You can add your own pronto hex, but it is done by sending them in an email to logitech support, and they add them to your account. You can add hex codes yourself via a secret web page ( HINT ), but you can only add one per device. If you add more than one, it just overwrites the previous one.


I personally use a $10 JP1 remote for such purposes. That way I can do it all myself via learning. It's very quick and easy.


Having said that, you'll probably be surprised at how many discrete codes the harmony database already has. It's pretty complete. I haven't had to add very many. But I have noticed that newer devices are less likely to have discretes in the database (as was the case with your brother-in-law). I think it's because the database is built with user learns. It takes a while for the expert users to add discretes and for them to eventually end up in the database.

 

Thanks. I am not familiar with a JP1 remote. I have heard of it, but have no idea how they work or how to use them.


I would imagine that there should be discrete codes then for most of my equipment, even if it is new (Samsung 55C6500, Panny BD65, Comcast 8300HD, Vizio Soundbar), except the Vizio, since manufacturers tend to use the same codes for common functions across generations.

 

JP1 is a poor man's harmony. Biggest difference is the remotes are very cheap and can send any code under the sun (you can even write your own protocols), hence easy to program and send any signal to other remotes for learning purposes. They're also very handy for doing discrete code searches, since you can easily program and test every possible code (usually there are only 256 possible function codes (1 byte addresses) for a given device). Such searches would take a lot of time and effort to set up on most other remotes. But some devices use multiple device and subdevice codes, making the number of possible codes an order of magnitude greater. In those cases, I find a way to live without discretes.


BTW, the JP1 database tells me there are no discretes for your cable box. But it would be a could candidate for trying every possible code. It uses two device codes, so you'd have to try 512 codes minus the known codes in the 15-63 range. If you go the pronto hex route, the MakeHex program can generate all 512 codes with the press of a button.


I've done many, many discrete code searches over the years and usually come up empty handed. Now and then I run across codes that do very strange and sometimes bad things. But it's worth it for the few times I find something useful.