HD200 Achilles Heel

[drewg]

Originally Posted by gplasky

I concur with the Harmony. On the HD100 it worked great before the replacment faceplate. Better after.

Gerry

Thanks.. I guess a Harmony is going on the Xmas list then

Drew

[crarbo1]

I just saw the Harmony 670 and it seems like it has most of the MCE remotes buttons on it already. What is everyone's opinion on this remote?

Thanks,
Chuck

[sam99]

I love my mx800 that controls everything I throw at it in the main tv room. I also have two wall mounted plasma/lcds, one with a second HD100 and one still stuck with an mvp (maybe soon the new 200). These are in the kids playroom and the master bedroom and are the only sources feeding the tv. Therefore it aggravates me that I need the tv remote to turn the tv on/off and that is it. I just can not justify $80+ for the convenience of controlling the power from a single remote. And I say $80 because I happen to like the HD100 remote enough (as does my wife) that I would have to replace it with a nice remote (another mx or a harmony) to even consider it. What I would really like is to rotate the mx800 to the playroom and replace it with a touchscreen remote...but with a 1 1/2 year old with a remote control theft habit I just can not make that expensive purchase. My problems would be solved if the HD100 remote just had a single programmable power button!

[briands]

Originally Posted by sam99

I love my mx800 that controls everything I throw at it in the main tv room. I also have two wall mounted plasma/lcds, one with a second HD100 and one still stuck with an mvp (maybe soon the new 200). These are in the kids playroom and the master bedroom and are the only sources feeding the tv. Therefore it aggravates me that I need the tv remote to turn the tv on/off and that is it. I just can not justify $80+ for the convenience of controlling the power from a single remote. And I say $80 because I happen to like the HD100 remote enough (as does my wife) that I would have to replace it with a nice remote (another mx or a harmony) to even consider it. What I would really like is to rotate the mx800 to the playroom and replace it with a touchscreen remote...but with a 1 1/2 year old with a remote control theft habit I just can not make that expensive purchase. My problems would be solved if the HD100 remote just had a single programmable power button!

If they are going to up it though... i'd like volume and mute to be programmable as well.

[Olias]

Originally Posted by crarbo1

I just saw the Harmony 670 and it seems like it has most of the MCE remotes buttons on it already. What is everyone's opinion on this remote?

Thanks,
Chuck

I just ordered a second one a few days ago on eBay for $53.00. The first one controls my HD100 and accessories, the second one is for my HD200 and its setup.
They work very well, my only gripe is the main enter key is very close to the left/right/up/down keys and my wife sometimes will hit the wrong key.

[crarbo1]

Thanks for the info. I was able to see one of the 670's today at Circuit City and was able to put my hands on it. I like it for the most part but did think that the enter button could be an issue. I plan on taking my wife there tomorrow to see how she likes it. The one you got on ebay, was it used or new?

Thanks,
Chuck

Originally Posted by Olias

I just ordered a second one a few days ago on eBay for $53.00. The first one controls my HD100 and accessories, the second one is for my HD200 and its setup.
They work very well, my only gripe is the main enter key is very close to the left/right/up/down keys and my wife sometimes will hit the wrong key.

[bastafidli]

BTW, you can get Harmony 520 on Ebay for 29.99 shipped - live.com cashback (8-20% based on your luck and current microsoft kickback)

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-...yword1=harmony

[Olias]

Originally Posted by crarbo1

Thanks for the info. I was able to see one of the 670's today at Circuit City and was able to put my hands on it. I like it for the most part but did think that the enter button could be an issue. I plan on taking my wife there tomorrow to see how she likes it. The one you got on ebay, was it used or new?

Thanks,
Chuck

It was factory refurbished. Looks like new, came with all the goodies (batteries, USB cable, instructions, and CD).

[crarbo1]

Thanks for clearing that up.
Chuck

Originally Posted by Olias

It was factory refurbished. Looks like new, came with all the goodies (batteries, USB cable, instructions, and CD).

[bcjenkins]

There was a new beta firmware released yesterday which adds support for some of the RC6 protocol code set. (MCE Remote)

B

[crarbo1]

Thanks for this info. I just upgraded to the lates beta and was able to link the MCE remote keys to Sage TV commands. Now I just have to call and cancel my order for two Harmony 670's. I hope it isn't too late.

Thanks,
Chuck

Originally Posted by bcjenkins

There was a new beta firmware released yesterday which adds support for some of the RC6 protocol code set. (MCE Remote)

B

[nwboater]

Has anyone here used the newer Harmony One. It's touch screen and quite a bit more than the 880 I was considering. Could it be worth the extra bucks?

Thanks,
Rod

[gil]

Any confirmation of if the MCE remote control support in the beta load is just for the HD100/200 or would there also be support for the MVP?

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by gil

Any confirmation of if the MCE remote control support in the beta load is just for the HD100/200 or would there also be support for the MVP?

There are no firmware updates done for the MVP by Sage. It is a Hauppague device. The update for the MCE would only be for the HD-100/200. Currently that update is a HD-200 only.

Gerry

[rdb4133]

I'm looking forward to getting the HD200 and I will be using either my Harmony 659 or recently purchased Harmony 520 from eBay that was mentioned above!

[webwalker]

So if I've got this straight, RC6 based MCE remotes are supported now?

[mikejaner]

Yes

[amccrea]

The only thing you cannot do with the MCE remote is power the HD200 on or off. All other functions of the HD200 can be learned. This is my favorite remote from an ergonomic standpoint. If it could be further customized and had just a few more buttons, it would be perfect.

I opted instead for a modified (With 2k Eprom and JP1 Connector) URC-6131n custom programmed and extended using JP1. Once modified, they can be programed just about anyway you like using macros etc on any button. Kind of like a cheap harmony. I went ahead and bought 5 of them for $25 each. This way I can have identical remotes at each TV (and a few spares). They are only $15 un-modified, but then you have to crack them open and add some parts. I liked this remote because it is designed for PVRs like Tivo and has a "PVR" menu button in the middle that I use like the "Green Button" on the MCE remote. It is also one of the few that has 3 pairs of skip/ffw buttons. It is nice and light and feels good in your hand.

This remote does not learn codes, but most codes are available for download (including the SageTV HD100/200). I also have a URC-8910 that I use to learn the codes if needed. It is much bulkier and I don't like the feel of the buttons, but it is JP1 enabled out of the box and can learn from almost any other remote. (The URC-8910/9910 is now discontinued but you can still find them on ebay most of the time. There are other current URC models that will learn.)

I made all the device buttons on the top of my 6131n into macros, so with a single button press, (The PVR device button for example) will turn the HD200 on (Discreet on code) Turn the TV on (discreet on code) and set the TV to HDMI 1 (Discreet input code), set the volume keys and power button to control TV and set all other buttons to control HD200. They basically then work like activity buttons on the harmony.

I found the customization of the remotes to be just about as much fun as tinkering with SageTV.

I bought my modded remotes here, but it looks like this person might be going out of business (only a few left):
http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=413

Here is one place to get the remote (Non Modded):
http://www.amazon.com/One-All-6-Devi.../dp/B0000ALPBA

Cables for programming (JP1) are here:
http://www.diygadget.com/store/jp1/j...ols/cat_1.html

Software here (RemoteMaster for setting up and customizing each device and IR for downloading/uploading to the remote and setting up macros):
http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/dl...gory&cat_id=81

Here is how to do the hardware modifications:
http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2590

Pictures of the modifications:
http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/vi...t=6131n+eeprom

[smdl]

amccrea,

Does the URC-6131n remember previous states? For example, if you are watching a DVD, and press the "PVR" button, will it know to turn off the DVD player, turn on the PVR and leave the TV alone? With discreet on codes for the components, I suppose it wouldn't affect the TV if it issued the command again, but it would be nice if the DVD player turned off. I suppose that you could probably program the discreet off code for the DVD into the PVR button, as well?

Thanks,
Shaun

[cat6man]

anyone have a PCF file created for this that they could send me?
i have a prontoproNG i need to integrate the hd200 with
thx

edit: if not, i'll create one when my hd200 gets here later this week