[wco81]

Interested in something like the Home Theater Master MX500 with macros.


Want to switch to different inputs, change zoom mode turn on box.


The tricky part is switching inputs and changing zoom modes since those are single buttons on the Sony remote which cycle thru (inputs 1-7 and the 4 different zoom modes).


Anyone find a good solution? Because there's got to be a better way than juggling for remotes unless my Sony XBR remote can learn all the Philips Tivo, Samsung TS-160, Motorola 5100, a Toshiba DVD and a Sony VCR with all the major functions learned (like the Tivo button).

 

[GregF]

well have you been to remote central? They have lots of discrete codes. I'm sure some Sony TV codes will allow you to specifiy an input.

 

[wco81]

So far nobody seems to have any there. Such a new model maybe there aren't any. Then again, maybe they're same as the 34XBR800, which was probably a popular model.


The question is, how do you find them in the first place? Somone suggested trying a One For All or Radio Shack remote first and then copying those to the MX-500.

 

[GregF]

Well I've operated the set with an older Sony remote. The power, inputs and other common commands should be the same as nearly any other XBR TV.


There are a number of ways to get those codes into a universal remote. I would go to the remotecentral forums and seek advice on both topics.

 

[McNasty]

So far, every Sony TV I have worked with has responded to the same codes. These are what I have for Pronto Hex codes for anyone interested.

Inputs



Tuner


0000 0067 0000 000d 0061 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0422




Video 1


0000 0067 0000 000d 0061 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 043a




Video 2


0000 0067 0000 000d 0061 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0422




Video 3


0000 0067 0000 000d 0061 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0422




Video 4


0000 0067 0000 000d 0060 0019 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0019 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0019 0018 0018 0018 03f4




Video 5


0000 0067 0000 000d 0060 0019 0018 0018 0018 0019 0018 0019 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0019 0018 0018 0018 0019 0018 0423




Video 6


0000 0067 0000 000d 0060 0019 0030 0018 0018 0019 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0019 0018 0019 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 040b




Other



Channel Add


0000 0068 0000 000d 0060 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0019 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 03ee




Channel Erase


0000 0068 0000 000d 0060 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0019 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 03d6




PIP Off


0000 0067 0000 0010 0061 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0319




Velocity Scan On/Off


0000 0067 0000 0010 0060 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 031a




Power Control



Power Off


0000 0067 0000 000d 0060 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 03de




Power On


0000 0067 0000 000d 0060 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 03f6




Power On

For some European models.

0000 0067 0000 000d 0060 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0410




Screen Formats



Normal


0000 0067 0000 0010 0060 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 034a




Normal / Full

Limited Toggle

0000 0067 0000 0010 0060 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 031a




Subtitle 16x9


0000 0067 0000 0010 0060 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 034a

 

[wco81]

Thanks. But these codes are only for Prontos right?

 

[DNINE]

WOW I hope you save that page, you should have some grateful people out here.

 

[McNasty]

Quote:

Originally posted by wco81 Thanks. But these codes are only for Prontos right?

I believe there is a program out there somewhere that converts pronto hex to one compatable with the MX500/700 remotes.

 

[DJ_V]

wco81,


I bought an MX500 for my Sony 34-xbr800. To teach the remote codes to the MX500 I bought a 5-in-1 remote from radio shack, on sale for about $12, I believe.


This works very well. I was able to get the MX500 to do discrete on/off, and discretes for the video inputs. I didn't do any codes for the zoom modes, since I rarely use them.


Once you get your macros in the mx500, you'll never go back to multiple remotes. My favorite macro is to watch a DVD, this is what 1 button press on the MX500 will do:

1) TV power on

2) TV video input #5

3) Receiver on

4) receiver DVD input

5) DVD player on

6) DVD player play

 

[wco81]

What model is the Radioshack?


If TV is already on, will your macro mess it up?


You don't use zoom modes because you don't watch any 480i programming?


Any ideas on discretes for the zoom and picture modes?

 

[DJ_V]

Quote:

Originally posted by wco81 What model is the Radioshack? If TV is already on, will your macro mess it up? You don't use zoom modes because you don't watch any 480i programming? Any ideas on discretes for the zoom and picture modes?

I'll answer each one separately:

What model is the Radioshack?

It's the Radio Shack 15-2103 . In order to program the discretes into it, you need a code list, like this one at Hifi-remote.com . Check out the instructions on that site for programming in the discrete codes. I like tinkering around with stuff like this, so I thought the process was fun. It isn't too difficult, really.

If TV is already on, will your macro mess it up?

The macro won't mess up the TV if it's on, or off. That's what makes discretes so neat. For example, when you send a discrete "power on" code to your TV, and the TV is off, it'll turn on. If it's already on, it'll just ignore the code. That's why the manfacturers put the discrete codes in, so you can make macros with remotes like the MX500. Too bad Sony doesn't make it simple to accomplish, though.

You don't use zoom modes because you don't watch any 480i programming?

I don't use zoom modes often, because I watch regular 480i cable TV in it's native, 4:3 aspect ratio with the bars on the side. (Note the "4:3 Default" setting in the screen menu must be set to "normal" for this to work). Nearly all of my DVDs are anamorphic, so the TV automatically goes into "full" mode for those. And of course HDTV automatically triggers the "full" mode. The only time I manually change the zoom mode is to play a widescreen video game on my PS2 or Gamecube. Those don't trigger the set to go into full mode.

Any ideas on discretes for the zoom and picture modes?

There are some discrete codes for zoom modes available with a Pronto code. Not sure if there's any available for Radio Shack/All-for-1 remotes. And, unfortunatly there's NO discrete codes for the picture modes (vivid, standard, movie, pro). This would be AWESOME to have, since I like to change picture modes depending on my viewing material (HDTV, DVD, video game). If there was a discrete code I could just program it into my macro. I actually wrote a letter to Sony requesting this feature when I sent in the warranty card for the TV. Let's see if they listen, and include this feature on a future TV. It's an especially glaring omission when you consider that you can't assign picture modes to video inputs either, like a number of other manufacturers allow you to.


Hope that helps!

 

[Lefty4]

DJ_V


I am curious to why you needed the Radio Shack remote to program the MX-500. Iam about to purchase the MX-500 and and would like to use discrete codes with most of my components. Can the MX-500 not accept discrete codes directly Is it necessary to program the discrete codes into another remote and then learn from that remote? Thanks for the info.

 

[DJ_V]

Quote:

Originally posted by Lefty4 DJ_V I am curious to why you needed the Radio Shack remote to program the MX-500. Iam about to purchase the MX-500 and and would like to use discrete codes with most of my components. Can the MX-500 not accept discrete codes directly Is it necessary to program the discrete codes into another remote and then learn from that remote? Thanks for the info.

It sounds crazy, but you need the $12 radio shack remote to teach the discrete codes to the $100 MX-500. The MX-500 may have some discrete codes, but they would be limited in comparison to the rad shack model. Also, you could not choose which button the discrete is on without the rad shack remote. good luck.