Need an opinion on my approach (warning - long)

rcy · Post by **rcy** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 11:36 am

I've just put together a HT system with 4 components (DVD/VCR, DTIVO, PC, HDTV), one of which is an JVC LT-46FN97. (LCD TV) I can get everything to whatever state I want, but the rest of the family has a bit of a problem. I started out with a Sony learning remote, which was fine for me, but again, lots of confusion with the rest of the family. Explaining that for the TIVO that "sleep" was the same as "live TV" was sort of painful.

So, after much consideration, I ended up with an MX-500, liking the abundance of soft buttons that I can title myself. Fortunately, for the DTIVO and my Onyko Amp there were perfect matches among the preprogrammed codes. The Samsung DVD/VCR VR330 I'm going to have to learn to the MX-500. No big deal there. But in order to program a single button that sets the AMP and TV to the right inputs ALL the time, I need the dicsrete inputs for the JVC LT-46FN97. (Inputs are: TV, Vid 1,2,3, Digital 1,2 and iLink)

One of the JVC TV codes for the MX-500 had a Video 1 discrete input. If I press that button, the TV goes to Video 1. So, I figured that I could just set up a macro to push Video 1, then Input Toggle, Input Toggle, etc. Unfortunately, the results are not completely consistent and the way the toggle works, the delays have to be pretty close to perfect or it doesn't work. But I figured that if there is a code for Video 1 that, somewhere, there must be codes for the others as well.

Now for the approach:

1) Looked through the files available here for JVC TVs, and didn't see any specifically for the LT-46FN97. Once I get a JP1, there may be some of the files that can be adapted.

2) I've emailed JVC support asking for the discrete IR codes for the Video inputs. (Not too hopeful there, but worth a try.)

3) Assuming 2 isn't going to work, I'm going to buy a JP1 remote - say the 8910? and learn the Video 1 discrete from the MX-500. Download the code onto the PC, and try to reverse engineer the codes for the other video inputs.

Any suggestions from folks with experience? Is the 8910 a good remote for this? I've just ordered the JP1 cable from DIY Gadget and would like to settle on a JP1 remote.
thanks,

rcy

greenough1 · Post by **greenough1** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 12:09 pm

Welcome to the the JP1 forums...

I'm not too familiar with the JVC tv's, but I see Capn's JVC TV upgrade that has in it discrete input selection for video 1,2,3 and discrete off. you might be good to go. Here's the link:
https://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/dload ... le_id=1374

Does the original remote allow discrete device selection? If yes you can always learn it, if not, then try the upgrade above.

The 8910 is a good choice as a first jp1 remote and it's a learner.

once you get the remote and the cable, you will know quickly the answers to your questions.

Best,
jeff

rcy · Post by **rcy** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 1:03 pm

Jeff, thanks for the welcome! As for my OEM JVC TV remote, the TV remote only uses the input toggle, so I can't learn anything other than a toggle. I've tried a few ways to try to get the OEM remote to do a discrete selection of a input. (Hit input, then enter a number, etc.) No go. So I'm hoping that if I can get the 8910 to learn the Video 1 discrete and some other commands, that I can decipher the command structure for the 46FN97. Maybe combined with the file that you described can get me where I want to go.

I did also discover a file on the JVC website that had info for another TVs (HD-70FH96/61FH96/56FH96) RS-232 controllable inputs. A snippet of the file:

3.3 Input [InPut]
Command code
HEX ASCII Function Operation
0x49 0x50 ‘I’ ‘P’ Input switching [INPUT] 
Parameters: Data length 1 or 2
[Data 0]
HEX ASCII Operation
0x30 ‘0’ TV input
0x31 ‘1’ VIDEO1 input
0x32 ‘2’ VIDEO2 input
0x33 ‘3’ VIDEO3 input
0x34 ‘4’ VIDEO4 input
0x35 ‘5’ DIGITAL-1
0x36 ‘6’ DIGITAL-2
0x37 ‘7’ i.Link
0x2B ‘+’ input + toggle switching
0x2D ‘-‘ input - toggle switching

This would be perfect if all these codes translate to IR codes. I'm hoping that this info combined with the IR data I can glean will be useful.
thanks again,

rcy

greenough1 · Post by **greenough1** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 2:31 pm

As I wrote above, I see in the linked upgrade some codes that look like they give discrete input selection. Once you get your remote, you can test those to see if they work.

Using what you got from the jvc website might be more work, so one step at a time

Best,
jeff

rcy · Post by **rcy** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 9:33 am

Jeff,

A quick update - Got the JP1 cable and the URC-8910 and in short order with the help files here on the site, was up and running. I've been able to find discrete codes that work for the JVC LT46FN97 HDTV here on the site. I found codes at:

JP1 Remotes Forum Index -> Download Database -> JP1 File Section -> Device Upgrades -> TV -> JVC HD61FH97

The discrete On, Off, Video 1, Video 2, Video 3, Digitial input 1, and Digital input 2 are identical on the LT46FN97. There are many other codes that work as well - it seems a very good starting point for recent JVC HDTVs IMO.

Thanks for your help, and thanks to Robman for getting me an 8910 at a good price.

rcy

greenough1 · Post by **greenough1** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 7:46 pm

You're quite welcome. This is great stuff!

Best,
jeff