In real simple English, could someone please explain what Discreet Codes are and what makes them different to programming say the "power" button direct from the device's own remote?

I hear the term a lot on here and have never asked.

I have quite a lot of devices programmed into my RC5200 and don't know whether they would make an impact/positive difference - who knows - I may be using some already, without knowing!.

TIA

I think an example is better than an explantion.

You have a "power toggle" command: Turns your device On if it was Off, turns it Off if it was On.

There may exist A "Power On Discrete" command: Turns your device On if it was Off, does nothing if it was already On.

Why would you want that?

You can see whether your device is On or Off, and one power toggle button takse less room for the same value as seperate On and Off buttons.

But, what if you want a macro to turn a device on AND do other things, such as select that device's output as the input to another device and jump to a page on your remote for detailed control of the device you just turned on.

Once you've defined that macro you will discover that you defined it for use when the device was off, but you want to use that same logical function for its other actions at times when the device is already on. So you'd prefer for that macro to use a discrete On command rather than a toggle On command.



This message was edited by johnsfine on 02/21/04 14:45.

That's brilliant thanks.

As yet I've not programmed macro commands, prefering instead to rely on my existing programming method of "linking" most commonly used devices to each other screen by screen. Using electronic Scart switch boxes which can be set to auto-sense or controlling them from my RC5200, does away with the need for fancy macros and keeps things simple given my rather large collection of devices - even my significant other can use it with no probs! - hope she doesn't see this though or my programming days will be over lol.

I appreciate the explanation though.

Paul

Okay, I'm being picky but there are two of these threads in a row right now!

"Discreet" means it won't tell on you if you are misbehaving slightly.

"Discrete" means it has separate parts for separate things, such as ON and OFF as separate commands instead of POWER that turns it on, then turns it off, then turns it on....

Discreets are most important when you can't physically see the equipment(especially with macro use). ie: when using IR reticulation to a cabinet or zone 2 type set-up.

Discreets are really most important when your wife will take off your kneecaps if she finds out you are having a nightcap with a skycap.

Discretes, however, are very helpful with remote controls.

Hey Ernie,

Are you like trying to make a point or something??? I mean I'm not sure, it's real subtle, could you maybe be a little more direct? It's always a good idea in situations like this to provide us with as much information as possible.

Jim L