Sorry for the total newb question. I surfed the FAQ and search - coming up with info in "disrete codes" - but this is even more basic:

To help my recently widowed mother-in-law operate her system, and eliminate the "coffee table full of remotes", I got her a Phillips Pronto TSU3000. It came with a CD called "ProntoEdit NG" that lets you set it up on a PC and then download to the remote.

When I go to configure the devices (TV, VCR, etc), it asks for brand (as I expected... I had her write down all of the makes and models of her equipment). But then, instead of asking for model number, it asks for "code set" and gives you a dozen or so 4-digit numbers to choose from the pulldown menu.

How do I get from make and model number to "code set"??

Dave

Dave...When you find out, I will be listening in...best luck I have had is to train the 3000 with each individual remote and that is a pain...and not always 100% effective...I too have searched and found no good crosswalk between make/model and the numerical codesets "suggested" for each brand...Not convinced the cost of the ProntoNG TSU3000 has yet been justified...of course, I have had offers from some folks to custom program the relote for $250 per...a bit steep from my perspective...I will keep checking back and will post any solutions I come accross.........Gambo

There is no documentation of what code sets operate what models. You just have to experiment. Also, not every code is available this way.

Your alternatives are to:
- look for PCFs for similar devices in the files section here
- learn the codes (usually the easiest way to go)

I second the learning the codes suggestion. I would not spend a single minute working with the built in database. It makes no sense to if you ask me. Just learn the IR codes for each remote.

-Lowpro

Thanks for the replies. I was starting to get the impression that learning was the way to go and you confirmed it. Frankly, I'm shocked that in this information-rich world that nobody has a website with all gear by model # and corresponding codes. Do I smell a business opportunity? Since this remote is not for me, getting access to all of the remotes it replaces is not trivial. At least she's in the same state. But what if she were across country?? "Trial and error" and "learning" would not be options!

I took a look at the database "codeset" and those look like the UEI (who supplied the database) One-For-All setup codes + 27. For example, OFA's TV/0000 (codeset 0027) is the main setup code for Sony's North American displays ( TV's, Plasma's). OFA's TV/0011 (codeset 0038) is for Sony UK TV's with teletext. This sort of offset (the actual number varies)is pretty common when UEI supplies OEM remotes.

The problem seems to be that they are in numerical order, rather than the most likely codeset being first. In Sony TV that works out, but in Sony VCR the first codeset is for a Zenith VCR that must have been an obscure rebadge by Sony or a mistake.

As most of you already know most IR commands are the same for all units of the same type made by the manufacturer. Many of those alternative codes are for gear that is over 10 years old. The older alternatives are frequently listed first in the pulldown menu, because in OFA remotes the setup codes have remained the same and the older ones tend to have lower numbers.

The reason I mention this is with all the problems of getting PENG to convert other learned commands, these may actually help solve a problem. Someone was recently having problems learning x10 commands and the database has them under Home|x10. There also appear to be discrete commands in that database.

It would be interesting to test these commands where people are encountering problems. I also think it is possible that UEI's database commands may be generated in UEI hardware. If so they tend to be very accurate about reproducing the IR signals.

There is a pretty good collection of OFA setup codes at Rob Crowe's website [Link: hifi-remote.com] and, in a cursory look, seem to be prioritized by likelihood of working at least for the most popular setup codes. Add 27 to them and try the first one listed by manufacturer.

The last question is whether the "test IR" button works reliably in PENG with the cable connected to the PC. IIRC, in the previous ProntoEdit/Pronto's it was not. However, if that did work in PENG it would make the database commands far more useful.

This message was edited by jarmstrong on 08/08/04 13:04.

The earlier versions of the Pronto were easier to teach and program, and $250 is CHEAP to program them. It usually takes $400 - $500 for a program that "does it all," meaning it has full functioning macros, which the Pronto is capable of doing.



Who would pay? How much would this cost to create and maintain? You would have to have access to or buy every product! And then get the guy who thinks that $250 is too much to program this remote to fork over, say, $10 per component. "Just for codes," I can hear him saying right now....


Learning would be an option if she sent the remotes to you. I often wonder how people who read this site offer to remotely program these remotes. I always have to be onsite to tweak the macros, and occasionally a command will not learn well...actually, often with the NGs, occasionally with the OGs (older generation).