Harmony Remotes - Programming

[hhatkin]

That's OK Michael - it IS wide open now!

Our expert on these devices isn't around at the moment but I think he would confirm that they can be converted by a fairly simple process to be controlled by RF or by IR at your choice.

IR is the usual method of control, so all universal remotes use it, and therefore can't - as you have gathered - do anything at all with RF.

The installer should have asked which of the two systems you wanted to use, and would have known that IR is the usual choice.

The manual should tell you how to make the choice, but I believe the suppliers will give the information on request.

Message Edited by hhatkin on 09-02-2009 01:17 PM

[bigpygme]

hey hhatkin -

yes, the installer should've asked, but he didn't - he just did things.  i am remembering that he moved through it pretty fast (since he does it a half dozen times a day or more) and i am picking up now that he changed it from IR to RF, saying something about the IR receiver being at the lowest edge of the DVR and that sometimes there were connectivity problems that could be solved by going to RF -- he didn't say it in this language, but that was the idea.

i have one DISH DVR box that operates two TV's.  One i WANT to leave on RF, and the other i now want on IR -- so now i am just hoping the DVR box will allow the two different types of remote control input devices at the same time.

[towboy123 Logi Legend]

On the back of your Dishnet remote what model number is there?

Either way you should be able to pull the battery cover off the remote, then pull the tab on the bottom with the TV number out, flip it then put it back in.

After that these steps will get the IR working for you

To get any harmony remote to control the DVR I had to set the Dish box and remote to be remote #1. Your installer may have set it up to be a different number if you have more than one receiver installed.

To change, use the Dish remote for all steps: * go to the SYSINFO screen (from the Installation screen), * press the SAT button until all 4 device buttons light and the SAT button flashes, * press the 1 button and wait a second, * press the REC button, the SAT button should flash a couple times - then - the SYSINFO screen should show that you're using REMOTE 1. 

And yes TV 2 can still be operated via RF will TV 1 is operating on IR

Message Edited by towboy123 on 09-02-2009 04:56 PM

[bigpygme]

hi towboy -

thx for the info about re-setting the remote back to #1 -- i know they've re-set it to some other number and it is very useful to know that at least for you it was necessary to have that remote be #1.  i could've spun mt wheels on that forever without putting it together !  with your instructions i can re-set that back to #1 right away.

good to know also that i can have IR on one remote and RF on the other.  thanks !

but where in these instructions does it tell me how to switch from RF to IR ?  maybe it's an option on the sysinfo page - i'll just have to go look ... i'll do that soon.

Michael

[towboy123 Logi Legend]

You should be able to pull the battery cover off the remote, then pull the tab on the bottom with the TV number out, flip it then put it back in. That should set it back to IR

What is the model number of your Dishnet remote, its on the back 

[hhatkin]

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towboy123 wrote:

TV 2 can still be operated via RF will TV 1 is operating on IR

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bigpygme wrote:
i have one DISH DVR box that operates two TV's.  One i WANT to leave on RF, and the other i now want on IR

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It's not the TVs that will be controlled by RF or IR - it's the receiver isn't it?

Can't these things not be set up to use more than one set of remote IR commands, thus avoiding RF altogether?

[towboy123 Logi Legend]

When i say TV1 And TV2 I mean the tuners built into the receiver.

Yes they have 14 different sets of IR commands but you still have to flip the tab on the remote before it will work via IR 

TV2 is generally in a separate location from TV1 And therefore needs to operate via RF to get the signal through the wall.

The receiver can be set to function with PIP or 2 separate TVs.

Message Edited by towboy123 on 09-02-2009 05:28 PM

[bigpygme]

one of these is the model #

21.0 IR/UHF PRO

158925

that's what's on the back of the remote.

i took out the batteries, but there is nothing that will pop out and "flip".  there is, however, a simple up-down dip switch next to the batteries, marked IR - UHF, and it's set to UHF.  so you steered me in the right direction, and it seems obvious that all i do is slide it to IR to switch to IR output, so i'll do that. 

do i have to change any corresponding settings in the receiver? 

[towboy123 Logi Legend]

I haven't actually done it on A 21.0 yet. they only come with the 722k and 222k. The 211 still comes with the 6.3.  Thanks for the info.

Message Edited by towboy123 on 09-02-2009 06:00 PM

[bigpygme]

follow up, in case anyone picks up this thread later and needs the rest of the solution -

to get to SysInfo was a bit of a maze, i found my way there but didn't write down how. 

once there, to change the remote address, after pressing SAT and #1, it was necessary to hit '#' (pound) and then press REC.

to change from RF to IR, it was necessary to change to software/firmware settings in the PVR as well as move the dipswitch setting inside the remote.  in order to change the PVR setting, i was told to press and hold number "zero" until a Wizard appeared.  The Wizard walked me through the adjustments which were simple.

so now my remote is set to Address 1 and is functioning as an IR unit, plus (and more importantly) the PVR is expecting IR input for TV 1. 

I should now be able to use Device VIP 722K in the Harmony remote, and if that doesn't work, i know to try the settings for VIP 622 instead.  That's the plan, and i appreciate all the help you have given me.  thanks for your time and expertise. 

and i'll be back if this all does not work out !

Michael