Code for Philips HDRW720

[southend]

1. Device: HDRW720/17
2. Type of device: Hard Disk & DVD Recorder
3. Year: 2004
4. JP1/UEI Remote model: URC 6131n
5. Do you have a JP1 cable? No
6. Still have original remote? No
7. Checked the file section? No
8. Checked Pronto file section (at R/C)? No
9. Partially working setup code? No
10. Learning remote question? n/a

I have a Philips HDRW720 without a remote. I bought a OFA remote to use, but none of the Philips codes work.

I found the following posts already made about this device, but I'm unsure what I need to do to get it working for my remote.

http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4749
http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4494

In these posts they suggest using VCR/1340, DVD/0646 or DVD/1818 and state that it's RC6 protocol, device 50.

However, when I try to enter these codes into my remote, they are not accepted (with the exception of DVD/0646 which doesn't work).

Are these codes specific to the model of the OFA remote, or does it mean that the code is not defined for mine?

On reading the manual it says to call their helpline and that it may require an upgrade. Since it's Saturday they are not taking calls.

Will they be able to talk me through a procedure over the phone or would that involve sending the remote to them to fix?

Any suggestions would be welcome and I appreciate your help in advance.

[johnsfine]

DVD/0646 and DVD/1340 are RC6 protocol, device 48.

If I understood those other threads correctly, they say that OFA customer support included DVD/0646 and DVD/1340 in the set of upgrades they suggested trying for the HDRW720, but they were not actually the correct ones to use.

DVD/1818 seems to be the correct setup code (it is RC6 protocol, device 50). It is not built-into the 6131. The 6131 is not upgradeable over the phone. So you would need to phone for instructions on where to mail the remote for them to add DVD/1818.

[southend]

Thanks for clarifying that and for answering my questions. I'm going to call OFA support tomorrow to see if they can upgrade my remote for me.

BTW, I had a totally different experience with the Philips universal remote I got. I called customer support to get the code for my Philips device and they said that if I had already tried all the codes then the remote isn't compatible (not very universal after all).

I then asked them to recommend another Philips universal remote that would work and was told that can't do that since they don't have a list of compatible devices for their remotes (even for their own equipment) and then suggested that I contact the manufacturer for an orginal remote.

[The Robman]

Thanks for clarifying that and for answering my questions. I'm going to call OFA support tomorrow to see if they can upgrade my remote for me.

Be aware that you won't get your exact remote back as they will replace it with an upgradeable remote. Hopefully you will get another URC-6131n back, but if they've run out of upgradeable 6131ns they might replace it with a similar model, like the URC-6820 or URC-8820.

BTW, I had a totally different experience with the Philips universal remote I got. I called customer support to get the code for my Philips device and they said that if I had already tried all the codes then the remote isn't compatible (not very universal after all).

That's actually how most cheap universal remotes are (ie, RCA, Zenith, Philips, etc), you just get the codes that are built into the remote. OFA is an unusual brand in that you can do so much with their remotes.

I then asked them to recommend another Philips universal remote that would work and was told that can't do that since they don't have a list of compatible devices for their remotes (even for their own equipment) and then suggested that I contact the manufacturer for an orginal remote.

The "Philips" brand can be misleading, the Philips company that makes DVD players, etc isn't the same company that makes the cheap Philips/Magnavox universal remotes.