Hi all, first time poster. I've read thread after thread, numerous reviews, faqs, etc, and have quite a few questions and concerns that haven't been covered.

I'm in Vancouver BC, and choice around here is *terrible*. Most stores have the same cheap $10 models, all non-learning etc. Most mail order places refuse to ship to Canada (*DUMB* but that's a rant for another thread), Radio Shack Canada is a different entity than RS US, so many of the products available to you aren't available up here, and they can't get them in. So buying a remote means driving across the border and trying to find a store that carries them, or paying through the nose for shipping etc. Which is why I want to do this right the first time.

I'm looking for a simple (read cheap) remote to replace the six separates I currently have. From all my reading, it appears the One for All URC-8811, Radio Shack RS-2116 and possibly the RS-2104 are the most appropriate. This is my first remote purchase, I've never used any previous models, or held any of these to know which ones I prefer the feel of etc. The 2104 is available locally, for $60 Canadian, which seems a touch expensive.

First of all, my gear:
TV: Sony KV-32V36
Receiver: Yamaha RX-V620
DVD: Toshiba SD-1750
VCR: Panasonic PV-V4521-K
CD: Sony CDP-C365
Cable: Motorola DCT-2000

Of course my first concern is compatibility. Anybody with any of the above equipment I would appreciate hearing your experiences with any of the remotes I listed.

I've read several folks saying the lcd screen isn't that important, they don't care for it, etc. Just what exactly is displayed on the screen and when? Modes, channel numbers, errors?

My needs are fairly simple I think. Most of the system is the cable box, on screen guide, etc. Guide uses info, menu, exit, as well as page up and page down buttons that seem to be hard to find on remotes. A favourite button steps through each of the channels that I have marked in the box as a favourite, currently about 50 or 60 channels. :-)

The video and sound are routed through the receiver, so second most used is the receiver remote. So I need to be able to choose a video and audio source with the remote. On my current remote, this is done by choosing Input, then 1 for CD, 2 for Tuner, 4 for DVD etc. This can be done again to switch audio sources. So for example, I can Input 4 to switch to DVD, then Input 2 to listen to the radio instead of the movie. I guess this is where audio punch through is needed, volume in various modes should all change the receiver volume, not the tv etc.

For the DVD, commonly used buttons are the subtitle, audio, angle, display, menu, zoom, as well as FF, RW, chapter forward and back.

With the TV, the primary button used is the closed captioning that rotates between four choices (Toad I think?). Otherwise, it is rarely used except when watching the VCR. I have to switch video input source from the normal Video 1 to Video 3, since the vcr doesn't have s-video. This is done with the tv/video button which also has four settings. Occasionally, I'll use the PIP with this remote.

So, that's what I want to do. I gather I need to get into some fancy stuff to make all this happen, rather than simple code learning or key swapping. I'm a bit confused over the difference between extenders and JP1. 8811 has an extender, but 2116 doesn't? Both have a JP1 connector though, so is the lack of an extender a problem?

Any advice or comments would be appreciated, as well as places here or near Bellingham WA that would stock these, or companies that would ship to Canada via USPS.

- Steve

I don't know the exact exchange rate, but that does sound quite high.


It might be worth your effort to search the archives of Pronto CCF files and JP1 upgrades for exact matches on those devices. If you gave URLs for what you found, someone could tell you what level of support you could get from built in setup codes in the three different models you're considering. (If you get a JP1 cable, you don't need to worry about the built in support).


It shows the "device mode" (which device key you last pressed) and the setup code assigned to that device key, and I think it shows the time. During programming the remote, it shows some rather cryptic prompts that seem (by the questions that get posted) to generate more confusion than the blind programming (9XX commands) in the non LCD models.


The default behavior of the fav key in UEI remotes is quite stupid. I don't know in those three models whether you can make the fav key just send the signal to trigger the box's fav feature, rather than have the fav key do the stupid operation built into the remote. With the extender, you can get that right. I think without the extender you probably would need to select some other key to send the fav command.


A command like that won't be built in. You can learn that to some key (provided you don't need to learn so many signals that you run out of learning memory). If you know the EFC and the setup code handles EFCs then you can program it more effitiently.


JP1 lets you create new setup codes if you have a device for which there is no built in setup code or the built in setup code has the wrong functions. On the 2116 JP1 lets you put macros on device keys. JP1 lets you program EFCs (once you know them) effitiently even for setup codes that normally don't permit EFCs. It also lets you examine learned signals to discover the EFCs.

The extender (8811 or 2104) lets you suppress the stupid built in functions of the Fav key or SLEEP key or any other key with restricted built in behavior so you can use those keys however you like. Without an extender such keys are nornmally wasted. It lets you have faster macros and put them on any key. There are many other ways it lets you customize the remote more than you could with just JP1.

Steve,

John provided many answers but I can give you some advice on the specific equipment.

I don't have any of the models listed but I have decoded a lot of Proto files helping others out and most of your equipment is mainstream so that makes it easier.


I took a look and I believe that all of your equipment will work on built in setup codes. Yamaha publishes their IR commands and your model is listed and Audio_0176 is the proper setup code and will have the common commands built in. You will have discrete power commands available EFC's 248 and 246 On and Off respectiverly. It also has discrete input commands.

I think all North American Sony TV's respond to TV_0000. The closed captioning Toggle(there are no discretes for this) can be done with a key-move it is EFC 174. Unless your Sony TV is an older model, most Sony's respond to discrete power and input commands.

The cable STB will use Cable_0476 and it does have page up and down commands. The command set is known so any missing commands can be done with key moves.

All Toshiba DVD's use the same command set DVD/VCR_0503. The VCR and CD are also common equipment and will undoubtedly use the standard setup codes


The favorites are stored in the cable box, you will just need to key move EFC 079 to the button that you chose for your favorites button (subject to a few limitations than John has mentioned)


Yes but you will be able to do this with one button push rather than two.


Yes and if it doesn't work the way you want you can add the receiver volume controls with a key move to any other device.


I believe that most of these are built in and the rest are known.


Yes see comments above.


If the TV responds to discrete video inputs then you can create a macro to switch audio and video inputs for your various modes. You can assign a macro to a shifted key. Shift-TV can set TV and audio inputs, Shift-VCR can set it for the different video and audio, etc.


John Fine wrote many of the extenders so his advice is certainly from *the* expert. With the extenders, you can just about do anything with these remotes.

My guess in looking at your equipment is that you can get a long way with built in commands and key moves. I also suspect that someone, if not John himself, will write an extender for the 2116 since it is relatively new.

I don't have a 2116 but I do have a 2104 and 8811 and between those, I would strongly recommend the 8811.

Under any circumstances, I highly recommend the JP1 cable since you can save your configuration and set up the macros usin your PC with the freeware program IR that has a very nice GUI.

-Jon

Steve,
I have a new URC-8811 (still in the un-opened box) that I can sell you if you need it, it's $25 US plus whatever the US Mail charges for shipping to Canada. I also have several other used remotes that I am going to get around to selling sooner or later that might interest you.

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

Thanks guys. I think that pretty much confirms the 8811 for me. I think I understand the extender stuff a bit better now.

For searching in Washington State, do stores like Good Guys and Circuit City tend to stock these remotes?

Actually, it shows the device mode for the signal that is being sent. When you use macros, keymoves from a different device, or volume punch-through it isn't (necessarily) the current device.

Don

I don't know because I live on the East Coast. I don't believe that CC caries the 8811's

BTW, Rob Crowe (Robman) is the founder of the JP1 group and creator of www.hifi-remote.com . In addition to being an extremely dedicated leader he is absolutely reliable.

I have also bought a couple of 8811's from him. So by all means check around, but I suspect that Rob will be your best choice.

-Jon

A few Walmart stores have the Walmart version of the 8811 (IIRC that is the 8810). There is ZERO functional difference between the Walmart version and the non Walmart version, so if you find one it is probably a good buy. I have no idea whether Bellingham WA even has a Walmart.

You didn't mention your level of skill at soldering. If you're real good at soldering and know where to buy or salvage an eeprom chip you might consider modifying a 6012. It is a smaller non learning version of the 8811 (fewer buttons, which may be annoying, but more convenient overall size, so some people prefer it). It runs the same extender as the 8811. I think the Canada version of the 6012 is the 6017, but I have no idea where it's sold. Most US Walmart stores have the 6012 (but remember you need to solder on an eeprom, a connector and a jumper to make it into a JP1 capable remote).

I've done some checking, and there is a Walmart, Circuit City, and Good Guys in Bellingham.

My skill at soldering is absolutely zero. I know you have a heated thingy, and hold a bit of metal up against the items you're soldering, and kind of melt them together. :-) While I had considered learning for this, I figured I'd probably end up buying a pre-built jp1 cable.

- Steve

Why don't you just order an 8811 and JP1 cable from BlueDo.com? They'll ship it marked as a gift, so customs won't be a problem. Seems too easy to me.

I considered BlueDo, but the fact they use UPS scared me off. I've had nothing but troubles with UPS.

I've ordered dozens of items from the US over the past few years, and I've found that marking "gift" is usually more trouble than not.

Canada Customs doesn't just look at the sticker and go "it's a gift, pass it on through". They carefully open them, and examine them even more closely, since they know so many folks try and avoid paying taxes this way.

When they see it's a packaged item and obviously not a gift, they then charge taxes based on what they think the value of the item is. This can be huge, compared to your actual purchase price. I've bought second hand software for $2.50 that has been assessed at a new price of $100.

You then have to enter into this complicated rigamarole of applying for a tax refund, by sending receipts etc, and often waiting for 3 months or so before you get your money back.

- Steve

>>I considered BlueDo, but the fact they use UPS scared me off. I've had nothing but troubles with UPS.

I hear you, I have had a few surprises with brokerage fees myself in the past. I'm probably on some wanted dead or alive poster at L________ for refusing to pay anything other than the GST portions or previous unwanted dealings with them.

What I did was have relatives ship a 15-2116 up as a gift (it was actually). I also bought an ultra cable from Tom Arnold at jp1.filebug.com and it was shipped as a gift via USPS. No surprises at all, although it took a while and you know which side of the border was most likely to be guilty on that count... L
I wouldn't be surprised if BlueDo has a ton of flexibility on how they ship. These cable makers are not exactly mass merchandisers.