[mythtv-users] [OT] Remote Control question - not all buttons work

[Justin Hornsby]

Phill Edwards wrote:
> This is not a specific MythTV question, but it does affect my MythTV experience.
> 
> I just bought a remote control off eBay that looks like this -
> http://i13.ebayimg.com/02/i/04/01/60/59_1_b.JPG
> 
> It has lots of buttons and I was very excited about configuring them
> all. It also supports multiple devices. When I tried to get the config
> set up by running irrecord I found that not all the button presses got
> picked up. Later I pointed the remote at my palm which runs IRMan and
> beeps when it receives an IR beam - this too failed to respond to all
> the button presses.
> 
> Is it therefore the case that the remote manufacturer has enabled
> different buttons for different devices? So for example, some of the
> buttons work when it's in TV mode and a different set work when it's
> in DVD mode? If that's the case then that truly sucks big time! Why
> don't they enable every button for all devices - surely it wouldn't
> cost more?
> 
> Is there anything I can do about it? If I buy another multi-device
> remote how can I check beforehand whether all the buttons are enabled?
> 
> Regards,
> Phill

It's possible that the remote can be reprogrammed... what does the 
manual say?

BTW it's completely conceivable that different groups of keys operate 
different devices.

I use a OneForAll6 remote 
(http://www.oneforall-int.com/english/pics/Big7562.jpg which can be 
programmed to emulate lots of different remotes by entering codes and 
associating them with device buttons (e.g. press 'TV' and it's a TV 
remote, 'DVD' and it's a DVD remote etc).  This is all well & good, but 
when it came to me needing a remote for mythtv with enough buttons to do 
all the things I wanted, I couldn't find a code setup which used enough 
buttons whose functions used the same protocol.

In the end I built a JP1 programming lead 
(http://www.hifi-remote.com/ofa/), downloaded the JP1 programming 
software & made my own custom remote code.  Then I learned all the 
device keys with irrecord - job done!

These OFA remotes are quite cheap, and if you're lucky they come with a 
programming connector in the battery compartment.  If not, they're 
easily soldered to the board ;-)

Since I bought a home theatre receiver though I've been thinking about 
getting a 'Pronto' type remote.  No doubt people on this list will 
advocate the (IMHO) truly awful Logitech Harmony series, but having seen 
one I'll stay well clear.