Telescope
Overview
Telescope is a feature of the JubileeTV App that allows app users to remotely control the JubileeTV Console from the JubileeTV App.
Any function or action that can be completed with the JubileeTV Remote can be done using Telescope. This includes:
- Powering on/off the TV
- Navigating source devices using arrows
Permissions for Telescope
User | Permissions |
|---|---|
Primary Admin | No restrictions |
Contact Admin | No restrictions |
Contact | Off by default, but can be enabled for a specific Contact by any Admin |
TV User | No application |
TV Power State
JubileeTV is able to detect the real-time power state of the TV to which the JubileeTV Console is connected. This is powered by the JubileeTV Smart Plug. When using Telescope, you will see one of three state:
- TV ON
- TV OFF
- TV Power State Unknown
If the state is TV Power State Unknown, see TV Power State Unknown Troubleshooting for additional information.
Communicate
When Telescope is active, the App User can turn on Talk Mode or Listen Mode. Both controls are found in the top-right corner of the app, are off by default, and use the mic on the Console.
Talk Mode
Talk Mode creates a bi-directional audio feed between the TV User and the App user during a Telescope session, allowing for conversation while the App user is navigating the TV.
Talk Mode is turned on by the App user during a Telescope session by tapping or clicking on the mic icon.
When Talk Mode is on, a small message appears on the top-right corner of the TV informing the TV User that Talk Mode is active.
When Talk Mode is on, the source audio on the TV is muted so the TV User can hear the TV user speaking.
Additional information and logic:
- Talk Mode is not available when the Telescope session is in Fallback mode. Telescope Fallback can occur when there is reduced internet bandwidth for the Console or the App User.
Listen Mode
Listen Mode streams audio from the Console mic so the App User can hear the TV and any other noise in the room. This is a great way to gauge TV volume.
Listen Mode is turned on by the App user during a Telescope session by tapping or clicking on the listen icon (it looks like a person with audio waves coming from their head).
When Listen Mode is on, a small message appears on the top-right corner of the TV informing the TV User that Listen Mode is active.
Comfortable Audio Level
Telescope visualizes a comfortable audio level in the JubileeTV App. The comfortable audio level is a measurement of the audio/noise being detected by the microphone in the JubileeTV Console. Please note that this will include all audio detection: people speaking, background noise, a separate stereo playing music, etc.
Comfortable Volume Level and Listen Mode can both be used to get a sense of how loud or quiet the TV is for the TV User.
Need help setting up comfortable audio level? See Comfortable Audio Level Setup Instructions.
Why can't JubileeTV just show me the actual TV volume?
The JubileeTV Console can only "see" and report data from devices plugged into its HDMI inputs (like a Roku, cable/satellite set-top box, or DVD player). Because these devices are upstream, they send their information directly through the Console.
However, the TV is connected to the Console’s HDMI output. Think of this as a one-way street: the Console sends video and audio to the TV, but the TV doesn't send its system data back to the Console.
The actual volume number (e.g., "Level 22") is generated by the TV itself, so the Console can't read or display that specific number.
Controlling the TV
Use these buttons to control the TV and source devices.
JubileeTV Control
- Blue (J) button: Tapping this button sends the JubileeTV home command.
Basic TV & Audio
- Power: Turns the TV on or off
- Volume: Up / Down
- Mute
Navigation & Menus
- D-pad & OK/Select: Navigates menus (controls either your active source device or the JubileeTV menu, depending on what is currently on screen)
- Back: Returns to the previous screen
- Viewing: Channel Up / Down, Guide
- Menus: Menu, More
JubileeTV Home
- Blue (J) Button: Brings up the main JubileeTV home screen
All Controls
This section provides a complete list of every button found on your active source device's original remote.
This is highly useful if you have used Button CustomizationsButton Customizations to simplify the user's physical JubileeTV remote. Even if you have disabled specific buttons or configured Multi-Function ButtonsMulti-Function Buttons to send a single command, you can still access every original device command through the All Controls menu in Telescope.
How Telescope Handles Customizations & Disabled Buttons
Telescope's behavior changes depending on your current system Usage Mode.
Usage Mode | How Telescope Reacts to Button Customizations & Disabled Buttons | How to Send a Disabled Command |
|---|---|---|
Interactive Mode | Mirrors the physical remote. If you disable a button (like Guide) on the JubileeTV remote, tapping that standard button in Telescope will also do nothing. | Navigate to the All Controls menu and send it from there. |
Passive Modes* | Ignores physical remote restrictions. Telescope retains full functionality regardless of what buttons are disabled on the JubileeTV remote as a result of the system's Usage Mode setting. | Tap the standard button directly on the main Telescope screen or navigate to the All Controls menu and send it from there. |
Note: Passive Modes include "Original Remote(s)", "Simplified JubileeTV Remote", and "6-Button Remote". For example, if a Passive Mode disables the blue J button on the physical remote, you can still press J in Telescope to bring up the JubileeTV home screen.
Related Articles: JubileeTV Usage ModesUsage Mode and Button Customizationsbut
Type Command
Tapping this button brings up the command input where you can enter text-based commands to the Console.
Common Telescope Commands
Command | Notes |
|---|---|
"settings" | Opens JubileeTV Console settings. |
"3" | Tunes to the channel number for a cable/satellite set-top box. Any channel number can be used. |
"cnn" "hgtv" "tbs" "nbc" | Tunes to the channel name on the cable/satellite set-top box. Any channel name can be used. If favorited, you can also easily access channels through the Favorites tab. |
"contacts" "photos" "videos" | Loads the associated JubileeTV feature on the TV. For example, saying "Photos" will show all of the photos that have been sent to the TV End User by Contacts. |
"netflix" "amazon prime video" "hulu" | Loads the named app on Roku. Note that a Roku must be configured as a source device for this to work. If favorited, you can also easily access apps through the Favorites tab. |
"play" "pause" | Plays or pauses recordings (e.g., from DVR) and streaming content. Compatibility depends on the source device and app. |
"fast forward" "rewind" | Fast forwards or rewinds recordings (e.g., from DVR) and streaming content. Compatibility depends on the source device and app. |
"skip forward" "skip back" | Skips forward or skips back through recordings (e.g., from DVR) and streaming content. Compatibility depends on the source device and app. |
Additionally, any voice command the TV user would normally speak while holding the orange microphone button on the JubileeTV Remote can be entered into the command field. For a list of common voice commands, see the Voice Controls.
YouTube Links
Copy and paste a YouTube link into the Type Command field to play a YouTube video on the TV if the following parameters are met:
- The Console has a Roku configured as one of its source devices.
- The YouTube app has been added to Roku.
Note: YouTube playlists are currently not supported.
What to do if Telescope controls aren't working
- See Can't Control TV with Telescopeasdf if power, volume up/down, and mute don't work.
- See Can't Control Source Device with Telescopeca if any other buttons don't work.
The Favorites Tab
Easily tune the TV to any favorited channel or app by selecting tiles under the "Favorites" tab. For more information, see Favoritesaf. If you have more than 1 source device configured, they will also appear here.
The Actions
The Actions tab within Telescope provides quick access to additional features and handy shortcuts.
JubileeTV Destinations
Use these shortcuts to launch common JubileeTV destinations
- Photos: Open the photo gallery. This performs the exact same action as selecting the Photos tile directly from the TV interface.
- Videos: Open the video library. This performs the exact same action as selecting the Videos tile directly from the TV interface.
- Settings: Access and modify the JubileeTV console configuration. For more details, see Adjusting Console Settingsa.
Slideshow
Start a photo slideshow on the TV. Tip: Once the slideshow is running, you can control the playback remotely using the OK/Select and Left/Right arrows within Telescope.
Sleep Timer
Set a customized countdown timer to turn the TV off after it expires.
Note: JubileeTV does not currently support screen sharing directly from your mobile device/computer directly to the TV. For more information and alternative ways to share content see Does JubileeTV Support Screen Sharing?adsf