I'm wondering if there is some "trick" to entering a Macros with this remote.

I picked up a Philips SRP5710/27 at the local thrift; it looked like an interesting remote with features sucj as learning, backlighting and Blu Ray color keys.

However, I quickly learned it cannot be programmed with a macros command.
For fun, I did try teaching it a Macros, but all it would learn were the commands for the first device. Has anyone worked around this for this remote?

This is the remote: [Link: p4c.philips.com]

Well, it doesn't look like macros are a feature on that remote, and as you know macros aren't something that are intended to be "taught". You can kind of do short ones on some older Sony remotes, but that's merely a side-effect of their specific learning technique. Most normal remotes are only cable of learning commands of a certain length, which is usually only a couple dozen bits long, which is around the maximum standard length of a single command.

Thanks for the reply, and the information. I was hoping there was some alternative code entry for programming a macros on these Philips remotes.

I know macros are not intended to be taught, but I thought I would try it just to see how the remote responded. I was actually surprised it learned the string of commands for the first device (TV).

Oh well, I have plenty of other remotes in the household, but I did like the look and feel of this remote. Except for the lack of macros, this is a great universal. I just can't understand why Philips left out this feature......

Sounds like the Philips has a fairly long bit length... but when learning many remotes detect the frequency and code protocol only once at the beginning, so if that changes in the middle to some other protocol they can't go any further.

Maybe they had a higher-end version with macros? Although honestly, in this day and age and with the technology available, hard buttoned remotes are still stuck firmly in the early 90s for no good reason.

Again, thanks for the reply. Sorry about the delay in responding.

I believe you are correct about the Philips bit length, and inability to switch protocol.

You are also correct about the technology side of this issue. we all know Philips does make the higher end remotes, with customized programming, but for that I use the Harmony remotes in the household.

In this instance, I was merely hoping for a "back up/secondary" remote for one of the kid's rooms. (Since it seems they are always asking "where's my remote?").....

A similar remote (no back lighting unfortunately) but with macro that can be found cheap new on ebay is the PMDVR8.