Which JP1 remotes can do what I need?

[JLanguage]

Setup 1:
TV: Toshiba 32A41
DVD: Samsung HD-841 DVD
VCR: Zenith VRL4270HF
A/V Receiver: Onkyo HT-R410

Setup 2:
TV: GE 27GT617
DVD: Apex AD-5131
VCR: Sony SLV-N500

Questions:
1. Is it possible to configure the remote to switch between/work with the two setups?

2. Can the remote be configured to do multiple macros? Such as press VCR and it turns the VCR on and switches to the right channel on the TV. Also I would like to be able to punchthrough the volume to my A/V receiver.

3. Is a remote with 2k EEPROM a must or is 1k EEPROM or 512b enough?

4. Which JP1 remotes would you suggest in addition to the URC-6131 (already am considering it)? Looking for a remote with conveniently placed transport buttons, backlighting or glowing keys, and a good number of buttons without the buttons being too small.

5. Can the USB Jp1 cable be had for <$40? I like the price of the parallel Jp1 cable, but I don't like parallel ports.

Thanks so much for your time,
-Jonathan.

[Capn Trips]

Setup 1:
TV: Toshiba 32A41
DVD: Samsung HD-841 DVD
VCR: Zenith VRL4270HF
A/V Receiver: Onkyo HT-R410

Setup 2:
TV: GE 27GT617
DVD: Apex AD-5131
VCR: Sony SLV-N500

Questions:
1. Is it possible to configure the remote to switch between/work with the two setups?

Yes. Many remotes are capable of handling up to 8 devices "out of the box", so 7 is no problem, although you may have to assign some devices to keys other than the intuitive ones, i.e you could use the "CD" device to act as your second DVD device, etc.. If you insist on having BOTH TVs on the TV button, BOTH DVD players on the DVD button, etc. that is also possible, using the Device Multiplexor Special Protocol, but becomes a little more complicated to set up - and I presume you want to walk before you try to run.

2. Can the remote be configured to do multiple macros? Such as press VCR and it turns the VCR on and switches to the right channel on the TV. Also I would like to be able to punchthrough the volume to my A/V receiver.

Yes - any remote that can accept macros, can do this - as all JP1 remotes (to my knowledge) can.

3. Is a remote with 2k EEPROM a must or is 1k EEPROM or 512b enough?

I don't know, although most that come with JP1 capability have the 2K. If you're modifying your own (like a 6131), you'll want the 2K for flexibility, although a 1K would work. I cannot imagine a 512b being anywhere NEAR sufficient. And the cost differential is minimal.

4. Which JP1 remotes would you suggest in addition to the URC-6131 (already am considering it)? Looking for a remote with conveniently placed transport buttons, backlighting or glowing keys, and a good number of buttons without the buttons being too small.

Well, here my insight is dated, as I don't know which JP1 remotes are still available in quantity. All of the new One-for-All products use a newer flash ROM chip with a JP1.2 connection that has yet to be hacked. Of later model JP1 capable remotes, in addition to the 6131's popularity I like the RS 15-2116/2117 (2117 is identical but has an RF-IR extender), the OFA URC-8919/9910, or if you want a "coolness" factor, try a OFA URC-9960 Kameleon.

5. Can the USB Jp1 cable be had for <$40? I like the price of the parallel Jp1 cable, but I don't like parallel ports.

The simple parallel cable is FAR cheaper, and is the only one I've ever used on three different computers and a Laptop running from Win95, Win98, WinME and WinXP - never any problems. The USB cables are sold by DIY Gadget for $34.99, Hovis for $45 and Filebug for $40 in the marketplace section of the forum here. All offer free shipping to the US.

Thanks so much for your time,
-Jonathan.

Thanks so much for your time,
-Jonathan.

You're welcome
You're welcome.

[johnsfine]

1. Is it possible to configure the remote to switch between/work with the two setups?

Since you have only seven devices total, it should be easy to program them all into the remote at once.

Then I expect all you actually need (to make it appear to the user that the remote switches between two setups) is to dynamically change the meanings of the main device keys (TV, DVD, etc.). That requires an extender, but shouldn't be hard with an extender.

2. Can the remote be configured to do multiple macros? Such as press VCR and it turns the VCR on and switches to the right channel on the TV.

When you say "multiple macros" you seem to just mean a macro that can send commands to more than one device. Any macro can do that.

But you also want a macro on the device (VCR) key. That requires an extender.

Also I would like to be able to punchthrough the volume to my A/V receiver.

Most models can do that. The extenders make it easier in some cases.

3. Is a remote with 2k EEPROM a must or is 1k EEPROM or 512b enough?

I'm pretty sure you need the extender, so definitely get 2K byte eeprom.

[DaleMac]

My HT Pro remote can have macros placed directly on the device keys without an extender which I use to turn the appropriate devices on and select the right input on my home theatre amp. I've also got a macro on the power button to turn all the devices off when I'm done. I believe there are other remotes that can do the same thing, such as the URC8810 and URC9910.

[The Robman]

Not the URC-8810.

The HT-Pro, URC-8910 and URC-9910 are all the same remote, so they can all have macros on the device buttons without using an extender. The only other remote that can do this is the Radio Shack 15-2116 (and the 15-2117, which is the same remote).

[JLanguage]

So far I'm deciding between either the URC-8910 or a pre-modded URC-6131. I also really like the radioshack 15-1994 but I haven't found it for sale anywhere because it's been discontinued.

I would like to hear from those who own these two models what they like or dislike about them. (Yes I have been to remotecentral)

[JLanguage]

The URC-6131 lacks learning capability?

Does that mean that I can't get it to emulate device specific functions such as EZView (Samsung DVD-HD841) viewing mode? Can it be bypassed via the jp1 hack?

Thanks,
-Jonathan.

[Capn Trips]

You can program the 6131 via JP1 to emit any IR signal that is emitted by an OEM remote. The only problem without learning is that you cannot rely on learning to help you identify what that signal may be. If you have a very exotic device that nobody who frequents these fora has ever decoded and/or built an upgrade for, then you might have a problem. But if a particular function has been decoded/identified and can be found somewhere on these fora, then you can program your 6131 to emit it. Further, even if there is not a particular decode for your exact device/function, there are ways to do code searches that more often than not, yield results.

In this particular case, there is an upgrade for your unit already in the file section, which includes that function (EFC-101; OBC-175;Hex-F5), so - no problem.

[JLanguage]

I am not sure yet that I can do without learning capability, so I might have to spring for the URC-8910 even though I like the layout of the 6131 better. A couple of compatibility questions:

I have lost the original remotes for the GE 27GT617 TV and Sony VRL4270HF VCR, is that a problem in terms of programming? I only really want the basic functions for each of those two devices anyway, although input select on the GE TV is a must.

Is it possible to program video input settings for the onkyo receiver if it has discrete codes for them? Also I need to be able to switch between stereo and direct modes.

Apex AD-5131 - Can it do Disc 1, Disc 2, Disc 3 buttons, as well as dvd digest (root menu)?

Thanks again,
-Jonathan.

[The Robman]

To answer each of those questions, you should visit the file section and see if there are upgrade files present for these devices (or at least, similar models). Assuming there are upgrades files available, the lack of learning and/or original remotes is not an issue. You can also open the upgrade files (using either KM or RM) to see if they include the functions and/or discrete codes that you're looking for.

If you really like the layout of the URC-6131, but feel that you might also need learning capability to capture some of your remotes, why not get a URC-6131 AND a URC-8811?

[JLanguage]

To answer each of those questions, you should visit the file section and see if there are upgrade files present for these devices (or at least, similar models). Assuming there are upgrades files available, the lack of learning and/or original remotes is not an issue. You can also open the upgrade files (using either KM or RM) to see if they include the functions and/or discrete codes that you're looking for.

If you really like the layout of the URC-6131, but feel that you might also need learning capability to capture some of your remotes, why not get a URC-6131 AND a URC-8811?

It seems that there are upgrade files for everything except the GE TV and the two VCRS, and while there is an Apex DVD Plwyer is lacks multidisc functionality. The Apex DVD and Sony VCR is not a problem because I have the remotes, but what about the GE TV and old Zenith VCR? Am I out of luck?

Thanks,
-Jonathan.

PS: I hope not because although it would be much simpler for me to get a Harmony remote, but due to the cost and the fact that I like tinkering with electronics, the jp1 remotes are appealing.

[johnsfine]

More devices are supported by the built-in setup codes than by JP1 upgrades.

The fact that you found upgrades for some of your devices doesn't mean upgrades are needed even for those devices. Someone may have just wanted to customize the key layout and decided an upgrade was better than using KeyMoves.

Probably the setup codes you need for the GE TV and Zenith VCR are built-in and you can use a few KeyMoves to customize the layout or provide advanced functions.

Even if you want to make a new upgrade to customize it more than that, you still may find it easiest to first identify the built-in setup code that mostly works and use that as the starting point to get the data you need for a new upgrade.

In the unlikely event that you can't find a built-in setup code and/or advanced code data, you might need a learning remote to support the programming of the 6131. Then you can handle a wider range of devices than an expensive remote such as a Harmony. I haven't checked Harmony prices lately, but I assume JP1 cable plus two different JP1 remotes plus shipping still comes in well under. A Harmony also may not be as easy to program as you seem to expect.

[The Robman]

The Zenith VCR will almost certainly respond to the built-in VCR/0039 setup code, and the GE TV might respond to any number of setup codes (check the manual) so I would not expect those devices to be a problem.

[JLanguage]

More devices are supported by the built-in setup codes than by JP1 upgrades.

The fact that you found upgrades for some of your devices doesn't mean upgrades are needed even for those devices. Someone may have just wanted to customize the key layout and decided an upgrade was better than using KeyMoves.

Probably the setup codes you need for the GE TV and Zenith VCR are built-in and you can use a few KeyMoves to customize the layout or provide advanced functions.

Even if you want to make a new upgrade to customize it more than that, you still may find it easiest to first identify the built-in setup code that mostly works and use that as the starting point to get the data you need for a new upgrade.

In the unlikely event that you can't find a built-in setup code and/or advanced code data, you might need a learning remote to support the programming of the 6131. Then you can handle a wider range of devices than an expensive remote such as a Harmony. I haven't checked Harmony prices lately, but I assume JP1 cable plus two different JP1 remotes plus shipping still comes in well under. A Harmony also may not be as easy to program as you seem to expect.

I'll go pick up one at Best Buy and make sure it can do what I want.

[The Robman]

I'll go pick up one at Best Buy and make sure it can do what I want.

Pick what up? If you mean that you're going to pick up a URC-6131 remote from Best Buy, you should be aware that the store bought version of this remote is NOT JP1 ready. To use this remote with JP1 you woulf first need to solder in an EEPROM chip and a 6-pin header. You can buy JP1 ready versions of this remote online though.