Radio Shack 6 in 1 Smart Remote Programming Instructions

Model #15-1994

Archived from http://www.mandala.com/15-1994.html

After looking at advanced universal remotes, and reading a great deal about them on http://www.remotecentral.com/, I found many reverences to this remote and decided to buy several for myself and family members. These instructions are condensed from over 60 pages of discussion group comments and messages from current users. I found it very time consuming to read through these messages and felt I could use this to show others how to quickly grasp this device's capabilities.

This remote has many features that make it much more powerful than a typical universal remote you might have seen or used in the past. The main feature of this "smart" remote is the capability to create one button "macros" that enable a typical action such as "watch TV" or "play DVD", etc. These capabilities makes this inexpensive remote control actually rival much more expensive touch screen style remotes that cost many hundreds of dollars. Many people actually prefer this remote due to its small size, tactile feel of real buttons and suede style finish.

This remote can "learn" commands from your other remotes, if for any reason the commands are not available in the basic set preprogrammed in the library. This remote can also control X-10 type power controls in your home to dim lamps and control other appliances. This remote is actually very similar in features to other remotes released as Cinima 7 and previous Radio Shack models.

These instructions are intended as a supplement to the instructions provided with this remote, and do not entirely duplicate info found there. Note also, the previous RS model 15-1918 may have better instructions for some features than come with this model:

http://support.tandy.com/support_video/36485.htm

Macro Keys

This romote as 4 special function keys labeled 1s, 2s, 3s and 4s. These keys are used in conjunction with a
"P" or Program Key that also creates a "shift" or alternate set of 4 more special functions, totalling 8 special function keys total. Just press the "P" key, then 1-4s key, and you have 4 more macros available in addition to the original 4 provided. In addition to these 4 special function keys, it is also possible to assign a macro function to other buttons on the remote. However, not all buttons will work as macro trigger keys.

One example of another key that can be used for a macro key is the Power button on this remote. I programmed my power button to turn on and off all components of my home theater. Press it again, all components are turned off. All components must start as either off or on. The power function of most components on the market is a toggle, and therefore, they must start as on or off as a set.

Usually, this remote is used like any other universal style remote. Push the VCR button, then the key pad is now activated with the VCR commands, push the cable button, and now the keys will control the cable box. The important detail to remember where the special keys are concerned is that these macros are available regardless of what "mode" the remote is in; whether it be controlling the cable box, or VCR, or receiver at any given moment.

So the most common way to use the special keys is to program one for television viewing, one for VCR viewing, one for DVD viewing, etc. It is important to tell people using this remote that a macro will take a few seconds to execute and unlike a typical remote control, it’s important to continuously point the remote toward your componets until the macro has finished executing. Note, there is a limit of 15 key strokes within a macro. You may find by rewriting and making a macro more efficient, it can be performed even though the first try might have failed.

Macros are programmed by holding down the "P" key until the red LED blinks twice. Then the code 995 is entered, and the LED flashes twice. Now press the key you wish to assign a macro to, usually one of the special keys (1-4s). The typical sequence for mapping the power button to turn on and off all your componets would thus be: (* indicates 1 LED flash, ** indicates 2 LED flashes)

P ** 995 ** PWR * TV * PWR * Aux1 * PWR * CBL * PWR * P **

The first button pressed after the 995 will be assigned the macro, in this case, PWR.

I also have the following macros set up:

1s – Watch TV (P ** 995 ** VCR * STOP * Aux1 * 7 * CBL * Move * P **) Note: This macro sets the cable box as the component selected when the macro is finished. The "CBL * Move *" part of this macro is a dummy command that insures this component will actually be selected when the macro finishes, even though it performs no actual function in itself; it’s a dummy command mearly to select CBL as now active.

2s – Watch VCR

3s – Watch DVD

4s – Set receiver to digital sound input

Learn Mode

This remote is "smart" in the respect that it can learn key codes from your original remote controls. This function is described in the manual; but note that a finite amount of memory is available to learn commands from other remotes and this feature should be used only if other options are not effective. Also note that any unused key for a given device key set can be assigned a learned command this way. This is often more desirable than using a special key (1-4s) because they can be dedicated to macros that are always available no matter what device is currently selected. In fact, the extra unused keys for any device (they don't light when pressed) can be used for any similar device, even if it's a 7th, or 8th component, such as a second VCR, satelight receiver, etc.

The basic command is 975, and the sequence is as follows:

Press the P key until it blinks twice. Enter 975, the remote blinks twice. Press the device key, VCR, TV, etc. Select the unused key to for the command to be assigned. The LED blinks constantly. Put the remote head to head with the remote to learn from. Press the button to be learned on the original remote. Press the P key untill it blinks twice. Test the key just programmed while pointing the remote.

Shorthand:

P ** 975 ** Device Key New Key (blinks) Point and press original remote button. P **

Reprogram Function Key

One of the features of this remote is that each of the component buttons is set to a particular component type. In my case, I have a DVD player, but not a CD player as part of my home theater. Therefore, it was necessary for me to turn the CD select button into a "VCR type" button. DVD players are considered a VCR by this remote. Note also, the Aux1 key comes set to the reciever type; this key will be programmed with the correct code to control your receiver or amplifier. The amplifier inputs are controled by the number keys, 2 for DVD, 3 for VCR, 7 for TV, etc.

To reprogram the CD function key to a VCR function key, use the following command:

P ** 992 ** VCR CD **

It is now possible to enter a DVD 4 digit control code (mine was 0503) and assign it to the CD key.

Advanced Codes

Once you have programmed the basic codes on this remote for all your components, you may notice some functions that are not represented on the keys that you would like to add somewhere in a macro or as a special key. There are several options for this situation, the most interesting being Advanced Codes. These codes are available by pressing the P key, then entering a 3 digit code, while the remote is in the correct mode for a given device. On my GI cable box, the guide functions for Page Up and Page Down (digital cable) are 432 and 684, respectively. These codes were found by visiting the following web site:

http://www.oneforall.com/extfun.html

http://www.starbase314.com

These codes can be assigned as part of a macro, used alone to test them, or entered as a special key as follows:

P ** 995 ** [1s] * P* 4*3*2* P **

Usually, you would assign an advanced code to an unused special key (1-4s), or shifted special key (P1-4s). It is also possible to assign to most other keys, not just a special key, but I found sequences like below could cause problems, since 995 command assignments are recognized across device modes:

P ** 995 ** CBL * FF * P* 4*3*2* P **

Master Programming Codes

This remote has several codes used to tell the remote to assign a function to a key sequence. (See included instructions.) The codes are as follows:

990 – Code verify

991 - Code search

992 – Reprogram function keys

993 – Punch Thru

994 – Remap keys

995 – Macro / Special Keys

996 – Channel scan

975 – Learn from original remote

976 – Clear smart key

Don’t let so many codes intimidate or confuse you, there are not really that many, but you will notice that the 995 code is not listed in the actual instructions that come with the remote. See the remote's manual for basic descriptions of how to use these codes.

Punch Thru Volume

It is only possible to use the "punch-thru" feature to control volume from the TV control. Punch thru does not work for most users that have a receiver they use to control volume while watching VCR or DVD. Use instead, the remap keys feature to set the volume controls on the remote to the receiver volume while in VCR and DVD modes:

VCR * P ** 994 ** Aux1 * Vol UP * VolUP ** (repeat this sequence for Vol DOWN, and Mute keys, and again for any other devices that need this feature, such as DVD, VCR2, etc.)