my two new flat screens automatically power off without a signal. I wish it were that easy. I don't know why its not standard as a power saving option on all new TVs. Putting the sleep setting deep within the menus is really irritating.

Dan, that appliance module idea is terrific.. I never thought about pinging the computer to check when it is asleep. However, the click of the appliance timer would wake us up.

How did you connect your basement computer to your bedroom tv? an HDMI run... or some kind of converter? how far is it?

I used an HDMI to cat5 extender, and ran the wires through old radiator pipes up to the second floor. Its probably 40 feet of wire runs. I am using Windows Vista Media Center, and love it. We have four flat screen monitors throughout the house all connected to the computer in the basement, effectively giving us a whole house entertainment system. Each room also has a standard windows media center remote control and an IR repeater to control the computer.

After thinking about this, I think the USBIRT will be the way to go. I can set Vista to launch a program after 15 minutes of CPU idle that will send a IR signal to turn off the bedroom TV.