Can You Program DIRECTV Remote to Soundbar?

If you have a DirecTV remote, you may have wondered how you can use it to control your soundbar. Luckily for you, this process is relatively simple, and with a few steps, you can manage your volume with a single remote. Keep in mind that the simplicity of this process will depend on the type of soundbar you have. Additionally, some manufacturers won’t show up in the automatic setup process.

You can program your DIRECTV remote to control your soundbar. In most cases, this is a relatively simple process. Newer remotes even include an automated setup, however, you will need to have a soundbar that uses IR for this to work.

If you have tried to program a universal remote in the past, you know it can be a frustrating experience. Learning how to work your device, searching for program codes, and inevitable troubleshooting can be trying. Fortunately, the newer “Genie” remotes are easy to use, and setup is a breeze. But why do you even need to connect your DirecTV remote to your soundbar?

Benefits of Connecting your DirecTV Remote to your Soundbar

There are plenty of reasons to connect all your devices to one remote. Think about all the things that use a remote control these days, in fact, not a lot of people know that you can control a soundbar with your Fire TV remote (our tutorial). With your soundbar, TV, cable box, and BluRay player, the number of controllers increases.

This is why most people opt to consolidate their devices to one controller like through universal remotes (on Amazon), for example. DirectTV is aware of this trend and has come out with universal remotes that can control multiple devices. This means that you can put away all those extra controllers and enjoy the convenience of using just one.

Here are some reasons you may want to connect your remote to your soundbar:

• Simplicity – As we said earlier, the fewer controllers you have to worry about, the more convenient controlling your system is.
• Less to lose – Let’s face it, controllers are one of the most misplaced devices. Limit the number of frustrating searches you need to go on by cutting down to one controller.
• Convenience – Think about the function of your remote. Since it controls the TV and the cable box, it only makes sense that it should also handle the volume.

It also looks better on your coffee table. Imagine all of those controllers lined up waiting for their time to shine. It can take up a lot of space. But, if you are using one controller, you can save valuable real estate on your table. 

Consequently, connecting your soundbar to your DirectTV remote doesn’t just help you. Think about your friends and family members. Do you want them to be confused every time you ask them to turn the volume up?

Of course not. This is why using a universal DirectTV remote doesn’t just benefit you. It also helps anyone who uses your entertainment system.

How-To Connect a DirectTV Remote to Your Soundbar

Connecting a DirectTV remote to a soundbar is a relatively easy and painless process. For the most part, if you are using a newer Genie remote, it is somewhat automated. If you own an older-style remote, you may need to find the right programming codes.

To help you along with the setup, here are two ways to connect your DirectTV remote to your soundbar:

Normal Setup Process for Genie Remote

One way of connecting your DirecTV remote to your soundbar is just the normal setup process for the Genie remote. Follow the 11-step process below and you'll have it set up in no time at all.

1. Point your remote towards your Genie HD DVR or other Genie cable box.
2. Find the Mute and Enter buttons. You will need to press them simultaneously. 
3. You will see a green light flash at the top of the remote. When it blinks twice, stop pressing the buttons.
4. When you see a message on the screen that says “Applying IR/RF setup,” you are now in RF mode. This will now allow you to program the remote.
5. Make sure that the device you are trying to connect to is powered on.
6. Find the Menu button on your remote and press it.
7. Select Settings.
8. Now, select Remote Control. 
9. After this, press the Program Remote option.
10. Select the device you wish to control.
11. You should now see some on-screen prompts that will take you through the rest of the process.

Manual Programming with Genie Remote

If you're unable to use the normal setup process for whatever reason, you can also do it manually, which is explored in the steps below. If you find yourself in this position, you're in luck, because our simple walkthrough will hold your hand along every step of the way.

1. Point your remote towards your Genie HD DVR or other Genie cable box.
2. Find the Mute and Enter buttons. You will need to press them simultaneously. 
3. You will see a green light flash at the top of the remote. When it blinks twice, stop pressing the buttons.
4. Type in the code: 961.
5. Select Enter on your remote.
6. Once you select OK, your TV should display “Your remote is now set up for RF.”
7. Now, power on the device you want to connect to.
8. Find the Menu button on your remote and press it.
9. Select Settings.
10. Now, select Remote Control. 
11. After this, press the Program Remote option.
12. Select the device you wish to control.
13. You should now see some on-screen prompts that will take you through the rest of the process.

HDMI ARC and CEC

HDMI ARC is a feature on a majority of soundbars and TVs. Data is sent and received by your TV and sent back through a return channel to your soundbar with this technology. This feature is perfect if you have a SmartTV, but it does something different for our purposes. 

The technology that powers ARC also allows for the use of CEC, or Consumer Electronics Control. Like ARC, this HDMI feature allows for data to be transferred back through the return channel to your soundbar. But, instead of audio data, this is data received from the volume controls.

This means that if you have an HDMI ARC compatible TV and a Soundbar, it will automatically send that to the soundbar whenever you change the volume. Therefore, you won’t even need to program your DirecTV remote.

It will already work. Using CEC depends on a few factors including the compatibility of your TV, remote compatibility, and soundbar compatibility.

All of these devices need to work with each other for this feature to work. Check your user’s manuals to find this information out. This process could significantly reduce the amount of setup time and simplify your system. While there are some issues that people run into, this is an excellent option if you know your devices are compatible.