[danascott]

I have a Home Theater MX-500 universal remote and most of my devices (VCR, DVD, cable box etc) don't use dedicated "off" signals from their respective remotes. The same code toggles both on/off. So when I write a macro with the MX-500 to turn all devices "off" it screws up by turning the devices that are "off" to "on". In other words, when the devices get out of sync in terms of on/off, the macro is useless. Has anybody figured out a way around this problem? Is there some gadget out there that might help? Another part of this problem is that some devices (e.g. my panasonic dvd) have an auto-off feature that can't be defeated by turning the feature off in a set-up menu, so after 30 minutes of inactivity it defaults to "off" and the MX-500 then turns it back on!


It would be so simple if there were dedicated "off-only" codes for each device. Thanks.


Dana

 

[mcfoo]

You should go to remotecentral.com and the mx500 discussion group. Many answers there. If there are discrete codes for your devices, you will find them there. You will have to buy a learning remote that can teach the codes to your mx500.

 

[Oscar]

What you want are the discrete on and off codes for the particular pieces of gear that you own. And then you want to be able to teach them to your MX-500. There is a lot of information on that here on AvsForum (in the Remote Control Section).


There are two basic ways to get the discrete on and off codes. One is via a JP1 compatible remote control (your basic $15 Radio Shack universal remote), the other is via a device called the IrClone. (check out www.irclone.com ).


To find out more about JP1 check out the JP1 forum on Yahoo groups: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jp1/


Also see: http://www.hifi-remote.com/jp1/index.shtml
http://www.hifi-remote.com/ofa/
http://www.remotecentral.com/

 

[danascott]

Thanks for the info and I will check these out. But are you suggesting that discreet "off" codes exist for ALL of my devices even though there is no separate "off" button on a particular device's remote (ie the remote that came with the device)?? Thanks again.


Dana

 

[mcfoo]

You will have to discover just which of your devices have discrete codes. For instance, my Sony tv has a discrete off code even though the remote just has an on/off button. I found the off code at remote central.

 

[danascott]

Thanks alot mcfoo. This is a big and hopeful good start.


dana

 

[Oscar]

Just out of curiosity, what gear do you have, that you wish to be able to control thru macros?

 

[danascott]

Thanks Oscar. I'm a real novice and could use some help. Amp is Sony STR-DB930,

DVD is Panasonic DVD-RP56, VCR is Panasonic PV-S9670, and HDTV cable box is Comcast/Motorola DCT5100. The Sony amp has a separate "off" button on the remote but other than that, all the remotes seem only to have a single on/off button which just gets me deeper and deeper into trouble as the the on/offs of the components get out of sync. My mx-500 macros end up turning stuff on instead of off and vice-versa. I like the mx-500 and suspect it will do much more than I ever will ask it to do. And I'm willing to buy more gadgets but am trying to figure out just what to do. Do you think there are discreet codes for this gear that might help?


Dana