I've only just picked up the 15-2104 so haven't had much time to play with it, but my initial impressions are not great.

1. The POWER button.
They have added a new feature here where if you press and hold the POWER button, it will invoke your power macro. According to the manual, you just press the device buttons that you want turned on or off. Even if you try programming a normal macro to this button, it will still send the power command for whatever device mode you are in.

You can't program the POWER button using learning or advanced codes.


2. Macros
They have slaughtered the macro feature. Rather than letting you put macros on almost all of the buttons as with the 15-1994, you can only program macros on the four "genre" keys! Furthermore, the "genre" keys cannot be programmed with key mover.

3. Button Layout.
Even though the 15-1994 had alot of buttons, the remote didn't seem over crowded because alot of though went into the design of those buttons. The arrow buttons were shaped like a wheel, and the volume & channel buttons were "see-saw" rocker type buttons.

For the 15-2104 they have replaced all of these with regular style buttons, the net result being that when you look at the remote, it's not immediately obvious which buttons are arrows, volume, channel +/-, etc.

For the first time in history, Radio Shack has included a dedicated "DVD" button on their remotes, but alas, they still couldn't bring themselves to include a dedicated "Receiver" button, so we are given another "AUX" button. Maybe next time...

Plus, the 15-2104 is really just a 6 device remote, whereas even though the 15-1994 was marketed as a 6 device remote, the "Plug & Power" button made it a 7 device remote, and in the JP1 world we are not limited to just putting CD/Home Auto codes on it.

4. Learning.
Learning is still possible on most of the buttons, although the manual still maintains that you can only use the smart keys for this. The memory limit is the same as it was for the 15-1994.

5. Volume Punch Thru (VPT).
This is called 'volume lock' now. When you set the VPT now, it still just sets the volume for the three video device modes (TV, VCR and CBL), but they have added a feature which lets you reset any device so that the volume buttons in this mode will not punch thru. However, as best as I can tell, the only device that you can set the VPT too, is still just the TV, which sucks.

6. Key mover.
The key mover feature is still supported (ie, you can use advanced codes).

7. JP1.
It does have a JP1 connector. It's quite possible that once I've had some time to play with the remote, we will be able to overcome most of these restrictions. Here's some of the features that I'm hopeful to be able to add via JP1:

• VPT - set to any device
• MACROS - 15 steps and programmable to any button

More to come....

Rob.
http://www.hifi-remote.com

This message was edited by The Robman on 01/18/02 14:27.14.

Rob,

I too am very dissapointed in the fact that you can only assign macros to the "genre" keys because I like the intended feature of those keys, and have already set them up with 3 fav.'s each. As for the volume, couldn't you place the volume on any device in the "theater" mode? I set it to be on my reciever, which is what I wanted anyways, and it works out just fine. Another thing I tried to do was place a "theater" key stroke at the end of my power macro so that I'm in "theater" mode as soon as I power up. No dice(but I might have done it wrong, I'll try again later). I think in all I was expecting a little more, but for $39, I still think it's a great deal. And with a little time I'm sure you and the other pro's will iron out the few wrinkles, and enlighten the rest of us. ;-)

The good DR

I still can't find the 2104 around Dallas, but as far as which keys can be used for learning, the 2103 manual states "Do not use the following keys for learning: device keys, P, SLEEP, SCAN, LIGHT, MUSIC, MOVIES, SPORTS, NEWS, or RECORD." (But who knows how similar these two remotes really are).

Don

Another thing that I forgot to mention is the damn SETUP (green P) button, they have set it really low, the idea being that you won't hit it by accident, but they have set it too low to be able to press it with your fingers, so you'll have to use a pencil or something to press it.

Early reports from the JP1 front indicate that you can program 15 step macros to almost any button, as long as you program them using IR.exe

Rob.

IMO, this is bad news!

I was hoping that the 2104 would be essentially a slightly different looking 1994. I didn't like the button names that were used on the 1994 (which is why one of the reasons I use a C7 in my bedroom system.) So, even though I liked the button names better on the 2104, I agree that the button shapes of the 1994 are far superior to what is now on the 2104.

Who decides what features are on these products? Only 4 macro button??? 5 step macros?? Unbelievable!!!!

I guess I won't be buying one. Too bad...

Personally, I think it's a plot. The designing company of the 1994 is pi**ed because it is outselling their own products, especially since rc.com and the RobMan started educating people about its power. So they insisted on different contract agreement with Tandy (or whoever now owns the Shack) which called for dumbing down the 2104 to the point that it cannot compete.

Update from the field....

I did some experimenting with the Volume Punch Thru last night and it does not work as described in the manual (big surprise, right?).

The manual claims that the VPT wil control the volume buttons in ALL modes, but in fact it just controls the volume in the four video modes (ie, TV, VCR, CBL and DVD), not the two audio modes (ie, CD and AUX).

The manual claims that you can only set the VPT device to TV, but you can in fact set it to any of the four video device modes, but again, NOT the two audio modes. So, you can program the remote so that your DVD player controls the volume, but not your stereo receiver. (Anyone wanna meet the rocket scientists that came up with that one?)

The biggest bummer though, is that it doesn't appear that you can override these limitations using JP1, which you can do somewhat with the 15-1994.

Rob.

"The biggest bummer though, is that it doesn't appear that you can override these limitations using JP1..."

You meant to say "yet", didn't you. I have hopes that the JP1 group will get this one figured out - and a whole lot faster than the 15-1994 was done.

Your description of Volume Lock sounds much like how it's implemented on the Philips/Magnavox REM400 (also a UEIC remote). That manual, I believe, also gives instructions that say will extend volume lock to the audio modes. It didn't work for me, but the key sequences may carry over. Heres the REM400 .pdf :
[Link: gemini-usa.com]

In the 15-1994, even though you can ony set the VPT device to TV mode using the remote, you can set it to any device by writing directly to the EEPROM. I tried doing this with the 15-2104 and it didn't work, so the only way we are going to be able to override the VPT is by using special protocols or with something like Nicola's Extender. Furthermore, we don't have the depth of knowledge of how the 15-2104 works, compared to the 15-1994, so it won't be easy.

Rob.

I just got a 15-2103 for $20 and I thought it was a great deal until I ran into some problems. First problem, I can't seem to re-program the power button. I have tried assinging an advanced code, learning, and copying from another button and none of it works. As noted in a previous post the manual states the specific keys not to use for learning, but the power button is not one of them. Is there something I am missing?

Maybe someone can give me a idea for a workaround. Here is what I want to do. I leave my satellite receiver on all the time. So I don't want to accidently turn it off with the power button. I want the power button to always work with the TV regardless of which device mode I am in. This works great on my 15-1994. I want the remote to act like a dedicated satellite remote EXCEPT for the power button. I want my wife and kids to be able to pickup the remote press the power button to turn the TV on and use the remote to control my DTC-100 DSS receiver. I don't want them to have to worry about which device mode it is in. And when they are done watching TV they should just be able to press the power button to turn the TV off. Again with worrying about which mode or if someone hit a device key by mistake.

One alternative I had won't work because the device keys are not programmable. What a shame. It would be so nice to hit the TV button and have a macro do everthing necessary to watch TV. The same applies to the other device keys. Is there another relatively low cost remote that allows you to put macros into the device keys? If anyone has any other suggestions on how to make the remote wife/kid friendly I would appreciate it. Thanks

Jay

This message was edited by JayE on 11/03/01 13:35.22.

"It would be so nice to hit the TV button and have a macro do everthing necessary to watch TV. If anyone has any other suggestions on how to make the remote wife/kid friendly I would appreciate it".

Jay, why couldn't you just program the macro into one of the macro buttons.....that's what I've done with the 15-2104 I recently purchased.

My macro turns on my A/V receiver, then my TV, then goes back and puts the A/V receiver in satellite mode.....the remote is now ready to change channels on the satellite receiver and control the volume of my A/V receiver. I also leave my satellite receiver on all the time so when I get done I just hit the macro button again to turn off the TV and A/V receiver.

Assuming you're not using an A/V receiver in this set-up (you didn't mention one), you can create a macro which turns on the TV and then puts the remote in satellite mode.

If you're concerned about accidentally turning off the satellite receiver, I know a workaround that may seem a bit strange but it should work: instead of using the device code for your satellite receiver, why not just learn the necessary buttons for it, channel up/down, menu, guide, etc.......you'll also need to learn your TVs volume buttons in satellite mode.

The only thing your wife and kids will have to remember is where the macro button is......simple enough?

Vin

Thanks for the reply Vin. I know I can use one the macro buttons. I have done that with my Cinema 7 in another room. I actually wrote labels on the macro buttons with a CD marker pen. I was hoping for a more elegant solution. There really is no good way to label the keys on the Radio Shack remote. I think I'm going to return the 15-2104 and see if I can still get another 15-1994. It's too bad these new RS remotes have some quirks. I like the key layout better than 15-1994 (except the recessed "P" button).

Jay

Yeah really, file that in the "braid dead ideas" folder! :)

Rob.

Regarding the VPT, while this won't work for people that need to use lots of space for learned commands, I've found that just learning the volume up, down, and mute commands from the receiver remote into the tv's buttons for those commands works nicely. Because the other devices punch through to the tv, it then causes them to use the learned commands.

Obviously, this isn't a good choice if you need lots of space for learned commands, but so far, using the JP1 stuff, those are the only commands I've needed to learn. I'm in far greater danger personally of running out of space in the advanced codes section than the learned command section of memory.

Personally, I'm pretty happy with the 2104, and using the jp1 to program it sure beats trying to hit that stupid recessed programming key. Now if only I could figure out why my macro for turning things on and setting inputs crashes the remote on the dvd device... (probably just a stupid mistake in setting keys on my part).

That's interesting. This was tried many times using the 15-1994 and other remotes and it never worked, so I'm surprised that it does work on the 15-2104. Good find. Have you also tried doing this with key moves?

Rob.