scottylans Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 Hi all, I just got a new Panasonic PX80A 50" Plasma and the bloody thing doesn't have discrete inputs (or at least, the remote which comes with it doesn't?) AV1 or AV5 or AV and any number combination does nothing unfortunately. The MX500 I can program macros but due to the Panasonic remembering my position in the input menu and not resetting to the top / first item, I can't write a macro to just cycle 'input, wait, input, wait, input' to always go to input 3 for example. So, I'm stuck. I can get a Logitech Harmony 880 remote from the USA quite cheap through a pal of mine but I'm curious if the US model and US software would support AU versions of TV's like my PX80A? I believe Logitech use some kind of web based setup and being the US version may mean that it's limited to US TV's - anyone know how it all work? Alternatively, is there a way I can buy an irda usb unit for my laptop, and download and send the discrete input code for my Panasonic to my MX500 so it knows it?? that too would be awesome. Any ideas all, sorry for the complex post, hopefully some of the remote gurus here will know what I'm talking about. - Scott
Guest EZYHD Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 Can buy a Harmony 785 cheap new on eBay, the 4 coloured buttons great for use with STB too. I had the 880 not too hot on charging in the cradle. http://electronics.search.ebay.com.au/logi...1QQsacatZ109858
scottylans Posted June 17, 2008 Author Posted June 17, 2008 Can buy a Harmony 785 cheap new on eBay, the 4 coloured buttons great for use with STB too. I had the 880 not too hot on charging in the cradle.http://electronics.search.ebay.com.au/logi...1QQsacatZ109858 Any thoughts on using the US version in Australia or the issue with discrete inputs? Is it true there might be discrete inputs available, just the default remote doesn't do it?
Unleashed Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 Any thoughts on using the US version in Australia or the issue with discrete inputs?Is it true there might be discrete inputs available, just the default remote doesn't do it? I got a harmony one from USA which replaced my 880 which I got from AUS. and as far as I can See there's no difference in software' uses the same data base. I'm not sure but I doubt that remotes would be "regioned". I used my old harmony setting and transfered them to my new "one" and all works fine.
Guest EZYHD Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 I used my old harmony setting and transfered them to my new "one" and all works fine. Me too no probs in transfer.
scottylans Posted June 17, 2008 Author Posted June 17, 2008 Great well that's a savings bonus for me, now what about discrete inputs? Ideally, I'd actually rather just buy an usb irda unit and steal / copy / obtain the discrete codes for the pana, then just send them to the MX500, am I dreaming thinking this is going to be possible? Does anyone else here have a Panasonic TV and found the remote which came with it doesn't come with discrete input selection? Do these manufacturers actually have a discrete input code but it's just not on the original remote or am I going to have to do some serious program trickery on a logitech remote and tell it how many items are on the input menu and to go up / down for example? (hope this makes sense to people)
Shonky* Posted June 18, 2008 Posted June 18, 2008 (edited) Well the 7 series panasonic plasmas has discrete remote codes (and don't on the remote). That said though, the 6 series had a sleep discrete code which disappeared (annoyingly for me) on the 7 series. I very much doubt they'd remove the discrete input codes. There doesn't seem to be a discrete code for digital TV vs analogue TV though. So if already on the inbuilt tuner it will switch between the analogue and digital tuner. Rarely a problem for me. I don't really use the inbuilt tuner. Even then the Harmony 785 I use would generally keep it check. As far as I'm aware the logitech database is world wide. No reason for it not to be... Edited June 18, 2008 by Shonky*
scottylans Posted June 18, 2008 Author Posted June 18, 2008 Well the 7 series panasonic plasmas has discrete remote codes (and don't on the remote). Ok that's great, how do I 'get' the codes? That said though, the 6 series had a sleep discrete code which disappeared (annoyingly for me) on the 7 series.I very much doubt they'd remove the discrete input codes. There doesn't seem to be a discrete code for digital TV vs analogue TV though. So if already on the inbuilt tuner it will switch between the analogue and digital tuner. Rarely a problem for me. I don't really use the inbuilt tuner. Even then the Harmony 785 I use would generally keep it check. As far as I'm aware the logitech database is world wide. No reason for it not to be... I mean do I need a logitech harmony to do this? Could I just buy one of these. http://cgi.ebay.com.au/PC-USB-IrDA-Wireles...1QQcmdZViewItem Load some software on the PC and beam out the signal I need my MX500 to record?
djOS Posted June 18, 2008 Posted June 18, 2008 If you want a remote that is as well built as your mx500 I sugest your stay clear of the flimsy harmonys and grab a new URC remote like an mx800/mx810/mx9xx series. I have had 2 Hamony's, the 785 and currently the 360 (in the family room) and have had 3 URC remotes, the mx500, mx800 and currently the mx810 (in the lounge HT). The MX810 is as easy to program as the harmony's but much more flexible and actually built like a $400 remote should be.
scottylans Posted June 18, 2008 Author Posted June 18, 2008 If you want a remote that is as well built as your mx500 I sugest your stay clear of the flimsy harmonys and grab a new URC remote like an mx800/mx810/mx9xx series. I do note just how nicely built my MX500 is, it's a bloody tank of a remote and it puts out a punch signal wise, it's not very pretty but I could kill a man with it. Logitechs do look physically weak, I admit but the other issue is the Logi's are very common and so not only woudl I get good online support for the Logi's via forums / users as well as Logitech but because I'm actually importing, you won't see the MX-800 or MX9million on techbargains.com at an awesomely low price I have had 2 Hamony's, the 785 and currently the 360 (in the family room) and have had 3 URC remotes, the mx500, mx800 and currently the mx810 (in the lounge HT). The MX810 is as easy to program as the harmony's but much more flexible and actually built like a $400 remote should be. Wait the MX810 is 400$? I can get the MX 880 for 92$ US darnnnnnnnn
Recycle Posted June 18, 2008 Posted June 18, 2008 Hi all,I just got a new Panasonic PX80A 50" Plasma and the bloody thing doesn't have discrete inputs (or at least, the remote which comes with it doesn't?) AV1 or AV5 or AV and any number combination does nothing unfortunately. The MX500 I can program macros but due to the Panasonic remembering my position in the input menu and not resetting to the top / first item, I can't write a macro to just cycle 'input, wait, input, wait, input' to always go to input 3 for example. So, I'm stuck. I can get a Logitech Harmony 880 remote from the USA quite cheap through a pal of mine but I'm curious if the US model and US software would support AU versions of TV's like my PX80A? I believe Logitech use some kind of web based setup and being the US version may mean that it's limited to US TV's - anyone know how it all work? Alternatively, is there a way I can buy an irda usb unit for my laptop, and download and send the discrete input code for my Panasonic to my MX500 so it knows it?? that too would be awesome. Any ideas all, sorry for the complex post, hopefully some of the remote gurus here will know what I'm talking about. - Scott I bought a $77 Harmony 525 from DSE, downloaded all the discrete codes for my LG TV/ built in DVR and then copied them to the MX500. I now have discrete buttons giving direct access to all 3 HDMI and 2 component inputs. Works fine. I also downloaded an ' eject' command for the Panasonic S97 and EX77 machines and copied those to the MX500. I agree that the Harmony feels fragile compared to the MX500, but it is great for ' extra IR commands' for all sorts of equipment. Recycle.........
djOS Posted June 18, 2008 Posted June 18, 2008 (edited) I do note just how nicely built my MX500 is, it's a bloody tank of a remote and it puts out a punch signal wise, it's not very pretty but I could kill a man with it.Logitechs do look physically weak, I admit but the other issue is the Logi's are very common and so not only woudl I get good online support for the Logi's via forums / users as well as Logitech but because I'm actually importing, you won't see the MX-800 or MX9million on techbargains.com at an awesomely low price The logi's are quite cheaply constructed compared to URC products. go to www.remotecentral.com for support of URC and other major brands, the site is frequented by professional installers who really know their stuff! Wait the MX810 is 400$? I can get the MX 880 for 92$ US darnnnnnnnn yeah $399 USD is the RRP, you should be able to get a better deal online. (worth every cent too!) Edited June 18, 2008 by djOS
scottylans Posted June 18, 2008 Author Posted June 18, 2008 I bought a $77 Harmony 525 from DSE, downloaded all the discrete codes for my LG TV/ built in DVR and then copied them to the MX500.I now have discrete buttons giving direct access to all 3 HDMI and 2 component inputs. Works fine. I also downloaded an ' eject' command for the Panasonic S97 and EX77 machines and copied those to the MX500. I agree that the Harmony feels fragile compared to the MX500, but it is great for ' extra IR commands' for all sorts of equipment. Recycle......... So what you're suggesting is stick with the 500 but use a harmony as a source device to grab discrete codes which I can't add to the 500 any other way? It's a poor but workable solution, effectively I end up with 2 remotes too, I spose I can just stick with the harmony if I like it. Just a shame to have to do all this, if Panasonic inccluded the bloody discrete input selection ON the remote which comes with the damn TV, I wouldn't have to spend more $ :/
scottylans Posted June 18, 2008 Author Posted June 18, 2008 The logi's are quite cheaply constructed compared to URC products.go to www.remotecentral.com for support of URC and other major brands, the site is frequented by professional installers who really know their stuff! yeah $399 USD is the RRP, you should be able to get a better deal online. (worth every cent too!) I like the fella's suggestion above you, I get to keep the MX500 for it's robustness but can also download the discrete codes by obtaining a logi. Seems an expensive solution but considering the fellas from AVS Forum recommended me this http://www.usbuirt.com/ (50$ US) just to be able to send codes to my remote, I may as well pony up a few extra dollars and get a real remote like the Logi, which comes with good support and the codes in an online D/Base. It's a bit sad that I can't seem to go to ebay, buy a 15$ IRDA USB unit and download some open source software to do all this :/ but that's life.
Recycle Posted June 18, 2008 Posted June 18, 2008 So what you're suggesting is stick with the 500 but use a harmony as a source device to grab discrete codes which I can't add to the 500 any other way? It's a poor but workable solution, effectively I end up with 2 remotes too, I spose I can just stick with the harmony if I like it. Just a shame to have to do all this, if Panasonic inccluded the bloody discrete input selection ON the remote which comes with the damn TV, I wouldn't have to spend more $ :/ I suppose there's a limit to how many ' useful' buttons the manufacturers can put on their remote controls and still have them easy to use. The advantage of the harmony is that you can download all sorts of extra codes for your toys. In my case the original TV model didn't have the extra discrete inputs listed, so I selected from other LG TV models until I found what I wanted. I have a couple of the MX500's and wouldn't part with them. Their easy to learn, have a large memory, send a strong/wide IR signal and physically tough. The 525 feels plasticky and fragile in comparision. But for $77AUD the 525 fixes your immediate problem and probaly will fix more into the future with all the new models being added.
scottylans Posted June 18, 2008 Author Posted June 18, 2008 Well you've convinced me- just got one for 77$ will take a crack at it this evening - I did like the setup on the software, seems good. - Scott
scottylans Posted June 18, 2008 Author Posted June 18, 2008 Well I am mostly impressed with the harmony software - how it works online and how you set it up, it's bloody user friendly HOWEVER the one thing I got it for - discrete codes I can not find, how do I get it to go online and look for some?
djOS Posted June 18, 2008 Posted June 18, 2008 (edited) Well I am mostly impressed with the harmony software - how it works online and how you set it up, it's bloody user friendlyHOWEVER the one thing I got it for - discrete codes I can not find, how do I get it to go online and look for some? If you go into each device (customise buttons in activities section) you will find the discrete codes usually available to map to any of the hard or lcd buttons + in the device tab under settings you can specify how the device changes inputs (eg discrete, toggle etc) and point to the discrete codes for that device. Edited June 18, 2008 by djOS
Recycle Posted June 18, 2008 Posted June 18, 2008 Well I am mostly impressed with the harmony software - how it works online and how you set it up, it's bloody user friendlyHOWEVER the one thing I got it for - discrete codes I can not find, how do I get it to go online and look for some? Stick with it. You may have to select other Panasonic models to download to get the commands you wan't. I had to try several other LG TV's codes before I got all the commands I wanted. Try other late model Panasonics to download - available at their website. On the 525 press DEVICES/select a model/ scroll thru all the available commands for that model. You only have to do this once. Good luck. Recycle............
Geoffski Posted June 18, 2008 Posted June 18, 2008 Not sure if you've tried the Harmony 1000 but in case you're considering it -- it's a total POS. I bought one and sold it after a month. My Denon remote is better. I've heard the lower-end (non-touch screen) Harmonies are much better.
scottylans Posted June 18, 2008 Author Posted June 18, 2008 Ok after an hour of fiddling this 525 cheapie is quite bloody nice actually. The convienience of setting up on a PC is absoloutely lovely. I love my MX500 but I don't know if I can even be bothered re-writing all the scripts in it considering how easy this is with the Logitech :( The problem is I got one of the earlier MX500's and I don't think I can connect it to a PC at all. So I literally have to open up excel and write down what I need to code into it, as I work it out. The script for input changes for example was a tricksy one - back on the toshiba it was Chan up wait wait Input wait wait wait Input (AV receiver - DVD) wait wait wait Input Stuff like that, but I had to MANUALLY key in each button in sequence!
djOS Posted June 18, 2008 Posted June 18, 2008 (edited) Ok after an hour of fiddling this 525 cheapie is quite bloody nice actually.The convienience of setting up on a PC is absoloutely lovely. I love my MX500 but I don't know if I can even be bothered re-writing all the scripts in it considering how easy this is with the Logitech The problem is I got one of the earlier MX500's and I don't think I can connect it to a PC at all. So I literally have to open up excel and write down what I need to code into it, as I work it out. The script for input changes for example was a tricksy one - back on the toshiba it was Chan up wait wait Input wait wait wait Input (AV receiver - DVD) wait wait wait Input Stuff like that, but I had to MANUALLY key in each button in sequence! None of the mx500's were pc programmable, the mx700 was the first one with serial connection and PC Software only programming. Btw, I remember writing out my mx500 macros and then programming them as some were quite complex. Edited June 18, 2008 by djOS
scottylans Posted June 18, 2008 Author Posted June 18, 2008 Ok I got the discrete inputs which is fantastic, I continue to be impressed by the smart and helpful interface but there are some small dopey bugs. Example, I set everything up, I 'flash' the remote and then it gets me to test it, I say 'help' because something doesn't work and I run through a yes / no did it fix things menu which is very clever and works well, solves my problems. Next sync, it forgets those 'yes/no' options and I have to re-do them again, the remote doesn't upload back to my profile the changes I made on the remote itself.
scottylans Posted June 18, 2008 Author Posted June 18, 2008 Oh this _is_ confusing the hell out of me, I got it wrong before. I have a script to turn the TV on, set it to digital TV, turn on the receiver, set the channel Everything works except turning on the TV So I use help on the remote, tell it what's wrong and then tell it when it's fixed it. Great! Only next time I try to run the script, again, it doesn't turn the flipping TV on, I have to use help, tell it again. What use is the help menu if it doesn't actually edit the bloody macro permenantly?
Geoffski Posted June 18, 2008 Posted June 18, 2008 (edited) Scotty, It probably means the macro is failing to turn on the tv because either the tv is out of range, not ready to receive a signal, or the macro is wrong. When you say "help" and follow the prompts, this is an ad-hoc fix -- it does not change your stored macro, so if the stored macro is buggered to begin with then it is still buggered. This was the case with the Harmony 1000 and I'm sure yours is the same. EDIT -- "not ready to receive a signal" = delay time, in case it wasn't obvious. Geoff Edited June 18, 2008 by Geoffrey
Recommended Posts