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Topic:
SA 8300HD power on and off with MX3000
This thread has 22 replies. Displaying posts 1 through 15.
Post 1 made on Sunday April 30, 2006 at 18:32
tryinghard
Lurking Member
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2
Having a hard time to get the power on macro work reliably with the Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300HD. It gets out of synch with the other boxes (JVC and Yamaha).
Is there a hidden power off command or am I stuck with an unreliable toggle?

Any and all comments welcome.
Post 2 made on Sunday April 30, 2006 at 19:36
dualtriamp
Long Time Member
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96
Check in the options menu of the cable box, if that is the same box I dealt with a while ago there is a power up option in the menu. The default setting is power, only you can change it to power and numeric. Then if the box is off you can hit any number and it will power up. So my power macro consists of a numeral then the exit button. I cannot take credit for this trick but it did take me a while to find it.
Better is the nemesis of good.
Post 3 made on Sunday April 30, 2006 at 19:49
tweeterguy
Loyal Member
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7,713
dualtriamp is correct.

this is the only way to have discreet power for the sa8300hd via IR. you need to go into the second level of settings on the cable box to change power to 'power and numeric'. just hit settings twice and scroll up a few and you'll see it.
Post 4 made on Sunday April 30, 2006 at 22:42
shnakz69
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I dunno if you are aware of this or if you use it currently.... you need to set up a variable for all TOAD equipment to overcome toggle power... if you dont know how then let me know and ill shoot you an email with a template page to show you how you should set it up... i use an 8300HD from time warner as well and i have no problems with making a descrete function from a TOAD power toggle....
Post 5 made on Monday May 1, 2006 at 08:49
dualtriamp
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On April 30, 2006 at 22:42, shnakz69 said...
I dunno if you are aware of this or if you use
it currently.... you need to set up a variable
for all TOAD equipment to overcome toggle power...
if you dont know how then let me know and ill
shoot you an email with a template page to show
you how you should set it up... i use an 8300HD
from time warner as well and i have no problems
with making a descrete function from a TOAD power
toggle....

What happens when the unit gets out of sync with the variable? Unless you have a help page to get feedback from the customer about what is on and off (might as well buy a Harmony) when it gets out of sync it will be a nightmare.
Better is the nemesis of good.
Post 6 made on Monday May 1, 2006 at 09:02
dinom
Active Member
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643
I agree with dualtriamp, check to see if your 8300HD supports the "power on with numeric" and use that for discrete on/off. Much more bullet proof.

Dino
Post 7 made on Monday May 1, 2006 at 09:11
SquiddOhio
Long Time Member
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December 2005
68
That's a great idea, but not all the SA8300s have that command. From what I can tell from the HD boards, only SA8300 boxes with the SARA software have this feature on the menu. Other boxes run Passport software, like mine, and do not have the menu command that allows a power on with number command.

Mine gets out of sync all the time. In fact, my general power on macro, which does not include a power command for the 8300, turns it on or off anyway -- I don't know why, and at this point I just don't care any more. I just have the "On" button set to send the toggle command, so if I go to the watch HD TV mode and the box happens to be off at that point, I just push that button. I can live with that, especially as there is no good reason that I know of to turn the box off anyway. Many people leave them on all the time (like a TiVo).
Post 8 made on Monday May 1, 2006 at 09:25
Darnitol
Universal Remote Control Inc.
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June 1999
2,070
Just another suggestion:

A lot of testing has been done with this box, and it turns out the unit consumes almost exactly the same amount of power whether it's on or off. So my solution was to leave the cable box out of the power on and off macros. I used the boxes settings to have turn on every morning at 6:00 and turn off every night at 2:30.

It's not bullet proof, but in real use, this method has never been a problem for me.

Dale
I'm a member of the Remote Central community, just like you! My comments here are my own, and in no way express the opinions, policies, or plans of Universal Remote Control, Inc.
OP | Post 9 made on Monday May 1, 2006 at 18:41
tryinghard
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thanks gentlemen especially dualtriamp and tweeterguy -
you have been a great help.
Off now now to more challenges.
Post 10 made on Monday May 1, 2006 at 23:35
shnakz69
Active Member
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737
On May 1, 2006 at 08:49, dualtriamp said...
What happens when the unit gets out of sync with
the variable? Unless you have a help page to get
feedback from the customer about what is on and
off (might as well buy a Harmony) when it gets
out of sync it will be a nightmare.

Thats the WHOLE PURPOSE of variables!...one of the main benifits of programming with variables... i use a help page to get back on track and it works great and once i have showed my customers how to use the remote they have no regrets and they all love it...if you want to complain about using variables then i suggest you do invest in a harmony and lose out on all your custom programming options!
Post 11 made on Tuesday May 2, 2006 at 07:41
dualtriamp
Long Time Member
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96
On May 1, 2006 at 23:35, shnakz69 said...
Thats the WHOLE PURPOSE of variables

No that is not the whole purpose, I use them to track if a device is on or off using discretes. I can shorten jumps between devices because I know equipment is already on. I can make options available only when they should be i.e. the system off button only appears when the system in on.
Better is the nemesis of good.
Post 12 made on Tuesday May 2, 2006 at 10:14
shnakz69
Active Member
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February 2006
737
A variable crash course.
Variables are a truly high-end feature borrowed from the company's top-of-the-line MX-3000 touchscreen remote. Variables are essentially user-editable pointers that can be set to hold a "1" or "0" status, and few remotes on the market support them. Usually, devices that only include simple toggle power commands (and have no discrete workarounds) are nightmares to automate since there's no way to ensure that the device is always in the proper state. Variables make it possible to track what the remote's already sent to a device, so it can know whether something is already on or not.

taken from this very website....variables do offer more programmability for the custom install ie...using as a trigger and such but the MAIN HIGHLIGHT using variables IS to have a workaround for TOAD equipment.
Post 13 made on Tuesday May 2, 2006 at 10:45
tweeterguy
Loyal Member
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7,713
True variables are a great way to track devices power states when they are toggle only but if you have to rely upon a help page to get ppl back on track then it's obviously not foolproof. 0-exit (if available) is foolproof to ensure the box is on.
Post 14 made on Tuesday May 2, 2006 at 10:47
shnakz69
Active Member
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February 2006
737
yes but not all the 8300 support it.. and many many more clients have TOAD equipment..
Post 15 made on Wednesday May 3, 2006 at 15:04
Control Remotes
Super Member
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August 2003
3,434
Actually, the original purpose for variables was for graphical applications. ;)

I use "power and numeric" for any SA boxes that support it. So far, it has been a great work around for the lack of discreets.



Thank you,
Damon DG
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