Hi all,

New guy here, first post. I found my way here because I found a Luxman TP-117 tuner/preamp in a thrift store, and it was half off all electronics day! (it's not every day you find a preamp that cost $1200 in 1990 for $20!) Unfortunately, while I checked back every 2-3 days for two weeks afterwards, the remote control never showed up. Even more unfortunately, the controls on the face of the TP-117 are pretty rudimentary, you NEED the remote to do basic stuff like change inputs. So that started me down this rabbit hole. I programmed my Harmony 650 to control the unit, and determined that it was basically functional, but the codes in Logitech's database were not complete. I found this site looking for a more complete code set and sent it to Logitech and they were great, they cooked me up a test "device" so I could verify functionality. It took me quite a while to get this working partly because to thoroughly test I needed to make myself a cable for the tape deck remote control functionality - thread here

[Link: audiokarma.org]

I have started a spreadsheet with what worked and what didn't. Unfortunately, either the codes posted here are incorrect for the CD control functions or someone at Logitech screwed up entering them. I have verified that the preamp, tuner, tape 1, and tape 2 control codes are all good and I also have given them better labels in my spreadsheet. I will be submitting this back to Logitech with my suggestions for button mappings on the Harmony so that everyone else can benefit from this.

Since this worked well enough to verify that the tuner/pre didn't have any major problems, in the meantime I did track down an original RTP-117 remote control. The CD player control functions work perfectly when using the RTP-117, but not the Harmony. Also there is one button on the RTP-117 that wasn't in the RC list ("Single Play" for CD player control)

So my question - what hardware/software do you all use to read the hex codes from an original factory remote, if they're not documented anywhere? I would rather have the actual hex codes so I can post them and also get the codes right with Logitech so everyone can benefit rather than just learning my own remote and being selfish about it. Especially so because a) I love this preamp and b) it's impossible to use to its full potential without the original remote, or one set up to duplicate its full functionality.

If there's an inexpensive way to get set up to do this, I'd be happy to post codes for any of my other remotes as well if anyone needs them.

Also, related specifically to this preamp, does anyone know of an available product that would work in place of a Luxman RC-501 IR receiver? I have seen mentions that a Xantech 797-20 will work in its place, but apparently that unit has been discontinued for years as well. I should probably post this elsewhere but if you've read this far...

Thanks all!

Please try IrScrutinizer. You need some supported hardware, presently supported are IrWidget, GlobalCache (with IR receiver), IrToy, the CommandFusion learner, and my own favorite toy (if you can build things), and Lirc (with some restrictions).

The program is being actively developed, so feedback, e.g. improvement suggestions, is welcome.

For submitting to Logitech, you can probably do an export in "text" format, containing Pronto Hex.

Thanks for the reply. Looks like some good suggestions there. I'm going to reopen my dialog with Logitech and if it turns out that they didn't mess up entering the codes I am going to definitely pursue this.

I used to program Prontos and the Marantz Pronto-related remotes. There's software here on RC that will allow you to program these devices, and it should not be too difficult or costly to get one on ebay.

You can learn the codes from your remotes on the Pronto, then use the editor to see the individual Pronto Hex codes. There's also software here that will let you enter a few Pronto codes and will then generate the 256 codes of that particular device.

That should get you a complete set of possible codes. It's then up to you to try them out. There's a danger to that approach, but I've only heard of it on TVs: if one of those commands puts the device into a Service mode, you then have to figure out how to get it out of the service mode to use it. In other words, you might brick it.

It's worth a look, though.

Cool. Another good idea. I will look into that as well. Do you recommend any particular Pronto remote over others? I now have the original remote, but seeing as each TP-117 actually has two zones (so two remotes and a RC-501 receiver are required to use it to its full potential) and I actually have a second, broken unit that I may try to fix and pass on to someone if I get bored, being able to duplicate the original remote without laying out $50 for it is a Good Thing. Or I could set up a four zone audio system. Speakers in the bathroom, why not? :)

So I learned one of my Harmonies the CD control stuff so hopefully soon at least people with Harmonies can use a TP-117 without the factory remote. It sounds like from my correspondence with Logitech they can go into my account and get the info they need to push it out to anyone who wants it. That doesn't help others, but it's a start.

This just got more relevant because I just found one of the RC-501 remote sensors on eBay so now I can fully test my TP-117 (you can't use the Zone 2 preamp that's built in without a RC-501), and maybe take a stab at fixing the one that I bought solely to get the original remote.

So now I've spent about $130 on stuff related to this unit, figured out how to make a replacement cassette deck control cable, and am attempting to figure out the remote - all because of a $20 thrift store purchase. In my defense however, it is a fantastic preamp and I think will be the last piece of audio gear to be sold if stuff hits the fan.

OK, so I thought I had it all set up where I could use my Harmony to do this but Logitech is refusing to do it the way I want to... so I'm thinking of buying a different device that I can program myself. Suggestions? Needs to be something that I can use to read hex codes so that my second TP-117 isn't a useless brick without finding another factory remote. Any suggestions appreciated.

Any JP1 remote can use pronto hex.
[Link: hifi-remote.com]

Quickest, easiest one to find would be this one which includes USB cable and works with Remote Master and IRScrutinizer. Convert your codes from pronto hex to a device upgrade file with IRScrutinizer and load into the remote.

[Link: amazon.com]

Here's a video tutorial for using this with Remote Master:

Thanks for the reply. Are there any that when programmed have activity based controls like my Harmony? I would think that would make this easier to work with. Or am I just out of luck?

The Nevo C2 is an activity based JP1 remote very similar to Harmony. They’re typically under $20 on eBay. I've been using this remote for about 10 years and have about 20 of them. I'm the author of the wiki below, so if you have any questions about them, just ask. IMO it's still the best universal remote value around and incredibly powerful.
[Link: hifi-remote.com]

Cool. I will have to keep an eye out for one. Seems like they're all about $50 or so at the moment but I will set up a search and see if one comes up.

I currently see a couple of Xsight Colors for $25 and a Touch for $32. Considering the Touch retailed for $100 more than the Color, a $7 difference is a pretty good deal for an RF remote that's much thinner than the Color and has a rechargeable battery and base.

I got the Color because I have a whole stash of Eneloop/Duracell Ion Core cells, so the rechargeable battery is actually a downside to me. We'll see if I can finally solve this problem! Just got it yesterday, will play with it later.

So, back to this... I've been playing with this for a few hours and man have I had a learning curve.

I have learned the CD control commands from my one factory remote. They appear different than the ones on the Remote Central site, which would explain why my Harmony would not control the CDP until I learned the commands.

I am getting a whole edumacation on remote controls. In the time I've been messing with this my CD player has died however so I am hoping to get loan of one to continue testing.

If this is successful, I will have correctly documented the remote codes for this however so anyone with a JP1, Pronto, etc. can program it to work. I can't help you if you have a Harmony however as Logitech didn't get it. Once I get this Xsight 100% working I will email the files to Logitech on the off chance that they want to mess with this again however because a device this good really should have proper support. BTW I am using *5* devices out of the 15 allowed in the Xsight to control this mess, "Preamp" "Tuner" "Tape 1" "Tape 2" "CD". Each of those five is NEC1 protocol but a different device code. Makes sense I guess.

The whole reason for this exercise is that the Xsight cost me less than the "correct" RTP-117 and also can be used for other purposes as well. Unlike the Harmony, I can fire up Remote Master and not only see the codes in their proper form but I have much more flexibility in programming. I can also post my files so someone else with the same remote could just load it and go. I would also like to be able to sell my parts TP-117 should I ever get around to having it fixed, and also be able to have a remote to give to tech should I not be able to fix it myself.

I'm not being stingy by not posting the codes yet, I am just not 100% confident in them. I still have to pull out the tape deck and test that and also find a working compatible CDP.

The nice thing about the Xsight is that if I am only using this as a single zone system once I get this sorted I can delete the Lux CDP and use whatever I want.

The bad news is I now feel obligated to reverse engineer all my other factory remote codes for the Xsight, and I have a LOT of gear with remotes.

Here's a link to my dropbox with what I've done so far

[Link: dropbox.com]

You'll have to log in at the JP1 forums but I have posted upgrades and a config for an Xsight Color here along with spreadsheet of codes in Protocol/Device/Subdevice/OBC format here

[Link: hifi-remote.com]

Completely random I also got my Adcom GCD-700 programmed in as well

[Link: hifi-remote.com]