Your Universal Remote Control Center
RemoteCentral.com
Philips Pronto Classic Forum - View Post
Previous section Next section Up level
Up level
The following page was printed from RemoteCentral.com:

Login:
Pass:
 
 

Topic:
Cure an ongoing RC5200 problem with an RC9200?
This thread has 8 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Thursday January 26, 2012 at 11:59
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
Joined:
Posts:
December 2001
30,104
First, the one review I find here is a customer review saying that the software for the RC9200 won't work with XP. If this is true, the discussion is over. Please let me know how things stand.

I'm looking into this because I've had a pesky problem with an RC5200 problem for several years! A client has a system with both a roll-out and rotate TV and a roll-down screen and projector, and someone else programmed the remote for us, learning codes for it. To make things worse, the programmer was turkish and use some turkish words to label things. The system includes normal components, but also a Xantech CC-62.

Every two to eight months something happens that makes the RC5200 revert to the factory program. I have substituted about a dozen different components over the years, as many as three at a time, telling the client to try to notice what he is doing when the damn thing resets, and his reporting skills are nonexistent.

The codes for the CC62 looked suspiciously long, so I went through the IR accessory programs and generated perfect codes. After doing that, I got the longest time -- eight months -- without a reset.

So... since I've asked people here and still have no solution, it suddenly occurred to me that if there is some pesky hidden problem with the program, maybe converting it to an NG program will reveal the problem or cure it. Thus the RC9200.

I know an RC5400 might work, and I'm looking into that, too, but I'm wondering about the RC9200.

Many thanks in advance.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 2 made on Thursday January 26, 2012 at 19:03
Lyndel McGee
RC Moderator
Joined:
Posts:
August 2001
12,992
Ernie,

You may want to try this if you have not done so already.

There was a bug at one point that caused simulator to crap out if an IR code does not have a textual name such as Learned, that may be causing your reset. For sure this occurred in ProntoEdit and is also likely in TouchScreenSetup.

Use CCFTools to decompile your config to a CSF file. Then use text editor to go searching for the problem.

And, finally, does the remote use Timers? I can't recall if Marantz allowed them. Also, Marantz, IIRC, did not allow beep actions. Maybe you have these setup on the remote and they are causing issues?

Lyndel
Lyndel McGee
Philips Pronto Addict/Beta Tester
OP | Post 3 made on Saturday January 28, 2012 at 13:18
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
Joined:
Posts:
December 2001
30,104
On January 26, 2012 at 19:03, Lyndel McGee said...
Ernie,

You may want to try this if you have not done so already.

There was a bug at one point that caused simulator to crap out if an IR code does not have a textual name such as Learned, that may be causing your reset. For sure this occurred in ProntoEdit and is also likely in TouchScreenSetup.

Simulator is not crapping out. The entire remote is going back to the factory default setting.

Use CCFTools to decompile your config to a CSF file. Then use text editor to go searching for the problem.

I think all the codes have names, but I will do this.

And, finally, does the remote use Timers? I can't recall if Marantz allowed them. Also, Marantz, IIRC, did not allow beep actions. Maybe you have these setup on the remote and they are causing issues?

Hmmm. Timer, no, if you mean causing an action at a time on a 24 hour clock. Timing, yes, if you mean waiting 15 seconds in a macro for the screen to go up before bringing the TV shelf out.

Thanks!
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 4 made on Saturday January 28, 2012 at 19:55
Daniel Tonks
Wrangler of Remotes
Joined:
Posts:
October 1998
28,779
Wiping out the file like that seems a bit extreme for a problem with the actual file. Crashing, locking up, sure, but erasing itself...

I'm wondering if he's dropping the remote or something... Prontos are well-known to not like that very much. It's also possible there's just something slightly off about the remote - ie. a cold solder joint, or some aging component, that makes it occasionally generate an error that ends up corrupting a few bits, enough that it decides to failsafe itself with the backup file.

You need to create a teeny tiny version of your configuration and load it into the backup space, so when it reverts he can still control the system.
OP | Post 5 made on Tuesday January 31, 2012 at 02:19
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
Joined:
Posts:
December 2001
30,104
The guy has an A/V system with choice of projector plus screen, or TV that comes out and rotates. I can't imagine how to make a teeny version of that. The file is 218 kB.

Everyone seems to miss the fact that this is not one remote. It's happened with at least six. One of the times that I decided to go look for an answer, which I never found, I gave him three remotes, each programmed the same, and told him to keep them charged and let me know if they crapped out, then start using another one. He used all three and eventually I replaced those three with another after generating perfect codes for a Xantech CC62; those codes looked too long and thus suspect to me.

And those three remotes were after I had given, loaned, exchanged, or whatever, at least three other remotes. This is NOT a problem with A REMOTE.

And I just realized that I was totally wrong thinking I could make this any different with an RC9200. I'm embarrassed to say that I did not remember that the 9200 was not an NG remote. I had hoped that converting the file into NG would either cure or decisively break the file. To that end I have an RC5400 that I just got working, thank you, Lyndel. I'm delivering it with an imported version of the file tomorrow. I'll let you know. If this never comes up again, it's fixed. Otherwise it could take six months.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
OP | Post 6 made on Tuesday January 31, 2012 at 02:52
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
Joined:
Posts:
December 2001
30,104
On January 26, 2012 at 19:03, Lyndel McGee said...

Use CCFTools to decompile your config to a CSF file. Then use text editor to go searching for the problem.

Just did this. It's damn hard to see what's what, but I'm searching the text for the word "name." Will this do?

I take it that the name "Learned" is okay, right?

I've seen a couple of buttons that show as

BUTTON name="PAGE\xA7" plus its position etc
BUTTON name="CH\xA7" plus its position etc

while most buttons do not have the \A7 or anything else following the text.

Last edited by Ernie Gilman on January 31, 2012 03:02.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 7 made on Tuesday January 31, 2012 at 21:33
Lyndel McGee
RC Moderator
Joined:
Posts:
August 2001
12,992
The buttons are fine.

Search for the following string from R in RawCode and include the 2 double quotes.


RawCode(""


I suggest that use a tool like notepad++ that will allow you display all matches in a file such that you can scan quickly.
Lyndel McGee
Philips Pronto Addict/Beta Tester
OP | Post 8 made on Tuesday January 31, 2012 at 23:52
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
Joined:
Posts:
December 2001
30,104
I've never heard of notepad++, but I will look for it.

Thanks.

Can you think of any hints that you will give me after I find the next problem? :-}
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
OP | Post 9 made on Wednesday February 1, 2012 at 03:15
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
Joined:
Posts:
December 2001
30,104
On January 31, 2012 at 21:33, Lyndel McGee said...
Search for the following string from R in RawCode and include the 2 double quotes.

RawCode(""

I suggest that use a tool like notepad++ that will allow you display all matches in a file such that you can scan quickly.

Thanks. I got notepad++, created a new csf file, and searched (Ctrl+F) for RawCode(""

There were no occurrences of that string.

What do you mean by "from R in RawCode" ?? Is it simply to include every character that you typed on that line? That's what I did.

Edit: I searched for
RawCode("
got hundreds of instances, and of course looked at all of them because this ofen reveals patterns. Most of them had
Learned"
after them; a few that I added when trying to clean this up had command names instead of
Learned"

I did find these, and I wonder if the 5200 can understand these codes. They look like codes that I did not see until the NGs appeared:
RawCode("Learned","900a 006d 0000 0001 857a e41b");
RawCode("Learned","900a 006d 0000 0001 857a e51a");
RawCode("Learned","0000 006b 0001 0002 0016 0e8e 0154 0055 0016 0e8e");
RawCode("Learned","0000 006b 0000 0002 0154 0056 0016 0e8e")
RawCode("Learned","0000 006b 0000 0002 0154 0056 0016 0e8e");
RawCode("Learned","0000 006b 0000 0002 0154 0056 0016 0e8e"
RawCode("Learned","0000 0069 0000 0001 0009 06df")

There are a few more commands like this. Let's say these are a problem. They are named by their line numbers. How the heck do I find them in the ccf?

Further edit: I delivered an RC5400 to the client an hour or so ago, telling him that I hope the RC5400 reacts nicely to whatever the problem is, or just completely breaks.

Here's a new thought: the best his son gets from him is that he had the remote in bed with him and just rolled over on it. Is it possible to drain the batteries to the point where the program will not be remembered? Wouldn't it be a hoot if that was the problem?

Last edited by Ernie Gilman on February 1, 2012 23:57.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw


Jump to


Protected Feature Before you can reply to a message...
You must first register for a Remote Central user account - it's fast and free! Or, if you already have an account, please login now.

Please read the following: Unsolicited commercial advertisements are absolutely not permitted on this forum. Other private buy & sell messages should be posted to our Marketplace. For information on how to advertise your service or product click here. Remote Central reserves the right to remove or modify any post that is deemed inappropriate.

Hosting Services by ipHouse