I have a TViX M6500-A media server which is giving me a tough time with the up/down/left/right keys. Learning those keys in order to move and stop one menu position works fine. The problem is hold-and-repeat to scroll. The included TViX remote scrolls/repeats when you hold up/down/left/right, but it doesn't work on my MX-980. I played with the repeat setting for that key, with no luck. If I learn one of the buttons by holding it on the TViX remote, the MX-980 blasts a code to move 3 positions. If I then shorten the repeat # to 1 and run a test through the Editor software, it only moves 1 position, but when I then download to the actual remote, it still moves 3 positions.

What I have discovered is apparently there is an initial IR code for up/down/left/right, followed by another subsequent code when you hold the button to repeat. I was successful in learning the initial code and the subsequent "repeat" code (which apparently is the same "repeat" code for up/down/left/right) to another button.

I cannot for the life of me figure out how to get this working on the remote. I even tried an IF-THEN whereby if I held the key for >=1 second it flashed the "repeat" code. No luck.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. [And rhetorically, why did the TViX manufacturer have to make their remote so complicated?]

Did you try the Learn 2 function, holding down the button on the second learn? Don't know if that will help, but it's possible. Do the two commands that you learned to separate buttons work properly?

Mike

I actually did not try the Learn 2, though it occurred to me. I'll try it when I get home tonight.

I read somewhere that Pronto's have been able to learn macro-type remote functions, which gives me some encouragement b/c I would then think the MX-980 could also do it.

Okay, tried the Learn 2 function by holding my TViX remote "up" button both times. The test blast from the PC moves up 3 spaces. Once again, if I change the repeat setting to 1, the test works through the PC (only moving up 1 position), but when I download to the remote, it jumps 3 spaces again. What up with that?

I also tried the "flutter" technique.
Also tried Learn 2, first a quick tap, then hiding the initial blast and exposing the subsequent code.
No dice.

I should note, that when the learning results in a 3-space move, at least when I hold the button it continues to scroll.

Any ideas?

Mike....what do you think about getting around this with an if/else ?

Curtis:

Try learning this way:

Setup to learn 2 times
Place remotes on flat surface about 6 inches apart
Place something solid non-opaque between the IR LED's (a credit card should do)
Select the button on the mx980, enable learning in program
Press desired button on OEM remote and hold it for a couple seconds
Now remove the object between the 2 remotes
If it's accepted do the second learn the exact same way with the blocking in place
Save it...load it....test it....report back.

I actually had tried an IF-THEN solution [sounded like a bright idea]: I was able to learn the UP & the SCROLL codes separate. I had my MX-980 UP key first blast the initial TViX UP, but IF I hold it 1 second or more, it then sends the subsquent TVIX "scroll" blast. Didn't work. I found that if the SCROLL code comes more than .5 seconds after the initial UP, it doens't work.

As for your "non-opaque"-learning suggestion. Isn't a credit card opaque? Regardless, didn't work with credit card or Netflix paper wrapper. Only learns the SCROLL code, which I verified by pressing for a sec the TViX UP, followed by holding my newly-learned MX-980 "UP", producing a scrolling effect.

I had one new idea: Add the SCROLL code to the UP button as a macro, and turning off the repeat function of the UP code, but leaving it on for the SCROLL code. I figured it wouldn't work b/c it would move 2 spaces, and I was kind of right. Depending how many times I had the UP and SCROLL blasts repeat, it would either move 2 spaces and not scroll, or move 3 spaces and scroll if I held the key. Wierd.

FYI, my PC tests rarely produce what the downloaded program does in relation to repeats.

I thank all for you help and patience with this one. I realize this can make a brain hurt.

CONCLUSION [sort of]:

I learned the TViX UP & DOWN to an MX-800 I also have. Was able to get the codes to work perfect. Then Universal Browser to get UP/DOWN into MX-980. Problem of 3 jumps returned! I changed the Repeat on those keys to 1 & it made no difference.

I think there is a problem with IR blast time/repeat on the MX-980, thus I'm still stuck.

This reminds me of an issue I have with a particular MCE system and the MX-900. Using the *built-in database codes*, pressing any key results in the MCE system sensing multiple presses. Press "left" and it goes between 1 and 3 positions left. The stock MCE remote works fine on the system, and an MX-850 using database codes controls the system fine too.

URC is having trouble duplicating it... and the only solution I've found is to turn off repeating codes and keep the number of repeats to "2" (1 is generally ignored, and 3 still results in multiples). So I can no longer hold a button down to go through things, but at least I can now actually select things on the menu, and pressing the 30-second skip button no longer randomly instantly skips to the end of the video (what a pain that problem was).

I have a similar issue with an MX-900 controlling a (UK) Sky satellite box. Using the codes from the DB, or learnt from the original remote makes no difference.

The up/down/left/right buttons (and some others) will act as if the button has been pressed multiple times if I leave it on 3 repeats. It even does it sometimes if I have it on 2 repeats, so I've ended up setting it to 1! That seems to work OK, but as with Daniel's problem, I've had to turn off the 'repeat while pressed' or, again, I get multiple activations. It's rather annoying :( I didn't have this problem with a Harmony remote, although that was otherwise a much inferior product.

Daniel - I'm using a workaround for the 'hold down the button' scenario, which may be of interest. Forgive me if you've thought of this already :)
I've set up press and hold macros for the buttons in question. The initial press sends the code with repeats set to 1, and 'repeat while pressed' turned off. The hold macro does the same thing, but with 'repeat while pressed' turned on. Now if I hold down the button it will start sending the code continuously and act like the original remote. Unfortunately, the minimum hold delay time is 1 second so the response is rather sluggish compared to the original remote. (Surely it wouldn't be hard for the software to allow for shorter delays?) There's also no indication to start with that anything is happening, which feels a little awkward. Still, it's better than being stuck with single presses only...

That is very concerning. I was worried enough, thinking I discovered some MX-980 bug, but to hear it's been around since MX-900 doesn't fill me with confidence that URC will resolve this issue.

In the meantime (or forever), though I tried one form of IF-THEN, which didn't work, I have another idea and will post my results.

Okay, I found an IF-THEN workaround. I programmed the UP and DOWN each to 2 separate buttons, one hidden. The UP key on the MX-980 I removed "repeat" and set it to 1. The other (hidden) UP command key I left the default settings.

I then applied to the UP key a command IF hold >=1 seconds it blasts (and repeats) the second hidden UP key. It's not perfect, and my original TViX remote scrolls immediately (not having to wait 1 second), but at least it works. Of course, the reality is that when scrolling, it's doing it 3 spaces at a time, but I'll have to live with it until URC makes a change.

Just a Thank you for posting this learning method. Putting a card between the remotes for a couple of seconds and quickly removing it while learning was the only thing that worked for speeding up my mouse movement when learning a ir PC remote to my MX-6000