Hi,

I would like to get a universal / learning remote to control my home entertainment system, but am reluctant to commit to any expense until I have my head around what I think are a couple of potential problems.

I have:

Panasonic TC-29V1Z TV (about 7 Years old)
Sony S-725 DVD Plyer
Mitsubishi E-52 VCR (Also quite old)
Denon AVR-2700 Home Theatre Receiver
General Instruments Cable Decoder.

I would like to be able to program macros to set up the appropriate settings on the amp, and the correct video input on the TV for a given source device.

Here's the problem. My TV remote has one button that toggles between TV and AV, and another that once AV mode has been selected, cycles through the 3 AV inputs, but there is no way to go directly to a specific input. Also my VCR has a button that toggles between TV and VCR modes.

I think that the only way I can ensure that a macro sets these devices properly is by using Advanced / Discrete codes (Don't really understand the difference yet) - is this correct?

If I'm right, what hope do I have of finding the codes I need?

I found some Panasonic TV codes at [Link: hifi-remote.com] but these seemed to be for a far more sophisticated set than mine. Are the codes I need likely to be a subset of these?

One remote I'm considering is the Sony VL1000 (they're on special here at the moment). If I can find the right codes can I program them into this remote, or would I need to program them into a One For All and then get the Sony to learn them from that?

Last question: am I totally off beam here and overlooking a much simpler way of achieving what I want to do.

Thanks for your help,
Pete.

If you want "advanced codes" you will need a UEI remote(ie, One For All or Radio Shack brands), no other remote can do them.

"Advanced codes" are a tool (unique to UEI remotes) that you can use to generate signals that are not part of the built-in setup code.

"Discrete codes" are signals that will take your device directly to the specified input without needing to toggle through various other modes first. Another type of discrete code are those that turn a device ON or OFF, but not both.

So, you would use advanced codes to create discrete codes.

Now that's out of the way, you also need to be aware that not all devices support discrete codes. When this is the case, there are sometimes work arounds that can be done.

For example, in your case, is there any way to get the TV into a known state? For instance, if you are in AV mode and you press the CH+ button, does it put the TV into TV mode? If so, a macro with the following buttons would always put the TV into AV mode:

TV, CH+, TV/VCR

When the TV is put into AV mode, is it always positioned at AV1 or does it go into the last AV mode that was viewed? If it's the latter, you're screwed (unless you can find a trick to put the TV into a known AV mode), but if it's the former, you can extend the workaround as follows:

AV1:
TV, CH+, TV/VCR

AV2:
TV, CH+, TV/VCR, INPUT

AV3:
TV, CH+, TV/VCR, INPUT, INPUT

Rob
http://www.hifi-remote.com

Rob,

Thanks very much for your reply. It's cleared up the advanced / discrete business for me nicely. It sounds like an OFA remote would be a handy device to have - even if just for programming another remote.

I can't really find any way of getting my TV into a known state, as when you switch from TV to AV it goes to the last AV input that was used, and then nothing will bring it back to TV except the toggle button.

I think as you say I'm screwed in this respect. I might be able to "rewire" my system to rationalise my use of AV inputs, which could help solve my problem.

Thanks again,
Pete.

Pete, I think your understanding is correct.

Just to add to what Rob already said, I see that Rob's site shows codes 051, 055, and 0250 (the one you already found) for Panasonic TVs. There doesn't seem to be an advanced code list for 055, but both the other two seem to support discrete inputs, so you might be all set. Now whether your particular model supports all those codes, I cannot say. Unless someone with that model confirms or denies, the only way to find out is to get an OFA/RS remote and experiment. They can be had very inexpensively, so there's no need to commit to an expensive remote until you find out. As to *which* UEI remote to get, Rob and many others can advise far better than I. I love my Sony :-). [And yes, I use a RS 15-2104 to teach it the advanced codes I use :-.]