Below is a picture of my setup. You'll notice I have VCR tapes all over the place because I use them to cover up the remote control spot. What happens is, when I change one channel they all change so what I want is one remote control that I can program and it will handle just that one reciever. I have 5 DIRECTV boxes in that room. In a perfect world, I'd like the remote to handle each TV individually as well, but that probably won't happen. So, is there a remote control that can control each box individually so I don't have to use the dumb VCR tapes? Thanks

http://members.cox.net/nitin.gambhir/7tvs.jpg

The current line of Directv receivers only has two IR codesets per model, for HD dvrs and SD dvr R22, the codesets are 00001 & 00003. For older SD dvrs and HD receivers the codes are 00001 & 00002. with right combination you can have 3 receivers controlled by unique IR codesets, but no way 5 receivers. What are the model #s of your directv receivers?

Unless you go RF, you will need an aftermarket solution, like an address RF universal remote and basestation.

I have 3 of the standard boxes, not sure off hand what model they are, 2 of the current HD Boxes, and one HD DVR.

I called Logitech, and the guy said this is what I need:

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/devices/374&cl=us,en#

I have 3 of the standard boxes, not sure off hand what model they are, 2 of the current HD Boxes, and one HD DVR.

I called Logitech, and the guy said this is what I need:

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/devices/374&cl=us,en#

Pretty much any remote with an RF base station with addressable ports will do what you need. However, the 890 base only has 4 ports so you will be out one device unless you mask all the IR receivers except one and then use the IR from the remote for the fifth. The real question is... what is your budget?

I'm really not sure what kinda budget I have, I just want to find out if there is a unit that will do the trick, and then figure out if it is worth spending the money on. So from what I gather the 890 would only be able to control 4 of my Recievers, correct?

It can control 5 if you read what I suggested. You'll need to apply the IR emitters from each of the four RF extender ports to four devices. Then you will need to cover up the exposed area around the emitters so that the devices cannot receive any other IR signal. For the 5th device you will set the 890 to control it directly using the IR from the remote.

The other option is to find a RF solution that has at least five ports or get a second Logitech RF extender for a total of 8 ports.

Thanks for the suggestions, I really get confused at all this lingo, so I'm not ignoring them.

Hey everyone - I need to chime in here. I have a very similar issue (I have an HR20 and HR21 in the same closet) that i'm looking for help on in the 880 thread (I have an 890 Pro). It seems to me that even when you tell the Harmony 890 to control a device out of an addressable port, the RF base still sends out a signal. Here's the summary of the problem from my other thread (it has since been suggested that I try black electrical tape over the emmitters):
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I think I've determined that the HR21 is picking up the commands of the HR20, but not the other way around. It appears that although the HR21 is set to be controlled by an emitter out of one of the ports of the RF extender, it is still picking up commands from the extender itself, which I assume still blasts commands even if you set it up to be controlled by an emmitter?

I unplugged the emitter controlling the HR20, and the HR21 still accepted commands sent to the HR20, I'm assuming from the RF extender. I tried moving the RF extender around - even held it behind the equipment, and the HR21 still accepted commands sent to the HR20. Speaks well to the IR receiver of the HR21, but not so useful when you don't want to control it.

Anyone have any idea what I might be able to do? Would duct tape over the IR receiver section of the HR21 do anything?
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Also, to the OP, if there is a way to cover the IR receivers, the 890 is a nice remote, and if you get dual (or even triple emitters) you can double or triple the components controlled. Each receiver AND TV can have it's own port on the back. But I (we) need to have this RF thing figured out, because from my experience, 1) The RF extender sends out a very strong signal, that does not appear to suppressed even when the emitters are used, and 2) the HR21 is very sensitive to IR commands.

Well the IR emitters can still flash IR if they are not covered. They don't just emit IR through the stick on side. It isn't a problem unless you are trying to control duplicate devices as is the case here. The latest batch of 890 remotes include a stick on patch that would cover the emitters. It is about 2" square made out of black rubber and should do a good job of preventing IR leak.

This may be a stupid question, but did you actually assign the ports in the Harmony software setup? Also, the RF extender is also a flasher so you need to be sure that it isn't assigned to the device.

Well the IR emitters can still flash IR if they are not covered. They don't just emit IR through the stick on side. It isn't a problem unless you are trying to control duplicate devices as is the case here. The latest batch of 890 remotes include a stick on patch that would cover the emitters. It is about 2" square made out of black rubber and should do a good job of preventing IR leak.

This may be a stupid question, but did you actually assign the ports in the Harmony software setup? Also, the RF extender is also a flasher so you need to be sure that it isn't assigned to the device.

No stupid questions...:)

In the setup, I have port A assigned to the HR20, and port B assigned to the HR21. The HR21 receives all of the commands of the HR20. When I pull the emitter out of port A, and then attempt to turn on the HR20 - the HR20 doesn't turn on...but the HR21 still does! (and yes I made sure I was pulling out the right emitter.

So the only explanation I can think of is that the RF extender still sends out commands, even if you are controlling a device out of one of the ports. Is that correct? In essence using one of the ports means you are sending the command twice simultaneously - once through the RF extender, once through the IR emitter.

The only other possible thing that could be going on is that the HR21 is picking up the command from the remote itself (I was close to the equipment so I could see if the lights were going on). But that doesn't make sense to me because in the setup I have the HR21 to be controlled by RF, through port B.

What do you think? Oh, and I have those rubber squares - I didn't know what they were - now I do! Thanks. And if covering the IR sensor with either electrical or rubber tape on the HR21 solves the problem, then it's no biggie, especially since the HR21 is black and you won't even see the tape (not that it matters when your equipment is in a closet, although my closet is open)

I'm not sure I can help with your issue. I don't actually control same devices in my setup. Maybe the naming of your devices is causing the problem? At this point I would call tech support and ask them what they think is going on. It sounds like you have done a fair amount of troubleshooting so you should be able to get to the root of the problem with them.

tjk,

You don't want to cover the IR sensor on either HR since that's the only way your harmony can control them. Only the OEM remote can control them directly via RF. Your harmony simply sends RF to the extender, which then converts it back to IR. Your two HR's just need different addresses/codesets. See Edmund's post earlier in this thread. You'll have to set up the HR's first, then set up your harmony to match. I don't know the details since I don't have a harmony, but there are lots of threads on how to do it.

tjk,

You don't want to cover the IR sensor on either HR since that's the only way your harmony can control them. Only the OEM remote can control them directly via RF. Your harmony simply sends RF to the extender, which then converts it back to IR. Your two HR's just need different addresses/codesets. See Edmund's post earlier in this thread. You'll have to set up the HR's first, then set up your harmony to match. I don't know the details since I don't have a harmony, but there are lots of threads on how to do it.

I think you are missing the fact that you apply an IR emitter from the RF extender to each DVR and then cover up the sensor and emitter so that no other IR can enter or leave.

Ahh. I understand now. tjk could probably still benifit from using unique addresses since he only has a couple of devices. Then he wouldn't have to be careful about covering them.

Whats the budget? Easy solution is a 2 mrf-260 base stations ( 3 if you want to do all the TVs too...about $65 each on fleabay )and a RF remote ( mx-900 about $200 on fleabay )

I think you are missing the fact that you apply an IR emitter from the RF extender to each DVR and then cover up the sensor and emitter so that no other IR can enter or leave.

What he said :)

Didn't have time to mess with the tape last night, but I'll try it tonight. I'm not sure there's a setup issue that will work, unless Harmony can help out. DirecTV told me that the HR21 responds to the same commands as the HR20. In a world as advanced as we live in, can't they make remotes that control devices based on some other identifier, like serial #? I only have two of the same DVR's in one place - I bet there are folks with even more.

What he said :)

Didn't have time to mess with the tape last night, but I'll try it tonight. I'm not sure there's a setup issue that will work, unless Harmony can help out. DirecTV told me that the HR21 responds to the same commands as the HR20. In a world as advanced as we live in, can't they make remotes that control devices based on some other identifier, like serial #? I only have two of the same DVR's in one place - I bet there are folks with even more.

In tjk situation, all you have to do is switch either the HR20 or Hr21 to the other codeset, since there is only two dvrs. Unlike the OP who has 5 receivers.

tjk, to switch codesets, first cover one as you switch the other. Next program code 00003 to the av1 or av2 device on the white remote, slide back to the directv device on the remote and enter the menu of the receiver:

1. menu> parental, fav's, & setup> system settings> remote> receiver mode>

2. you will see either Directv or AV1/AV2, click whichever to reveal both

3. choose AV1/AV2, the remote will stop controlling the receiver, slide to AV1 or AV2 whiochever has code 00003

4. press DONE and exit the menu

I'm sure the alternate codeset is somewhere in the data base of the universal remote.

I have 3 of the standard boxes, not sure off hand what model they are, 2 of the current HD Boxes, and one HD DVR.

I called Logitech, and the guy said this is what I need:

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/devices/374&cl=us,en#


Thats adds upto 6 receivers, not 5. Say where two standard receivers, two Hd receivers and a HD dvr.

The standard receivers would use codesets 00001 & 00002, So would the HD receivers, leaving the HD dvr set to code 00003. So only the combination of standard and Hd receiver would have to be controlled via the Harmony addressable basestation with 4 outputs.

In tjk situation, all you have to do is switch either the HR20 or Hr21 to the other codeset, since there is only two dvrs. Unlike the OP who has 5 receivers.

tjk, to switch codesets, first cover one as you switch the other. Next program code 00003 to the av1 or av2 device on the white remote, slide back to the directv device on the remote and enter the menu of the receiver:

1. menu> parental, fav's, & setup> system settings> remote> receiver mode>

2. you will see either Directv or AV1/AV2, click whichever to reveal both

3. choose AV1/AV2, the remote will stop controlling the receiver, slide to AV1 or AV2 whiochever has code 00003

4. press DONE and exit the menu

I'm sure the alternate codeset is somewhere in the data base of the universal remote.

I will do that tonight - in the Harmony 880 thread, it was suggested that I redo setup for the receiver with the changed code and have it learn the IR codes of the remote I change the codeset on. Hopefully, it won't take that many commands before the Harmony learns to control the "different" receiver.

The alternate codes may already be in the Harmony database. It might be as simple as using model HR21-0003 instead of HR21. I would look into this before learning all the new codes.

The alternate codes may already be in the Harmony database. It might be as simple as using model HR21-0003 instead of HR21. I would look into this before learning all the new codes.

Dumb question that I should probably know the answer to, but how do I see the model #'s on the database? When I added my devices, I manually typed in the model #'s. Is there a better way to do it?

Dumb question that I should probably know the answer to, but how do I see the model #'s on the database? When I added my devices, I manually typed in the model #'s. Is there a better way to do it?

Don't think there is an easy way. I did find this for you:

http://www.remotecentral.com/cgi-bin/forums/members/reply.cgi?forum=rc-harmony&thread=6356&post=6

Don't think there is an easy way. I did find this for you:

http://www.remotecentral.com/cgi-bin/forums/members/reply.cgi?forum=rc-harmony&thread=6356&post=6

Ok, so based on your post, Edmund's post, and that link (thank you VERY much), I would:

1) Set up the HR21 OEM remote to operate on AV1 or AV2 (whichever has code 00003)

2) Go to the Harmony setup, delete the HR21, add an HR21-00003, re-do the activities associated with the HR21, and update the remote.

Alternatively, I'm sure Harmony could make the adjustment for me, but I'd have to sit on hold until I got help. Think I'll try to add the device as you say, and see what happens. At a minimum, I'm glad I've learned how to program the HR21 and HR20 OEM remotes to not operate the other unit.

2) Go to the Harmony setup, delete the HR21, add an HR21-00003

According to the link it would be like HR20-700S3 where HR20-700 is the model and S3 is the 00003 code. Yours would probably be HR21-X00S3 where X=your model number.

According to the link it would be like HR20-700S3 where HR20-700 is the model and S3 is the 00003 code. Yours would probably be HR21-X00S3 where X=your model number.

I spoke with level 2 support last night before I went home. The tech seemed like he knew his stuff - but when I told him about the suggestions to enter the code set after the model number, perhaps being already set up in the harmony database, he said that wouldn't be the case - that the best way to achieve what I want would be to set the HR21 up on the AV1 code set, and have the Harmony learn the infrared codes from the remote. He did say that it would only take 4-5 commands before I'd be done.

Of course just setting the unit up as an HR21-100S3 would be even easier, so I'll try that first. That's what's great about AVS and other help forums - there are usually more knowledgeable people here than there are at any of the company help lines, and I thought generally the guy I spoke with seemed to know his stuff (he knew about setting up the AV1/AV2 slider on the D* remote first).

Well, if the model number change doesn't work, learning the codeset seems easy enough. Of course by the time I got the kids to bed last night I was zonked to try anything, but I'll give it a whirl tonight.

Thanks again to everyone. And to get back to the original issue from the OP - the Harmony tech did mention that setting up port control from the RF extender, and covering the IR sensor with electrical tape, is a sure-fire, low tech way to control multiple D* receivers.

Tech was wrong. Learning every function is unnecessary. Here's what you need to do:
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=120772

Tech was wrong. Learning every function is unnecessary. Here's what you need to do:
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=120772

Interesting that you have to select DTV as the manufacturer, instead of DirecTV and then put in the model #. In any event, I'm going to first try setting my HR21 up as an HR21-100S3 as suggested and see if it works. If not, I'll do the learning command route.

You need to use the same model as in the referenced post, not your actual model number. Since all HR20's and 21's use exactly same codes, I doubt every combination of model/manufacturer number is in the database.

Whats the budget? Easy solution is a 2 mrf-260 base stations ( 3 if you want to do all the TVs too...about $65 each on fleabay )and a RF remote ( mx-900 about $200 on fleabay )

This would have been the better solution. Easy, and bulletproof. Albeit a little more expensive, but you'd have been enjoying all those TV's by now.:rolleyes:

You need to use the same model as in the referenced post, not your actual model number. Since all HR20's and 21's use exactly same codes, I doubt every combination of model/manufacturer number is in the database.

For what it's worth, once I programmed the D* remote to the alternate codeset on AV1, I used the learning command technique, because I already had all of my activities set up with the HR20 and HR21, and didn't want to have to redo the activities for the HR21 (4 in total) by deleting it and changing the model number. I'm not sure if I would have had to do all that, but I thought I'd try the learning command method to see how cumbersome it was.

Anyway, it was a piece of cake. The Harmony took three commands from the D* remote (Power, Up, and Select) and then said it was all done. I updated the remote, and everything is perfect - the HR20 and HR21 are totally separate components. I was able to watch football in the basement and channel surf while my wife watched whatever it is she watches while I watch football.