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Moving Device Button?
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 4:47 pm
by tbuck410
I am a newbie but I have had pretty good success with IR, RM, protocols for various devices and key moves. I would like to program the device keys on my Atlas 5 to change the input on the TV to the correct input, say DVD, change the remote to that device and then turn the power on.
Thanks in advance,
tbuck

Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 5:59 pm
by The Robman
The only way that you can make the device buttons send a signal is by installing the extender for your remote.
There is one Atlas extender but I'm not familiar enough with the Atlas models to know whether it's for your version of the remote:
http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/dload ... le_id=1433
Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 12:36 pm
by mr_d_p_gumby
The Robman wrote:There is one Atlas extender but I'm not familiar enough with the Atlas models to know whether it's for your version of the remote
This extender is for the Atlas PVR/DVR 5-device with 1K EEPROM, which is the only way they come (as far as I know).
Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 2:04 pm
by The Robman
What I meant was that sometimes the Atlas is just referred to as "Atlas", but sometimes it's called "Atlas 4" or "Atlas 5" and I have never been able to keep track of which is which.
Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 8:07 am
by tbuck410
Thanks for the help. I installed the extender but can't figure out how to put in the special macros into IR needed to control the device buttons.
Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 4:46 pm
by DaleMac
I don't think it's any different setting up a macro when you're using an extender than when you're not.
My DVD button macro works like this.
In the macro tab in IR, click add.
For the Bound Key, select DVD.
Select TV from the available keys and click add.
Select 1 and click add (This turns TV on and selects channel 1)
Select RCVR/AMP and click add
Select Play and click add (Play has my discrete On function assigned to it)
Select Enter and click add (Enter has my DVD input select assigned to it)
Select TV and click add
Select CH- and add twice (for me, this changes the channel to AV2 which is my DVD channel)
Select DVD and click add
Select Play and click add (I use this command as a discrete on function)
All of this turns my TV on, selects channel AV2, sets the receiver to DVD input and turns the DVD on.
It usually takes a while for my TV to warm up, so it may be on the wrong channel when it comes up, so I just press the DVD button again.
Hope this helps.
Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 6:20 pm
by mr_d_p_gumby
DaleMac wrote:I don't think it's any different setting up a macro when you're using an extender than when you're not.
Basically the correct advice, except that most extenders (this one included) pre-define some basic macros on the device buttons (TV, DVD, CBL, AUD, AUX) to make them emulate an unextended remote's device selection. In this case, you'd simply edit the existing macro that's already on the DVD button, adding new commands at the end.
Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 6:48 pm
by tbuck410
Thanks. I got the extender working correctly. Yes, I was expecting the built in device macros and have that working: VPT, TPT, and OPT. Now I am trying to program the device keys to: 1. switch the input on my HDTV, 2. switch the device mode of the remote, 3. turn power on to that device. I have this working except it takes a double push of the device key. First push switches TV input and device, second turns on power of correct device and turns off power to previous device. The power off to previous device was unintended but I like it. I would just prefer to do this, for simplicity for others using remote, with one key punch. Any ideas?
I just want to thank everyone involved in the whole JP1. This is fun and very powerful.
Thanks!
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 4:41 am
by underquark
An inelegant (i.e. possibly wasteful of memory space and maybe a bit too slow) solution would be to simply copy the macro sequence TWICE for the same button press (e.g. X, Y, Z, Z becomes X, Y, Z, Z, X, Y, Z, Z). If this works well then you can always analyse it at a later date to make it more efficient.
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 5:19 am
by Capn Trips
tbuck410 wrote:... I am trying to program the device keys to: 1. switch the input on my HDTV, 2. switch the device mode of the remote, 3. turn power on to that device. I have this working except it takes a double push of the device key. First push switches TV input and device, second turns on power of correct device and turns off power to previous device.
That is rather unusual behavior, I would submit. To have the same button press do such completely different things.
Sometimes this kind of behavior occurs when powering up equipment, and the first set of signals is sent too fast, before the gear is "ready" to receive. The workaround is often to introduce delays through various means (execute other commands in between, use the Pause protocol, etc.) I can't, however, envision how the second iteration of the same macro would power off the previous device if the first iteration of that macro did not.
Or am I misunderstanding and are you using the double keypress special protocol?
I'd be interested in seeing your IR file.
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 9:23 am
by tbuck410
What is the best way to let you see my IR file? I will do it later when I get home.
Also I have spent a lot of time looking for help on these boards with the Atlas 5 and there is not much info on it. Is there another remote that is close, uses the same extender, etc, that i could look at for examples.
Thanks.
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 9:57 am
by Capn Trips
tbuck410 wrote:What is the best way to let you see my IR file?
Look at the top of this page. There is a
File Section llink.
On that page is a
Diagnosis Area link.
At the top of THAT page is an

button.
When you click on THAT, you get a template for uploading a file.
Upload/Save your IR file, and then post a link to it here.
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 10:01 am
by gfb107
tbuck410 wrote:Also I have spent a lot of time looking for help on these boards with the Atlas 5 and there is not much info on it. Is there another remote that is close, uses the same extender, etc, that i could look at for examples.
According to
this thread, the Atlas DVR extender was based on the URC-6131 1K extender. You may find that thread has some useful information.
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 1:57 pm
by mr_d_p_gumby
tbuck410 wrote:Also I have spent a lot of time looking for help on these boards with the Atlas 5 and there is not much info on it. Is there another remote that is close, uses the same extender, etc, that i could look at for examples.
I think another point to note here is that once you've loaded the extender, the remote will behave very much like any other remote with an extender. That's one of the desirable features of an extender; it removes much of the (usually peculiar) personality that UEI decided to give the remote. So, in your search for answers, you can utilize solutions that others have created for other extended remotes.
And, yes, the Atlas 5 is a close cousin to the URC-6131, at least as far as the internals are concerned. It does make a particularly good remote to control PVRs and also those cable boxes that insist on needing A, B & C buttons.
Link to IR
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 4:09 pm
by tbuck410