Controlling volume on AV Receiver

[Spirit84]

Here is my strange issue:

I became a Bell customer in July.

I also bought a new receiver (Pioneer) and a new TV (Hisense).

When i received the Bell android box I plugged the HDMI cable into the HDMI input of the Pioneer.

I also did the same with my Fire TV box.

So both the Bell and Fire are connected to the inputs of the Pioneer.

An HDMI cable goes out from the Pioneer to the Hisense.

Once I completed the setup the volume control of the supplied Bell remote was able to control the volume of the Pioneer for both the Bell and Fire devices.

Last week the Bell box malfunctioned and support mailed me a replacement box but only the box. The remote is the same one.

I simply plugged the power cord and HDMI into the back of the new Bell box and went through the normal set up again.

This time the Bell remote will not control the Bell box volume. I have to use the Pioneer remote and Bell remote to balance out the volume.

I don't know why I can't have it as before which was so convenient, and for the life of me I can't remember doing anything special to pair the Bell remote to the Pioneer.

If anyone has some advice and can also explain the difference between the 2 boxes that would be great.

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day.

I will do my best to assist you with what would be a normal TV > Receiver > Audio set up & configuration.

I am somewhat limited in what I can suggest to you when i do not know the Hisense TV model number nor the model number for your audio receiver. You will need to refer to your TV & receiver manuals for the exact configuration settings. 

As a starting point, how are you connecting all of your devices? HDMI cables, Optical, etc.

Does your TV have a configuration manager that will automatically set up your connected devices?

Your configuration should be set up as follows:

The Bell TV Box VIP7802 > HDMI cable should connect to the HDMI input on your Hisense TV. Your audio equipment should connect to the receiver audio output on the TV. Depending on your TV model & receiver model this can be by way of eArc HDMI, optical, etc. You should refer to your TV & receiver manuals to change your Sound output to receiver, etc.

If your TV is a Hisense Smart model, it will set up & auto configure your TV remote to also work with your VIP7802.

Your remote control & replacement VIP7802 from Bell need to be factory reset & paired to your TV. Once completed, your Bell remote with control the VIP7802, TV & receiver volume, & TV power. It will not control specific receiver sound settings.

I have included the following web link that will assist you to factory reset your remote. Please select > Get started. Select > The remote doesn’t control the TV’s volume and/or power (programming steps to control a TV). Select > Voice remote. Follow the onscreen prompts.

Programming, fixing or replacing your Bell Fibe TV remote

Take care.

[Spirit84]

Thank you WelshTerrier for your help.

Models:

Hisense 85U78km

Pioneer VSX 935

As mentioned: I connected all devices with HDMI only:

Bell box and Fire stick > HDMI out to > HDMI in of Pioneer.

HDMI out of Pioneer > HDMI in of Hisense.

I think I understand what you are suggesting. I would need to run an optical cable from the TV to the receiver as opposed to having the HDMI cable do both the video and ausio work.

What I still don't understand is why did it work, with my connections described above, perfectly with the first Bell box?  This is a mystery to me.

[dks]

Thank you for the additional explanation. It appears your connections are correct. You should not need an optical cable if your HDMI cable is connected to the receiver's eARC OUT port (see your receiver's manual). This cable should be connected to your TV's HDMI ARC port (see your TV's manual). Be sure to use a quality HDMI cable. No need to spend a lot of money, just don't buy it at the local dollar store or drug store. I find good quality cabling on Amazon under brands like UGreen. 

The issue is most likely that your remote is not set up to work with your TV, which actually controls the audio and sends the signal to your A/V receiver to turn itself on. You will need to follow the steps to program your remote as outlined in Welsh Terrier's link below. You will also need to make sure that the audio setting on your TV is set to External Audio and not to Internal. That turns on the ARC function, allowing your receiver and the TV to talk with each other. 

Try those things and let us know if you need additional help. Sometimes it can be as simple as a new cable! 

[Spirit84]

Thank you dks for your reply.

I want to make sure that I am perfectly clear.

I don't need the Bell remote to turn the TV on or off.

All I want is for the BELL remote volume key to control the PIONEER AVR volume. 

Before you write back that this is not possible please understand that this is exactly how the original Bell box worked. I controlled the volume of the Pioneer with Bell volume key. As a matter of fact with this original box when I pressed the BELL volume key up and down the  PIONEER display is what was showing on the TV!

With this second replacement box I am unable to control the volume as I did before. 

I hope I have made myself clear. 

I want the Bell remote to control the Pioneer volume as it did with the first Bell box!!.

[dks · Accepted solution]

What you describe is very possible. I can do that with my own tv systems. And yes, if the a/v receiver is connected as I outlined, that is what you should see. Please check your connections. If they are fine, then then you will need to reprogram the remote for your receiver. 

[Spirit84]

Thank you @dks  once again.

How do I reprogram the remote with the Pioneer receiver??? That is the piece of the puzzle that I am missing!! 

If you are kind enough please reply with a step by step tutorial on how do accomplish that. When setting up the replacement box I see on the set up screen that the remote can be paired with all the brand name TVs but nowhere does it allow pairing to an AVR. 

Your assistance would be so appreciated!! This thing is driving me nuts since, as mentioned, it worked perfectly with the original Bell box. 

[dks]

A step by step tutorial can be found in @WelshTerrier's response to your question . While you are at it, put new batteries in the remote, just in case. 

[WelshTerrier · Accepted solution]

Good Day.

As mentioned in my earlier reply, if your equipment has eARC capabilities, the HDMI cable is connected to the receiver's eARC OUT port (see your receiver's manual). This cable should be connected to your TV's HDMI eARC port (see your TV's manual). (An optical cable can be used as a substitute when eARC  is not available.)

I have included the following web link in my earlier reply to assist you in factory resetting your remote. Please select > Get started. Select > The remote doesn’t control the TV’s volume and/or power (programming steps to control a TV). Select > Voice remote. Follow the onscreen prompts.

Programming, fixing or replacing your Bell Fibe TV remote

Take care.