JP1 Remotes

Howdy. I used to post here a little more frequently back when I was getting started. Really appreciate the forums and resources.

I have a URC-6131 and when I program it, it only holds the data for like 2 days tops. Then I have to reprogram it to get it to work again.

So I will be replacing it shortly, I like the URC-6131, but I liked what I saw in the picture of the: RCA RCU810. I noticed you didn't have any in stock.

Are you going to be getting more, and How well do you like them?

Also, am I doing something wrong with the URC-6131 to make it loose memory or did it just get dropped one too many times?

Thanks!

I don't know what could be causing the 6131 to lose it's memory, what exactly are the symptoms? Once it loses the memory, what do you see if you then download the memory using IR.exe?

As for the RCU810, I hadn't intended to re-stock it as it's a slow seller, but someone asked for 2 of them so I decided to go ahead and order a few more, so I will have it backin stock sometime in the next week or so.

ps. I split this post away from my "for sale" thread as it would get lost in there.

Sorry it has taken me so long to reply.

Incidentally, I reprogrammed it and haven't had the same issue with it since. However, I dropped it this evening from 3ft to a vinyl floor and it died. Completely. Like I can press buttons and the LED lights, but I can not upload or download from it, IR acts as if the device isn't even plugged in.

So it is time to get a new one. I will check your stock tomorrow to see what I can get. But I haven't been happy with the responsiveness of the URC-6131. It seems to be latent in sending the commands perhaps from poor IR coverage. I tore it apart once and pushed out the IR thingie and that seemed to help quite a bit. But I scarred up the case in the process.

This remote is used to a Dish PVR, A Dish Tuner, A DVD Player, a Surround Sound System and a Mitsubushi TV. I was extremely happy with the remote design, but I am wondering if there is another remote that would provide an elegant User Interface and some additional durability. Please advise.

Additionally, I used my older laptop to program these remotes as I sat in front of the TV. I have recently replaced the older laptop and will soon be selling it. The replacement laptop doesn't have any Parallel ports. I have seen a USB JP1 cable from a vendor on this site, but I am uncertain of the quality and reliability of these USB cables. Do they compare to the parallel version? Are there additional inconveniences or gotchas in getting them installed and working?

Thanks for a terrific site and forum.

Have you had the 6131 apart since you dropped it? You might want to take it apart to check for a stuck (or shifted) button pad. While it is apart you might want to get a cheap soldering iron and touch each pin on the eeprom (U2). A bad solder connection on it could be causing all your symptoms. The IC was added after initial manufacture on many of these and might not have the same level of quality as the rest of the remote. If it's not working then you have little to lose by trying. I don't remember if there is a recognizable crystal oscillator (small square or rectangular plastic box) but they can come unsoldered easily too. Lastly the LED could have broken off which would be apparent to a visual inspection.

All of the current OFA remotes, including the URC-6131 have a weaker signal than the classic remotes (ie, 15-1994, URC-7800, etc) because they only have one IR-LED. You asked about the RCU810 before, and I have it back in stock now, but this model also has just 1 IR-LED. Off the top of my head, the only remotes that I have in stock right now that have 2 IR-LEDs are the URC-7800 "Cinema 7" and the 15-2117.

I can't speak to the reliability of the USB interfaces as I've never used one. Unless you think you can get a really good price for your old laptop, maybe you should keep it around for JP1 work.