I've been trying to follow the threads in the JP1 group on just EXACTLY what to do to upgrade my C7 with the ReplayTV codes, and I still haven't found it. I've seen "spreadsheets" with codes and hex dumps with codes... but what I want to do is "upgrade" my C7, not replace its memory with somebody else's C7 memory dump which may have different macros, etc.

Is there a clear, concise set of instructions on EXACTLY what hex data to "overlay" into my own C7's hex dump so I can upload it back without disturbing ANYTHING else on my C7? Thanx in advance!

And here's a similar question. Something I have not seen in the JP1 area is... what controls the mapping of ReplayTV commands to buttons on the C7? Maybe I saw it and didn't know what I was looking at (very likely). I've seen the button code numbers at the hifi-remote site for the C7, but I would think there would need to be a data table of command-to-button mappings IN ADDITION to the protocol code. Where is this table stored? Thanx.

And now that I think about it... :) what ARE the commands on the ReplayTV remote? That is, what command (number) is STOP? PLAY? QUICKSKIP? etc. I don't think I have seen this info at all. Thanx.

First you need to solder a 6-pin connector to your C7. See the thread above that discusses this. Then you need to build one of the interface boxes discussed at the JP1 site. One of the members is working on an FAQ and others are contributing. You can find a first draft by searching the message base for "FAQ." When your box is done, you can use Rob's keymap-master spreadsheet to create an upgrade code and then use a program called IR.exe to load it into your C7. If you dump your C7's memory first, then add the upgrade code and upload the resulting file, it shouldn't disturb anything else in your C7. When you build your upgrade code with the spreadsheet, you can control where the ReplayTV commands are placed on your C7 buttons. Others are much more knowledgeable on these matters than I am, and you should be able to get a lot of advice in the JP1 group.

Let me try to answer your questions:
1. You upgrade your remote by downloading it's current settings to the PC, and modify the memory image by adding new device tables, protocols, and advanced key assignments. After setting up a new image, you upload it back into the remote. Downloaded memory images can be written to a file on your PC, you can upload your own images or anyone else's to see a clone of their remote.
2. The mapping of the buttons is controlled by a device table. A device button (TV/VCR/CBL/etc) is assigned a device number. The processor in the remote searches all of its tables (including the upgraded tables) to find the device type and number that matches the button assignment. When it finds it, the table that was found lists the codes for up to 39 function buttons, in a pre-defined order. The spreadsheets help you put the advanced codes into the correct order, with the necessary overhead the remote will look for. The replayTV device table from UEIC uses double byte advanced codes, Rob (from hifi-remote.com) has modified the UEIC protocol to allow it to use single byte codes like most other devices. This allows you to do key moves and send the advanced codes without putting them on a button.
3. The ReplayTV codes are on Rob's site ( [Link: hifi-remote.com] ). You can also find them by downloading the spreadsheet 'ReplayTV-hacked.zip' from the 'Files - Device Codes - PVR' section of the JP1 group. It has all the function codes listed on the "EFC" sheet. You could move them around to whatever button you'd like, and the necessary device table will be displayed on the "Setup" sheet. You would just copy and paste the two or three lines of hex (you'll also need the protocol entry, another 8 lines of hex code) into the IR.exe program that you use to upload the remote.
4.Stop=243, Play=019, QuickSkip=003. But these will only work with the hacked protocol since the standard protocol is double byte.

Donald, please remember to copy good answers to beginner questions to Chris on the JP1 group. He can add them to the FAQ and the information will be easily accessible to others in the future.

Donald, wow... that's the closest I've ever seen to a "here's EXACTLY what you need to do..." description! I had seen the spreadsheet before, but guess what? I didn't notice the "tabs" at the bottom before! Now I can see how the C7 buttons map to the ReplayTV OBC commands. That was a MAJOR piece of info that I was missing.

Here's a question... with so many formulas on that spreadsheet, is there an "input area" where I can lay down the "names" of the RTV commands I want mapped to each C7 button, and the correct hex code will be filled in on the "Setup" tab automatically? I wasn't sure if the spreadsheet worked like that or not.

I have downloaded all the code, but I have not executed it yet. I get the impression that I will be responsible for hand-editing my C7's memory dump, to feed back into the C7 on upload. Or will I be prompted somewhere for this info? I tried to understand The Upgrades Device Code Section at [Link: hifi-remote.com] but it just wasn't clear enough what the EXACT BYTES I need to store for all the pointers, etc. Perhaps an annotated example of somebody's 0100-03fe section would help.

I think I'm getting pretty close... thanks to all who helped.

>, is there an "input area" where I can lay down the "names" of the RTV commands I want mapped to each C7 button, and the correct hex code will be filled in on the "Setup" tab automatically?

No, on these spreadsheets you have to fill in the Enhanced Function Code for each button. There is an Enhanced Function Code associated with each function of the device. There is a ReplayTV upgrade spreadsheet already available in the JP1 files section, that supports the RS 15-1994 and the Cinema 7 remotes. You could just move values around in the EFC column of the Buttons sheet, to customize the layout to your desire.

Using the IR.exe software available on the JP1 group, you don't have to twiddle the memory dump. You setup your spreadsheet to customize your function-to-button mapping. The front sheet of the spreadsheet then has one or maybe two boxes full (a device code and a protocol code). You start the IR.exe software, do a download from remote, then go to the devices section. Choose Add a new device. Select a device type (such as VCR, TV, or Cable, which must match a setting in the spreadsheet). Cut the device code from the Spreadsheet and paste it into the IR.exe add device dialog. Then, if you need to add a protocol also (ReplayTV needs a new protocol), open the protocols dialog in IR.exe, and choose to add a new protocol. Then cut the protocol code from the spreadsheet and paste it into the IR.exe Add Protocol dialog. The protocol ID used in the IR.exe Add Protocol dialog must match the Protocol information in the spreadsheet front page. Then you upload to your remote.

I have advocated on the JP1 group for the definition of a Device Description File, which would list function-to-EFC mapping for each device. Then a user could use a drop-down-list to choose a device function (such as Instant Replay) to assign to each button on the remote. I haven't succeeded in generating interest for this. I think as the software matures it will become less like hackerware and more like commercial software (with hidden power for the hackers).

Thanks, Glenn... MOST helpful. I have everything but the pins that go inside the C7. My (tiny) Radio Shack doesn't carry the box header... may have to scrounge at the elec. supply warehouse for that. The vision of having ALL the ReplayTV codes mapped to my C7 is driving me onward!

Has anyone tried an alternate connection inside the C7 besides a 3x2 pin header? I wondered if a "surface mount 6-connector phone jack" (like you see inside a modem) could be bent and/or mangled and made to fit inside that hole where the pins are... enlarging the hole if necessary? I've also considered soldering a short 6-wire cable with a 6-connector telephone plug to the 6 holes in the C7 and stuffing the cable/plug into the hole where I could "fish" it out when I needed it? It could plug into a 6-connector phone jack on the JP1 box. Etc. Just curious, as my anxiety to complete this project grows a little every day.

The Radio Shack part is not in any of their stores, it's only orderable over the phone and on the web.

Rob.