Quote:
Originally Posted by
[H]gregnash 
I should be able to do what I want but it will just take some time to program the macros in by hand. Looks like I will have to find someone local that sells it and see if they will price match SRC.com as if this gets to complicated I may end up returning it out of frustration.
One thing you might have trouble with the fact that it is not PC programmable is that for some devices you have, you may have difficulty programming in discrete codes. Since the remote can only learn from whatever the original remote can send, if you don't have that function on the original remote, the learning remote can't learn it. This may eventually become the frustration you speak of. For example, it looks like you are looking to get a Sony LCD TV. Looking at the remote that comes with that TV, there are no buttons for INPUT1, INPUT2, and so on that will take you directly to that input selection; it just has an INPUT button that toggles through the various input selections. However, Sony generally has discrete codes for their TV, but just do not put them on the remote (probably to simplify the remote). When you program macros to select the correct input selection based on the device you want to use, discrete codes are very useful (some would say indispensable). With PC programmable remotes, you can get Pronto hex codes or other format of ir signals of functions not on the original remote and add that to the universal remote to add that function; with learning remote, you can't.
There are a few ways to work around that. One way is to program a macro to start with a known state. For example, some TVs might have "ANT" or "TV" button that will always go to the tuner input and then program the correct number of "INPUT" key in the macro to go to the desired input selection. It could work, but I don't think it's very reliable and kind of clunky.
Better way is outlined at an
FAQ for MX-500 at surfremote.com. You may find it strange to get another universal remote to program another remote, but many of the One for All remotes have a unique ability to add functions without learning, using what they call advanced codes, as long as there is a built in setup code in the remote that can control the device. You can add the functions you need on the OfA remote and then use that to teach the command to the learning remote. Finding the advanced codes might take a bit of hunting, but there are tools to convert Pronto hex codes to advanced codes. Sony products are easy since someone has already compiled a
pretty comprehensive list here. You can even add even more capabilities (like adding new devices not in the built in database of the OfA remote), with a
JP1 cable, but that's a whole other topic.
One for All remotes like URC-8820 or URC-8910 are inexpensive ($15-20), and good for this purpose (don't get confused by the "URC" in the model name; it's not the same company as the one that makes MX-600 or RF20). URC-8820 has a fairly large built in database and there's a good chance there's a matching setup code you can use to program in advanced code for your devices. URC-8910 is an older model and doesn't have as large built in database, but it can be upgraded for new devices over the phone by OfA, or by playing WAV files generated with tools at the JP1 site, if you don't want to get the JP1 cable to program using a computer.
