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Extender Question...?

Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2025 3:41 pm
by SysTech_Larry
When we choose setup codes away from the computer, only the unshifted keys are loaded. Is there an extender that will also load the shifted keys (when away from a computer)?

Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2025 6:38 pm
by unclemiltie
No, at least on all of the extenders that I know of

the setup codes that are in the ROM don't even know about XShifted keys and don't use the shifted keys either (at least none that I know of)

Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2025 7:23 pm
by SysTech_Larry
If it could be made, it would be for RMDU files.

Re: Extender Question...?

Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2025 4:55 am
by mathdon
SysTech_Larry wrote:When we choose setup codes away from the computer, only the unshifted keys are loaded. Is there an extender that will also load the shifted keys (when away from a computer)?
I don't understand the question. What do you mean by "away from the computer"?

Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2025 7:12 am
by SysTech_Larry
Without RM, you type in a setup code to choose a device type that is either preinstalled or has been added through RMIR.

IIUC, an extender is a custom extended firmware that has been added to the remote. Is it possible to write such firmware that will also populate the shifted keys of an RMDU file when someone types in its setup code (on their remote)?

Unaltered, using the setup code only loads the unshifted keys of an RMDU file.

Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2025 8:22 am
by The Robman
If you create an RMDU file that includes shifted keys, when you load that RMDU file using RMIR, the RMDU file tells RMIR to load the keymoves in addition to the upgrade itself. There's no way to load an RMDU file when you are "away from your computer".

I assume what you're really asking is, you want to be able to load an RMDU file into your RMIR profile on your computer, but not assign it to a device button, the idea being that you could assign it to a device button using the remote when "away from your computer". Hopefully, what I have already described will show why, when you do that, you will just be loading the upgrade and not the associated keymoves.

It is not possible to create an extender that would be able to reach back to your computer and get the RMDU file in order to load the keymoves with the upgrade. Generally speaking, when people write extenders, they assume that you will be using RMIR to program your remote, they are not written with the idea of giving the user additional abilities in manual programming. In fact, they often remove manual abilities.

Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2025 2:15 pm
by SysTech_Larry
Thanks. Good to know.

What are you trying to accomplish?

Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2025 11:48 am
by jeajea
What are you trying to accomplish?
The clean solution is to use (at least) one remote in each room/location.

Second alternative: if you have a device with few keys such as a HDMI
switch don?t assign it to a device and manually assign key moves to
other device(s) to access its functions.

Third alternative: get a remote that supports more devices.
URC 3660 (actually supports 8 devices) available at Walmart

URC 3680 8 device available at Best Buy

The OARUSB04G if you can find one supports 12 devices when using the extender.

Forth alternative: remove the shifted functions from the upgrade and use RMIR to
manually define them as key moves.

The documentation for each extender should probably have a warning in the
multiplexer section about shifted keys / key moves.

Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2025 2:37 pm
by The Robman
Jim, I think he was under the impression that, when he assigned functions to shifted buttons in his RMDU file, they really became part of the upgrade, so he was surprised that they didn't get loaded when he programmed that upgrade to a device button manually. I think that shows how good of a job we did in making it so seamless in RMIR.

As to WHY he wants to program upgrades manually, which is more to what you're asking, I have no idea.

Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2025 1:21 am
by SysTech_Larry
As to WHY he wants to program upgrades manually, which is more to what you're asking, I have no idea.
One of my input pins on my URC-3660 broke. It is optimized for my current devices, but can only be programmed manually, now (including the two extra devices).

And I only have access to the unshifted keys in my other stored upgrades.

Because of that, I am making sure to keep a copy of each device with no shifted keys on my undamaged remotes, going forward.
...I think he was under the impression that, when he assigned functions to shifted buttons in his RMDU file, they really became part of the upgrade, so he was surprised that they didn't get loaded when he programmed that upgrade to a device button manually. I think that shows how good of a job we did in making it so seamless in RMIR.
Are the functions that have not been assigned to unshifted keys physically stored in the remote, or not?

Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2025 8:11 am
by The Robman
SysTech_Larry wrote:Are the functions that have not been assigned to unshifted keys physically stored in the remote, or not?
Short answer: no, not in the way that you think.

Long answer: each remote defines what buttons are part of each device mode, that's backed into the remote and it's not something we can change. So, let's say you chose TV mode on a 15-1994 remote, there is a finite set of buttons that can be included in the upgrade. For example, the transport buttons (PLAY, PAUSE, etc) are not included. But, RM will let you program functions to those buttons anyway. Why does it let you? Because it has the ability to program those buttons using keymoves. If you load that RMDU file into RMIR and assign it to a device button, it will load the keymoves for you. Evidently, it does it seamlessly enough that you don't even realize that it's doing it. It's the same for shifted functions, which are typically not on the upgrade button list either.

So, bottom line, when you load an upgrade into your remote's memory, it will only include the official buttons, it won't include the keymoves.

Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2025 10:20 am
by SysTech_Larry
Not to be contentious, how am I able to see the "unofficial" functions when I download the remote, then?

Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2025 11:31 am
by The Robman
Sorry Larry, I can't tell what it is that you're not understanding, and I'm running out of different ways to explain it all. Perhaps someone else can take a crack at it now.

shifted keys

Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2025 2:44 pm
by jeajea
Load your current RMIR file for the 3660 into RMIR.
On the general tab select one of your devices that has
functions assigned to shifted keys and select edit.
Select the output tab.
If you scroll the device upgrade box you will see the
upgrade followed by keymoves for each function assigned
to a shifted key. The upgrade portion contains the
assignments for the unshifted keys

When you upload the file to the remote RMIR sets both the
upgrade and the keymoves for each device. When you manually
change one of the setup codes in the remote, you point the
selected device to a different upgrade but do not change
the keymoves.


When you download from the remote it downloads the upgrades,
key moves and any macros. If you edit one of the devices
you will see the function names have been changed to match the
key names and all comments have been removed.

I still don't know why you need to manually change the setup codes.

Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2025 6:45 pm
by SysTech_Larry
jeajea wrote:When you download from the remote it downloads the upgrades,
key moves and any macros. If you edit one of the devices
you will see the function names have been changed to match the
key names and all comments have been removed.
I see that, now. I thought that I saw more, yesterday.
jeajea wrote:I still don't know why you need to manually change the setup codes.
As I stated in a previous post, to extend the life of a damaged remote.