Got my MX-700 last week, and finally had some time this weekend to learn how to use the software and program the remote.

Please keep in mind when reading this that I'm a newbie to programed remotes. Never had a Pronto or MX-1000 before. All previous remotes were either pre-programed (with internal data) or learning-type remotes. So the impressions I'll review come from someone with no background in computer programed remotes.

No need to discuss the physical characteristics of the remote, as this has been covered in other threads.

I found the software pretty easy to learn, and more or less intuitive. Took me about an hour of sitting with both the programing manual and the software on the computer to start feeling comfortable. I started by trying to set up one device - test it, modify it (if necessary), and then move to another.

My system is fairly simple, in terms of the number of devices: a Pioneer 503CMX plasma, a Lexicon MC-12 balanced, a Sony SAT-T60 Tivo, and soon to arrive - a Proceed PMDT.

I found the included IR database to be rather weak, and worse than that - unreliable. I'll focus on the first device I tried to set up; my Sony SAT-T60.

The editor software has a listing for this device, and even names the specific remote packaged by Sony with the SAT-T60; the RM-Y809.

I started by downloading the IR database for this device to the MX-700 - no problem there. Once completed, I disconnected and tried various commands.

Whenever the SAT-T60 receives a command, there's a small yellow light near the center of the faceplate that flashes on when receivng an IR command. I noticed that commands from my newly programed MX-700 were almost never causing this light to flash, seeming to indicate that a command was not properly received.

Actual performance confirmed this issue - virtually all commands were executed successfully at a very low percentage. Whether bringing up the guide, navigating the guide with the thumbpad, selecting a menu choice, directly requesting a station by it's numerical assignment - whatever - it only worked a very small percentage of the time.

I was begining to wonder about the MX-700's ability to send commands, or issues like just how much pressure does it take to make a button work, how long to hold down, etc. But I then decided to try to "learn" a few basic commands from my original Sony RM-Y809 remote, and overlay these on the provided scheme.

I chose a couple of simple navigation commands first; all the thumbpad commands. Well, after downloading to the MX-700, everything I had "learned" from my old remote to the new one worked perfectly. The light on the SAT-T60 flashed every time I issued a command, and every command was executed properly, the first time.

Only problem was, the only way I could get the whole remote to work was to learn EVERY command. A little frustrating, given that this was supposed to be a device the software database had already included.

I moved on to my Lexicon, and found that there was no listing for the MC-12 in the IR database. Trying the existing devices in the Lexicon list, in hopes of finding at least one that would share discrete power on/off codes with the MC-12 yielded nothing. So I also ended up teaching every code from the MC-12 remote to the MX-700 software.

Certain problems arose here, borne out in testing afterwards, where a "learned" code was too long and would cause a function to move many steps, or toggle back and forth a couple of times, instead of the simple one step at a time command that was desired. Going back and re-learning the offending code by being more careful (quickly pressing and releasing the button on the original remote during "learning"), seemed to fix most of these problems.

On my plasma monitor, I did find another Pioneer device in the database that seemd to share the same power on/off commands. I was hopeful that these would be discrete commands, but that hope was short lived, as testing confirmed they were only the same toggle comands that I could learn from my original remote. I ended up "learning" all of the commands into the software for this device also.

My Proceed PMDT arrives later this week, so I couldn't test that. I do note that it is specifically listed in the database, so there's some hope.

After my first couple of hours, here's a few impressions and concerns. Remember, these come from someone who's never worked with computer programed remotes before:

- This may only be based on one device (my SAT-T60), but the IR database codes are suspect. To name a specific remote and not have a single dependable command work - including power on/off - leaves me wondering.

- If the above is true, how easy will it be to get the discrete codes into the remote? The manual makes a big deal about the database having many of these codes, but I didn't find a single one that worked with my equipment. Will we have to wait for the database to be updated? (a dubious prospect) Will we have to get these from advanced users, on forums like this? (more likely) In any event, this was one of the things I was most interested in achieving, and so far, the MX-700 has provided me with no improved solutions.

- Since I had to learn all of my processor's codes into the remote, I note no way to sustain a command - as you would need for volume control. It seems that if, during the learning process, I hold the original command too long, I get a longer command than I want once downloaded to the MX-700 (causing my volume to jump many steps at a time when only pressed once) Conversly, during the learning process, if I just tap the button on the original remote, then I end up with a volume command that forces me to keep tapping the button on the MX-700 in order to make a larger volume adjustment. There should be a way to correct or modify this, but I have yet found or figured it out.

- On the positive side, if I, as a newbie to this process, can learn the software and program (to a reasonable degree) my system in a few hours, then the learning curve can't be too steep. Hats off to the manufacturer for making it this intuitive! (but I wonder if the level of flexibility that some may expect from a computer programed remote will be there)

Anyone who has ideas on my few concerns; I look forward to the feedback. I know I still have much to learn...

Rich



This message was edited by FujiRich on 05/27/02 11:07.18.

Hi Rich,

Very nice explanation of your experiences.

Regarding the IR database, you are correct that it is inadequate in its current form. Don't forget however, that the target users of this remote are those who bought it and had it programmed by a custom installer, who would be responsible for learning all the commands to the remote. It is assumed that the user will not be programming it himself. That's why they only supply one cable for every three units. That being said, Daniel has started an MX-700 files section here, and HTM will be providing updates to the IR database through the Live Update feature. This should help with discrete codes as well.

With regard to your sustained volume problem, it just takes a few tries but it will work. Try the "flutter" method mentioned on Page 23 of the manual.

Enjoy!

Mike
www.surfremote.com

Rich, I'm in the same boat as you: I have no experience with these remotes. I should get mine on Tuesday, but I have most of the software labels and macros set up. I'm planning on learning all my codes, and then posting the devices on this site: remember, its our responsibility as early adopters to make the way go smoother for others!

Rich,

Thanks for the confirmation of the problems with the Sony Tivo codes. I thought my remote's IR was weak in general, as I'm just getting going and that's what I was testing with, so I'm glad it's the codes and not the remote.

I have a Sony TA-E9000ES preamp, which has some pretty huge code lengths, so that's going to be my biggest challenge. Sigh ...

Luck to us!

DJ

MikeSRC: Thanks for your reminder that I should try the "flutter" technique for the volume codes. While that specific technique did not work, it forced me to try other things. In the end I found that by pressing the button on the original remote while in learning mode, and keeping it held until the editor software confirmed "Good", did the trick. Now it works perfectly.

I was just trying to setup a number of stations in my FAV pages, and noted something I hadn't seen referenced in the manual. When in FAV mode, only the LCD buttons are functional. It seems that you can not use, punch through, or teach any commands to any of the other buttons while in FAV mode.

This would seem a bit shortsighted, especially for those with satellite systems. There are often times when I want to pull up the guide to scroll through and see what's on other channels. The FAV mode allows me to do that in a more automated manner. But, it would be easier still if the MX-700 allowed me to program a few of the buttons - like guide, select, info, the thumbpad, and exit - so that I could go to the guide while in FAV, hit a FAV button, but still be able operate other guide-related functions.

As it is now, to achieve this, I have to use up an LCD button on the FAV page and assign a macro to bring up the guide, and another to select a chosen channel.

So the good part is that I can bring up the guide while in FAV (when an LCD button is programed for it), then hit another FAV button which will take me to the station I want to see on the guide. Then, if I want to view this station, I can hit the other FAV button that I've programed as "select" to choose it.

The bad part is that this wastes LCD buttons, and it's difficult to get all the functionality you'd like while in this mode.

It would be easier to just allow some of the other non-FAV buttons to be programed while in the FAV mode. I'm sure this would be an easy software change to make, but we'll see if others find it as problematic as I have.

All in all, it is remarkably easy to learn and program. Now if we could just get some of the discrete power codes.....

Rich

This message was edited by FujiRich on 05/27/02 14:27.31.

Rich -

When in FAV mode, commands on the other buttons are taken from the MAIN page. If you punch through the commands you want to the MAIN page (or shortcut them as applicable), they will be available while in FAV mode.

FujiRich - it sounds like your original learn of the volume control codes was not "clean". What happens is that if you press the button and release it while it is learning, the original remote repeats the signal over and over. Since you t is virtually impossible for you to let up on the button at the exact moment it finishes sending one iteration of the IR code, you end up with the IR code being "chopped" off.

When you then try to hold down the learned button on the MX-700, it *does* send the code multiple times, but because you almost certainly have a partial IR code memorized, the iterations don't fit together cleanly and the receiver doesn't recognize that you are holding down the button.

By holding down the button while learning until "GOOD" displays, the MX-700 is able to analyze the signal being sent and determine where it starts to repeat. In this way, you get a nice clean code which the receiver can properly interpret when held down.

The MX-700 doesn't let you see the learned codes, but if you were to try this with a Phillips Pronto (where the editing software lets you see exactly what is being learned), you can see that the IR code often ends up being twice as long if you don't hold down the original remote button while learning.

Mike - you are the man! Your info on setting up shortcuts at the main page worked, and has given me the flexibility I was looking for in working with the FAV functions.

Thanks!

Rich