How can you get a TV to automatically power on with a smart strip?

[Timstuff]

I'm planning on using a smart strip in my MAME machine, but I'm curious as to how I might be able to get a TV to automatically start up when the computer gets turned on. I'm pretty sure that most TVs don't automatically power back on when you pull the plug and plug it back in, so that means that to get it to turn on automatically, it would take a little more creativity.

Has anyone else come across a good technique for getting a TV to automatically power on when connected to a smart strip? I don't suppose it'd be as simple as taping a piece of plastic over the power button to keep it pushed in, but then again I've been wrong before.

[solowCX]

My TV is not in a cab yet, but for it the solution really is as simple as taping or jamming something into the button. There might be more elegant solutions, but it works for me.

[lettuce]

Thats not a bad idea to try really, but im just worried that if a button is constantly being held down, it would constantly be sending a signal to the TV all the time its on, would this damage the TV set in anyway? Also it you jump over to the Monitor/Video threads, and look for the thread near the top  called 'How to use SCART for our hobby', theres diagrams in there that shows how to power some sets up, via the scart plug if thats how your connecting up your TV to your PC?

[fjl]

Tv's using digital electronics to power up and change channels, I would create a circuit or relay that pushes the button to on when the smart strip powers up. You can talking about the strip that turns on when the computer turns on right?

[GAJoe]

This gentleman has instructions on how to make your own smart strip from a regular surge protector and an 8 dollar relay from Radio Shack, then explains how to hack your TV to come on using it:  http://spystyle.arcadecontrols.com/01/index81.htm

[nipsmg]

I threw an old 27in sansui in my cabinet and it didn't remember the power state.   So I just rigged something to keep the button depressed, and it now turns on automatically, but I doubt that'd work with all brands.

[fa001]

There are three possibilities for TVs:
1) The set will power on if the on button is held down. Try it. Hold the power button down and plug the TV in and see if it powers up.
2) There is a setup option in the TV's menu system to set it to power up after power failure. Look through the menus.
3) The set requires a pulse to turn on, not a hold down. This requires a circuit to be added to the set. See the Monitor board for discussions.

[jban4us]

You could make a serial port IR blaster and use LIRC or WinLIRC to have the computer turn on the TV. You can do it for less than $10. The IR blaster has the added benefit of being able to tell your TV to change inputs if it is one that doesn't remember the last one used.

[Timstuff]

Well, thanks for all the responses, guys! This was very helpful. Hopefully I'll be able to get it done by keeping the power button depressed, because that sounds like the most simple and effective solution. However, I appreciate the other options you guys have suggested, and I'll be sure to keep them in mind if the first option doesn't work.

[Hoopz]

You may also be able to find a TV that retains it settings and powers right on off of the Smartstrip.  Mine does.  Perhaps I got lucky, but I've never had any problems hitting one button to power everything up.

[severdhed]

i have the same problem with my TV in my ps2 gun cabinet.  not only will it not turn back on when plugged in, but if it loses power, it will not remember that it was on the video input, and always goes back to channel 3..so i have to leave the TV plugged in all the time, and turn it on and off with a remote.  it sucks, but there is no way around it that i could find.

[fjl]

I just tested the TV I plan to use on my CAB and it does support the holding down power button thing. Awesome! 

[Timstuff]

Well, I bought the TV today, and I can confirm that it does not support automatic power up after failure. It does seem to retain the channel after being "unplugged" and "plugged back in", but it gives an annoying warning message about the time possibly being messed up due to power failure, and the only way to remove it is by pressing a button. Furthermore, if the power button is being depressed constantly, and then another button is pressed, it will turn off the TV because the "on" signal gets interrupted, and then becomes an "off" signal since the TV is already on while the power button is being pressed.

I think that my best bet will be to just buy an IR blaster. This one is only $10, so hopefully it'll get the job done.

http://www.ayagroup.com/product.php?productid=16936

Once I have that, I suppose it'll all be a matter of setting up the automation software for it (I'm looking at Girder if WinLIRC doesn't do the job), and get it to turn the TV on as soon as the software loads up (which will be with Windows' startup). After that, it's all a matter of finding somewhere inside the cab to mount it where it'll be able to reach the TV's IR reciever (also, I'd probably want to leave the TV in a "hot" Smart Strip outlet rather than an automatic one). Hopefully, getting the automation software to automatically send the signal when Windows starts up proves to be a lot less of a headache than I'm imagining it will be...

The one drawback to this that the TV won't turn on until the IR blaster's automation software is launched in Windows XP, so if I want to access the BIOS on the PC I'll have to turn the TV on manually... Although really, that may prove a blessing, since it likely means I won't have to bother skinning the Windows bootup since the TV will be turned off during it anyway. I just hope people won't get impatient waiting for it all to boot up with no image on the screen, heheh...

[mewyn]

While I don't discount the hack factor of this, I don't like that many people who may not have a full appreciation of line voltages and amperages are being directed to doing this, when there are off-the-shelf products to take care of this issue, and IMO do it a bit more elegantly (by measuring the power used by port one of the strip, instead of needing a power-wasting solenoid).  This one of two power strips that I've seen that automatically switch off other ports when the first port is not used: http://www.amazon.com/Power-saving-Essential-Surgearrest-Outlet-120V/dp/B0014GZFJA .  I don't know the other one, I saw it ages ago and haven't been able to find it since (I know it wasn't APC).

If you aren't experienced with line AC powers, I'd encourage you to use this instead of mucking around with potentially deadly currents and increasing fire risk.

Again, I'm not discounting the hack, and I think it's cool, just I don't think it's for most people, and they are better off with an off-the-shelf product.

[rlehm]

I just helped a friend with this. Easy solution. When you go shopping for the tv, turn several to the on position, unplug them with the power cord, and then plug them in. the ones that power back on are the ones you chose from.

That's what we did. simple.

[kelemvor]

You could just do it the other way.  Most PCs have a Wake on Power item so that you can powe ron the TV manually and have that in turn boot up the PC and turn everything else on.

Might be a lot easier.

[acevedor2]

Any more elegant solutions?  I have a smart strip, but like the OP, my TV goes into standby when powered off and on.  I can't hold or stick the power button down because that just cycles between off and on.  I saw the IR blaster, but it is pretty big to be put in the front of the screen where the TV IR sensor is. 

Any other ideas on how to get the TV to power back on after failure?  I already checked the menus and there si nothing for turning it back on after power failure.  Any help would e much appreciated.  Cheers!

[fronty]

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[acevedor2]

Thanks.  Do you still have to mount the ir transmitter near the TV receiver?  I would assume you do.  That would be my problem, no room to put a transmitter between the screen and the bezel.

[Sardu]

One idea:

Buy a universal remote, take it apart and wire the power button to an arcade button.

Then extend the IR piece and mount it  right next to your TV sensor.

Also;
I have a couple of TV's that power on/off with just the plug (As long as the TV was on with the power button originally)

I forget the name for that.

[fronty]

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[protokatie]

FrontyDev, about the X10 stuff: Ive been looking into various home automation products, and it seems that X10 is pretty much obsolete by now. There are even systems that can use both X10 and the newer ( mostly radio wave based) systems simutaniously. From what I understand, X10 can only give one command (3 redundant commands) per second or so. How has this worked out for you?

[brock.sampson]

I bought a cheap universal remote from walmart soldered wires to power switch and on the other end soldered to two pins of a 25 pin connector and plugged that into the lpt port on my computer.  There is a little program, devcon, you can use to disable and enable devices in windows.  There is a little more info in this post http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=77105.msg805195#msg805195.  It make take a little tinkering to get it to work as some motherboards poll for devices differently.

[fronty]

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[DeLuSioNal29]

Hmmm, as an owner of a smart strip, perhaps you can use it like the following:

Simply plug the TV into the control outlet (this will have constant power, so it will retain your TV settings).  Plug the PC into the "Automatically switched outlets" plug and make sure the power button is toggled to the "on" position.  Then, when you turn on the TV, the PC should start up (this should only work with non-ATX older PCs though).  I'm not sure the type of PC you will be using, since ATX type switches will not work (momentary push button).

~ D

[DaOld Man]

Hmmm, as an owner of a smart strip, perhaps you can use it like the following:

Simply plug the TV into the control outlet (this will have constant power, so it will retain your TV settings).  Plug the PC into the "Automatically switched outlets" plug and make sure the power button is toggled to the "on" position.  Then, when you turn on the TV, the PC should start up (this should only work with non-ATX older PCs though).  I'm not sure the type of PC you will be using, since ATX type switches will not work (momentary push button).

~ D

If the newer ATX computer has the option to boot back up on power loss, this method will work for them too.

EDIT: check the computers BIOS settings for this feature.

[acevedor2]

Hmmm, as an owner of a smart strip, perhaps you can use it like the following:

Simply plug the TV into the control outlet (this will have constant power, so it will retain your TV settings).  Plug the PC into the "Automatically switched outlets" plug and make sure the power button is toggled to the "on" position.  Then, when you turn on the TV, the PC should start up (this should only work with non-ATX older PCs though).  I'm not sure the type of PC you will be using, since ATX type switches will not work (momentary push button).

~ D

If the newer ATX computer has the option to boot back up on power loss, this method will work for them too.

EDIT: check the computers BIOS settings for this feature.

Thanks guys.  I am going the route of dismantling a universal remote and trying to make it work.  Plugging the TV into the smart strip control outlet won't work because you still need someone to turn the TV on and off...There is no simple way of doing that unless you use the remote which will not be possible because the IR port will be covered.

Thanks again for all of the help.  I'll let you know how it turns out.
Cheers!

[acevedor2]

Just finished hacking a Universal Remote.  It works great.  Pics are below.  I ended up trashing the first remote I bought figuring it out, but for 7.95 at Wal Mart, it was worth it.  Second time was a charm!

Cheers!

[LLUncoolJ]

Too late for this project, but for those who want to do this in the future, the Smartstrip is a great set up. I used a 27" Toshiba and I'm pretty sure Sony works the same way...that it powers up with the pc. I have my pc plugged into the control outlet and the marquee light, tv, and subwoofer into the switch outlets.

You can find 27" CRT TVs on Craiglist everyday for $100. Just look for a brand that 1. will switch back on when power comes on and 2. stay on the same channel/video feed. The two brands I mentioned will do this.

For me, it was a lot easier coming up with a pc and a tv than it was finding the right cabinet!

[Robert Cook]

I do not know if this works with all Samsung TVs or not, but my Samsung UN32J5003 will turn itself on if you remove the tiny circuit card that has the power button, the IR receiver, and the power LED. It is conveniently located at the end of a small cable with a connector. Simply unplug it and the TV comes on as desired for my arcade. The downside is there is no way to change the input or do anything else to it unless you plug back in the small circuit board. It is almost like they designed it for this purpose. You get rid of the unwanted glow from the power LED, and nobody can get into the TV with a remote or by any button on the TV.

Regards,
Robert Cook