need to spec a DVD/VCR combo unit for cust who wants one button macros. Any experience with which units have discrete codes?

AFAIK there are no combo units with discrete codes. We refuse to install any of the combo units because the lack of discretes, and they are a pain in the ass. You are not doing the client a favor by installing one of these.

We had a client with a Philips combo. Turned out that there were a few discrete codes that could anchor macros.

One was, select DVD before hitting POWER to turn the thing off. Then hit DVD-Play and it will turn on. Then select VCR to watch a tape.

The transport commands were different for the two devices, and would not operate when the other device was selected.

It took about 50% more time to figure out how to make this work than it would have with separate units. By then, they could have afforded separates. Tell your customer that these will save space and otherwise simply cost more in the long run.

Dave,

agree 100% with Gerald and Ernie here...

there is NO advantage to a DVD/VCR combo over a seprate VCR and DVD...Most have copyright protection in place anyway...

anymore, you can sell a $150.00 VCR and a $300.00 DVD, and get ten times the features AND quality of a combo unit...

and remember, regardless of remote, almost NO universal remote, except for a fully programmable one, will be able to control all features of any combo unit...just like your AV Recevier remote can turn the TV on with the VCR power button...etc....

stick with seprates...lots more discretes and lots less headaches.

We have actually refused to sell combo's to ANYONE, unless they are for a guest room where no control or regular use is going to happen.

Avoid combo machines at all cost! They're popular amongst consumers, but are a nightmare for integrators.

Hell, you can grab a $90 sony vcr and a $150 yamaha dvd and have the 10x too. For $240 you can have full dicretes with considerabley less ass ache

Another problem with these things is that all of the ones that I've worked with have shared remote commands for both the DVD and the VCR.

In other words, the play button works for either device depending upon the mode that the machine is switched to.

How do you find out what mode the machine is in? Walk up to it and look for a tiny indicator that says DVD or VCR. Can't figure out why the DVD's not playing? Walk up to it and make sure that the little "DVD" indicator is lit up and not the little "VCR" indicator.

Integration aside, these things are worthless. Besides, of all of my customers, less then 10 percent ever record anything and of that 10 percent, 8 percent of them have DVRs. Where does that leave the lowly VCR? For the occasional playback of Juniors first soccer match, or Grandma's 90th birthday party.

In other words, most people who buy these things think that it's great to be able to have both formats, but wind up using the VCR section once every other year.