I have bought a muti-zone. multi-format DVD plater in Taiwan. The brand is SOTECH.
Now, when I try to learn the IR codes, my RC5000 gives me the beep and OK signal that it succeeded in learning the code, but then nothing happens when I try to send the code from the RC5000. What am I doing wrong? (I have done the learn numerous times with other brands/uits with no problems)

Since you've done numerous learns before, I assume you know that the RC5000's learning eye is on the REAR of the remote, and not the front. Short of that, all I can recommend is that you try some of the learning techniques listed here: [Link: remotecentral.com], in the tips and tricks section. Of particular note is making sure fresh batteries (or full charge) are in both remotes.

Post the pronto hex for a few of the signals you learned that don't work.

If there is something wrong with the Pronto Hex, we can probably generate clean copies.

In any case we would know whether the problem occurs in learning the signals or in transmitting them.

The most recent thread of "seems to learn OK, but nothing happens when sending" turned out to be that the learns were fine but the Pronto was set to use only RF for that device.

But there are quite a lot of these "seems to learn OK, but nothing happens when sending" threads and they have a variety of different answers. Looking at the Pronto hex that was learned is the best way to start focusing on what sort of answer fits.

Thanks. I admit I don't know what a hex is, but I'm very interested to find out.

When you have learned a signal, then loaded the Remote's contents back to ProntoEdit on your PC:

Go to button Properties for a button that has a learned signal.
It should display a blue bar looking like [C]Learned
Double click that, opening the Add_IR dialog.
Click the View IR button.

Select and copy (^C) the whole string of hex numbers that appears. If there is a scroll bar active, make sure you select the whole thing, not just what is initially visible.

Paste that into a reply here.

I hope it isn't too different in your version of ProntoEdit from the version I based the above instructions on.

I'm not even sure which version of ProntoEdit to try for an RC5000. I tried two versions, neither of which offer that choice.
So I don't know what RF options there are for the RC5000. If there are any, go to the RF tab of the device properties dialog and make sure "IR enabled" is selected.

OK, here we go:
Previous Chapter Button
0000 0067 000b 0015 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 01fb 0060 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 01fb
Next Chapter Button
0000 0067 0005 0015 000c 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0213 0060 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0213

I didn't know Sony products were sold under other brand names.

Most consumer electronics companies sell under multiple brands and/or rebrand products made by other companies. The IR signals are normally those of the company who designed the product, not those of the company that branded it. But Sony has a unique system of IR signals. The Sony brand and Sony's IR signals are almost always together.

Those aren't very good learns of the signals, but I doubt they are bad enough to entirely fail to work. So I suspect there is some other problem.

But the bad learns might be the problem and anyway once other problems are solved you're better off with good learns.

Almost all Sony DVD players use the same set of IR signals. I expect the Sony DVD code set in the Database will work much better than learned signals. If not, then download and import from some CCF file for a Sony DVD. Almost all such files have much higher quality learned signals than you got.

*** Did you check that RF thing I mentioned before ?

If you decide you want to try to get better learns of these signals, don't worry about the batteries (Jim made a good guess, but that's not an issue this time). The problem is one of two things. I can't tell which one from these samples, but can rule out everything else:

1) You pressed the button on the Sony remote too fast after telling the Pronto to start learning. It takes long enough (a fraction of a second I think) from the time you tell a Pronto to learn till it really starts learning, that it is possible to press the button on the other remote too soon.

2) You aimed after pressing the button on the Sony remote. Both remotes should be stationary as you press the button. The should be aimed before that. I suggest having both on a table.

This message was edited by johnsfine on 07/19/05 18:21 ET.

RF can't be the problem John. That capability didn't show up until the RC5200/9200 or the TSU3000/6000. Oops, not quite true, the Onkyo Chad (2000 clone) had RF.

I'm having trouble guessing why those bad learns didn't work (now that Jim corrected me about RF but didn't give a new theory why the signals wouldn't work). I understand IR signals very well. I don't understand Prontos well (especially the variations by model).

phatstadt, when you tested those signals was each the only action on a button or were they used in a sequence? Bad learns like those might fail to work when used in a sequence; But they shouldn't be bad enough to fail as the only action on a key.

It's EXACTLY as you described it in Touch Screen Setup.

It's probably a company that supplies parts or even complete players to Sony and makes a few of their "own" (likely unauthorized) on the side.

To be clear, my player's brand, for what it's worth is SOTECH, not SONY. A friend of mine brought it back from Taiwan and I need its multi-region capability. I do use the Touch Screen Edit utility, so the steps to get the HEX were exactly as you described. I pressed on;y one button during the learn, with new batteries, but the quality of the remote is so poor that some buttons get stuck once you press them. Are you saying that the codes are SONY compatible codes? I have a SONY DVP-S7000 player, I could try its code, or better, I will try you suggestion of a clean ccf and report later. Thanks for your help.

I also did check the RF thing you mention, to no avail. The on;y advanced featurte has to do with R5 versus R6 types, which I don't understand.

The ones you posted are.


I haven't checked to see whether that model uses standard Sony DVD player codes. But that is very likely.

Do you have those two DVDs in the same room? If so I think you would have already noticed both remotes control both DVDs.

Since you have that Sony, are you sure you got the two signals you posted from the SOTECH's section in touch screen setup, not from the Sony's? I based everything I said about your SOTECH device being Sony on the two signals you posted.


As Jim explained above, I was completely wrong about that RF idea. That doesn't apply to your model (RC5000).

Well, I actually have 2 other Sony DVD players. As US model (NTSC) and a UK model (PAL). I live in the UK. You are correct that the Sony remote controls both Sony units, but it does nothing to the SOTECH. Oh well, I'm going to have to give up after all, although I should probably try the database Sony file.