Since this is mostly a Pronto forum, I may re-post this in the Sony remote forum in hope of getting replies I can use...

Two days ago, I ordered a Sony RM-AV3000 to consolidate 5 remote controls in the living room. Waiting for the delivery, I began began experimenting for work-around macros to solve the lack of "discrete codes" for some of my equipment.

Good news and bad news...
I discovered key sequences that should work for discrete ON and OFF macros for some Dish receivers. This works great on my PVR501 downstairs (software version P166) *BUT* it doesn't work on the 501 upstairs (software version P167, which began spooling via satellite to deployed 501s recently.)

Major bummer - I expect the downstairs 501 to stop working with this macro as soon as it gets re-flashed to version 167 software.

Since these macros depend on the SYS INFO display mode, it should still work with receivers that have a hard SYS INFO button on the factory remote. (The PVR501 only has a SYS INFO button on the console, but my Dish 6000 also has a protected SYS INFO button on its remote.) I believe I checked the 6000 and it worked using the remote's SYS INFO button, but my 6000 unit was "in a death spiral" and stopped working later that evening. I'm awating a replacement from Dish.

Here are the key sequences that worked...

Dish PV501 TURN OFF: Press INFO then POWER...
If 501 was On, it displays Info for the current show, then 501 turns Off when POWER is pressed.
If 501 was already Off, it displays "System Info" (same as SYS INFO hard button on 501 console), then turns Off when POWER is pressed.

DISH PV501 TURN ON: Press INFO then press POWER twice. Brief delays probably required. Turns Off unit as above, then turns On.

I contacted Dish requesting that they restore this functionality in the next software release (they are frequent). This is not inconsistent with the operation of their units that have hard SYS INFO nbuttons on the remote.

Anyway, try it with your other Dish receivers, and it may work.

It's also possible that a 501 would respond to a SYS INFO button press from another model Dish remote with the correct device address bits.

I'm also wondering if there's a macro for Dish 6000 SD-HD mode switching. The remote can only "toggle" this mode, so it seems unlikely that there's a work-around...

Gary

Better yet, push DISH to produce discrete on and off codes for their receivers. I have the 721 and would like them also

Since Dish Network remote controls have a single POWER toggle button instead of separate ON and OFF buttons, it seems unlikely they would consider discrete codes. Without a physically different remote control, how would customers produce new codes? Also their network design permits software updates for the Dish receivers but not the remotes.

On the other hand...
It would be a simple matter for Dish to provide added key sequences that use existing buttons to supplement (not replace) the indeterminate results of the present POWER and SD-HD toggles. Very frustrating.

Once you have the discrete codes, you can load them into some inexpensive Cinema 7 and Radio Shack remotes. This works best using the JP1 computer interface cable. Once you have them in these remotes, you can "learn" them to other good remotes if you wish (ie MX500). Most remotes that come with your components do not have discrete on/off buttons either but many discrete codes are available for them and they can be uploaded to the remotes mentioned above. I have, for the most part, simply left my Dish receiver on. There does not seem to be any indication that the hard drive will fail sooner if unit is left on. I do use discrete codes for my TV, receiver, DVD and VCR though.

I also contacted Dish at the Tech email address asking them to restore the SysInfo function on the v167 508's. Hopefully, if enough of us do that they will consider it.

I have tried the "discrete" on/off sequences with my Dish PVR 721 and after a couple uses, it seems to cause the 721 to reboot. Not a good thing.

Well, crap. You're right. P167 broke the discrete on/off workaround (using sys info). *sigh*

What other model dish remote has a sys info button?

BTW, I wanted to mention Jon Rhees and give him kudos as well. He found this workaround back in January and I had been using it since April-ish.

[Link: remotecentral.com]

I'm pissed Dish broke this.

Someone ever at DBSForums posted this:

I emailed E* through their website and this is their reply:

Thank you for your email correspondence. You can now just push the system info button on the remote to bring up the info promptly. We also modified this feature because it was working with the receiver powered off. The button will still work with the receiver powered on. We felt there was no need for the button to function with the receiver powered off. If you have any additional questions please reply to this email.

Sincerely,

Jon B.
Technical Support
Dish Network

This doesn't directly have anything to do with discrete codes but I decided to measure my RCA DirecTV receiver's current flow between On and Off. I have often heard speculation about how much power it consumes. I thought it would be useful to quantify the economic value of a discrete power command.

Both On and Off fluctuated between 100 and 103 mA RMS on a digital multimeter. That means these devices consume approximately 12 watts (117 V*.103) on or off. Since many of the DSS receiver functions go on in the background, this is not an unreasonable result.

So for me (12 watts*24 hours*365 days*.0377)/1000=$3.96 per year (24x7x365) my electricity rate being $.0377/KWHr. This of course is On or Off.

So I think the little LED for power on a DSS receiver is a giant practical joke by the DSS receiver manufacturers ;)

Anyone else get materially different results? Remember I am only talking economics.

-Jon

I believe Dish recommends the 501 be turned off every so often so it can receive updates. Otherwise, I would just leave mine on all the time...

Interesting reply from Dish...
First of all, there's no "system info" button on the PV501 remote. (There is on other models, like the 6000). Funny they would consider it "in need of repair" since it worked with power off. The units with SYS INFO buttons on the remote work identically, that is, with the power off, too!

Clearly a case where a well intentioned "improvement" has resulted in impairment for the subscribers.

BTW my Dish 6000 still works with this power on/off trick, at least until they "improve" its software too...

Discrete codes found for PVR501:

[Link: remotecentral.com]