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[MediaMongrel]

Hello,

Hope JRiver team can assist... I've narrowed down this issue after plenty of trouble-shooting already. 

Problem:  Using JRiver 33.0.18 on Windows 11 laptop (w RTX 3060 Mobile)... after every computer reboot, I'm having to open and close the JRiver - Remote Control - Commands window in order for JRiver to re-activate what buttons had been previously been user-mapped.  No edits necessary... I'm simply having to open, then close ('OK') the Commands window.  Annoying to have to do each time I turn on the computer.

Steps taken are as follows:

I setup my Harmony Hub & Harmony Companion Remote to control the device: Windows Computer.  This preset device does not have red/green/yellow/blue button inputs, so in the Harmony app I map these to inputs (ex. 1-4, w-z, etc.).
All is well.

I go into JRiver - Remote Control - Commands and map a few extra features to certain remote buttons (ex. Theater View: Audio = Red button).
All is well.

I press my remote control buttons, and JRiver responds accordingly. 
All is well.

I close JRiver.  I open a fresh JRiver.  I press my remote control buttons, and JRiver responds accordingly. 
All is well.

I close JRiver.  I reboot the computer.  I open JRiver.  The default buttons (non-user mapped) on my remote all work.  The buttons I mapped from within JRiver do not work. 
All is NOT well.

I go into JRiver - Remote Control - Commands... i change nothing, and I click 'Back' or 'Cancel' to exit back out.  The buttons I previously user-mapped from within JRiver still do not work.
All is NOT well.

I go into JRiver - Remote Control - Commands... i change nothing, but I click 'OK' to exit back out.  The buttons I previously user-mapped from within JRiver now work again.
All is well... until the next time I restart my system.

For comparison, I went back and was able to repeat this phenomenon using JRiver29! 

[tzr916]

I don't have this issue on my Harmony Ultimate with Hub programmed to "Media Center PC", and change commands for two of the colored buttons to be MCC commands.

What IR receiver do you have on your PC ?

[MediaMongrel]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out.

Hub Setup

The Harmony Hub can get power by either A) direct USB connection with computer, or B) USB AC Power adapter.  If A), then it's having to freshly boot (30 sec) alongside the computer each time I turn the computer on.  Therefore, B) seems optimal, so that there's no question whether the Hub was already available for Windows (and JRiver in auto-start) to connect when Windows completed it's boot process. 

For communication with Windows, the Hub has 3 signal-sending options :
A) IR Blaster,
B) Bluetooth, and
C) IR Blaster & Bluetooth. 
(I don't think the Hub communicates at all with JRiver through it's direct-USB connection... I could be wrong, but I think the USB Hub-to-PC connection just powers the Hub and allows the Harmony desktop app to sync direct with the Hub)

And the Companion remote sends RF signals, to the Hub only.

My Computer IR Receiver accessory is generic... on the bottom it says Model no. IR606/Q... and further below, Q13833.  I'd previously used it just fine in Windows 11, when still using my Harmony 665 IR remote (no Hub required)... so, the IR receiver definitely works.  For reference, I introduced the Harmony Hub & Companion Remote (purchased BNIB from auction) the same time as I upgraded to JRiver 33.

In the Harmony app, I setup my remote to have 2 main activities.  1. control only my PC, and 2. control only my TV.  My aforementioned tests were all within the PC-activity mode... either by pressing corresponding activity button during/after computer boot, or simply leaving it in PC-activity mode since the last boot, and not repressing the same button since.  In this way, accidentally being in TV-activity mode was not a factor.

Early in my testing, I did some work with the IR Blaster/Receiver accessories... but the results weren't different than I got using the Hub's bluetooth connection, so I removed IR from the equation and settled on using bluetooth from then on... with the Hub getting power from AC adapter.

Further Testing

As before, with the Hub... I'd boot the computer, manually start JRiver, try my mapped buttons, and they wouldn't work.  I'd go into JRiver's Remote-Commands and simply click 'OK' to get back out, and then my mapped buttons would finally work again.  Since then, I've done a lot more trial and error boots, trying to gauge if the problem resides with JRiver, Harmony Hub, or something in between.

Without ever having to go back into Remote-Commands again, I found 2 other successful approaches.

1.  For EITHER JRiver auto-start or manual-start... WHILE Windows boots, I click Harmony Activity 2 (TV), then click back to Activity 1 (PC), then my mapped JRiver controls are working when JRiver starts.

2.  If I miss doing the above action during boot... then, if I do the same action (Activity buttons: 2-tv, then 1-PC) after Windows start, but before manual JRiver start, then my mapped JRiver controls begin working.  If JRiver had already auto-started though, then doing this late Activity-switch action won't work.

Moral is, Hub must 1st signal-send a non-PC activity before sending a 2nd PC-specific activity (just PC activity-button alone is ineffective) sometime BEFORE JRiver starts (either during boot, or after Windows start).  So... in this way, it seems it may be a Hub-issue, not being registered by Windows until this step is taken. 

BUT... without having to do that Activity-switch at all... if instead I do nothing, and let Windows boot and JRiver start... if I then go into JRiver Remote-Commands and simply 'OK' back out... the button mapping starts to register again, this way too!  So... in this way, maybe the Hub isn't at issue, but the problem is JRiver's ability to initially register mapped commands, or register that the Hub is sending non-default signals. 

Compared to my Harmony 665 remote, the Companion Remote (w/ Hub) has more features and a LOT nicer build quality.  The 665 IR remote never had issues with JRiver start-up... but then, I only had one activity setup for it - PC/JRiver.  Once the Hub became a middle-man, the problem began.

The way it would ideally work:  I initially do nothing with the remote.  I turn on my computer.  JRiver auto-starts.  I select Activity 1 (PC) on my remote.  My JRiver mapped buttons work and I listen to music or watch a movie.

[tzr916]

Do you only use your remote to control MC, or do you also use it for other "Windows" functions/programs?
Are you running MC in theater view mode?
What exactly are these custom buttons?

Just for fun (you don't need to change any of your Activities for this), create a third DEVICE as "Media Center PC".

Then with MC running and your custom buttons already working in "Windows Computer" Activity, put the remote into "Media Center PC" DEVICE mode (not Activity mode). Test if your custom buttons are working.

Once you have them working, leave the remote in "Media Center PC" DEVICE mode and just reboot the PC. Let MC auto-start, check if your buttons are still working.

[MediaMongrel]

Okay, I'll give this a go, but I'll need to further clarify the Device bit, so we're on the same page. 

JRiver Usage

To answer your questions... my laptop's sole purpose is to run JRiver.  I boot my computer, and typically set JRiver to auto-start in Standard mode.  I like to start in Standard as default, in case I want to immediately edit something or drag in some new files.  When I'm ready to actually use JRiver for entertainment, which is often right after booting, I pick-up the remote and click one of the 4 colour buttons (red, blue, green, yellow)... all 4 of them are mapped to Theater View modes (Audio, Video, Images, Playing Now).  Entering Theater View moves JRiver from my laptop screen to my attached LG OLED CX TV. 

I've also mapped elsewhere on the remote 3 different .WSF command-files I've created (OSD Debug Toggle, OSD Debug Refresh, and Auto-Import). I've outlined my .wsf usage here:  https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,139688.0.html

All 7 of the aforementioned commands are manually mapped/taught within JRiver.

Harmony Device(s)

FYI, I've previously tried some experimentation with using other devices in Harmony Activities, such as:
   Microsoft Media PC SE - Microsoft WIndows Media Center SE
   Aim Media Player - Aim IR605/A  (IR606/q option unavailable)

In the Harmony app, when creating a new Device, I'm asked to fill in both sections 1 & 2, or click a separate option:
    1. Manufacturer; and
    2. Model Number;
    Or... simply 'Add Computer'.

If I click 'Add Computer', then I have no further inputs to make after next selecting the operating system.  Since I use Windows, Harmony creates the following device:
Windows Computer - Logitech Harmony Windows PC

This is what I eventually settled on for my PC/JRiver 'device', given it had the most extensive list of default button commands I could use, and have since been testing.  However, this device-type does not include the colours themselves as programmable commands (ex. Red command).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

As for 'Media Center' as a device option in the Harmony app, it's a bit weird.  Not sure which option you mean for me to use, so I'll list what I can and you tell me what is most appropriate, okay? 

I can't only type "Media Center PC" into Device Model, as I'm still required to fill-in Manufacturer, so if I enter... 

A)
Manufacturer:  Windows
Device Model:  Media Center PC
Result: The app automatically converts device input to...
   Manufacturer: Microsoft
   Device Model: Windows Media Center
Additionally, a note says, "This is a software application. In order for Harmony to control a device, we need to know the manufacture and model of the physical computer.  If you have upgraded your computer with an IR receiver accessory, go back and enter the model number of the accessory.  Does this match the model number on your device? (Yes/No)".  It will still allow me to click Yes & proceed, creating the following device: 
Media Center PC - Microsoft Windows Media Center

... however, there is a yellow exclamation mark (!) over the device, which explains, "This is a software application.  The model number you have entered is for a software application. In order for Harmony to control a device, we need to know the manufacture and model number of the physical computer.  If your computer has a built in IR receiver, go back and enter the model number of your computer.  If you have upgraded your computer with an IR receiver accessory, go back and enter the model number for the accessory."

B)
Manufacturer: Generic
Device Model: Media Center
I'm asked if I mean:
 1) JRiver Media Center
 2) Let me re-enter it
 3) I am sure it's Generic Media Center
If I select A), it creates the following device:
JRiver Media Player - JRiver Media Center

... however, there is a yellow exclamation mark (!) over the device,... " blah blah blah.

Also... all buttons are unassigned(!) by default for the JRiver MC device in Harmony, and there are absolutely no pre-existing commands to choose from available to map to buttons!  It's a blank remote-device in every way.

C)
Manufacturer: Microsoft
Device Model:  Media Center SE
Media Center PC SE - Microsoft Windows Media Center SE
...no yellow exclamation mark, no notice about software and IR Receivers.

D)
Manufacturer: Generic
Device Model: Media Center PC
I'm asked if I mean:
 1) CyberPower Media Center PC (if selected, no yellow exclamation warning)
 2) Hewlett Packard Media Center PC M-7463W (dito, no yellow warning)
 3) Let me re-enter it
 4) I am sure it's Generic Media Center PC

...if I select option 4), then I'm asked a bunch of questions to define the traits of the device I'm custom making. Here they are in order:
 1) Select your device type (ex. Laptop, Music Player, Media Center PC, etc.)
 2) Do you have the remote control that came with your Generic Media Center PC?
    ... if i say 'No', it let's me create the device, and then hides it and disallows me from using it because I can't control it with IR. 


Soooo... please let me know exactly which 'Media Center PC' option you wish me to explore further in my tests - thanks!

[tzr916]

Honestly, it's been so long ago that I can't remember the steps I used! But I started on WMC (windows 7) with the several of the following remote(s) and USB RC6 IR sensor(s):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ZAK50K

Then when I got the Ultimate and Hub, I was somehow able to tell the Harmony software that the Rosewill RHRC-11002 was my original remote. That's what's shown in my screenshot.

[MediaMongrel]

Conclusion

For anyone in the future who may experience issues between setting up a Harmony Hub & JRiver, I thought I'd post an update.

In the end, it wasn't the 'Device' being chosen/programmed that was causing issues between Harmony Hub and JRiver when booting my laptop, it was the CONNECTION TYPE between the Harmony Hub and my laptop. 

The Harmony Hub has the option of communicating with a computer through 3 means:
1.  Bluetooth;
2.  IR Blaster;
3.  Both

Earlier on, I was testing between bluetooth and IR Blasters/Receivers and didn't notice any difference between the setup of the buttons, so I eventually focused on bluetooth-only.  But perhaps I hadn't yet come across the boot-up issue at that time, where JRiver won't recognize the buttons it has programmed in memory, without assistance during each computer boot-up.  I think that problem may have later come up after I cut-out the IR connection already.

As soon as I went back and tried the Harmony Hub IR-only connection with my computer, JRiver-programmed remote functionality suddenly worked as I had hoped it would upon all computer boot-up scenarios, without manual intervention.

Talk about a trial & error boondoggle - I can't tell you HOW many hours I spent troubleshooting this darn thing!  At least it was resolved in the end.  I hope someone else might benefit from this...

[JimH]

Thanks for posting what you found.