General recommendations for someone getting started

Evan_s · Post by **Evan_s** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 2:09 pm

First what I've got.

Tv - Olevia 537h with crappy universal remote
Cable- Comcast DCT 3412 with 1067a remote
DVD- Some generic mitsubishi which doesn't really matter

I love the TV so far. Good quality at a great price with a variety of inputs etc. The only problem is the TV is too new and the Comcast remote doesn't have a code to control it and it's included universal remote doesn't seem to control the cable box in any reasonable manor even tho it has a code for it. It also doesn't seem like a very useful remote in general, has to cycle threw all 8 inputs so there is no way to switch directly from DVD back to TV and doesn't have VPT so I have to press the function buttons several times to get to tv to adjust the volume and then function twice more to get back to dvd for example. Not very useful in the end.

From what I've gathered the 1067a remote is a jp1.2 remote and could be upgraded to control my TV but obviously would require a jp1.2 cable. For the short term I think that would be sufficient to control the basics of my system and will probably remain the basic remote for roomate/guests. I do plan to add other things to the system sooner or later (Receiver for surround sound first probably) and the Comcast would not be sufficient as soon as I add one more device.

The question then becomes what do I plan on doing in addition to the comcast remote?

The 8820 seems like a good inexpensive option to get a jp1.2 remote that would allow me to continue using the same cable as my 1067a for a fully programable remote. This would end up being my remote that I played around with more and customized more and for the future. My question is how beta are things with the jp1.2 interface? I do tech support for a living so beta doesn't scare me but this is definitely going to take a little bit to figure out and if the beta status of jp1.2 is going to complicate this greatly I'm not sure I want to go that route. Not worried as much about that with the comcast remote since I only plan to add my tv to that remote and not alot else.

The 8910 seems to be generally recommended as a good starter remote but it's jp 1 and I really don't feel like having to get 2 jp cables just to get started. It does have the built in modem and I did read some about the IRtowav program that seems to work fine. Obviously I'm not going to be able to capture any of my own info with out a cable. It sounded like I could still program it with anything that I could using a cable but was not sure about that. Is the IR2Wav going to add more complexity and confusion to the situation than the beta status of the jp1.2 or any limitations other than no downloads that I missed?

Both the 8820 and the 8910 are upgradable by the MFG so should be able to handle the basics of my system with out jp1 but I do want to try it out since it seems like a great way to really customize things and much simpler way to manage the keymoves and other things the remotes are capable of.

What do the experienced people out there recommend for getting started?

I do plan to order from Rob so I hope he doesn't run out of stock on any of it before I decide what to do =)

Post by **vickyg2003** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 2:24 pm

Personally, I'd go with a JP1 remote. I'm stock piling them right now.

The IR software works with the JP1.2 remotes, but there are no extender capabilities at this time. Of course as a newbie, I didn't use extenders at all, but now that I know their power, I'd be sure to choose a mainstream JP1 remote.

The modern JP1 extenders support Voice Punch Through. The Macro capabilities are really expanded too. Extenders allow nested macros. Extenders come with specialty protocols that handle the key differently if its a long key press or a short key press. Or a single vs a double key press. Really once I started using extenders there was no going back.

Post by **The Robman** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:37 pm

vickyg2003 wrote:The modern JP1 extenders support Voice Punch Through.

Really, how does that work exactly, does it let your voice cut through the noise of the TV or something???

Post by **ElizabethD** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:47 pm

If it doesn't work yet, somebody just forgot to code it. Voice punch through sounds cool. Just the other day Capn Trips asked for tactile feedback on repeating advances thru Dish. Like buttons jumping up or something

If it spoke=counted out loud it might even be better

Post by **vickyg2003** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 4:58 am

hahahaha I guess that's volume. Sheesh, no wonder all the acronyms up here are so hard for me.

beverlyhoward · Post by **beverlyhoward** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 11:13 am

Back to the op's original question;

From my own experience, it's a steep learning curve but it's well worth it and this forum has great members to assist will all questions (except the ones already answered in the faq's and stickies)

Since a lot of the tutorials didn't click with my thought process, I cobbled together some of my own beginner tips and points which document breakthrough discovery "ah ha's" (at least for me) at;

http://bevhoward.com/stuff/JP1Newbie.htm

but suggest using that information together with the tutorials at;

http://www.hifi-remote.com/jp1/help/

Another project which has proven invaluable has been to generate a printable, easy use guide to assist in learning and using a single remote which contains hundreds of command button possibilities.

This is documented at http://bevhoward.com/stuff/Cinema6.htm

Hope this helps,
Beverly Howard

Evan_s · Post by **Evan_s** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:14 pm

well it looks like i'm going to start with a 6690 and jump in head first since I won a bid on ebay for 11$ shipped. This should be interesting =)