key moves vs. learned codes + shift question

[rocket777]

A few questions on key move vs. learned codes. I understand that learned codes use up a lot of memory, here are some other issues I was wondering about:

1. Are the learned codes sent out faster or slower than ones that are key mapped to an upgrade I can now create from the data supplied by ir.exe. I.E. is it worth the trouble? I'm not short on memory yet.

2. Are learned codes stored "analog" or digital. In ir.exe, learned codes are said to be "decoded". If I create an upgrade to use key moves, might I get more reliable control having exact codes? I occasionally have keypresses that bounce (done twice) or are ignored. I suspect it might be the rf isn't getting through (on my 9910) but can't be certain. One of my learned keys was not decoded correctly in ir.exe, and so I taught it again - which fixed the problem.

3. in ir.exe, when first starting up and going to the learned signals tab, there are panels for raw signal info, freq, sent once when key is pressed, etc. When I upload my remote, only the top panel shows up. What and how is this other info used?


I have a urc-9910 and can find nothing about a shift key in my manual. Is this something I can use to get more commands out of a single key, and if so, what key is the shift key?

[Capn Trips]

As Roseanne Roseannadanna used to say: "You sure ask a lot of questions!"

1. Are the learned codes sent out faster or slower than ones that are key mapped to an upgrade I can now create from the data supplied by ir.exe. I.E. is it worth the trouble? I'm not short on memory yet.

I do not believe they are sent out at any greater or less "speed". Regarding memory efficiency, the EEPROM is divided into three separate memory locations, so using the learning memory does not reduce your upgrade memory nor your keymove/macro memory. However, you can only have about 20-25 learned signals before the learning memory is full, whilst you can make up to and possibly more than 100-150 keymoves using the same amount of memory (if you use the extender which converts the learning memory to keymove memory), or make an upgrade (which uses less and different memory) to free the learning memory for the next component you need to learn. It comes down to your personal situation and what type of memory you have to spare that determines how best to use it FOR YOU.

2. Are learned codes stored "analog" or digital. In ir.exe, learned codes are said to be "decoded". If I create an upgrade to use key moves, might I get more reliable control having exact codes? I occasionally have keypresses that bounce (done twice) or are ignored. I suspect it might be the rf isn't getting through (on my 9910) but can't be certain. One of my learned keys was not decoded correctly in ir.exe, and so I taught it again - which fixed the problem.

I cannot speak to analog vs. digital storage, but my experience is that many learns are imperfect, but sufficient to be decoded. In those cases, the learned signal may operate slightly dodgily, whilst the signal generated by an upgrade properly created from the decoded learns, is almost always "purer" (lacking a better term)

3. in ir.exe, when first starting up and going to the learned signals tab, there are panels for raw signal info, freq, sent once when key is pressed, etc. When I upload my remote, only the top panel shows up. What and how is this other info used?

That info is normally displayed when IR (using decodeIR.dll) cannot decode the signal, and then those panels may/will appear. The data there are useful to an expert (not me) to determine if it is a brand-new type of protocol that has not previously been seen, or if the learn is simply "bad", and what characteristic of the learn may be "bad". Even when the signal decodes, you can force IR to display these data by selecting "Advanced>Force Learned Timings".

I have a urc-9910 and can find nothing about a shift key in my manual. Is this something I can use to get more commands out of a single key, and if so, what key is the shift key?

The recessed "SET" button in the lower right hand corner is the "shift" key. We use the term "shift" as a shorthand since on various UEI remotes this button is labelled "SET", "SETUP", "MAGIC", or is simply a different colour (green on older Radio Shack models) on various remotes, yet performs the same function.

And YES, you can, using JP1, assign functions to "shifted" buttons, and access them from your remote by pressing "SET" prior to the button to which it's assigned. A few caveats, however:

"Shift" followed by presses of the NUMERIC keys normally indicates that you are trying to directly send an advanced code (EFC). i.e. shift-1-4-2 would send the signal for EFC 142 for the currently active device mode. Therefore, to access a function assigned to a "shifted" numeric key, you have to press "shift" TWICE before pressing the numeric key in question.

If you use the extender, this "Direct EFC" capability is disabled and the shifted numeric buttons only require ONE press of "shift"to access the underlying function.

Also, if you use the extender, you can define a DIFFERENT button on your remote, perhaps one that is more conveniently located, to be your "shift" button.

ALSO, if you use the extender, you can overlay a THIRD level of functions (we call it x-shifted) on buttons! And you can define any other button to be your x-shift button. In fact, you can define the "SET" button as your "shift"(which is the default) and define "shift-SET" as your "x-shift" so that if you press "SET" ONCE, you access the "shifted" functions, and if you press "SET" TWICE, you access the "X-shifted" functions.

If you get the sense that I'm recommending you use the extender, you're right.

Aren't you glad you asked?

[zaphod7501]

Also, if you use the extender, you can define a DIFFERENT button on your remote, perhaps one that is more conveniently located, to be your "shift" button.

You can also do this without the extender by creating a macro on the desired button.
<desired button>=SET[Setup] or
<desired button>=SET[Setup];SET[Setup] if you want a shift key that will activate shifted numeric commands without pressing the set key twice.
(that only sounds complicated)