JP1 Remotes

I am very new to all of this, so my apologies and thanks in advance.

I am trying to assign three distinct input sources on a Marantz SR6006 AV Receiver to keys on a Comcast remote. I downloaded RemoteMaster and looked up the AV Receiver on JP1 based on my setup code: 0189 (that was the setup code that allowed me to successfully map a couple EFCs to the Comcast remote).

The lookup tool says the following:

Protocol: RC-5
Device 1: 17
Device 2: 16
Device 3: 117

Protocol ID: 008E
Fixed: 0E 0F 4E

When I enter the information into RemoteMaster it will not let me enter 117 as a device number, so the Fixed info I get is 0E 0F 4F.

I downloaded all the discrete codes for my receiver from Marantz. It provides the hex codes for certain buttons. I input the hex codes in the functions tab of RemoteMaster, but even though the hex codes are different, the software provides the same EFC for both buttons.

Here are the hex codes at issue:

SAT input: 0000 0071 0000 0018 0020 0020 0020 0020 0041 0041 0041 0020 0020 0020 0020 0041 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0C9B 0020 0020 0020 0020 0041 0041 0041 0020 0020 0020 0020 0041 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 04B0

BD input: 0000 0071 0000 0024 0020 0020 0020 0020 0040 0020 0020 0040 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 00A1 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0040 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0AAB 0020 0020 0020 0020 0040 0020 0020 0040 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 00A1 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0040 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 04B0

CD input: 0000 0071 0000 0018 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0041 0041 0041 0020 0020 0041 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0C9B 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0041 0041 0041 0020 0020 0041 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 0020 04B0

RemoteMaster gives an EFC of 00018 for all three. I suspect this is a configuration problem with RemoteMaster because I cannot get the Fixed data to 0E 0F 4E, but I, obviously, am not qualified to diagnosis the problem.

Any ideas?

Sure.
Let's clear up some misconceptions first. The "hex codes" in the Marantz spreadsheet are Pronto Hex, which are not directly useful in RemoteMaster. Very briefly, Pronto Hex is a list of the On and Off durations of an IR signal, and many high end universal remotes can accept Pronto Hex to store the IR signal in a learned format. UEI remotes work differently, using an executor (subroutine) to calculate the IR signal from the device number and OBC information. This approach uses less memory and is more flexible. "Hex" as used in RM is simply the input data to the executor, and it is typically either 1 or 2 bytes in size.

It is possible to convert Pronto Hex device number/OBC format, but in this case it isn't necessary since Marantz listed the information in the spreadsheet. "System" is the same as "device". For RC5 signals (SAT and CD), "Command" is the OBC. For RC5x, Command" is the subdevice, and "Extension" is the OBC.

Now, since the device numbers for the RC5 signals are 8 and 20, it isn't possible to use 0189 (or any other RC5-based setup code in Comcast remotes) because none of the setup codes have fixed data corresponding to devices 8 or 20. EFCs can only change the variable data. So we need to use a RC5/Rc5x combo executor, because it incorporates the RC5 device as part of the variable data. RC5x device numbers are stored in the fixed data, and the bad news is that there is no setup code in Comcast remotes which can send BD input, since it is a RC5x signal.

So use 21781 (or AUX 1781 if you have a grey OK/Select button).
SAT input is RC5 device 8, OBC 63 and this can be sent with EFC 45765
CD input is RC5 device 20, OBC 63 , with EFC 37573

If you really want to get BD input (RC5x, device 7.63, OBC 0) working, either buy/make a JP1.3 cable or buy a RCA RCRP05B.

Very helpful. Thank you for the help. I have a lot to learn still.

When you say use 21781, do mean to use that as the setup code?

I was able to input working EFCs using the 0189 setup code for volume and power. Do you think the same EFCs would work for those functions if I change the setup code I am using? If not, how did you figure out the EFC code once you had the system and OBC numbers?

Thanks again for the help. It is greatly appreciated.

I should have asked you directly: Do you have a Red or grey OK/Select button? If it is red, we have more and better options for the setup code. I'd like to know that before responding to your other questions-- other than yes, 21781 is a setup code.

ETA: Well, I was looking in the next remote (Cox 7820B) in the Lookup Table list when I wrote that the red button remote had better possibilities. Actually it is slightly different but not better. Both red and gray remotes have 1781, but any listed RC5/RC5x executor will do.

You can get the EFCs using RemoteMaster. On the Setup tab, select RC5/RC5x. Normally, it is necessary to make the fixed data match that of the setup code in the remote, but in this case the fixed data refers to RC5x device numbers, and there aren't any useful ones, so you can just accept the defaults. Then on the Functions tab, enter the OBC and the RC5 device number, and RM will calculate the EFC. If it doesn't display EFC5, make sure that you have the Comcast remote selected.

If you're happy with the already programmed EFCs using 0189, just temporarily reassign the setup code to 1781, and make the keymoves. Then revert to 0189. All of the keymove information is retained by the remote regardless of the final setup code.

Or, if you suspect that you'll be adding EFCs, I recommend that you plan to use 1781 as the setup code and base all of your keymoves off of that.

Thank you! I truly appreciate the expertise. My setup is not perfect but it is much better than what I was able to come up with on my own. I had never even heard of JP1 a couple weeks ago. But I am starting to think the options are pretty impressive.

Thanks again.