Non-IR remotes

[Karl_Boekelheide]

This is a bit off topic, I suspect, but I am looking for some method to merge IR remotes with the newer radio based remotes. I have a trusty old RadioShack remote that controls all my IR devices. But, I have a couple remotes that use some sort of radio signal. They are a TIVO Roamio and an Amazon FireStick.

Does anyone know of any programmable devices that would do both methods? I'm getting tired of having 3 remotes. My trusty RadioShack 15-2117 does radio to a simple repeater. It would be beyond wonderful if that radio signal could be tuned to whatever the TIVO and FireStick use.

I have a feeling this is really hard because I found a device that claimed to control IR and a FireStick. It's solution turned out to be a physical slot into which you slid your FireStick remote. When you want to control the FireStick you turn the thing over and push the buttons FireStick which is hanging on the back. It looked really clunky and funny.

[The Robman]

The RF box that comes with the 15-2117 won't control other RF devices.

More info on the Amazon Firestick here, looks like you need the Inteset device:
http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/viewt ... p?t=101513

According to the following thread, the Tivo Roamio uses the standard Tivo IR codes:
http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15117

[Karl_Boekelheide]

Thanks Rob. Your comments lead me to discover CEC. I get to eliminate the FireTV remote by using the pass-through of the TV. It looks like TIVO might respond to IR. I'll try a device table for it and see what happens. The remote I have uses bluetooth. I don't know why TIVO would have an IR receiver in addition to bluetooth.

[The Robman]

Probably for cases like this, where someone wants to use a universal.

[Karl_Boekelheide]

Thank you very much for the suggestion, Rob. The TIVO Roamio does have an IR receiver in it. I'm back down to a single remote that covers 7 devices including the TIVO and a TV which drives a FireTVstick through CEC.

[The Robman]

Well done

[Karl_Boekelheide]

Thanks, Rob

With everything connected I'm now looking for information about Vizio TV's and their use of CEC. It appears that the TV decides, based on what state it's in, to either take commands from the remote or pass them on to my FireTVstick on the HDMI. There are a few commands that the FireTV's remote has on it that aren't on the Vizio remote. I'm wondering if Vizio takes all the commands from the remote and "translates" them into what it thinks is appropriate for the FireTV or does it just pass through what it doesn't act on itself?

What I'd like to do is send commands to the TV that would cover the 6 functions that are on the FireTV remote but not on the Vizio remote.

[The Robman]

Are you using an upgrade to control your Vizio TV? Assuming you've already tried all the buttons that are on your Vizio remote, best I can suggest is that you try all the button codes for the upgrade that AREN'T on the remote. What I mean by that is, look for the gaps in the OBCs and try those gap OBCs.

If you're still with me but need advice on how to test the gap OBCs, let me know. Unless someone who knows about Vizios and CEC jumps in with more solid advice.

[Karl_Boekelheide]

Right, Rob. I do understand what you’re saying. Since I think there are almost 200 buttons to try I was trying to do something a little more easily.I’ve got a message into the person who added a few discrete codes to see if he had some method for figuring it out.

[The Robman]

If that person discovered discrete codes, that how he did it. Most of the experts here regularly cycle through all 256 codes for new devices to check for secret codes. It takes me about 10 minutes.

[Karl_Boekelheide]

Thanks again. I did the try every code method. I found all sorts of interesting stuff but not a HOME or MENU that was passed through CEC. I think it's probably OK because I discovered that some of my problems I was hoping to fix with a HOME were due to my not understanding the TV and it's use of CEC. Anytime the TV is showing its own status it won't pass commands to CEC. I've learned if I wait until the TV has nothing on the screen other than the HDMI signal things work better.

[mdavej]

Right, Rob. I do understand what you’re saying. Since I think there are almost 200 buttons to try I was trying to do something a little more easily.I’ve got a message into the person who added a few discrete codes to see if he had some method for figuring it out.

They're aren't really very many to test. Of the 256 possible codes, 161 are already known and in this upgrade, all of which I found the hard way:
http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/dload ... e_id=12755

CEC isn't ever really going to give you full control. You need to buy the Inteset dongle if you want to do it all.

[Karl_Boekelheide]

Thanks for your comment and file reference. I did it the hard way for the Vizio TV I have and didn't find what I wanted but do understand their lame implementation of CEC better now.