URC R50 and HD200 Extender

[psicat]

I just purchased an R50 remote (from universal remote control) and I'm having trouble getting the navigation keys working (left/right/up/down). Since I can not find a SageTV device in their list, I was forced to learn all the keys. Sometimes, the nav will work but the next press will send 3 or more commands in a row.

http://www.universalremote.com/produ....php?model=158

Is there a certain code set which works? Does anyone have experience using this remote with a SageTV extender?

-Nathan

[Opus4]

The URC remote database should include the remote config -- if it says it is for the HD100, it is the same remote.

- Andy

[bits]

Originally Posted by psicat

I just purchased an R50 remote (from universal remote control) and I'm having trouble getting the navigation keys working (left/right/up/down). Since I can not find a SageTV device in their list, I was forced to learn all the keys. Sometimes, the nav will work but the next press will send 3 or more commands in a row.

http://www.universalremote.com/produ....php?model=158

Is there a certain code set which works? Does anyone have experience using this remote with a SageTV extender?

-Nathan

I had the same problem with my RF20 and the only thing that helped was to press the arrow key down and hold it down until the move you wanted is completed. My wife never really got used to that solution. This issue plus not being able to teach the RF20 some of the keys for my new AVR led me to purchase a Harmony 650, which so far has been a very good experience. The arrow keys behave much more like the HD200 remote and it was extremely easy to setup compared to the RF20. Harmony even has the codes for the HD200 remote.

[psicat]

Originally Posted by Opus4

The URC remote database should include the remote config -- if it says it is for the HD100, it is the same remote.

Thanks for the response Andy. Do you know where to find this in the menu (Aux->???)? The R50 is from their consumer line and does not connect to a computer.

[psicat]

Originally Posted by bits

Harmony even has the codes for the HD200 remote.

I'm coming from a Harmony 670. It's a great remote, but not rugged enough for the kids and pets. On a friend's recommendation, I thought I would try out the URC remotes. After hours of programming on the remote through their menus and much pain and suffering later, I'm very close to having everything setup. Compared to the Harmony, setup is absolutely horrible. But I was/am hoping that the customization would/will be worth it.

I still might return it. The price is right, but I'm not a fan of the rubberized buttons and the circle of buttons around the nav pad. Plus, there is no way to archive my setup in case the kids/pets dump it in the pool/toilet.

[bits]

Originally Posted by psicat

I'm coming from a Harmony 670. It's a great remote, but not rugged enough for the kids and pets. On a friend's recommendation, I thought I would try out the URC remotes. After hours of programming on the remote through their menus and much pain and suffering later, I'm very close to having everything setup. Compared to the Harmony, setup is absolutely horrible. But I was/am hoping that the customization would/will be worth it.

I still might return it. The price is right, but I'm not a fan of the rubberized buttons and the circle of buttons around the nav pad. Plus, there is no way to archive my setup in case the kids/pets dump it in the pool/toilet.

I have been using the RF20 for 3-4 years and I was basically happy with it, especially since it was my first true universal remote. It became a real chore to reprogram it each time I added or changed a component. I had cheat sheets but it sure would have been nice to hook it to my PC and simply reload. The other problem with the RF20 was its limited data base of components. Most of my stuff had to be learned, which also meant that it did not know what input the TV was on for example. I wrote macros but each macro depended on the TV and the AVR being set on particular inputs which meant that if something was not set properly then the macro did not work properly.

As I said above the only thing that sort of worked for the arrowing was to hold the arrow down until the move was completed.

Good luck!

[stanger89]

Yeah, look under Aux. I know it's in there since I'm using an R50 with my livingroom TV/extender. Unfortunately I can't remember how to get the R50 into programming mode

[psicat]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Yeah, look under Aux. I know it's in there since I'm using an R50 with my livingroom TV/extender. Unfortunately I can't remember how to get the R50 into programming mode

HA! Hold down the main button to enter programming mode. Thanks for the tip. I'll look under Aux again... I must have missed it.

[psicat]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Yeah, look under Aux. I know it's in there since I'm using an R50 with my livingroom TV/extender. Unfortunately I can't remember how to get the R50 into programming mode

Thanks! I found it under Aux... as expected this time. I'm not sure how I missed it before. It was a big disappointment that the built-in codes did not support discrete power on and off. I had to learn those from my Harmony.

I'm still not sure how I feel about the R50. It seems advanced enough that it should have a computer connection with software. URC seems to be very backwards thinking on their software/support policy. I still have not heard back from their support dept. According to posts on other forums, URC only supports and supplies software/firmware to "qualified installers". I just don't see how supplying the software could make this setup process any more difficult than it already is. The R50 does not even have a manual (just a quick start).

[stanger89]

Well they're sort of a schitzophenic company. They have the consumer division, which "sells" the R50 and most of the remotes you hear about, and the Pro division which sells the Complete Control like (eg the MX880).

It's only the Pro line that's not supported directly to customers (and even then supposedly they will actually support you if you bought from an authorized seller). The reason for not providing the software is to protect their Dealer network.

As far as the R50 goes, it's not designed to be programmed from a computer.

I don't know, my R50 works well for what I use it for, my TV and HD200, but it is overkill.

For much more, like my HT, I much prefer my MX880.