I have seen this question asked before and answered with a resounding NO. The computer port uses a different kind of standard, I believe called IdDA, which is designed for very short-range two-way communication of lots of data. Remotes are little bits of data at a time intended to go quite a distance. Something about the usage, or perhaps just the way the system started out, makes it incompatible with remote control codes.
I would go to ebay and keep searching for a 5000i. I was in your boat once, with no remote, when I had to eat a refurbished Pronto TS1000. It was the best $200 I was ever forced into spending, because I have created at least a hundred different working component ccfs with it, and these can be used with any level of Pronto or Pronto-derived remote since all the programs can import TS1000 ccfs.
If you are looking for a learning tool, I would recommend you go to a TS1000; I saw a post yesterday listing a site where rebuilts could be bought for about $150 (if I remember correctly). I only recommend it over the Marantz because there are sometimes problems using panels built in the Marantz software on Prontos, but you can always use a Pronto panel in the Marantz software.
The BIG advantage the Marantzes had over the older Prontos was the BACK command, and I think all the new Prontos have that. That doesn't matter for the purposes you are describing anyway.
A search of ebay shows that TS1000s have gone for $65 - $110 recently, and at least three are up for sale now, one with a "Buy it now" of $110.00.
On 09/10/04 07:00 ET, AVIntegration said...
shhh, you can always be more discrete ;)
Actually, you can only be discrete once. That's what it means, after all.