All of this thread after this paragraph happened before I realized that the satellite remote was set to RF. Big time-wasting sigh. I find it instructive that anyone can look in the wrong place. I'm a "newbie" in that I haven't done any URCs for a couple of years, and never an MX-800. The rest of this is unedited.


I'm upgrading a client's MX-800 and can't get it to learn. Or I have some other problem that stands in the way. It could be all ignorance.

1.Does the MX700 tutorial apply to the MX800?

2.The cable: I have a cable that works to upload from the remote, and I just downloaded the same program to the remote. I also did the same thing with a cable that came with a recent MX-850. I'm guessing these cable works. They're both labeled...not at all; have a gold-flashed mini plug and a ferrite core near the mini end.

3.I get "no response" when learning according to the MX-700 instructions. I've learned thousands of Pronto commands so I have at least a clue. The batteries in the 800 and the satellite remote are new. I even have the damn laptop plugged in.

4.The firmware apparently updated when I downloaded to it, but it still does not learn.


Any clues, guys?

Weird indeed. So, you are able to upload and download to the remote via the mx editor software? You have the proper cable, the cable that comes with the mx850 is the same and works for the 800. Are you trying to learn standalone or via the PC or both?

One "feature" of the 800/850 is they will frequently fail if you unplug them from the programming cable and then replug and attempt to do something new. I'd unplug, turn off laptop, replug and then reboot. Then: I'd start with a factory init via press and hold MAIN and STOP for a good 10 seconds and then select ALL. Make sure you have a backup copy on the laptop obviously. Now try to learn. You can also try learning manually via MAIN and ENT.

Yes.

Seemed so.

Via PC. I have only the instructions from the MX700 tutorial and whatever seems to make sense to me from the computer toolbar. How do you learn standalone?

Suddenly nothing is weirder than that. Now THERE's a candidate! I messed with the cables and definitely fall under that category.

Hmm. Reboot with remote connected. Interesting.

I'm about to download the program back into it...before I did that, I held MAIN and ENT and nothing happened. You mean ENT down by the digits, not cursor enter, right?

THANKS as I'm on the job!

Ernie check your email I sent you a file.

Yes MAIN and ENT down on the bottom right to do manual learn.

MAIN and STOP for init.

And yes reboot while plugged in. But shut down while unplugged.


HOLD for a LONG TIME...takes a bit.

Let me interrupt this enjoyable dialogue with the following:

One should always be sure one's sat remote is not in RF mode, shouldn't one?

LOL uh yeah didn't want to insult you.

It's no insult when it's true! And yup, that was it. So much for rushing again.

ahhh....working on saturdays....the good life!

This Happend to me 2 weeks ago when i was about 100 miles away on a MX950program. Took me 15min of hair pulling out. thinking to my self "I've used these codes before and they worked???"

Why cant the Sat Receivers Accept RF and IR at the same time? Would that be to easy?

There used to be a trick on the OLD Sony DirecTV receivers you could do to enable both IR and RF at the same time. But then they fixed it on subsequent models, and then they got out of the market. I don't understand why some manufacturer hasn't added this option - even if it defaults to off.