MX500 owner with newbie questions

GregD · Post by **GregD** » Mon Feb 15, 2010 3:25 pm

Go easy on me guys, I don't know the first thing about programing and JP1 and to be honest it's pretty intimidating to me. I'd like to avoid programing if possible--at least at first.

I have an MX-500 and I want it to learn discrete codes for a Pioneer VSX-1019AH-K AVR. I just want discrete on/off, a few sound fields and the like.

Pioneer's website offers a complete list of remote control codes and Pronto Hex codes.

Power Off is listed as A51A and 0000 0068 0000 0022 0168 00b4 0016 0043 0016 0016 0016 0043 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0043 0016 0016 0016 0043 0016 0016 0016 0043 0016 0016 0016 0043 0016 0043 0016 0016 0016 0043 0016 0016 0016 0043 0016 0043 0016 0016 0016 0043 0016 0043 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0043 0016 0016 0016 0016 0016 0043 0016 0043 0016 0043 0016 06d9

Auto Level Control is listed as A557+A5CC (and a long hex code like above).

Can I simply install the A557+A5CC code on a cheap Radio Shack learning remote and then have my MX-500 learn from it? Or do I have to somehow translate the Hex code into something a learning remote can understand?

Also, for teaching the RS learning remote, is it as simple as punching 9-9-4 or 9-9-5 followed by the specific code?

I appreciate your help.

Post by **The Robman** » Mon Feb 15, 2010 5:03 pm

Depending on which "cheap Radio Shack" remote you get the answer will be different. First off, the Radio Shack (or One For All) remote that you get needs to support advanced codes and it needs to have a built in setup code that can generate the signals that you need. There's no need for the RS/OFA remote to be a learning remote.

If you get a remote like that, we can convert the hex codes or pronto hex codes into advanced codes for you, which you would then be able to program into the remote. You would then be able to use the RS/OFA remote to program your MX-500.

If you want to take this a stage further, you would get a JP1 remote and a JP1 cable, because then you wouldn't have to rely on there being a built in setup code that can generate the signals that you need.

GregD · Post by **GregD** » Mon Feb 15, 2010 6:13 pm

Thanks for the speedy reply Rob.

A cheap, $20 One For All is what I had in mind for a remote. My Vizio TV remote is JP1.3 capable so I guess I'd want a suitable learning remote in case I want to take this a step further. But for now I want to try this without going the JP1 route.

Can I use the codes Pioneer listed (like A51A)? I was under the impression that the remote would need a three-digit numerical discrete code. Or is there a way for me to convert the Hex code string like the one I listed earlier into a suitable three-digit code on my own?

The Pioneer website also has Universal Remote Control files (VSX-1019AH_URC.mxf for my AVR) and Pronto files (VSX-1019AH_Pronto.ccf). Can I get what I need from these?

Here's the link to the Pioneer files: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/ ... rs.Default

Post by **The Robman** » Mon Feb 15, 2010 7:20 pm

Both of the Vizio remotes that I know of have the audio/1023 setup code pre-loaded, which is the setup code that you would need to re-create the signals that you want.

So, step 1 is to program the audio code 1023 to a device button on the Vizio remote.

Then, to test the "A51A" code that you posted, first tap the SETUP button (ie, this is the button that you usually press and hold to program the remote), then type 02181 (and hold the last 1 when you type it).

The pronto code that you posted converts to code 01157.

Unfortunately, the 2nd function that you posted (ie, A557+A5CC) cannot be re-created using the 1023 setup code.

Here's how you can figure out the rest: The first 2 digits of the hex code (ie, A5) in all of the examples you posted yields the device code, just do a hex to decimal conversion and you get 165. The next 2 digits yield the "OBC" code, which is 26 for the first function (ie, "A51A"), 27 for the pronto hex that you posted and 87 and 204 for the 2-part code that you posted (ie, A557+A5CC).

The next step is to download our "RM" program, select the Vizio remote and the "Pioneer 3DEV" protocol. Enter the following 3 device codes (in this order): 162, 165, 164, then in the Functions sheet, select 165 as the device code, and enter a single OBC in the OBC column (for the 1-part) signals, and enter both OBCs (in the OBC and OBC2 columns) for the 2-part signals.

Occasionally RM will tell you that the OBC combinations won't work with the 3DEV protocol, which is that case with the 2-part signal that you posted. This is because of a limitation with the official 3DEV protocol that UEI uses. We have written our own protocol (called 4DEV) that can handle all combinations, but you would need a JP1 cable to use it.

3FG · Post by **3FG** » Mon Feb 15, 2010 7:51 pm

As Rob says, Audio 1023 will do the codes which have a single command, with either A5 or A4 as the first byte.

The Vizio VUR8 also has Audio 0823 which I believe will send the signals that have two commands. It looks like all of those start with A5, a necessary condition to use 0823.

So the VUR8 can send all of the commands that the 1019 accepts. If you don't have the VUR8, then the RCA RCRP05B ($20 at Best Buy) is probably the most easily obtainable remote with both codes.

Tell us if you need any of the two byte commands, and we can tell you how to setup 0823.

Post by **The Robman** » Mon Feb 15, 2010 8:30 pm

The 1023 setup code will also work for most of the 2-part commands, just not all of them.

3FG · Post by **3FG** » Mon Feb 15, 2010 10:19 pm

I guess we didn't explain that the long Hex codes are Pronto Hex format, and carry the same information content as Pioneer protocol, A557+A5CC. A number of high end remotes, including computer programmable URC remotes can accept Pronto Hex. JP1 remotes instead rely on a Setup code, which specifies 1) the IR protocol (Pioneer, in this case), 2) the device numbers (165, and for tuner/Sirius radio 164), and 3) the individual function codes for each button (57H=87 and CCH=204 decimal).

JP1 remotes also allow a user to input Extended Function Codes to custom program each button, assuming an appropriate Setup Code has specified the desired IR protocol and Device number(s).

For the two particular function codes you mentioned in your first post, using Audio 0823, you would use 994 EFC commands to assign to buttons:

A51A (which is Power On. not Off) is EFC 02245
A51B (Power Off) is EFC 01221
A557 + A5CC is EFC 38390

Use these instructions to assign the EFCs to a button.

MaskedMan · Post by **MaskedMan** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 1:52 am

If this is a newer mx-500, which has pioneer audio code 078 on board, look for the Discrete ON & OFF commands on one the 4 pages LCD commands. They won't be mapped to separate ON & OFF keys, with URC remotes they never are.

GregD · Post by **GregD** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 5:16 am

Thanks for the great feedback guys. I'm looking forward to getting started.

GregD · Post by **GregD** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 5:23 am

MaskedMan wrote:If this is a newer mx-500, which has pioneer audio code 078 on board, look for the Discrete ON & OFF commands on one the 4 pages LCD commands. They won't be mapped to separate ON & OFF keys, with URC remotes they never are.

I forgot to mention that this is a 5-year old MX-500, so I don't think it has discrete on/off listed But I'll go back and check. Thanks again for the input.

Post by **The Robman** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 9:46 am

3FG wrote:A51A (which is Power On. not Off) is EFC 02245
A51B (Power Off) is EFC 01221
A557 + A5CC is EFC 38390

All of these EFC5 codes use device code 164 whereas the functions themselves use device code 165, furthermore the combination of OBCs that the A557 + A5CC combo calls for is not possible using the official 3DEV protocol. Apart from using device code 164, the 38390 EFC5 code translates to OBCs 87 and 25, whereas it should be 87 and 204.

3FG · Post by **3FG** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 10:39 am

Rob,
Maybe I'm completely confused about how this all works, but the the EFCs that I posted are for Audio 0823, a Pioneer 2CMD protocol which only takes 165 as a device. It looks to me like you're interpreting them assuming setup code 1023.

Post by **The Robman** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 10:41 am

Sorry yes, I assumed you were talking about 1023.

GregD · Post by **GregD** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 10:59 am

I'm still confused guys. It sounds like if I really want to use the combination of OBCs (A557 + A5CC) I need to go the JP1 route. Is that right? If so, do you have a recommendation on a cheap JP1.3 remote?

Post by **The Robman** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 11:04 am

No, the first step is to confirm which Vizio remote you have. I think all of them have the 1023 code, so you will be able to re-create some of the functions that you need, but if it also has the 0823 code, you will be able to re-create the rest of them. All of this is WITHOUT requiring a JP1 cable.