Remote basics

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There are a few things you should know about how your remote works when you try to set up your program. Some of this can be gleaned from your user manual, and some of it is just learned by observation.

The [Setup] Button

Many of the topics in this help document will talk about the [Setup] button. I've used [Setup] because that was how the button was labeled on my first UEI remote, you'll have to translate that for whatever button is the equivalent on your remote.

Your [Setup] button is the button that you use to start manual 9xx programming when you are initially setting up your remote manually. The labeling of the [Setup] button varies by remote models. It may be labeled [Setup]; [Magic]; [P]; [Set]. If you are not sure check your manual.

I can see why they called it the [Magic] button. It really makes these remotes do magical things.

There were two uses of the setup button that are pretty well covered in your remotes user manual

1. A long press is used to assign your setup codes to the device buttons.
2. A long press is used to issue a *9xx command. *9xx commands vary by remote, but include things like recording and erasing macros, recording and erasing a learn, setting up or erasing a keymove, searching for setup codes, blinking back setup codes.

All of these were accomplished with the long press, holding the button down until the LED flashed twice. But did you know that on many remotes a short press of the [SETUP] button can be used to send extended function codes (EFC), or shifting a button?

Sending an EFC

UEI remotes do a very good job of generic coverage of most brand name equipment. However if you need functionality that is not included in the generic setup, UEI has provided a way to supplement these codes using EFCs. EFCs can be sent directly through the remotes numeric keypad, and they can be pasted (or keymoved) to remote buttons for regular use. A keymove is easy to setup with our software and cables, but it can also be done via a keymove 994 command. See this Manual Programming Quick Reference to see how to setup keymoves without the benefit of a cable.

With newbies, there seems to be a lot of confusion between setup codes and EFCs, especially on the remotes that use 5-digit EFCs and 5-digit Setup codes. A setup code is a reference to the remotes internal library of codes. A booklet or pamphlet came with your remote listing the available setup codes in the remotes library. The EFCs on the other hand are codes that translate to one function within the setup code such as the number 1 or the volume up.

Older JP1 remotes only use 3-digit EFCs. You just press [Setup] followed by xxx where xxx is the EFC. Values range from 000 to 255.Newer remotes use 5-digit EFCs. You press [Setup] followed by xxxxx where xxxxx is the numeric EFC, values can range from 00000-99999.

If an EFC is shown in 3 digits, this can be sent with the newer remote by padding the EFC with "00" so 001 would be 00001. The older remotes can not send the 5-digit EFCs. By using RM and KM, we can try to reverse engineer the 5-digit EFC into a 3-digit EFC.

Shifting Buttons

Have you ever wondered where you could put another macro, or where you could store another learn? You probably have figured out that most keys on your remote will hold learns, keymoves and macros, not just the ones that are labeled as L (learning buttons) or M (macro buttons), but did you know that on many UEI remotes you can store your macros, keymoves and macros on a shifted button.

Every button on your remote has a keycode. If you were to open your remote and look at the printed circuit board, you could read that keycode. When you do a short press of [Setup] prior to pressing a key, the keycode of the button press is altered by setting a bit. That new keycode is for all practical purposes a different button. It can have macros, keymoves and learns associated with it.

If the shifted function is set up to on a numeric button, when you want to use that function, you'll need to press the [Setup] button twice before pressing the number, otherwise your remote thinks you are trying to send an EFC. This may not be true if you are using an extender. Most extenders disable the [Setup]-EFC functionality and only require a single press of the [Setup] key to access shifted number buttons. Also most extenders let you add a third function to buttons called an xShift.

Phantom Buttons

As discussed above, each button has a keycode. When there is a unused keycode in the allowable keycode range and that keycode doesn't have some special use to the remote, it can be used as a phantom key. These unused keycodes or phantom buttons can only be accessed with the JP1 tools.

A phantom key may be used as the bound key in macros, learns and keymoves. These phantom keys can only be accessed in macros and macro-like special protocols, so a physical key is required only to start the process. By using phantom keys in this way, physical keys can be reserved for functions that must be associated directly with physical keypresses.

Phantom Device

Sometimes a remote is setup to handle more devices than there are device buttons. For example the URC-10820, 8820 and 6820 have 10, 8, and 6 device buttons respectively. These remotes all share the same chip. The smaller remotes are missing the physical buttons to select all 10 devices, but the programming still uses the keycode to do the device selection. So the 8820 has 2 phantom devices, the 6820 has 4 phantom devices. With our JP1 tools, we can set up macros to access the missing device buttons (keycodes), and put our remote into another device mode.

Restricted Buttons

Almost all buttons on your remote accept learns, keymoves and macros. There are some exception. These exceptions vary by remote, but in general, device buttons ( [TV], [DVD]. [VCR], [CBL], [SAT], [RCVR], [CD], [PVR], [AUX], [PVR] );[Home Theater]; [Light];[Setup]; [Fav/Scan] and [Sleep] may not accept learning or key moves without an extender. Even though these buttons are restricted, the keycodes associated with the shifted value of these buttons don't have those restrictions. So if your remote supports shifting, you can learn to the shifted key.

LKMS- Hierarchy

UEI remotes can have lots of kinds of operations associated with each keycode. There maybe a function assigned by the setup code, a learn, a keymove or a macro.

Learning

Many JP1 remotes are equipped to learn a signal from another remote. The learned code is bound to a keycode and a device mode. So if you learned a signal to the TV/Mute button, you could learn another signal to the CBL/Mute button. To learn more about Learns see Chapter 2- Learned Signals.

Keymoves

Keymoves are also bound to a keycode and a device mode. Keymoves can be created by copying another button, or they can be setup to send a function based on a numeric code called an extended function code ( EFC). A keymove "remembers" the setup code that was in use at the time they were setup. The setup controls the signals format. Once a keymove is created, if you change your setup codes, the keymove will still reference the setup code that was used to create them. Keymoves can be used to solve a lot of problems. To learn more about keymoves See Chapter 2 - Creating Keymoves .

Macros

A macro a list of buttons that will be processed when the macro button is pressed. A macro doesn't reference the device that was in use when they were setup, it is modeless. A few remotes allow you to include another macro key at the end of the macro sequence, so that you can concatenate macros, but most remotes just allow you a 15 or 20 steps, if no extender is in use. To learn more about macros See Chapter 2 - Creating Macros.

LKMS - Search Order

When you press a button, the remote starts searching for what it needs to do.First it looks to see if you learned anything to that button.

Is there a learned signal associated with this button for this device index?

YES, Execute and EXIT

Is there a keymove associated with this button for this device index?

Yes, Execute and Exit

Is there a macro associated with this button?

Yes Execute and exit

Is the button in the button map for the device type associated with the setup code pointed to by the device index?

Yes, then if the button is assigned, Execute it and Exit, otherwise just Exit

Is the unshifted button for the device type associated with the setup code pointed to by the device type ?. (a.k.a., shift cloak)

Yes, then if the button is assigned, Execute and Exit, otherwise just Exit

Nothing left to try, just EXIT

So if you change the setup code for your new DVD player, and the Play doesn't seem to work it could be several causes. If there was a learn remaining on the DVD/Play key, the setup code would not execute. If there was a keymove remaining on the DVD/Play key, the setup code would execute. If there was a macro on the PLAY key, the setup code would not work......

[RECORD]

UEI has a built in safety function that prevents you from unintended recording, by requiring you to press [Record] twice, to access the function. Sometimes this safety feature isn't implemented on device types. However, most of the time, you'll need to press [Record] twice, even when you are programming a macro.

Punch Through, VPT, Channel Lock, TPT and HT

Universal remotes can handle several pieces of equipment. Certain groups of keys don't make sense on all types of equipment. Punch through allows you to control other equipment with these groups of keys without constantly change device mode. VPT, TPT, Channel Lock and HT are schemes to allow punch through.

VPT - Volume Punch Through

Volume punch through is a feature found on most universal remotes. Volume punch through allows you to set up volume buttons vol+,vol- and mute to work to work equipment that is a assigned to a different device button than the device mode currently selected.

Channel Lock

Channel lock is a feature that allows the channel changing buttons to control always go to the set top box, (STB). Many cable and satellite OEM remotes have this feature.

TPT Transport Punch Through

The transport keys, {play, stop, pause, record, fast forward, reverse} are the keys used to control playback devices like CD players, VCRs and DVDs. Some remotes employ a transport punch through scheme where if the device type of the current setup code doesn't include transport keys, the transport keys will be controlled by the last device that allowed transport keys. Other remotes let you specify which device mode will always control the transport keys.

HT- Home Theater

Many remotes have a [Home Theater] button. The user can then specify which device will control the different key divisions (volume, transport, channel ). Pressing this single button will then set which device modes will cover the various key sets.

Radio Frequency Remotes(RF)

Some UEI remotes are RF/IR remotes. IR remotes need a line of sight, but RF can be transmitted through cabinet doors and walls. UEI RF remotes have a base station. That base station receives the RF signal and translates the signal back into IR. Some OEM remotes use RF instead of infrared signals. The JP1 RF remotes can not be used to replace those OEM RF remotes. The JP1 RF can only communicate with their base station. The JP1 RF remote will NOT communicate with your RF fan, or your RF lights, or your RF DishNetwork box. Universal RF remotes can not be used to replace RF OEM remotes.

The UEI remotes that send RF are becoming difficult to find, but there are IR Repeater systems available that will work with any IR remote, so RF shouldn't be a deal breaker when looking for a remote.

Modem - WAV Upgradeable remotes

Some of the more expensive UEI remotes are WAV upgradeable. These remotes have a modem in them. With JP1 software you can create a WAV sound file that will add upgrades to your remote. Modem upgradeable remotes are really nice if you are managing a remote for a friend. You can just email them a WAV file and they don't need to have an interface.