I am using the mx500 macro capability to go into my sony tv's 4th input, enter the menu, change the tv from 4:3 to 16:9 and exit the menu (all in all 13 steps) - the problem is, sometimes it works, sometimes it shows erratic behavior and leaves out a command and doesn't work...
I've tried adding pauses in a few places to make it work better, but it still seems to drop some commands...any ideas?

I had to use .8 sec delays between commands for my Toshbita TV, that's why I added an Ocelot to do my macros. Now I don't have to keep the remote aimed at the equipment for 5-10 sec while the macros run. I created a virtual remote on the Ocelot to control all my AV via IR.

There are discreet codes that can directly change the inputs and aspect ratio. Might be better than trying to program a macro.

Of course you will need either a Radio Shck remote which has the advanced/discreet codes or you can get the IRClone device and convert the Pronto hex codes and then download them to the MX-500.

I wasn't aware of a discrete code that changes the aspect ratio?

I checked, the aspect ratio change doesn't work in non-hd wega's for the U.S. - sux...

Guess the only solution is to "add more pauses" - when I set up the learning of each button, does it matter how long i press the button? (as in, if I press it longer is it possible for the learned function to execute it twice or too long)?

That does suck. I guess I'm lucky since I have the HD-ready Sony 34XBR800.

One other thing to try...

Does your tv have a setting to allow you to select a default aspect ratio that it automatically changes to when the input is changed. On my 34XBR800, I have that option set to Wide Zoom.

If you do, you could program a Macro to change the input (and as a side effect change to the default aspect ratio) and then program in however many aspect ratio toggle button presses needed to cycle to the desired aspect ratio.

Fraid the only way to do it is to manual go into the menu, navigate a few screens, and turn it on...

The macro would be fine, if I could only find a way for it to do it EVERY time correctly....
frustratin'

One of my macros has a 3.4 second pause in it for my
Hitachi RPTV. I started at 5.0 seconds and backed it off to 3.0 seconds, where the behavior became flakey. You may want to try something like 0.6 second delay between each step, and see if that works consistently or not. I know this is a bit of a hassle.

My 32" Wega hardly ever recognizes my macro to switch to Input 4 and turn on 16:9 enhanced. It's a bummer. I bought an RS remote and hoped to get some discretes but none were to be found after days of searching. I gave up on the whole thing because not only did the macro fail most of the time, it would end up screwing up some settings on my TV in the process. Nothing worse than a cell phone call from my girlfriend saying that the "'Play DVD' button thing left the TV's menu on the screen in Spainish. What do I do?"

While I'm happy with the MX-500, it really stinks that this macro can not be done effectively.

dansremote: How old is your Wega? I have a friend that has a 36" XBR700 model and his macro to change inputs (via a discrete code) and go to 16:9 (via the menu) works like a champ every time...

Interesting. My Wega is just a year or two old. It is the KV32fs13, I think. My reliability on that macro is probably 35% at best. And since a failure can actually screw up settings on the TV, I have disabled it.