Let first start out by saying: "WOW, what great informative forum!" I've learned more about the current state of remote technology than I care to admit to.

A couple of years ago while researching "all-in-one" remotes, I stumble into the "remotecentral" site and quickly found the answer to my rather specific question -- "Is there any off-the-shelf remote which could possible control my new (at the time) Sony STRDA90ESG receiver?" The answer back then was not just "no" but rather "NO! Never."

I checked back periodically and one day read about a new remote capable of transmitting at about the 455 IR range. Just what I was looking for; the RTI T2, unfortunately it came with a rather steep price tag. I thought to myself, self let's wait for the price to come down and then jump in. So I waited and keep lurking at all the RTI T2 glowing reviews. And I waited and read all, I read all the posts thru the 80% screen failure period, I read all is RTI still "alive" posts, all the while the T2 price remained surprisingly steady, no indication the price will be dropping anytime soon, which also told me a lot about the quality of the remote.

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I finally decided time has come to grab this remote. After talking directly with Bill @homeautomationet (who was again an expert referenced in many T2 posts), I probably had 20 questions for him (he authoritatively answered them all), I was convinced that the T2 was going to work for me and went ahead and purchased my RTI remote from Bill. Regardless of the outcome of this issue, I have tremendous respect for professionalism displayed by Bill and the guys at home automation, and I would not hesitate doing business with them in the future.

Well the day had finally arrived when my T2 was delivered. I was able to have my "custom" remote completely customized before my T2 remote actually arrived in my possession (again thanks to this forum, for the software and ideas), all that was left was for me to upload my customized remote into the T2, sit back in the big recliner and enjoy my new toy.

Life is not fair, I have all "Sony" components, each and everyone can now be elegantly controlled with the T2, except for my STRDA90ESG. I have received the updated STRDA90ESG IR library from Bill, all commands are set to send out @ IR 455.2 signals. No STRDA90ESG commands work, no macros work, I've tried various combination of "repeat" & "sustain", various macro combinations; for example to turn the system on I have tried: “GUI”, “SELECT”,”TV/DBS”, “SELECT”.

THE T2 DOESN"T WORK AT ALL WITH MY ESG!!!.

I would be encouraged if I could get even a "single" mapped remote command or a single macro command to work with the Sony. So far I have seen nothing to indicate the T2 and my Sony are communicating. I did upload a "mute" command from my Sony remote into the IR library and the IR Frequency of the uploaded command, as I recall, was 461(?). What's that all about?

Any idea as to where I might look to diagnose my T2 problem? The receiver "SETUP" screen does have a few commands for "IR” control selections, I don't remember changing any of these ever, thou I could have. Any help is greatly appreciated; I'll ask a final question, if I may:

"Does any remote work with my Sony STRDA90ESG?"

Down and Out in San Francisco, still living with 2 remotes.

Mark

I think you need to manual learn the codes directly to your T2 using the computer. I have a Lexicon MC12 and Zenith 520 HDTV sat. These codes are not in the library. It is very easy to learn the codes. I recently had trouble with one code on the MC12. I just learned it again. Then there was no problem. Sometimes when you learn to the T2 it adds several repeats and this will not work. Decrease the repeats to 1 0r 0 and try to see if this works. I see this question often asked about codes for this equipment or that equipment. I just follow the instructions and learn them directly. It often works better than the code you downloaded. Good luck.

DWIEN,

I did try to get the T2 to learn a single command. That command being the "MUTE" button....still did not work (as the manual recommends, I used fresh batteries on both sides). More concerning to me was that the IR frequency of the learned sony command was 461.7, above the maxium 460 the T2 is capable of transmitting.

Also when examining the actually "waveform" of any STRDA90ESG command (latest library version), at the bottom left edge of the waveform is "UNKNOWN". Can someone who has this particular receiver working with the T2, examine their "waveform" for any STRDA90ESG command and verify the "UNKNOWN" is the expect description for these commands on the waveform review screen?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Dear SF,

Not directly familiar with the receiver you have. If it is one of those durn Sony remotes with the "Talk back" feature, meaning the receiver and remote communicate with each other, when you hit the buttons to learn the codes, what the RTI is probably seeing first is the communication attempt with the remote trying to find its receiver.

I don't know if that is your problem or not but you might try using some other sony receiver codes and see if you can get any of them to work for you.

Some of those receivers allowed you to switch the communications feature off, but I am not sure that the remote will not still continue to send the request for attention command first even if you do.

I just sent my cable to someone with a similiar problem. She now has no problem controlling her DA90ESG. Additionally she has completly bypassed the GUI since all the commands are discrete.

Gil,

That's interesting news....I'll contact you via your direct email. I guess I'll have to pull my ebay item..I was really hoping to get a new DTS/THX sys...LOL

The remote for the Sony receiver that you are talking about has already been taught into the RTI IR database by RTI.

It is a tough remote to learn codes from because of it's high frequency.

The codes can be downloaded thru your IR Library Manager. Once in IR Library Manager, just click on remote (on the file menu) then import from the internet and look for your receiver.

No you don't understand, I've received the latest command library directly from RTI (Master.cml) and I have also received a cml file from Bill @homeautomation that he certified as working. And Yes, the command library does indeed contain specific reference codes for my Sony STRDA90ESG receiver.

The problem is, my RTI T2 using the supplied STRDA90ESG discrete codes does not work for me! It works beautifully for all my other components; but it does not communicate with my Sony receiver at all. I’ve tried everything.

The only reason I purchased the RTI T2 was because it was extolled (by D. Tonks) as the ONLY remote which could control this receiver. Obviously it did work for some, but it did not work for me, contrary to everything I researched, exclusively on this site. My advice to anyone looking to control this receiver: "LET THE BUYER BEWARE"…$600 is a lot of money to flush down the rat hole, and if you didn’t happen to purchase this remote from homeautomation, your money most likely would be lost.




This message was edited by sfmd on 02/12/03 00:39.

sfmd let me give you my recomendation. I know not every member of RC is a custom programmer. But for the most part we are interested in helping people with problems associated with their a/v system. It seems to me you are an ungrateful smartass that is beyond help. Do us all a favor and cancel you membership to Remote Central!

AVX

Arfexpert,

I see in your profile that you describe yourself as an "expert", perhaps you might want to go back and review my posts and offer your "expert" opinion as to what the cause of my problem might be. Really ad holmium naming calling degenerates all in your profession, but often times is just a reflection of the strength of your knowledge. Too many people today refuse to reason and take the path of least resistance or in your case, well I won’t go there. Again, perhaps you can verify the "unknown" descriptive tag on the t2 strda90esg waveform or offer your thoughts on why my learned "mute" button command has IR frequency of 461.1. Then again that would require some real expert knowledge. Name calling is easy you jackass, and I sheepishly might admit does feeeeel gooood. So please, before you call me a crank or to use your own word "smartass", you might want to consider your own credentials as a quote unquote expert.

Although I will admit that last time I acted on an expert’s opinion from this forum its cost me $600 and all I have to show for it is one very expensive "rat" hole….baaaah

Sfmd

You might refer to your previous post before you resort to chiding people for name calling...

NO....NOT the post that is there right now... the one BEFORE you edited it and took out the last sentence.

I noticed your post prior to that of uravexpert (properly spelled) response has been edited to eliminate your derogative remarks about us "sitting around in their underwear in their basements writing bogus posts about the T2 remote and claiming to be experts and you hoping it was just bad information and not something more".... and though you may well have recanted your comments, a great many of us saw them already.... AND you cannot edit this post away... so more will see them.... and it shows the true "Strength of your knowledge."

You posted a question and asked for advice and many people spent their time sharing something they thought might be of help to you. They were not paid for that..... didnt cost you a single penny..... they were simply trying to help you and nothing more.

You are correct that too many today choose the path of least resistance.... as you have in blaming a pretty good remote control automation system for your own personal inability to make it work with a contrary receiver.

Your own posts says, " It works beautifully for all my other components; but it does not communicate with my Sony receiver at all. I’ve tried everything." End quote...

As far as reviewing your posts and offering suggestions as to your inabliity to get your receiver to proplerly respond via the T2........Instead of trashing the T2 and those who tried to help you, why not lay the blame where it rightfully belongs, with the manufacturer of a receiver that is designed to be not friendly with third party remote control systems.... and in fact is designed to FORCE you to buy and use their products instead of some elses.

The fact that apparently Sony CHOSE to make your receiver's remote control difficult to use third party products with, in this day and age is, in my opinion, first, dumb, and second, NOT the fault of another brand.

Buy decent equipment, and the T2 will work it just fine, like it did.... as you yourself said.... with all your other equipment...

Normally, I don't believe in, or engage in "flame wars", but you brought uravexpert's comments on yourself by asking for help then spitting in the face of those who tried to help you.

You owe him, and those who spent their time trying to help you an apology....and

Toss the Sony and buy Yamaha, or Rotel... The T2 will work it just fine and you will have no more need for this forum.... or those who tried to help you.

And we will all be happier.

Oh, one other thing. Perhaps you are used to dealing with fly by night operations. I don't know.... but to set your mind at ease, no decent professional system installation company would have left you stuck with a $600 remote control you could not use....

That arena belongs to the "cheapest price - best service" slogan boys...... not to professionals in this industry.

And so you don't get burned in the future, the terms are mutually exclusive. A company cannot offer both the cheapest price and the best service, because service costs money.

Thank you Warren for noticing the rude comments that sfmd posted and removed yesterday. I don't know what game he is playing. It seems to me an apology would have been in order rather than him editing his post to remove the rude comments and make my post look like I was slamming him for no reason. I would appreciate any other members that saw the rude comments made by sfmd on 2/11/03 to reply to this thread.

Thanks,

AVX

Warren,

I apologize for removing my short sighted and offensive comment. I meant not to offend anyone here by rethinking and editing my previous message. I guess I should have left those comments unedited and waited for everyone to "flame" me, a truely stealth way of asking for expert advice.

After carefully reviewing your comments and again scouring the thread for the said given advice that..."didn’t cost you a single penny.." I'm still perplexed.

Warren our we both reading the same thread here. Did I miss the post that recommended a corrective course of action for me to take. Let's both review the expert's advice given so far:

Gil said he has developed a cable that could possible help, that's good, I'm acting on that.

Dwein thought I should try and have the T2 learn some commands, tried that initially, no help there.

You suggested I turn off the "talk back" feature on the receiver, it not a "talk back" receiver, no help there.

custom suggested I try the standard strda90esg command library, tried that initially, no help there.

Arvexpert called me a smartass and told me to get lost, will probably be acting on that.

and now you suggest the problem is my ..."personal inability to make it work with a contrary receiver"

Now I see it, yes I'm truely sorry I asked for any help on this matter, now all is clear. I’m too stupid to make the T2 work in my situation. Let me leave you with a bit of advice I culled from this site years ago:

“..spend the money on an RTI TheaterTouch T2 which is the absolute only remote that can transmit VisionTouch codes directly..”

Really the hypocrisy around here is stunning.

(worry not, I won't be editing that last line out of this message!)

This message was edited by sfmd on 02/12/03 18:08.

I'm glad to see Gil Diaz posting. I am an owner of the infamous DA90ESG. I read Gil's fix posted on this site back in 1999. I had problems emailing Gil using the address he provided and didn't think he was still around here. I recently built Gil's simple Control-A1 cable and put it between my DA90ESG and my Sony TV. I also bought a $20 One For All, URC-8811 remote and got what's called a JP1 cable which allows me to do all sorts of advanced programing of the remote on my PC. The JP1 cable can be made yourself or bought for about $15. I got some help with some gurus on the JP1 user group site and now have full control of my receiver using a solution costing under $50. The use of the JP1 software is a bit technical so it may not be simple enough for many to implement without help. For more info checkout:

[Link: groups.yahoo.com] and
[Link: hifi-remote.com]

I'm very grateful to Gil for posting his Pronto CCF solution. Gil, if you see this respond back with a way to contact you. I'd like to see your list of discrete codes to see if you have any additional. I'd also like to send you the $5.
John