JP1 Remotes

Total Newbie here -
I am using URC RF20's for my house (cheap and easy to use but very limited built in IR codes for newest receivers/blu-ray etc). The RF20's can learn, but there are some discrete codes that are not on the device remote (such as Discrete off for Sony BDP-S370 Blu-Ray) that I see provided on RemoteCentral such as:
Sony20 Device Code: 26.226 Function: 47 power OFF
0000 0068 0000 0015 0060 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 01C6
What do I need to convert the above to an actual IR signal which my RF20 can learn? Are there any PC USB IR senders available today that eliminate the need for a JP1 remote entirely? If I do need a JP1, can someone direct me to a USB style JP1 cable and JP1 remote that can do the above conversions inexpensively for me? I appreciate the help.

If there were a PC USB IR sender that did it (possibly what people use for LIRC), it would still be more expensive than the cheapest JP1 remote and much more complicated. All you need to solve your problem is a $15 RCA RCRP05B JP1 remote. You don't need any cables, and the conversion software is free. To teach that discrete code, all you have to do is program the RCA remote to use DVD setup code 1516 and press the setup key followed by 00109. Discrete On is 00113.

mdavej wrote:If there were a PC USB IR sender that did it (possibly what people use for LIRC), it would still be more expensive than the cheapest JP1 remote and much more complicated. All you need to solve your problem is a $15 RCA RCRP05B JP1 remote. You don't need any cables, and the conversion software is free. To teach that discrete code, all you have to do is program the RCA remote to use DVD setup code 1516 and press the setup key followed by 00109. Discrete On is 00113.

Thanks very much for that. Sounds great. I'm not quite sure I understand about the "conversion software". Is that something that comes with the remote and allows me to translate a Pronto HEX string like I posted and have it come up with a number like 00109 that can be entered directly on the remote keys?

Correct. The RemoteMaster program (RM), freely downloadable from our file section, will do the conversion. It doesn't come with the remote. It uses the info from the first line of what you posted, i.e., Sony20 Device Code: 26.226 Function: 47 to come up with 00109. If that info is missing and you only have the hex that follows, then you need another free program called IRTool or possibly IrpMaster.

From the OP:
power OFF
0000 0068 0000 0015 0060 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 01C6

The above is Pronto Hex and after the first 4 quads of hex digits, it shows pairs of the durations that the IR light is on and off. Most IR signals can be represented in this way. Also, however, most IR signals follow a system, and of course Sony has one. The above information is exactly represented by the following alternate format:
Sony20 Device Code: 26.226 Function: 47

Our tools, which are available here for free, can convert between these formats. Both of these formats are rather lengthy for use in manual entry into a handheld remote. JP1 remotes (like many others) use the concept of a setup code and many of the required IR signals are stored in the remote. Setup code Video 1516 incorporates the information that the signal is Sony20, and that the device number is 26.226. Power OFF isn't one of the functions stored in the remote, but can be added manually. The internal workings of the remote require function number 47 to be converted to 00109 before entering it into the remote. We ordinarily use RemoteMaster to make the conversion. It's easy.

Edited to add:
The Fiesta Bowl is taking part of my attention, so it took me too much time to make this post. I will add that to convert Pronto Hex to device and function numbers, I like to use IRScope.

Thanks for the explanation and the tip to use IRScope. Just click Import and paste in your pronto hex. Much better than IRTool since you can double click and see the actual waveform. Very cool.

One missing piece of the puzzle is how to come up with the DVD 1516 setup code. You can get that by doing a lookup by protocol, device, subdevice and remote model with the Lookup Tool at the top of this page.

You guys are way above my head at this point, but it sounds like I should get a RCA RCRP05B and start learning.

I've been told that the usbuirt.com device can apparently do what I want as well by using the LrnHelper utility: www.usbuirt.com/lrnhelper_0_0_5.zip file. Their instructions say that because the learning remote will need the code transmitted for a long duration (similar to you holding your finger on a remote button for a long time), you will need to set the RepeatCount setting on the lower-right corner of the app to a high value like 20 or 30. The device can also analyze received codes. I'm not sure if there are any advantages over the JP1 device in conjunction with your utilities. Comments?

As I said before, JP1 is much cheaper and easier. Our tools analyze and convert codes very well, run on any platform and are always being updated.

- Buy a JP1 remote for < $15
- Post code request in this forum and get answer within a few hours, or look them up yourself instantly
- Press 6 buttons on a JP1 remote and hold the last one for any duration you like

You don't even need to know the pronto hex for our tools. For example, many sony remotes don't have an eject button. You can take the simple 2 digit codes for that command from THIS site, enter them in our tools and get a 5 digit code for teaching.

UIRT method requires a $60 device to teach a $50 remote. If you intend to use Girder or the like for other purposes, then that investment makes more sense, but it's overkill for just teaching a few commands.

If $15 is too much, used RCAs are $5 + $5 shipping on Amazon, possibly even less here. I have several JP1 remotes I got for $1-$3. Many others here probably do to.

I appreciate the explanation. Looking forward to trying the RCA.