A Discussion On Remote Controls

Baboone · 08-07-2007, 05:26 PM

Thanks for the knowledge

Loves2Watch · 08-12-2007, 12:49 PM

To correct previous mis-statements, the Harmony remotes can and will learn any command from the original remote. I have several and they control all of my devices (8 for one remote, 6 for the other) and they have ALL of the commands of the original remotes. I have assigned many specialty commands to buttons I want rather than the way it is default set up. Harmony's are very flexible, priced reasonably and have one button buttons for watch tv, watch a movie, listen to music. It is very simple and makes life much easier especially for the wives.

DEVO · 10-09-2007, 04:33 PM

I love my MX850! And w/ the newer versions coming out, I still love the layout better. I know that the new MX900 and MX950 have better features w/ the RF systems. Some people are having issues w/ their cable boxes and the MRF100 they just have to upgrade to the better version MRF250 or MRF300 which is what I have.

Watch and Listen? I don't know...I still love my MX850!!!!!!!!!!

timh22 · 10-09-2007, 07:50 PM

Hi,
I am hanging a TV above the corner fireplace and want to hide the wiring and run it behind the wall down to the basement to connect to the cable box, etc.. I will need a RF remote/extender I believe and am looking on line to see availability and pricing. Can anyone recommend a good brand of reasonable price they have experience with using?
It will have to work through the floor basically which I believe should be fine.
Thanks
Tim

DEVO · 10-10-2007, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timh22

Hi,
I am hanging a TV above the corner fireplace and want to hide the wiring and run it behind the wall down to the basement to connect to the cable box, etc.. I will need a RF remote/extender I believe and am looking on line to see availability and pricing. Can anyone recommend a good brand of reasonable price they have experience with using?
It will have to work through the floor basically which I believe should be fine.
Thanks
Tim

Get the MX850 & the MRF250, they will work flawlessly...if you want to save a couple of $$$ the MRF100 can work, you just can't tweek in the RF frequency. This happens w/ cable boxes and such.

timh22 · 10-11-2007, 11:21 PM

great thanks!
how are these remotes compatible with similar buttons on my cable remote with say DVR, "on demand"(comcast), etc...
also do you know anything about these:
http://www.amazon.com/Next-Generatio...2162643&sr=8-2

DEVO · 10-15-2007, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timh22

great thanks!
how are these remotes compatible with similar buttons on my cable remote with say DVR, "on demand"(comcast), etc...
also do you know anything about these:
http://www.amazon.com/Next-Generatio...2162643&sr=8-2

I have the DVR and all of the buttons that were not on the hard bottons down below...I programmed them to be on the bottons above w/ the LCD display.
Now w/ the extender system...they will, I think work w/ most remotes, but I have not touched one of those for quite some time?

Good Luck!

Tulsaboyw · 11-05-2007, 10:23 AM

I am looking at possible remotes:

Choices so far:
Harmony 890
Harmony 1000
Pronto

Though still researching choices.... my question is:

Is there a website where I can 'get a look & feel' of the remote with a semi usuable screeen emulation or demo' ... and not just the product demo Ive seen so far which was not that usuable.

ARPhx · 01-02-2008, 10:50 PM

Hi rbinck
I went to your blog. Very informative but the links to the editor software page come up empty. UniversalRemote pages (on search) say you hvae to register but on their website there is no way to register !!

Very interesting ... indeed. How do I get the editor software that you talk about?

Thanks
AR

NOTS3W · 01-05-2008, 12:41 PM

@ rblink: Thanks for your overview of remotes in your blog. It's a very informative piece. But I still have a few questions. Unless I'm the only noob here, the answers may help some others as well.

You mention at one point that when choosing to "watch a DVD", the programmed macro will turn on the DVD player but that if it's already on, it will stay on. That suggests descrete codes being sent for power on versus power off. My DVD player remote has a single power button (turn off if on; turn on if off). (Same for TV and satellite STB.) If I use my remote to teach a universal remote the code necessary to toggle the power (or if I enter the code for the DVD player), where do the discrete on and off codes come from? Without those codes, choosing to "watch a DVD" would toggle the power on the DVD player and the TV, either or both of which may already be on.

Likewise, when switching inputs on my TV, I can scroll through the choices with the TV's remote. Depending on what I've been doing previously, choosing to "watch a DVD" might require sending the scroll code twice, four or any other number of times to arrive at Component1 on the TV. Somehow, I (or the universal remote) would have to know that regardless of where I currently am on the input scroll list, code xxxx would take me directly to the Component1 selection when I choose to "watch a DVD." Is the software or the manufacturer of the universal remote able to sort that out? What happens when I buy some not-yet-invented device? Where would the discrete codes for that come from?

Does the lack of such discrete codes preclude use of an activity-based remote configuration?

My setup is very basic. Just a TV, DVD/VCR and a satellite box. I'm already having trouble justifying $115 for a Harmony 670 to control that simple setup but I'm afraid that anything short of a programmable remote will be less intuitive than either my wife or I would like. (What does M2 do again? Which button did I assign to widescreen view?

) Having a display for the button assignments would be very cool.

I won't complicate this by describing specific brands and models of equipment. The question is how to deal with these codes, not what codes should I use for this device or that.

rocco331 · 05-29-2008, 10:03 PM

Hi everyone. I'm about at the end of my rope with my comcast remote. It's the remote that came with the DVR. The problem I'm having is that sometimes the tv doesn't respond to the remote. You can see the light blinking on the remote when I push a button, but the channel won't change on the tv... or the DVR won't respond. It's very frustrating. Then it seems to 'free up' and catch up on all of the button pressing that I'm doing in frustration. Can anyone help?

**rbinck** · 05-31-2008, 09:08 AM

Get the remote swapped out for another one.

hyghwayman · 06-26-2009, 11:34 AM

I just got the Harmony 520 for Fathers day and it works with all my gear

. I'm so happy to have only 1 remote to work all my gear

. Now I have to teach the wife and kids that this thing can be a friend too

.

hyghwayman
P.S. The wife bought this for me/herself and she's happy now too

.

gene222 · 10-05-2009, 05:55 PM

I love my new Harmony One remote. One remote that does everything. But I have one question, where is the "dash" button that allows you to pull up NFL Sunday package stations like 709-1?
The Geek Squad person(who was great) said it was the + button,
and it is not. Thanks for any help.

BIslander · 10-05-2009, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gene222

I love my new Harmony One remote. One remote that does everything. But I have one question, where is the "dash" button that allows you to pull up NFL Sunday package stations like 709-1?
The Geek Squad person(who was great) said it was the + button,
and it is not. Thanks for any help.

I ended up using the device remote to teach my Harmony about the "dash" key.

08-12-2007, 12:49 PM	#17
Loves2Watch SPAM Police Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: AZ, NM, TX, MX Posts: 13,967	To correct previous mis-statements, the Harmony remotes can and will learn any command from the original remote. I have several and they control all of my devices (8 for one remote, 6 for the other) and they have ALL of the commands of the original remotes. I have assigned many specialty commands to buttons I want rather than the way it is default set up. Harmony's are very flexible, priced reasonably and have one button buttons for watch tv, watch a movie, listen to music. It is very simple and makes life much easier especially for the wives. __________________ Theater 1 - Panasonic TH-85PF12U Plasma TV, 6 Conrad Johnson LP275M Amps, Anthem Statement D-2 Pre/Pro, 6 Thiel SCS4 Speakers, 2 REL T-1 Subs, Infinity Interlude 120S Sub, Simaudio MOON Orbiter Universal Disc Player, ELP Laser Turntable, 2 Dish Network ViP 622 DVR's, Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player, Onkyo DV-HD805 HD DVD Player. Friends don't let friends buy Korean brand TV's.

10-09-2007, 07:50 PM	#19
timh22 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 61	RF remote question Hi, I am hanging a TV above the corner fireplace and want to hide the wiring and run it behind the wall down to the basement to connect to the cable box, etc.. I will need a RF remote/extender I believe and am looking on line to see availability and pricing. Can anyone recommend a good brand of reasonable price they have experience with using? It will have to work through the floor basically which I believe should be fine. Thanks Tim

05-29-2008, 10:03 PM	#26
rocco331 What is HD? Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2	Comcast Remote - newbie needs help Hi everyone. I'm about at the end of my rope with my comcast remote. It's the remote that came with the DVR. The problem I'm having is that sometimes the tv doesn't respond to the remote. You can see the light blinking on the remote when I push a button, but the channel won't change on the tv... or the DVR won't respond. It's very frustrating. Then it seems to 'free up' and catch up on all of the button pressing that I'm doing in frustration. Can anyone help?

05-31-2008, 09:08 AM	#27
rbinck Administrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Katy, Texas Posts: 12,337	Get the remote swapped out for another one. __________________ www.highdefinitionblog.com www.BlogOfHawaii.com

06-26-2009, 11:34 AM	#28
hyghwayman My CRT is High Def Join Date: May 2008 Location: Miamisburg, Ohio - USA Age: 43 Posts: 15	I just got the Harmony 520 for Fathers day and it works with all my gear. I'm so happy to have only 1 remote to work all my gear. Now I have to teach the wife and kids that this thing can be a friend too. hyghwayman P.S. The wife bought this for me/herself and she's happy now too. __________________ Helping others hear (my) TRUTH! (XBL GT- hyghwayman ) Halo® 3 Beta Tester COD® 4 Beta Tester ____________________________________ My Gear: Homemade Digital/HD Antenna DTVPal DVR - OTA HD dual Tuner DVR (2009) Sony KD-34XBR970 - 34" widescreen CRT HDTV (2007) Xbox 360 Elite w/ Live Subscription (2007) Pioneer VSX-816k 7.1 770w surround sound (2006) RCA 4 Head Double Azimuth VCR (199?) Xbox w/ Live Subscription (2002) Now in Bedroom JVC DTV AV-27F577 (2006) Now in Bedroom

08-07-2007, 05:26 PM	#16
Baboone A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 10	Thanks for the knowledge

10-09-2007, 04:33 PM	#18
DEVO "high" on hi def Join Date: May 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 308	I love my MX850! And w/ the newer versions coming out, I still love the layout better. I know that the new MX900 and MX950 have better features w/ the RF systems. Some people are having issues w/ their cable boxes and the MRF100 they just have to upgrade to the better version MRF250 or MRF300 which is what I have. Watch and Listen? I don't know...I still love my MX850!!!!!!!!!!

10-11-2007, 11:21 PM	#21
timh22 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 61	great thanks! how are these remotes compatible with similar buttons on my cable remote with say DVR, "on demand"(comcast), etc... also do you know anything about these: http://www.amazon.com/Next-Generatio...2162643&sr=8-2

11-05-2007, 10:23 AM	#23
Tulsaboyw High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 70	I am looking at possible remotes: Choices so far: Harmony 890 Harmony 1000 Pronto Though still researching choices.... my question is: Is there a website where I can 'get a look & feel' of the remote with a semi usuable screeen emulation or demo' ... and not just the product demo Ive seen so far which was not that usuable.

01-02-2008, 10:50 PM	#24
ARPhx A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 10	Hi rbinck I went to your blog. Very informative but the links to the editor software page come up empty. UniversalRemote pages (on search) say you hvae to register but on their website there is no way to register !! Very interesting ... indeed. How do I get the editor software that you talk about? Thanks AR

01-05-2008, 12:41 PM	#25
NOTS3W How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 16	@ rblink: Thanks for your overview of remotes in your blog. It's a very informative piece. But I still have a few questions. Unless I'm the only noob here, the answers may help some others as well. You mention at one point that when choosing to "watch a DVD", the programmed macro will turn on the DVD player but that if it's already on, it will stay on. That suggests descrete codes being sent for power on versus power off. My DVD player remote has a single power button (turn off if on; turn on if off). (Same for TV and satellite STB.) If I use my remote to teach a universal remote the code necessary to toggle the power (or if I enter the code for the DVD player), where do the discrete on and off codes come from? Without those codes, choosing to "watch a DVD" would toggle the power on the DVD player and the TV, either or both of which may already be on. Likewise, when switching inputs on my TV, I can scroll through the choices with the TV's remote. Depending on what I've been doing previously, choosing to "watch a DVD" might require sending the scroll code twice, four or any other number of times to arrive at Component1 on the TV. Somehow, I (or the universal remote) would have to know that regardless of where I currently am on the input scroll list, code xxxx would take me directly to the Component1 selection when I choose to "watch a DVD." Is the software or the manufacturer of the universal remote able to sort that out? What happens when I buy some not-yet-invented device? Where would the discrete codes for that come from? Does the lack of such discrete codes preclude use of an activity-based remote configuration? My setup is very basic. Just a TV, DVD/VCR and a satellite box. I'm already having trouble justifying $115 for a Harmony 670 to control that simple setup but I'm afraid that anything short of a programmable remote will be less intuitive than either my wife or I would like. (What does M2 do again? Which button did I assign to widescreen view? ) Having a display for the button assignments would be very cool. I won't complicate this by describing specific brands and models of equipment. The question is how to deal with these codes, not what codes should I use for this device or that.

10-05-2009, 05:55 PM	#29
gene222 Frustation Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 49	Harmony One Remote I love my new Harmony One remote. One remote that does everything. But I have one question, where is the "dash" button that allows you to pull up NFL Sunday package stations like 709-1? The Geek Squad person(who was great) said it was the + button, and it is not. Thanks for any help.

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