I just got a new MX-800 and am having trouble programming the center thumbpad. For example, I’m trying to program the thumbpad for my Samsung HDTV Receiver (T165) so that if I switch to SAT from the MAIN page and then press the MENU button, a press on the down arrow of the thumbpad will move the cursor down on the menu. My expectation would then be that I could also program the thumbpad to work separately with my Pioneer 49TXi receiver in the same manner.

I’ve tried to learn the functions to the thumbpad and they do appear to be learned (L is indicated), the problem is they don’t work. At this point, the only way I’ve been able to do this is to learn the code to a LCD button on page 2 that I’ve named “DOWN”. I then copy a shortcut of this learned command to the down arrow on the thumbpad. This method seems unelegant and I'm sure there has got to better way that I must be missing.

I’d normally consider myself a techie geek and am disappointed I can’t figure an easy way to do this. I’ve even read the manual a couple of times trying to understand this. I have deleted all punchthroughs to the thumbpad. I’m sure there must be an easy way to program the thumbpad to be DEVICE specific – I just haven’t been able to do it nor have I found the answer on the forum. Thanks in advance for your help!

Hmmm - Don't know what I did different, but I've now got it to work fine. The thumbpad keys are now learned with the blue L label on them.

In the computer world that I come from, and indeed in most of the user-end of the electronics world, I am very happy when something works and I know how I did it. I am however still happy when it works and I don't have a clue how I did it! :-)