B5-01   What are discrete codes?

Discrete codes are versions of toggle codes that only perform one function. For instance, a "POWER" button on a remote would be a toggle in that when it is used the current power state is reversed. If your device is on, it turns off. If it's off, it turns on. A "discrete" code would be a signal that ONLY turns the device on or off. If it is already on it remains so. These are most often used to ensure your home theater components stay completely in sync for powering on and off and changing device inputs.

Such specialized and otherwise hidden codes may also be available for direct access to other "toggled" or "rotating" functions such as television inputs, receiver soundfield settings and on-screen display modes.

Unfortunately, many devices or entire brands do not have discrete on/off codes. To control such devices discretely with the Pronto you could look into the popular SmartLinc and HouseLinc systems, as they often provide proprietary methods of accomplishing this. If you have a device that does not have a remote controllable power switch, you could plug it into your receiver's switched outlets (if it has them) so that when the receiver is off, it is off. Or invest in X-10, which are power control modules with have specific on and off commands.

Mostly by a lot of hard work. Often a remote that came with a single model of a component may have a few discrete codes that could be used on other similar models. Or, as with many of the ones on this site, the actual structure of an IR code is analyzed and then changed to see what the resulting code does. There are utilities in the Pronto File Area that can assist with this, such as IR Tool and ProntoUtil.

But first, you should check the File Archives at Remote Central to determine if your device -- or even if your brand -- has discrete functionality available. By now, discrete codes for most common devices -- if they exist -- have been found.

Finally, there's a forum on Remote Central designed to specifically help users locate discrete codes.

In ProntoEdit, discrete codes are stored as hex. This means that a "power on" command for a Sony receiver would look like:

0000 0066 0000 000d 005f 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0017 0018 0018 0018 0017 0018 0018 002f 0429

To use them the entire string must be copied. For complete help on how to use discrete codes with buttons that do not have an existing IR code or those that already do, plus a quick list of devices that are known to lack discrete codes, please see this page on Remote Central.

The most common places discrete codes are employed are in automatic input switch macros assigned to devices or system power macros. For instance, if you have discrete codes each time you change the Pronto from "VCR 1" to "DVD" you can have the remote automatically set the inputs on both the television and receiver. This is great for other family members who may have difficulty keeping both the television and receiver in sync.