I have had my remote for nearly a month and now I wish I could get a few discret codes for turning on and off my Sony TV, getting the TV to VCR input for VCR playback, turn on and off (using discrete codes) the Panasonic VCR and DVD. Some of the hardware and software being discussed here seems like an overkill for something I want to do once and then (hopefully) forget about it. What is the simplest and most economic way of doing this? I think there a small market for a service providers who has the hardware, software and a data base of discrete codes willing to charge a few bucks for 10 minutes of work.

You can buy a URC-8811 for $25. I doubt you could pay someone to do it for less than that.

This is exactly the reason we package the MX-500, URC-8811 and JP1 Cable into the MX-500PKG. It allows you the ability to use any of the discrete codes out there wiht your MX-500.

Fletch is correct. You would probably pay that much for programming. Since you already have the MX-500, just get an 8811 or the Radio Shack equivalent. You may be able to get the discrete commands you need with advanced codes alone. If not, you can always either make your own JP1 cable, or buy one for $18.

Mike
www.SurfRemoteControl.com

I was able to find discrete power codes for all my devices just using advanced codes and a OFA Cinema 7+.
Once you find the code, you just learn it to the MX-500.
You send an "advanced" code from a OFA remote by pressing setup momentarily (don't hold it down) followed by a 3 digit number on the number pad.
As I understand it, the 3 digit number changes the last byte (or bytes) of the IR command.
I just started at 000 and counted up until I found a number that turned on the unit and didn't turn it off. Then I did the same for the off code.

I found a OFA Cinema 7 at Wal-mart for $7 and using this approach I was able to enter all the needed descrete codes (except for my Toshiba DVD which is a complete TOAD and does not have any descrete codes).

My toshiba DVD will turn on with the push of just about any button. Have you tried programming in the play button for power on? Then you can use the power button for power off.