URC-8810B00 remote will not learn

[jetcobra]

I have had this remote for quite a while, but not used it. Now I'd like to use it for several components as listed below:

Denon AVR3300 - have code for
Panasonic ES10 DVD Recorder - have code for
NEC PG9200 Projection TV - don't have code for
Vizio Plasma TV - don't have code for
Lumagen VisionHDP Video Processor - don't have code for
DirecTIVO HD Receiver - have code for

For the units I did not have codes for I tried to learn some codes, but I could not get the remote to learn any of the functions on any of the OEM remotes. I used Robman's learning process, but could never get two blinks and none of the attempted "learned" keys worked.

I tried resetting the remote with 9-8-1, but that did not help.

I've ordered a JP1 USB cable, but have not received it.

What should I try next?

thanks
What should I try next?

[The Robman]

I used Robman's learning process, but could never get two blinks and none of the attempted "learned" keys worked.

It's sounds like you probably have a faulty remote, but just to make sure it's not user error, could you outline exactly what steps you followed in your learn attempts.

When you did the 981 reset, did you get 4 short blinks or 2 short blinks followed by 1 long blink?

[MaskedMan]

For the Vizio, try TV code 0178.

[jetcobra]

It's sounds like you probably have a faulty remote, but just to make sure it's not user error, could you outline exactly what steps you followed in your learn attempts.

When you did the 981 reset, did you get 4 short blinks or 2 short blinks followed by 1 long blink?

Robman,

I used your write-up from here:

http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3943

Also, I got four short blinks when I inputted the 981 code.

Thanks

[jetcobra]

For the Vizio, try TV code 0178.

Thanks Edmund, I tried this code, but could not get the remote to accept it. I guess its database does not have it.

[The Robman]

The 4 blinks confirms that the EEPROM works and is connected properly. The fact that you're able to use the built in codes to work some of your devices confirms that the IR-LED is working. Both of these together pretty much rule out a hardware problem with your remote. If you followed my learning guide, that rules out user error, which just leaves us with 2 possibilities...

1) BATTERIES - do you have good batteries in both the URC-8810 and the remote you are trying to learn from, and if so, how did you determine that they are good, did you test them with a battery tester?

2) Maybe the signal is not-learnable. How many different remotes have you tried to learn from? Just as a test case, could you try learning from the Denon remote as we know what those signals look like.

I think the batteries are the more likely culprit, so I would focus on #1 before worrying about #2.

[MaskedMan]

For the Vizio, try TV code 0178.

Thanks Edmund, I tried this code, but could not get the remote to accept it. I guess its database does not have it.

Sure it is. Are you sure you have a urc-8810? Or it a non-learning remote like the 8011?

[The Robman]

I can confirm that TV/0178 is present in the URC-8810 (and it's also in the non-learning URC-8011 for that matter) so if the remote won't accept it, the TV button has probably been re-assigned to another device mode.

[jetcobra]

The 4 blinks confirms that the EEPROM works and is connected properly. The fact that you're able to use the built in codes to work some of your devices confirms that the IR-LED is working. Both of these together pretty much rule out a hardware problem with your remote. If you followed my learning guide, that rules out user error, which just leaves us with 2 possibilities...

1) BATTERIES - do you have good batteries in both the URC-8810 and the remote you are trying to learn from, and if so, how did you determine that they are good, did you test them with a battery tester?

2) Maybe the signal is not-learnable. How many different remotes have you tried to learn from? Just as a test case, could you try learning from the Denon remote as we know what those signals look like.

I think the batteries are the more likely culprit, so I would focus on #1 before worrying about #2.

1

I put new batteries in just now and got the 0178 code that MaskedMan gave me for the Vizio to be accepted, but still cannot learn anything. I have tried all of my remotes, including the one for the Denon AVR3300, and tried several keys on all of them with no luck. I've only checked that new batteries are in the remotes, not with a battery checker.

This time I noticed that after the LED started flashing rapidly on the URC-8810 AND while pressing the OEM remote keys, the 8810 LED did not stop flashing rapidly, but continued to flash rapidly as I was holding the key on the OEM remote, and then finally the LED stopped flashing rapidly and then gave one short flash. It's done this everytime I've attempted to learn.

Any other thoughts?

[The Robman]

This time I noticed that after the LED started flashing rapidly on the URC-8810 AND while pressing the OEM remote keys, the 8810 LED did not stop flashing rapidly, but continued to flash rapidly as I was holding the key on the OEM remote, and then finally the LED stopped flashing rapidly and then gave one short flash. It's done this everytime I've attempted to learn.

That means that the URC-8810 is not seeing the other remote's signal. The rapid flashing means that the remote is in learning mode, then when you start pressing the other remote's button, the rapid flashing is supposed to stop, then a little while later you should get a double-blink to indicate that the learn was successful. If you were to never press a button on the other remote, the flashing would eventually stop when the learning process times out and then you'd get the long single blink (as you are getting).

It sounds like there's a hardware problem of some sort, but it's not one of the common problems.

[jetcobra]

This time I noticed that after the LED started flashing rapidly on the URC-8810 AND while pressing the OEM remote keys, the 8810 LED did not stop flashing rapidly, but continued to flash rapidly as I was holding the key on the OEM remote, and then finally the LED stopped flashing rapidly and then gave one short flash. It's done this everytime I've attempted to learn.

That means that the URC-8810 is not seeing the other remote's signal. The rapid flashing means that the remote is in learning mode, then when you start pressing the other remote's button, the rapid flashing is supposed to stop, then a little while later you should get a double-blink to indicate that the learn was successful. If you were to never press a button on the other remote, the flashing would eventually stop when the learning process times out and then you'd get the long single blink (as you are getting).

It sounds like there's a hardware problem of some sort, but it's not one of the common problems.

Robman,

Thanks for all of your help - this is a hardware problem with the URC-8810. I found a URC-8811 at Fry's last night and input all of my codes and learned all of the functions I needed with no problems using the same OEM remotes as before, so the 8810 is bad as far as the learning process goes.

[The Robman]

Well, all is not lost, as long as the bad URC-8810 can still send signals, you can use the new URC-8811 to capture signals so you can build upgrades, then you can use either remote to work your system.

[bgarts]

I also have an 8810 that is unable to learn. Must have been a bad batch. I am getting the 8910 to replace it.

[The Robman]

I doubt that 2 remotes constitute a "batch" but as with any electronics device, faults do happen. Sometimes it's a bad component, but more often it's just a dry solder joint. I had a URC-8811 that appeared to work in all regards except for the fact it wouldn't control anything, so I took it apart and found that one of the leads to the IR-LED was loose. So, I re-soldered it and the remote was back to normal.

[TCarson17]

my 8810 as well as my neighbors 8810 will not learn