Hitachi DV-RV8500E DVD/VCR combi

[Plugs7]

1. Device: HITACHI DV-RV8500E
2. Type of device: DVD Recorder/VCR combi
3. Year: 2006
4. JP1/UEI Remote model: 8040 Kameleon (8060/8206 soon)
5. Do you have a JP1 cable? NO
6. Still have original remote? NO (DV-RM8500)
7. Checked the file section? YES
8. Checked Pronto file section (at R/C)? YES
9. Partially working setup code? YES/No (see below)
10. Learning remote question? N/a


Hi,

I recently purchased a Hitachi DV-RV8500E without remote, foolishly assuming that my collection of universals (various no-name far-easts inc. aunion/omega 8 device LCD touchscreens; old CPC-RC8, Marmitek IR/RF 8, Merlin LCD, Sony RM-LJ304, etc etc) would easily cover it as advised by the seller, but exhaustive 'net hunting, code searches & calls/emails to tech supports have so far gained nothing:nowt:zilch:nada. Not one of the collection will operate even one function using any of the Hitachi DVD or VCR codes I have been aable to trace, nor some random Samsung codes since they appear to share hitachi codes for some of their DVD models. I have also tried a hitachi DV-RMPF3A (from a DVD *player*/VCR combo) with no response whatsoever, & recently acquired a URC-8040 Kameleon, which also fails to achieve anything using any of the available Hitachi DVD/VCR codes (0664,0665,0573,0713,0664 DVD codes tried, VCR codes seem irrelevant - see below) The seller of the combi has tried to help, but it turns out that the universal he had been using to test it out was a Logitech Harmony online programmable, costing more than the 8500 itself, & the only other choices I know will work are original Hitaachi remotes at £90 plus - again, more than the player is worth, & not even universal enough to even think about taking on the rest of my AV/HT setups.

Exhaustive searching has shown that there seems a complete dearth of any DVD/VCR/HDD combi codes available for any reasonably priced current or recent-ish remotes in any format (Pronto, OFA,, even LIRC or the Motorola destiny(?) system), though I have eventually managed to track down a few DVD codes which will work at least a subset of the 8500's functions: these appear to be based on Hitachi DV-P250/415 DVD players, but obviously exclude all the PVR- related functions (record, timer, timeslip, disk/playlist edit, etc). The one small positive factor is that the DVD & VCR functions appear to be integrated within the 8500 - ie, DVD & VCR share the same transport stream codes, so it does not need to be set up as a pair of devices: whichever device has "focus" will respond to the DVD codes I have now programmed into Novii/Omni remote on my Sony clie, which is the one device I have managed to get any response out of the 8500 from. (most DVD functions are A-OK, including pwr, vol, chan, menu directions, setup ("system" menu works as "setup", though "disk" menu won't come up at all).

Think I've waffled enough, so at the risk of putting off the few who bother to take all the above in, I'll conclude with links to the RC Central files which have given me the codes which do work on the Clie, & my humble request: any other manufacturers codes (Hitachi or otherwise) or EFC's which are known to work either the DV-RV8500, DV-P250 or DV-P415, on the 8040, 8060 or 8206 Kameleons, or any other sub-$100 remote which will stand a good chance of having the codes built-in or downloadable.

Thanks for your patience in struggling through this !

Paul Gamester (Plugs7)

RC Central supplementary database for DV-P415:
http://www.remotecentral.com/cgi-bin/co ... hi/dvp415/

James Rinks' Pronto CCF inc. DV-P250 (DVD-2/ "Hitachi DVD")
remotecentral ... james-rink_ccf.zip


PS: Running the DV-P250 code section through IRdecode gives NEC1 protocol @ 38kHz, device code 128, sub device code 35

PPS: Yes, I could "learn" the codes from the clie into the 8040, but that would still leave me without PVR/recording functions, & chew up all available memory to learn even half the functions: all that would really do is enable decoding existing EFC codes, which I already have from the CCF file.

Cheers

[johnsfine]

fails to achieve anything using any of the available Hitachi DVD/VCR codes (0664,0665,0573,0713,0664 DVD codes tried,

the RC Central files which have given me the codes which do work on the Clie,

At first glance, The NEC1:128.35 codes in that CCF appear the same as the ones in setup code DVD/0664.

I wonder whether you made some operator error when you tried to test 0664.

PPS: Yes, I could "learn" the codes from the clie into the 8040, but that would still leave me without PVR/recording functions, & chew up all available memory to learn even half the functions:

Given the EFC numbers, you ought to be able to program any NEC1:128.35 functions you want using KeyMoves from DVD/0664 (KeyMoves use a different section of memory from learning).

Regarding the missing functions, if they are NEC1:128.35, you have an easy way to find them either:

A) Try all 256 EFC numbers in DVD/0664
or (easier I think)
B) Use MakeHex and IrPanels to create a CCF with 256 numbered buttons holding those 256 signals, then import to your Novii/Omni and test.

If the missing functions aren't NEC1:128.35 it may be a bit harder. But there are a few places I might check that might have the answer.

[Plugs7]

At first glance, The NEC1:128.35 codes in that CCF appear the same as the ones in setup code DVD/0664.

I wonder whether you made some operator error when you tried to test 0664.

Ah, there's the rub!

DVD/0664 doesn't appear in either the OFA manual, or website codesearch, for the 8040 - I garnered it after looking up Hi(tachi) DVD codes from various others, probably the 8060/8602, as they are my next most likely choices, & tried it on a "nothing to lose" basis.

After re-entering DVD/0664 into the 6040, a 990 code "blink out" shows it has been rejected, & whichever DVD code was previously assigned is still there

Sorry if that put you off track, but at least your reply got me to look into DVD/0664 more closely: Yes, it does look a good match for the codes in the CCF, & thus encourages me to believe that the 8060/8602 models, which do support DVD/0664, will give me a lot more joy: at least a better place to start from in loading & testing out the full set of NEC1:128:35 EFC's (I'm assuming that as my 8040 seems to have nothing even vaguely in the same family as DVD/0664 (991 codesearch never found any DVD or VCR code which could power or channel change the target) , I'm on a hiding to nothing trying to KM any of the EFC's) I'll carry on testing with Novii while I wait for an 8060/8602 to arrive, so by the time I get one I should have the EFC's all worked out & ready to KM into it.

Given the EFC numbers, you ought to be able to program any NEC1:128.35 functions you want using KeyMoves from DVD/0664 (KeyMoves use a different section of memory from learning).

Regarding the missing functions, if they are NEC1:128.35, you have an easy way to find them either:

A) Try all 256 EFC numbers in DVD/0664
or (easier I think)
B) Use MakeHex and IrPanels to create a CCF with 256 numbered buttons holding those 256 signals, then import to your Novii/Omni and test.

Strangely enough, it was after reading some of your EFC lists & docs that I had come to pretty much the same conclusion (need to try full set of EFC's), but was drowning in such a sea of IR FAQ's & HowTo's, downloaded
coder/decoder/converters, & messy Pronto Hex codes, that I couldn't see which way to go next ! I'm gonna look into some of the excel device lists first, but Makehex looks the way to go, & since I'm more comfortable cutting & pasting Pronto Hex straight into Novii than import/exporting CCF's into Omni, I think I'll skip the IRPanels stage for now & save it for when I eventually get a working set together to upload & do my bit to return something to the community. Thanks to your input (here and previously on the forums & file sections), I think I'm well on the way to cracking it now, & just need to go through the laborious process of "test every code" - not my forte, but time I did some of the work myself, I feel.

Now, if only I could remember where I saw a Palm emulator so I can at least multitask the cut'n'paste between Memopad & Novii, I reckon I could crack this tonight.

Thanks again for your help, & major kudos to you for sharing so consistently.

If the missing functions aren't NEC1:128.35 it may be a bit harder. But there are a few places I might check that might have the answer.

<shivers> don't even *think* about them being from a different codeset, & your offer to check elsewhere is much appreciated, but don't knock yourself out - you've given me a big headstart already, & there's no better way for me to learn than by fighting through the morass: I'll soon let you know if I come unstuck

Cheers

Plugs

[johnsfine]

DVD/0664 doesn't appear in either the OFA manual, or website codesearch, for the 8040 - I garnered it after looking up Hi(tachi) DVD codes from various others, probably the 8060/8602,

I have no info on the built-in setup codes of the 8040. Since you mentioed 0664, I assumed you had it.

The RDF file for the 8040 says that .wav upgrades are supported, so you could use RemoteMaster (or KM) plus Ir.exe to create an upgrade for NEC1:128.35 with whatever functions you like. Generate a .wav file from that, then load it into the 8040 through your PC's speakers.

[The Robman]

Ah, there's the rub!

DVD/0664 doesn't appear in either the OFA manual, or website codesearch, for the 8040 - I garnered it after looking up Hi(tachi) DVD codes from various others, probably the 8060/8602, as they are my next most likely choices, & tried it on a "nothing to lose" basis.

After re-entering DVD/0664 into the 6040, a 990 code "blink out" shows it has been rejected, & whichever DVD code was previously assigned is still there

Treat that as a lesson learned with regards to putting info in your posts. When you say that you tried a code and it doesn't work, most experts will assume that the code is therefore wrong, the implication being that you actually had the code in order to try it in the first place. If you attempt to test a code and discover that it's not in your remote, you haven't actually tested it and can therefore not offer any opinion as to whether the code is correct or not.

[Plugs7]

Mea culpa

..though at the time I didn't realise the 8040 had not "taken" the DVD/0664 code, & it was only after digging deeper after johnsfine had focused my ateention onto DVD/0664 that I did realise the 8040 didn't have that code preprogrammed - but no excuses; grovelling apologies for the misleading info, & it is indeed a lesson well learnt.

On a brighter note, I have finally received a reply from UEI support about my codesearch query to them, & apparently "code DVD/0164 is appropriate for your device".

Of course, the 8040 does not include this code either, but I was fairly impressed that they will still offer a "return & we will reprogram" service for UK £10 even on this basic 1st generation Kameleon. I've now bought a (Wav upgradeable, unlike the 8040) 8060 instead for about the same price anyway, so will just pass the 8040 down to my daughter, but it's nice to know the support is there if you need it.

Anyway, thanks again for all the help & advice, & I'll report back on the final results once the 8060 arrives.

Cheers

Plugs

[johnsfine]

"code DVD/0164 is appropriate for your device".

Your typo? Their typo? Or you think they really mean 0164?

They don't usually have a DVD setup code and a VCR setup code with the same setup code number but different contents. (In many models it would be impossible to have those two together, though I guess they might have two obscure unrelated upgrades with the same setup code number).

According to data I have from Rob, VCR/0164 is a varient of the standard Panasonic VCR code set.

I'm not too clear on how sure you were that your model matches the online data you found that matches DVD/0664.

Anyway, you'll find out when you get the 8060. It has DVD/0664 built-in and could load VCR/0164 (or if it really exists DVD/0164) by .wav file.