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Topic:
URC-8820N code for Seagate FreeAgent Theater HD Media Player
This thread has 11 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Saturday January 2, 2010 at 06:31
bodhi78_rc
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I've been searching for setup code for this media player for a while. AFAIK, Seagate has released this information only to Harmony (this player has been in market for only a year). So currently the only way to program this media player to other universal remote is to teach the signals to the learning remote, and I had no problem using the URC-8820N for that purpose. However, since the OEM remote has no discrete ON/OFF button, and none of the buttons will turn on the player, so it is not possible to program a good macro to turn it on/off.

1. Is there a brute force way using the URC-8820N to search for this?

2. I'm wondering if there is any way to figure out the signals (protocol, device...) and then from there we might figure out what its discrete codes are, if any? I vaguely know that the experts have tools to capture and analyze the signals, but I'm not sure how much efforts involved and whether it is even possible?
Post 2 made on Saturday January 2, 2010 at 12:16
edmund
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Is the power key on the media player mechanical, hard to press? Or electrical, with tap it powers up?
OP | Post 3 made on Saturday January 2, 2010 at 15:14
bodhi78_rc
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Sorry I misread the question! and perhaps I should clarify the post.

The power toggle key on the remote is just like other remote controls. The power toggle button on the media player itself is electrical. None of other buttons on the remote except the power toggle turn on the player.

Last edited by bodhi78_rc on January 2, 2010 15:51.
Post 4 made on Saturday January 2, 2010 at 20:08
3FG
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Regarding 2) If you get a JP1.3 cable ($35 shipped) then you can easily see the protocol/device nimbers, and the command numbers for the learned functions. You may be able to guess the discrete commands, or you can just go brute force and try the 256 possible commands. This assumes that the discretes are on the same device as the learned commands.

Or, without a cable, you can try the various codes typically used by Samsung, and punch a lot of buttons looking for any kind of reaction. If get a reaction, and know the setup code, then you can search the 256 possible commands.
OP | Post 5 made on Sunday January 3, 2010 at 02:16
bodhi78_rc
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3FG,

Thanks for the instruction. Much appreciated. I will give it a try and report back! I am curious why Samsung? is it because they actually build the hardware for Seagate? Seagate has been a storage manufacturer, I believe this is the first time they try to get into this market, and perhaps their initial goal is to help boosting sales for their Free Agent Go disk drives. I found this player is a really nice and convenient device to play video files, musics, and pictures.
Post 6 made on Sunday January 3, 2010 at 02:50
3FG
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Samsung? Well, it starts with an S. Just a mistake. More likely this is something like Funai.
OP | Post 7 made on Sunday January 3, 2010 at 16:52
bodhi78_rc
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3FG, I've tried all the Funai codes listed in the 8820N manual, none of them works with this media player. Any other brands that might work? if not, I guess it's time to get the JP1 cable :-)
Post 8 made on Monday January 4, 2010 at 20:38
mdavej
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I learned a couple of commands for the Seagate from a harmony. They are all NEC1 134.226. I couldn't find such a code in the 8820N.
OP | Post 9 made on Monday January 4, 2010 at 21:36
bodhi78_rc
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Thanks, Dave.

I have just found out that other users have reported using their cable box (Motorola DCT3416 I) remote and FIOS remote and accidentally turned on their Seagate media players! For the cable box it was the OK button, and for FIOS it was either Guide or List button. I hope to get more information later. But I guess you have already figured that out :-)

Thanks for looking into this. Is this code available on a different remote?

Last edited by bodhi78_rc on January 4, 2010 22:25.
Post 10 made on Tuesday January 5, 2010 at 01:08
mdavej
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I believe the motorola 6416 is the FIOS box which is CBL code 0476, if you want to experiment (ok, guide and list are 00078, 00050, 00175). It's puzzling to me how that could work on the seagate since it's a different protocol. The codes I found aren't built-in to any remote, AFAIK.
OP | Post 11 made on Tuesday January 5, 2010 at 04:45
bodhi78_rc
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Dave, thanks for the excellent info!

Indeed, the CBL code 0476 kind of works, but in a strange way! Using this code, and I also tried CBL 1376 since it's on the same Motorola list, both worked the same way: I did not even have to try the 3 codes you gave me, it's on the CBL device after I set either setup code 0476 or 1376, every button turns on the Free Agent player, except the ones that are not active with either code (chapter-/replay, chapter+/advance, sleep, +100, Movie, PIP, Swap). None will turn off, even Power button. And none does what its function mean to do (i.e. acting like a discrete ON only).

Note that there are 2 versions of the FreeAgent Theater player : original FreeAgent Theater, and FreeAgent Theater+. The + version has HDMI, Ethernet streaming, and new HD audio codecs, while the original has only Component and DD 5.1 with no network interface. Both versions should use the same remote signals (I can't test my Theater+ version at the moment since it's at my relatives'), but the FIOS-related info came from a user with the Theater+, so we know they react the same way. I'm wondering whether this player accept muti-protocols? or is it a bug?

Very much appreciated for your help, at least I got discrete ON for now (i.e. happy camper). It's a great tip, since I will able to try other EFCs to see if any of them works :-)
Enough playing, got to get up for work tomorrow!!!

Update1: 
Looks more like a bug than a feature!


Update 2:
Looks like this "feature" is not working consitenly :-) The CBL codes 4076 and 1376 work only when the player has been Power ON, then Power OFF using the power toggle button with the OEM remote. Immediately after that, any button on these 2 codes will act like Discrete ON. If the player has been power OFF for a long time, these buttons can not be used to power ON the player. Like Dave said, it's strange that it works at all, since a different protocol is used in these codes (GI cable), instead of NEC1 as learned by the Harmony.

Last edited by bodhi78_rc on January 6, 2010 03:21.
Post 12 made on Sunday February 13, 2011 at 12:41
BlankMann
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I'm looking for these discrete on/off codes too for the FreeAgent Theater+ so I'm hoping somebody can come up with them.


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