This is all very interesting.

I don'y know if all universal remotes are similar but i dont think so.
Do you guys think that maybe the R/S 4 device and the Cinema 7 are made by the same company?

Which four device RS remote do you mean, the 15-1994 is a 7 device remote. At any rate, you are right, most Radio Shack remotes and One For All remotes are made by a company called Universal Electronics (UEIC). In fact UEIC also makes the new RCA RCU810 remote along with many OEM remotes, including the one that comes with ReplayTV.

Rob.

Looking at the programming box that you guys are talking about, do you think it is possible that the manufacturer of these remotes has a similar thing to upgrade their remotes? From a manufacturing point of view, it would make it easy to upgrade the remotes.

I am not much of a software person but I could make a PCB layout from the schematic (for the programming box) that would make it easier to build those boxes. The only problem would be that it is to expensive for me to fabricate the the actual PCBs.

I can have a layout in a couple of days if someone is interested!

I'd love to have a PCB if it was cheap enough to be worth making.

Rob.

We have discovered that the new RCA RCU810 remote is really a UEIC remote and if you solder on a 6-pin connector you can add new device codes to it just like you can with the 15-1994. The device codes that the RCU810 uses are all UEIC codes plus 17, so for example if you use device code 0200 in your 15-1994 you should use 0217 in the RCU810. The funny thing is, when the RCU810 commits these codes to memory, it saves them in the UEIC format.

Also, if you have picked up one of those "Maestro II - Next Level" remotes that have been floating around eBay, this is also a UEIC remote, and this one already has the 6-pin connector installed!

Rob.

I've laid out a PCB using the software that is free at http://www.expresspcb.com An order of 20 pcb's from them would cost about $200 from them - or about $10 per board. I'll share my design with anyone who wants to go forward with it. My design does need to be critically examined and verified. It could be resized to fit into a Radio Shack project box.
I laid it out as a single sided board, and only needed a single jumper wire. Then I learned there's no cost savings at expresspcb for keeping it single sided. I laid it out with a board-mounted right-angle DB25 connector. The 6-pin is laid out as a 2x5 10-pin jumper with 4 pins unused, allowing use of the serial-port type cables. Component hole sizes should be verified.
Their software doesn't seem to be able to output standard PCB design files (gerber,etc). You release it's proprietary file to them for manufacture. It's pretty nice for being free.

I have used a 15-1994 for quite a while now. When I had to move my parents in with me, I got another 15-1994 and have programmed about 95% of what is needed for a foolproof solution to multiple items. I ran out of memory to make any macros. This solution sounds intriquing and I will go over to the JP1 site and attempt to sign up. I am a real klutz with Electronics, so I will see if I can be successful with this one. Or maybe someone will sell me one????

I will attempt to contribute codes for the Harman Kardon AVR300 and the Echostar/JVC Dishplayer.

Glenn,

Any progress on the preprinted boards? If we buy a board, how much work is left to be done?

HELP!!

I've got 1 15-1994 and I dropped it!
The little transformer broke loose from the PCB and the little (finer than frogs hair) wires all broke! :(

There is NO value listed on the transformer, the PCB just says "T1"

My keypad no longer lights up with that way cool blue anymore and it sux to have to turn on the light everytime I want to do something! Rat Shaft says I'm SOL since it's OOW and they won't help me in anyway other than offering to fix it for the same price I paid for it NEW! Scr*w that!

Can anyone tell me where I can get a new transformer and what to ask for, OR, is there a way to replace it with something different that will do the same job, like a 7809 or something? Since it's broken I can't get any kind of reading from it and have no way of knowing what it was or should be.

Thanks a million!

Please email me if you can help, [email protected]

Randy,
See the JP1 group at
[Link: groups.yahoo.com]
There has been a flurry of activity lately with designs for JP1 interfaces that run off batteries or are powered by the remotes batteries. Given this activity it is difficult to guess how many people are still interested in building the original design.
I have ordered a small batch of boards though, and I have placed the design in the public domain at the JP1 group file section. Any group of people that can come up with $60 can place an order for 12 boards through expressPCB.com. Download the design, go to their website, download the software. Open the design in the software, and use the menus to place a board order.
When my boards get in this week, I'll do a test/debug build of one, then I'll report on JP1 on it's success. Then I'll follow the procedure I outlined there for orders on the 9 boards/kits that I can make available.

Duke,
Your experience has taught me something. I wondered what the transformer in my RCA RCU810 was for. It appears from your experience that it's used to step up the voltage to power the backlight. I had hoped it was a secret modem function (as UEIC holds patents on magnetically-coupled modems for remote controls).

Glenn

Glenn,

I'm on the JP1 board as well. Just thought I'd spread my questions around :)

I'm a dummy - once I get a preprinted board, what needs to be done from that point to complete the construction?

What's the chance that someone with a functional unit put a VOM on the contacts and discover what the input and output voltages are? With that I can find something. I can't just willy-nilly stuff transformers in there until one works because I could fry the whole thing.

Maybe some kind person has a schematic of this remote and they might show the value of the transformer??

Thanks again!!

[email protected]

I just purchased a 15-1994 and I have it running my TV, digital cable box, VCR, DVD player, AM/FM tuner, and cassette deck. My problem is that I can't find a code for my remote-controlled integrated amplifier, the Audio Refinement Complete. I called the RS 800 number and was told that there was no code for my amp. I programmed the amp remote's up and down volume keys, the mute key, and one direction of the input source selector onto the 15-1994's four smart keys, but I would much prefer to control the volume and source selections with the 15-1994's volume button and channel selector. Can this be done? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Link: hifi-remote.com]

Robman,

You may have already seen this article; I ran across it looking for Visual Basic related remote control/ir programing info. Maybe you will find it helpful.

[Link: hometoys.com]