This topic

BT Box pro

Chuckster — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 18:25:35 GMT

Hello,

I’ve just set up the BT box pro, but can’t get the remote to control the TV, which works over the hdmi cable, can only think that the tv is too old and doesn’t support control over hdmi.

Now the tv could do with an upgrade so I’m looking for a new one, most of them have hdmi ports that are eARC compatible.

Is eARC what’s needed for remote over hdmi?

Thanks👍

Re: BT Box pro

JonMace — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 21:34:15 GMT

No Arc is an audio return path, so if you have a receiver or soundbar in HDM! 1 (arc) and say a firestick in HDMI 2 the TV can display HDMI 2 but send the audio through HDMI 1

Re: BT Box pro

Les-Gibson — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 21:41:47 GMT

No.

A simple test (sticking my hand between the remote and the TV) tells me that it's a dual remote, it uses Bluetooth to communicate with the box but it still uses Infra Red to control the TV so the HDMI doesn't come into it

Re: BT Box pro

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 22:39:54 GMT

That's useful to know @Les-Gibson.

So the issue here is that the Pro Box is failing to identify the TV, which it should do over HDMI. The OP does say it's old so maybe it doesn't identify itself, or it's an obscure brand that the Pro Box doesn't have in its database. There should really be a fallback manual process to enter a code like with the Humax boxes.

@Chuckster

It may be worth trying again with a different HDMI cable & if the TV has more than one, a different port.

Re: BT Box pro

Chuckster — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 07:23:54 GMT

Yes all I can find out regarding the hdmi eARC is it mentions audio return, but no real mention of communication, which there must be over it surely.

im using the supplied cable that came with the box supplied by bt, which they stressed to use.

The tv is made by LG and was manufactured about late 2009.

The only other thing I can find out is a system called hdmi cec which allows control over hdmi, but no tv really specs this so maybe it’s just the norm?

There is definitely no infrared on this remote as far as I can see, it’s black plastic all around with no led or window for an ir led..

It looks like should control the tv via hdmi instead of infrared, yes I agree there should be more documentation on this from bt support.

Does it work ok for all you guys with newer tv’s?

thanks

Re: BT Box pro

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 08:08:31 GMT

There will be no issues with trying another HDMI cable/port, there's nothing special about the one in the box.

TV isn't that old so I'd expect it to identify itself & the box should be able to control it.

CEC is the generic term for interactive control between devices. Manufacturers have for some unknown reason decided to each give it a different name. LG apparently call it Simplink. So it would be worth checking that it's switched on in the TV menu.

I can confirm that the remote definitely does have IR, despite no obvious window. If you view the remote through a digital camera/phone, you should be able to see it when a button is pressed.

There have been a few posts like yours but not enough to suggest it's widespread. Mine is connected via an Arcam amp so that doesn't work, but I imagine most connected directly do.

Re: BT Box pro

Chuckster — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 09:47:18 GMT

Thanks for that.
I did have a quick read earlier about LG and Simplink, I’m sure when I switched hdmi cables the tv flashed up with something like this, but disappeared too quickly before I could read it.
I’ll have a look in the tv settings later and hopefully I’ll be able to turn it on.
I’ll come back later with the results!
Thanks again for the help👍

Re: BT Box pro

scharter — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 11:13:55 GMT

@Les-Gibson My Pro Box remote still will not via Bluetooth, onlly line of sight. Not thats a big deal tho.

Re: BT Box pro

Les-Gibson — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 13:38:40 GMT

@scharter

That's interesting.

You can reset your remote (should you wish) by holding down Home and 9 at the same time until the LED behind the power button flashes three times, you can also manually select IR mode (again, should you wish to) by holding down Home and 7 in the same manner but there is a question of whether or not it later reverts to Bluetooth of its own accord, your experience would seem to answer that question.

Re: BT Box pro

scharter — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 13:54:49 GMT

@Les-Gibson Thanks for your reply.

Previously tried the Home/9 button to no avail, wasn't aware of the Home/7 buttons. Tried it, still no blue tooth. No worries, I'll live with it.

Re: BT Box pro

Chuckster — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 16:36:08 GMT

Well it turns out that Simplink is turned on in the tv menu, I’ve also tried it plugged into different hdmi ports, still nothing.

but yes it is correct that the remote does indeed have ir as well.

Is there a way to make it talk to the tv via infrared?

I’ve tried home + 9 and home + 7.

still nothing, quite frustrating this is, I feel if I ring bt I’ll get absolutely no where, it took them three attempts to send out the correct tv box!

I really don’t know what else to try, is there a way to set the remote up manually with lg’s code so it knows the infrared code for the tv?

thanks again👍

Re: BT Box pro

Les-Gibson — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 17:22:30 GMT

Afraid not. This is from memory so I might get some of the words wrong but the meaning is the same.

I think it's on one of the BT help pages where it says something like'The remote control should work with most TV models as it is out of the box, if it doesn't then you'll have to use two remotes, one for the box and one for the TV'.

I'll have a look later and post the link if I find it.

Edit: That was easier than I thought it would be.

How do I control my TV with my BT TV remote control? | BT Help

Re: BT Box pro

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 18:50:44 GMT

Do you have a bedroom TV you could try it on?

Just a thought but have you checked the Bluetooth option in the Box's menu is set to TV?

Re: BT Box pro

Chuckster — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 21:03:34 GMT

As an update so far, I spoke with bt help earlier and they think the remote is defective and are sending out another.

they advised to go into the remote control settings to check the volume control.

No volume control setting, Bluetooth setting said disconnected, battery level, MAC address etc said not known..

the remote works the bt box ok though.

when the new remote arrives we’ll see what happens..

I’ll report back if it cures it to close it off, have a good weekend everyone..

thanks again👍

Re: BT Box pro

Chuckster — Sat, 03 Dec 2022 17:33:42 GMT

Just an update to this as promised, a bit delayed as I had to wait for an engineer to visit.

but, new remote arrived, no difference.

after another while on the phone and a visit from an engineer, we swapped the tv box and now it all works perfectly, so it turns out it was defective from new.

thanks again to you all👍

Re: BT Box pro

RobbieMac — Sat, 03 Dec 2022 18:24:44 GMT

Good evening @Chuckster

Thank you for posting back to let the community know the solution to the issues you were experiencing. Sorry for the problems you had with the original box and it's really pleasing to see that the replacement box has done the trick.

I'll go ahead and mark your post above as the accepted solution.

Thanks,

Robbie