I am having troubles getting my 2103 to turn off my RCA RP-9953 receiver. I found two device codes that work (1154,1254) from the remote documentation, but neither of these allow me to power off the unit, once on it stays on, unless powered down manually.

Any advice?

Do you still have the original remote, if so, just learn the power function. I don't think you can learn to the POWER button on this remote, so learn to a spare button.

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

The original remote requires two presses of the power key to turn off the receiver. The first press can be blocked and the second press still turns off the receiver. I have tried to learn the second press but it doesn't seem to work. The IR sequence seems longer than usual. I have an MX-500 and it will not learn on this remote either.

RCA tends to use the same command for a given purpose across a wide variety of devices. Unfortunately, I misplaced my list of common RCA commands. I just looked at a few RCA upgrades in the JP1 group and saw the following EFCs.

On/Off toggle = 244
Off discrete = 219
On discrete = 099

099 is predefined as the power key in setup code 1154. You should test those other two EFCs in setup code 1154 (I don't think EFCs will work at all in setup code 1254).

If you don't know about testing EFCs, or how to program them to keys if they work, read this:

RCA often uses a macro for functions like power off. That macro sends the command you want mixed in with a number of other commands. Learning remotes are generally bad at learning such macros.

I hope using the common EFCs (as I described in revious reply) works for you. A more difficult approach is to make the 2103 learn a fragment of the macro by moving or covering/uncovering the original remote quickly during the learning process. It probably would take many tries because usually it won't learn and when it learns it will usually be the wrong fragment. With JP1 that might be a practical approach because you can at least download and see what fragment was learned each time it learns and confirm you're on the right track and maybe extrapolate to the right answer. Without JP1 it probably is far too much effort for only a moderate chance at final success.

I tried the discretes that you mentioned and 244 did nothing but 219 and 099 successfully turned the unit "on" but would not turn it off. I went back to my original remote and found that the second press acts more as a toggle, than an off, but I cannot get any remote to learn this sequence.

I think EFC=227 (rather than EFC 244) is one of the the typical RCA power commands. But the receivers seem to use different power commands from the rest. Perhaps that will do something.

-Jon