The Pulse-Eight USB-CEC Adapter on Windows supports three different methods for automatically controlling your TV's power based on your PC's state. This guide explains each method and helps you choose the right one for your situation.
Quick Comparison
| Method | TV On | TV Off | Trigger | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEC-Tray | ✓ | ✓ | PC boot / shutdown | Most users — simple and reliable |
| Standby Monitor | ✓ | ✓ | PC inactivity / activity | Screensaver-style behaviour |
| Windows Commands | ✓ | ✓ | PC boot / shutdown | Advanced users wanting scripted control |
The Methods Explained
CEC-Tray is a background application that runs in the Windows system tray and monitors your PC's power state. It turns the TV on when the PC boots and off when it shuts down or sleeps. It waits until the HDMI connection is fully ready before sending commands, making it the most reliable of the three methods.
- ✓ Most reliable — waits for HDMI to be ready before acting
- ✓ No manual configuration needed
- ✓ Runs silently in the background
- ✓ Handles both TV on and TV off automatically
CEC Adapter — How to turn your TV on when your Windows 11 PC boots using CEC-Tray →
Standby Monitor watches for PC inactivity rather than boot/shutdown events. When the PC has been idle for a set period, it turns the TV off. When activity is detected again, it turns the TV back on. This is useful if you want the TV to mirror the PC's screensaver behaviour.
- ✓ Based on inactivity, not boot/shutdown
- ✓ Configurable inactivity delay
- ✓ Turns TV back on when activity resumes
- ✗ Does not handle PC boot/shutdown
libcec installs tv_on.cmd and tv_off.cmd batch files that can be called from Windows startup scripts, shutdown scripts, or other automation tools. This gives you full control over when and how the TV is turned on or off, but requires some manual configuration.
- ✓ Full control over when commands are sent
- ✓ Can be combined with other scripts
- ✓ Works with Windows startup/shutdown hooks
- ✗ Requires manual setup and configuration
CEC Adapter — How to turn your TV on when your Windows 11 PC boots using Windows Commands →
Turn on/off TV using USB-CEC Adapter (Windows Batch Script) →
Which Should I Choose?
- If you just want it to work automatically with minimal setup: use CEC-Tray.
- If you want the TV to turn off after a period of inactivity rather than only at shutdown: use Standby Monitor.
- If you want to combine TV control with other scripts or automation: use Windows Commands.
- You can combine methods. For example, use CEC-Tray for boot/shutdown control and Standby Monitor for inactivity-based power off — they can run alongside each other.
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