After finally growing disgusted with the idea of
getting a mid-range Sony universal remote,
despite their otherwise fine design, due simply
to the fact that they can operate the menu on a
Sony VCR, but NOT any other kind (or so their web
site seems to indicate), I got a Cinema 7 IQ this
Christmas, and am quite please with its
versatility.

After much fiddling, I have discovered a trick
which I do not believe I have seen referenced
anywhere else...and I HAVE looked. This trick
allows one to have at least partial control of
far more than the 7 devices it is supposed to
control.

Here is a simple example of how to have the
functionality of two devices programmed onto one
device key. Let's assume for the sake of
argument that one is a TV, and one is a VCR, and
that you want both programmed into the TV device
key. Let us further assume that you only need
minimal control of the VCR. (play, stop, record,
rewind, fast forward, pause, and power).

1. Set the TV button to the TV's device code.
2. Set the VCR button to the VCR's device code.
3. Use the 994 code to move the needed VCR
functions to buttons in the TV mode. (for
example, put VCR power on shift-power in TV mode
with TV*SETUP*_**9*9*4**VCR*POWER*SETUP*POWER**)
4. Here's where the trick comes in: You can
configure 6 other devices on the remaining device
keys INCLUDING the VCR key. Even if you change
the device type (via 992) and device code on the
VCR key, the functions you copied to keys in TV
mode will still function perfectly.

The method could, in theory, be used to make a
power on/off macro for about 36 different devices
before running out of memory.

Any opinions/ideas?

-=Ingenious=-

"The difficult we do right away;
The impossible just takes a little longer."

I discovered with my Cinema7 that in TV mode the VCR keys controlled my DVD by default. I suspect this was intentional by one4all. And guess what? It didn't use ANY programming memory. I DID have to add the DVD's eject and power buttons to get it working to my satisfaction. Anyway, it IS a nice way to extend the remote's usefullness.

As for a macro for 36 devices, I already have one. It uses discrete off codes for 7 Home Theater devices, and one "ALL OFF" X10 command. Since I've got 30 X10 modules or switches around the house, the total is 37.

I only use this macro when leaving the house, as it turns off EVERY Light, fan, X10ed appliance, etc. I have seperate "on" macros for each room and home theater "event" such as watching a DVD movie.


Dave

David,

Regarding the VCR keys, in either TV mode or
CBL/SAT mode, you should find that the VCR keys
control either the DVD/LD device or the VCR
device, depending on which one was most recently
selected, i.e. if you select VCR mode, then TV
mode, the DVD should no longer be controlable
until you select DVD mode again.

When you say that it didn't use any programming
memory, this is true, but you are not taking into
account that it DOES take a device key, whereas
my idea does not. Using your method (which I
also use, admittedly), you would lose the DVD
functionality were you to redefine the DVD/LD key
to control some other device, whereas with my
trick you would not. Yes, it uses some
programming memory, but it allows you to do
something you could not do without it.

As for your 37 device macro, it's only sending
codes for 8 devices. That's like calling a macro
containing a single power on/off code a "100
device power on/off macro" just because there are
100 of the same brand of TV in the room. :)

My point was that...well, let's say you work in a
deparment store, and when the store opens, you
have to turn all the TVs on, and when you shut
down for the night, you have to turn them all
off. For each TV device code, you could program
it into the VCR key and use 994 to copy its power
button to one of the TV mode keys before
programming the next device code into the VCR
key, etc.

When done, you could create a macro that
contained all of these buttons, one by one,
making the store's shutdown/startup sequence just
a little bit faster/easier.

Of course, one of these codes could always be
that "ALL OFF" X10 code you mentioned, if that
was desirable. :)

-=Ingenious=-