Overwhelmed by where to start

[jborn]

OK so I've got my JP1 remote (RadioShack 15-2116) and I've got my TV, Cable Box, VCR, Receiver, and DVD player to all respond to the remote.

I've saved this configuration after downloading from the remote into IR Mapper and am now ready to start to enjoy this remote.

First set of questions is about key moves. It lists in the keymap-master excel program that Shift Functions are key moves. OK I'm confused. My remote does not have a "SHIFT" key and and I not seen anything on what button on my remote is the "SHIFT" key. I basically want to use key moves to allow the TV mode have the channel keys go to the cable box, and the volume keys going to the reciever. (not sure exactly what is the best setup yet, but I'm dreaming still)

Next I think I want a macro. This would allow me to press DVD and it would turn on the TV and DVD player, set the correct input on the TV, and set the correct input on the receiver. If that is correct where can I find a macro tutorial.

And last but not least is the extenders. Before I get to far in this do I need to load an extender? If so what benefits do I get from the extender and what features do I give up to get these benefits?

Thanks

[johnsfine]

It lists in the keymap-master excel program that Shift Functions are key moves. OK I'm confused. My remote does not have a "SHIFT" key

It is the P key. But it doesn't work like a typewriter shift. You do NOT hold the P key while pressing another key.

Do a short press/release of the P key, then (within ten seconds) press any other key (except a digit). That will invoke the shifted action of that other key. (For a shifted digit press/release P twice before the digit).

I basically want to use key moves to allow the TV mode have the channel keys go to the cable box, and the volume keys going to the reciever.

That doesn't require any shifted keymoves. You could use non shifted keymoves, but you may not need even those.

You said "Shift Functions are key moves". That only means that in KM you can't define a Shift function without a KeyMove. But you can (in KM or IR) define a KeyMove that isn't shifted.

Anyway, for receiver vol keys used in other modes, you may be able to use VPT (volume punch through) or it might need KeyMoves.

For Channel Keys (I assume including digits) to go to the cable box, maybe you want to be using the "My System" mode rather than the TV mode. Or maybe a bunch of KeyMoves is the simplest. Or you might even want a device combiner (though not if you're already feeling overwhelmed). There are many different ways to get the desired effect.

Next I think I want a macro. This would allow me to press DVD and it would turn on the TV and DVD player, set the correct input on the TV, and set the correct input on the receiver. If that is correct where can I find a macro tutorial.

First you need to understand the discrete codes or work arounds of your DVD, TV and receiver. Most of the issues involved in writing that sort of macro are not issues regarding the remote but issues regarding the devices you're trying to control

And last but not least is the extenders. Before I get to far in this do I need to load an extender? If so what benefits do I get from the extender and what features do I give up to get these benefits?

I forget exactly what the 2116 can do without the extender and also exactly what that extender can do (it's not one of the ones I wrote).

But generically:

Most remotes don't allow macros on device keys, the extender does. But I think the 2116 is one that can even without an extender.

All JP1 remotes execute macros very slowly without an extender. The extender makes that faster.

If you don't have decent discrete codes you might use ToadTog to kludge around that problem. Toadtog is a lot easier to use with an extender than without.

The extender increases the remote's capacity for KeyMoves (in case you decide to do something like that channel key remap with a lot of keymoves).

Most extenders (I think including this one) have enhanced device selection, similar to a super powered version of My System mode. If the basic My System mode isn't good enough to use (in place of all those keymoves) the extender version probably is.

The extender's big drawback (not really very big) is it doesn't let you USE learned signals. You CAN disable the extender, learn some signals, upload and decode them and reprogram as keymoves or part of an upgrade then reload the extender. So you don't lose the ability to make use of learning. You just lose the ability to use the learned signals in their raw learned form.

[jborn]

I'm probably still missing something basic, but I think my first foray into the power of JP1 is setting up volume "Punch Through".

The general idea here is I take my current VCR profile, then have the volume buttons work for the tv.

Are the steps for this detailed somewhere? If so can someone point me there? If not how do I use keymap master to do this?

Thanks!

[gfb107]

You don't use KM (Keymap Master) for setting up VPT (Volume Punch Through).

You use IR, on the General tab, in the Other Settings, set VPT Status to On (to enable VPT), set the VPT Device to TV (cause you want volume command sent to the TV), and make sure VCR VPT is On (so that it works when in VCR mode).

[johnsfine]

You don't use keymap master for that.

You use IR.exe for that.

1) Either download from your remote or open a saved .ir file from a previous download.

2) Look at the "Other Settings" section of the General Tab.

3) Find "VPT Status" and change it to "On"

4) Find "VPT Device" and change it to "TV" (the device whose VOL signals will be used by other devices).

5) Find "VCR VPT" and change it to "On" so VPT is enabled when in VCR mode.

6) Review other "Dev VPT" lines to see if they are the way you want.

7) Save to a different .ir file name than your current "working" version (until you've tested enough to know you're improving things rather than making them worse).

8) Upload to the remote and test.

The remote has a bunch of silly restrictions based on device types of the devices involved to make it decide whether or not to really act on the VPT you've programmed (otherwise it will ignore the VCR VPT and/or others and act as if they were Off).

IR.EXE does not know those restrictions. It won't give any error message. It just uploads the requested settings to the remote.

If VPT doesn't work, you can ask why in the forum (best with the URL of the tested .ir file which you uploaded to the diagnosis area) or search old posts about VPT not working, or give up on VPT and use keymoves, or use the extender.

[jborn]

Wow, so what I thought I could do is have the tv or cbl option on and then set the VPT for both to the Stereo, and when on VCR have VPT to the tv. Doesn't sound like that is the case. I also wanted to have PT on the number keys when in TV mode. PT to the cable box that is. What about channel up and down. C(hannel) PT?

Can either of these options work?

[johnsfine]

Sounds like you very much want the flexible device select feature that is in many of the extenders. I think there is a 2116 extender with that, but I'm not sure.

Without the extender, it sounds like you may want to use My System mode instead of TV mode. And maybe you can use VPT for half of what you want it for.

You could use KeyMoves for any punch through features you want that aren't supported by the remote's built in punch through features. But if you do a lot of that you'll probably run out of keymove memory. The extender gives you more keymove memory, but then you wouldn't need that extra because the extender also has the flexible device select.

BTW, you really want to use the Stereo Vol in TV mode but the TV Vol in VCR mode? Seems Odd.

[jborn]

Yes very odd, but mainly because I don't want to spend money on more 10 foot cables for a fricken VCR that only plays strawberry shortcake and care bear movies.

As usually thanks for the advice. I'm sure I'll have more questions before I get this all figured out, but at least I have a starting point now.