I'm hitting a wall with my new URC-200. Here's what I have for equipment:
TV - Toshiba 62HMX94 DLP
Satellite: Dish DVR 510
DVD - Panasonic DVD-S52
A/V Receiver - Pioneer VSX-D711

I have fresh batteries in all the original remotes. I have codes, and a UEI URC-8820 to pass along discrete power codes, when needed.

First problem I'm having is that I'd like to have different devices on page 1 of the main screen. Since I don't have a cable box, I'd like to use that slot for the Dish receiver/DVR by changing the lable and using code 122. But, code 122 only works on the SAT device on page 2. From what I've read, it sounds like I won't be able to use a code, but would instead have to learn each and every button if I want to switch the original CABLE button to control the Dish 510, is that correct?

I'm also having a very tough time learning buttons. I reset the entire remote (MAIN+STOP for 10 seconds) and started over, hoping to at least get the 510 to work with the SAT button on page two. Code 122 does a lot, but there are a few buttons I'd like to move around. For example, I'd like the FF and RW hard buttons to do the skip ahead and skip back functions instead, and assign fast forward and rewind to soft buttons. 9 times out of 10, though, most attempts to learn buttons seem to result in the "FAILD" message after the 2nd press. And, even when it shows "GOOD", when I return to normal operation, that button fails to perform the learned command

So, at this stage, I'm facing two main problems; the inabillity to change device functions on the main page (i.e. CABLE to be SAT), and all the problems I'm having with learning buttons, especially to buttons with a different original function (i.e. have the FF button on the URC-200 act as a skip-ahead button instead).

Eventually, I'd like to set up macros, assign them to the device keys on the main screen to give this remote some activity-based functionality. But, until I get the basics working, I'm at a dead-end.

any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Any device can have the code of any other device. To program the previous CABLE device with SAT code 122:

1. main & ent
2. press P-PRO
3. using the cursor keys scroll to the new SAT device(formally CABLE),
4. press SELECT
5. press PAGE, scroll to old SAT device,
6. press SELECT
7. enter 1-2-2
6. save
7. main
8. main

Cool Edmund, that process seems to have worked, I now have a SAT device on page 1. Now that I have That part out of the way, I'm still having a misserable time learning new commands to other buttons on the URC-200. I'm constantly getting the failed message. Any idea what I'm doing wrong?

I have two urc-300's that are the same way. I believe its the RF antenna in the way IR pick-up window. It take 10 to 20 tries per command at different angles to get the urc-300 to learn. Thats where the RF10, RF20, and RF30 are a breath of fresh-air. They learn first time everytime. Sorry, I don't have answer for you.

I don't know if you hve the advanced codes for the 8820, but here some for the pioneer receiver using setup code AUD 0013:

cdr/tape- 00061
vcr/dvr-00058
dvd/ld-00192
tv/sat- 00152
video-00118
aux-00042
cd-00036
tuner-00170

cursor right-00191
cursor left-00195
cursor-down-00193
cursor up-00189

discrete off-00251
discrete on-00247

Sweet Edmund, thanks for all the help. You're right, the learning on the URC-200 being a bit finicky. At first, I thought it couldn't learn individual button commands to buttons not on the original device. Turns out to just be picky. I've been able to "muscle through" things, and am finally making some progress.

The RF20 looks nice, is it just an update of the URC-200? Looks a *lot* alike. But, if you check the price of the URC-200 at Amazon, you'll know why I went with this model ;)

Hi Griz,

You wouldn't find any real difference in performance. They are very similar. The learning issues you are experiencing might be caused by something in the envirionment, rather than a defect in the remote.

Check Daniel's tips and tricks for learning IR.

Best Regards,

-Eric

Thanks for the tip, Eric, I'll put those to use this weekend. I noticed through trial and error that certain angles, distances, etc.. worked better than others.

I was able to my Dish 510 DVR dialed in just the way I wanted, including the discrete power codes from my UEI remote. Once I get the rest of my stuff set up, I can set up my macros and I'll be set.

There have been others with the same learning problems:

[Link: avsforum.com]

Just a quick update,

thanks to the help I received here, I was able to bring things across the finish line yesterday. [Link: remotecentral.com] was very helpful. As soon as I turned off the table lamp with the florescent bulb next to me, things improved a LOT. I still had some issues with the Pioneer receiver remote, I wound up having to use my URC-8820 to learn all the needed commands, then teach them to the URC-200. But, the remote for my TV and DVD player had no problems, and usually taught the URC-200 on the 1st try.

Thanks to discreet codes and custom labels, I now have a basic activity-based remote that the family really likes. very easy for everyone in the house to use.

So, thanks again everyone for the help!

I have noticed that the buttons of my URC-200 click (not exactly but when it goes down and comes up makes a kind of click sound). This does not happen with other remotes with rubberised buttons.

I do not see it an issue but just wanted to confirm if this is what happens with all URC-200 or my unit has some problem. There is no problem with the operation of the button though.

I never noticed before, but I just now checked my URC-200 and the buttons do make a quiet but audible click. I've had it for several months and have had no problems, so I think it's just normal.

The only button I've had a problem with has fallen to my son's need to chew everything he picks up - he pulled out the top LED (LCD?) button. I pulled out the FAV button, which I don't use and which is the same size, and have it sitting in the hole, where it works fine, but does have a tendency to fall out.

The URCs gemstone buttons are holding up far better than my previous Harmony buttons; I think my son got about a third of them, leading to a pock-marked, missing-tooth sort of look. It was easy to move buttons around on the Harmony, but eventually there just weren't enough left to move functions to.

Sadly, I think it's only a matter of time before the URC is destroyed too. I have laid in several inexpensive OFA remotes for that time; I think it's gonna be a few years before I can treat my remotes as anything but disposable. Sigh.