help with a macro on URC

[moreira85]

Since my blue ray panasonic is hooked up directly to the TV via HDMI and not through the receiver I have to manually go into my TV menu and go to source and click hdmi instead of having the REceiver switch it.

I want to perform a macro on the URC remote where i click on the dvd device button then the remote will perform a macro that clicks on the tv device/ and clicks hdmi as the source all in one command.
I have no problem doing each step individually because when i click on the TV menu the menu comes up on the TV and i click hdmi, but when i try to record the macro and get to the button where it says TV/ source it wont bring up the different source options on the TV during a recorded macro.
Any advice? and I hope that makes sense.

 

[Hi Ho]

I have never used the R50 but it appears to have preprogrammed codes. Are there no discrete codes for inputs on your Samsung? If not, the only way to do it is with the workaround you described (each step individually). When I have to program remotes like that with no PC interface I often download necessary discrete codes into something like an MX-900 and learn them into the other remote.

I found this thread discussing exactly this topic: http://forums.cnet.com/5208-13973_102-0.html?threadID=340620

 

[moreira85]

source hdmi

thanks for the link, it was helpful. I found that there is an HDMI button under the TV menu on the remote so i have 2 macros programmed. I have to hit the HDMI a certain number of times during the command to get to the right source. Here are the commands.
For DVD player:
1.the DVD input mode is first switched on the receiver
2. Then the appropriate hdmi input is selected
3. the URC ends on the DVD device.

For the Dish Network:
1. The DTV input mode is selected on the receiver
2. The HDMI is bumped to the appropriate input (because during the macro I hit HDMI twice.
3. the URC ends on the Dish network device.

Here is the problem. If while I am watching dish network I hit main on remote by accident and then hit dish network device to get back into that device it goes through the macro again and this throws off the HDMI input becuase it will bump the hdmi to the over the air input because it his the HDMI button 2 more times.

I NEED TO COME UP WITH A COMMAND WHERE IT WILL ONLY PERFORM THE MACRO FOR INSTANCE WHEN I HIT DISH NETWORK DEVICE BUT ONLY PERFORM THE MACRO WHEN I WANT IT TO. IS THIS POSSIBLE?

 

[Hi Ho]

Does the TV switch to the tuner when you hit 3 on the remote? If so, that could provide a starting point for your macro.

Example:

3 > HDMI > HDMI

You need to get the TV into a known state every time the macro runs. Otherwise you end up with exactly the problem you have run into. The remote has no idea what input the TV is on. The channel 3 trick works on a lot of sets.

 

[moreira85]

Does the TV switch to the tuner when you hit 3 on the remote? If so, that could provide a starting point for your macro.

Example:

3 > HDMI > HDMI
.

not sure i quite understand what you are saying here. When you se when I hit 3 when are you talking about, with the remote set so that it is controlling the TV, Dish, or receiver? or are you talking about hitting 3 during the Macro set up?

I have it all set up and working now but like i said if i hit main on the remote and want to get back into the device i was working with like dish network or perhaps dvd device I have to cover the front of the remote with my hand so it does not repeat the macro command again and change the hdmi input.

 

[MDS]

I NEED TO COME UP WITH A COMMAND WHERE IT WILL ONLY PERFORM THE MACRO FOR INSTANCE WHEN I HIT DISH NETWORK DEVICE BUT ONLY PERFORM THE MACRO WHEN I WANT IT TO. IS THIS POSSIBLE?

From the description of how the macro is programmed it sounds like you put the macro on one of the LCD buttons but did not make it a 'press and hold' macro. In other words, just tapping that device button executes the macro. If you make it press and hold (by simply entering one or more pauses as the first steps of the macro) then you have to hold it for the macro to execute and you won't accidentally hit it and execute it when you really just want to go to that device page and not execute the macro.

I've described the way I do things before and it is applicable to this situation so here it is again:

- I watch Cable 90% of the time so setting up to view Cable is my 'home' or known starting state. This is done using a macro on the On button on the main page.
- I have a press and hold macro to switch to DVD (on the DVD device button on the main page) and another one to switch back to Cable on the Cable button.
- For example, I start up the system and it sets everything for cable. I then press and hold the DVD button to switch to DVD. If I want to go back to Cable, I press and hold the Cable button to return to Cable.
- If I want to shut everything off, I have to use the Cable press and hold macro to get back to Cable first because that is the known state from which the 'Off' macro starts.

It sounds like you could do the exact same thing - just make Dish Network the 'home' state. Your 'On' macro on the main page would turn everything on for viewing Dish network. If you want to watch DVD, you have a press and hold macro on the DVD button to switch from Dish mode to DVD mode. When you want to shut everything off, you switch back to Dish mode, then press Main and Off to shut everything down.

 

[moreira85]

From the description of how the macro is programmed it sounds like you put the macro on one of the LCD buttons but did not make it a 'press and hold' macro. In other words, just tapping that device button executes the macro. If you make it press and hold (by simply entering one or more pauses as the first steps of the macro) then you have to hold it for the macro to execute and you won't accidentally hit it and execute it when you really just want to go to that device page and not execute the macro.

I've described the way I do things before and it is applicable to this situation so here it is again:

- I watch Cable 90% of the time so setting up to view Cable is my 'home' or known starting state. This is done using a macro on the On button on the main page.
- I have a press and hold macro to switch to DVD (on the DVD device button on the main page) and another one to switch back to Cable on the Cable button.
- For example, I start up the system and it sets everything for cable. I then press and hold the DVD button to switch to DVD. If I want to go back to Cable, I press and hold the Cable button to return to Cable.
- If I want to shut everything off, I have to use the Cable press and hold macro to get back to Cable first because that is the known state from which the 'Off' macro starts.

It sounds like you could do the exact same thing - just make Dish Network the 'home' state. Your 'On' macro on the main page would turn everything on for viewing Dish network. If you want to watch DVD, you have a press and hold macro on the DVD button to switch from Dish mode to DVD mode. When you want to shut everything off, you switch back to Dish mode, then press Main and Off to shut everything down.

this is exactly what i was looking for! I will give it a try!

 

[moreira85]

works perfect, thanks mds.
i didnt know a pause in the beginning meant that you had to hold the button down to start a macro.

 

[Hi Ho]

not sure i quite understand what you are saying here. When you se when I hit 3 when are you talking about, with the remote set so that it is controlling the TV, Dish, or receiver? or are you talking about hitting 3 during the Macro set up?

I meant to press 3 as part of the macro. For example, my DVD recorder does not have discrete input commands nor a discrete power on command. However, pressing three (or any number) on the DVD recorder remote brings it to the tuner 100% of the time. Also, pressing play always turns it on. That is my known state. Since I have my VCR connected through the DVD recorder on IN 1, the macro includes the following commands: Play > 4 > Input. That command brings the DVD recorder to the tuner input and then to IN 1.

I actually do things in the opposite way to MDS. My press and hold skips the macro and goes straight to the device. Most of my components have discrete commands so I don't have to worry about known states for most things as those discrete commands mean the macros work regardless of the state of the components. If I'm watching TV (Dish) I can go to the watch page and run the TV macro as many times as I want and nothing will appear to change because I'm already watching TV. That is the magic of discrete codes.

VCR Macro ------------ TV Macro ------------- DVD Macro


The "Off" button turns off the entire system and returns the remote to the "Watch" screen. The "Off" button is punched through to every page so pressing off on any device page turns the system off and returns to the "Watch" screen.



I only use the VCR macro as an example because it is one of the more complex macros in my setup. I haven't used the VCR in ages. I have spent some time to ensure that my macros are as transperent to the user and as reliable as possible. It doesn't matter how screwed up the system is, what settings have been changes, which components are on or off, running any macro will always restore everything to the proper state and it will work. ANYONE, and I mean anyone can use my system with no troubles. Some commands are sent twice to ensure that they aren't missed in the event that the component is being powered on.

I have had trouble with the Xbox. It doesn't always respond to power commands from the remote. I finally solved it (mostly) by sending the power on/off commands multiple times in each macro. It still misses once in a while though. I don't know why it is so finicky.

Maybe I get a bit carried away?

 

[moreira85]

I meant to press 3 as part of the macro. For example, my DVD recorder does not have discrete input commands nor a discrete power on command. However, pressing three (or any number) on the DVD recorder remote brings it to the tuner 100% of the time. Also, pressing play always turns it on. That is my known state. Since I have my VCR connected through the DVD recorder on IN 1, the macro includes the following commands: Play > 4 > Input. That command brings the DVD recorder to the tuner input and then to IN 1.

I actually do things in the opposite way to MDS. My press and hold skips the macro and goes straight to the device. Most of my components have discrete commands so I don't have to worry about known states for most things as those discrete commands mean the macros work regardless of the state of the components. If I'm watching TV (Dish) I can go to the watch page and run the TV macro as many times as I want and nothing will appear to change because I'm already watching TV. That is the magic of discrete codes.

VCR Macro ------------ TV Macro ------------- DVD Macro


The "Off" button turns off the entire system and returns the remote to the "Watch" screen. The "Off" button is punched through to every page so pressing off on any device page turns the system off and returns to the "Watch" screen.



I only use the VCR macro as an example because it is one of the more complex macros in my setup. I haven't used the VCR in ages. I have spent some time to ensure that my macros are as transperent to the user and as reliable as possible. It doesn't matter how screwed up the system is, what settings have been changes, which components are on or off, running any macro will always restore everything to the proper state and it will work. ANYONE, and I mean anyone can use my system with no troubles. Some commands are sent twice to ensure that they aren't missed in the event that the component is being powered on.

I have had trouble with the Xbox. It doesn't always respond to power commands from the remote. I finally solved it (mostly) by sending the power on/off commands multiple times in each macro. It still misses once in a while though. I don't know why it is so finicky.

Maybe I get a bit carried away?

very nice set up, lot of thought you put into it.
I am now quite happy with the way this remote works and dont know how I did without it.