How to play with my new toys

[jeptha]

Okay, I've got my 8811, my JP1 cable, IR.exe, RM.exe, and my (impressive) MX-500. Since I haven't seen it actually written out, is this basically the correct procedure?
1. Find the files for my equipment in the yahoo files.
1a. Or teach the 8811 my old remotes.
2. Edit that to my liking in RM, add any discreets I might find/want, and copy the info for IR.
3. DL my 8811 into IR, and drop the info from RM into it
4. Upload it back to the 8811, and test it.
5. Design the layout I want it to have in the MX-500, then teach it.
6. If it works the way I like, DL the 8811 back into IR and save it.
7. Send it to you guys for the files section.
..and then there should finally be a copy of that Circuit City esdvd system in the files. ;)
Does the MX-500 have enough room for me to teach it +/-150 buttons and then macros and favorite channels?

[johnsfine]

Okay, I've got my 8811, my JP1 cable, IR.exe, RM.exe, and my (impressive) MX-500.

Many of us would prefer using an 8811 to an MX-500 even if the MX-500 didn't cost more. So we can explain the process of teaching an MX-500 via an 8811, but that doesn't mean we recommend it (vs. getting and using only an 8811 and skipping the MX-500).

1a. Or teach the 8811 my old remotes.

Why?

In almost all cases, the original remote can teach the MX-500 as well as the 8811 can teach the MX-500. So for all the functions that are in the original remote, you don't need the 8811 for teaching the MX-500.

For functions missing from the original remote, that you find online (in JP1 upgrades or advanced codes lists or in Pronto threads or files at RC) using the 8811 is the easiest way to get the functions into the MX-500.

For functions that you don't find in any of those places, you MIGHT want to do a test of all possible command numbers using your 8811 (find and read warnings elsewhere about sending commands of unknown meaning to your device). If you happen to find a new and useful command you can then program it into your MX-500.

If you have very little OFA or JP1 information about your device, then learning a signal from the original remote AND decoding it via IR.EXE is a step required before you can start constructing the set of all possible commands to test.

But I think you meant something else in your step 1a, in which case your step 1a is wrong.

Does the MX-500 have enough room for me to teach it +/-150 buttons and then macros and favorite channels?

I haven't heard of people complaining about its learning capacity (as they certainly do complain about the 8811's learning capacity). I think I would have seen complaints if the MX-500's capacity were as low as 150 buttons, since it is much more limited than the 8811 in methods other than learning for including commands .

[jeptha]

Thanks for the quick reply. I agree! Both the 8811 and the MX500 are great remotes. But these are my first super-dooper remotes, and they are basically toys (translation: a convenience, not a need).
I suppose 1a. wasn't worded quite right. What I'm hoping to end with is the MX 500 being able to make my HT system walk across the room and bring me a cookie. :) I'll be searching for those nifty discrete codes as well as the RM & KM files. I'm not nearly adventurous enough to try to test the unknown codes on my own system, but if I find something useful...
And of course, it'll be fun to add things I've done to the files list.