James,

Great advice in your above post, and I'll explore it even further! Messing around this afternoon, I was able to figure out what was going on with my remote to at least get me programming macros. Now, I'll just look for cleaner ways of handling everything as I get more proficient with shortcuts and such. You helped me tap into a great deal of functionality with this remote that RS's customer service didn't know existed.

I had to implement advanced codes (thanks for the suggestion) for parts of three functions I programmed into one macro: getting my Sony Wega to Video 4 for my component hookup, switching 16:9 mode on, and disabling TV speakers (to keep wife from having to turn TV volume down). The default/learned codes wouldn't work properly. For example, hitting the 'TV/VCR' button any more than three times never worked; it would always stop in the middle of the macro. Since none of the advanced codes for 'Video 4', or their multiples, worked, I simply plugged in the 'Video 3' code to an open key and this allowed me to only have the 'TV/VCR' button plugged in one time in the macro to get me to 'Video 4'. The entire video menu sequence worked correctly for adjusting my screen to 16:9, but was inconsistent with respect to turning off the speakers in the audio menu. Again, an advanced code that does this very function saved about 11 key punches and works like a charm. This code came from the first link that Rob listed in his site dealing with the advanced code subject.

Right now, all I'm trying to do is set up the remote so that my wife can load up a DVD without having a meltdown. I think we've succeeded there, and I'll keep looking through Rob's tips for better integration of everything.

The real pain in the butt was/is that there's no simple '16:9' button on my Sony remote, and they buried this function deep in a menu. It is irritating to my wife to watch me flip through the menu every time we have a wide-screen DVD. Now, the remote can handle it with one button along with all the other video set-up that has to happen.

Again, without the advanced codes I never would have had success. The straight key punches just wouldn't work properly. Now that I have a better idea of what is going on, Rob's directions on his site make SO much more sense to me.

Thanks for your help and advice.

One last bit: my 2104 is handling my Sony Wega TV (nothing too fancy; 32" non-HDTV model), Onkyo 600 receiver, Sony DVD player, and Emerson VCR. The Onkyo's remote is an extremely capable unit as well, though it doesn't have the backlighting of the 2104. Also, there's only two macro buttons, and I can set the 2104 up for more than that now that I'm off and running.

Have a good one!

lando

lando,
Glad to hear you're getting a better handle on your remote. "hitting the 'TV/VCR' button any more than three times never worked; it would always stop in the middle of the macro." If they were consecutive it may well be you needed to program a "pause" or time delay between them. Rob's various manuals give several suggestions toward accomplishing that(if consecutive the unit may not have been able to keep up with the keypresses). Happy remoting----Jim

Jim,

Yet another good point about the pauses that might be needed. Your advice about the advanced codes works out perfectly in my case because these codes allow more streamlined ways of completing the same task, so no pauses are needed and I potentially save some memory.

I liked my remote before, but now it's bordering on 'really slick'. Have a great weekend.

lando

Great info above, everyone.
Last night I started over on the 1994. Entered the basic codes first, then tried the advance code that was listed for my DVD input- no go. It programmed a second DTV/Sat input. The good news is that all the other buttons I had been 'learning' into the remote DID work and that in turn freed up plenty of memory to learn the DVD input button. I actually got almost everything loaded on, except a few buttons from my Zenith satellite box before the remote stopped taking input.
I cannot seem to find the appropriate advanced codes for that device. The 856 device code doesn't work- anyone have suggestions?
Now that the 1994 is functional to a large degree, I'll start to play around with the 2104- macros and such, so I'll always have ONE remote that is there for my wife to use- that's important, you know. (She thinks constantly tweaking and programming a remote is a very strange hobby)
My Jp1 cable should arrive today, so that opens up a whole new world of fun...my wife will love it.

Thanks again for all the info guys, I'm sure once I begin the JP1 stuff I'll be back to asking loads of questions again.

Ben

Ben,
If you haven't already done so, join the yahoo JP-1 group. That'd be THE place to ask your JP-1 questions. There's guys and gals there that are totally amazing and helpful. You'll also find a great deal of info and files that'll help you out.

By the way, all device codes are 4 digits; for the 1994, the leading "zero" is not insignificant; if you actually tried to enter "856" as a device code, it isn't going to work, you must enter 0856. Advance codes are 3 digit and actually only run from 000-255; 256 is really back to 000 again, and the cycle repeats itself.

This message was edited by jamesgammel on 07/19/02 10:09.08.

James,
Thanks for the input- I have joined the group, although since I haven't received my cable yet, I'm not sure what questions to ask.
I do realize that codes are 4 digit, though. I just left the first '0' off in the post.

For those of you in the JP1 loop, can I do the setup on my computer at work or should I do it at home-ie near the equipment? My home computer is somewhat slower than my at work unit. I guess the question is basically- is there a lot of 'Okay, I'll see if this works' trial and error type stuff or is it a straght forward-enter the values and go situation. Again, forgive the simplicity of the question, I am a novice in your esteemed programming realm. ;^)

Thanks,
Ben

Ben,
Computer speed really isn't going to be much of a factor. A lot, maybe even all of your stuff may be plug it in and go, but that's hard to say. You may decide to tweak as much as you can, maybe protocol upgrades and device upgrades will be involved. You may want to try extenders, and some of the special protocols. If you have Excel on both computers, and aren't faced with firewall and administrator issues at work, you could set both up, the programs really don't occupy that much space. Then if you run into a try and see situation, you could do it at home. You could always email files from one place to the other. The cable itself is small; you'll be moving the remote back and forth to waork anyway if you use your work PC, so keeping the cable with it wouldn't be that big of a deal. Uploads and downloads to the remote go pretty fast. Working with the spreadsheets is where the real time consuming part is. You could do the spreadsheet work at work, email it to yourself at home and download/upload at home.

Thanks for the info.
I'm not really worried about processor speed as much as going back to the JP1 group and asking questions online. My connection at home is modem slow vs. cable at work. I guess I'm planning on things requiring me to check with the JP1 group site or Rob's site often.
I'll know more when I get started obviously.
Again, thanks.

Ben,

I don't see where cable vs modem speed will really make a difference. A post at yahoo takes a little time to get entered, then it takes some time for the reader to read the post, type an answer, and a little delay in that getting posted at the site. It's not like using something like yahoo messenger where a back and forth exchange is in the equation. If it was me, I'd either opt to have the relavent programs at both locations, or at a minimum at home, since that's were the real test is going to be occuring. My 2 cents worth :)

Jim

Geez, don't worry about the speed of your computer. I run IR.exe on a 25mhz 486 sx laptop with 12 megs of ram. I don't run keymap-master on that computer because it requires MS excel. If I need to make an upgrade code of some sort in KM, I do it on my desktop (800mhz & 256MB) and cut and paste the upgrade code text into text files on a floppy. Then, I can open the floppy on the laptop to run the upgrades in IR.exe.

For me, there was lots of trial and error...but I wanted to have stuff just right.

Wow, sorry to jump in midstream, just read this thread start to finish. Just a couple clarifying questions that I couldn't piece together
>I have the same issue with my 1994 not learning enough buttons. This is new to me as my old learning sony remote never had this issue.
>My phillips DVR is not represented with a code (that I can find). Does that mean I need to find an advanced code for it or is JP1 my only option?

I have always just used the learning function to put the most used funtions of all my many components on one keypad (or more).

I was up all night last night trying to learn keys and not getting why it would stop learning til I found this great forum.

Thanks in advance for any answers.....