Greeeeen noob. Is this going to be worth it?

[deanis]

Hi. I just stumbled on your guys' forum tonight (looking for a remote that will handle ALL the functions of my new projector (Mitsubishi HD1000U), stereo equipment, xbox 360, and whatever else I feel like

I am thinking of getting the URC 9910, in fact I will likely get it even if I don't dive into JP1 stuff.

Here's what I'd like to know.

1) Am I understanding this right that using a JP! cable and reprogramming the remote will essentially overwrite the remote's manufacturer programming of the remote, but that in doing this you can get a remote to do exactly what you want - get every button of a device remote put onto the universal remote?

2) Assuming I dive into JP1, how hard is this process given I am only looking at three to four relatively straightforward devices (though I think the mits doesn't have codes for it on your forum)? Am I looking for endless hours of work here?

3) Where the heck can I get a cord to attach the remote to my computer? It seems they are serial ports (which my computer lacks) or USB for 35$ (more than the remote). I'm a student on a budget here.

I guess that's it for now.

Thanks guys.

[johnsfine]

1) Am I understanding this right that using a JP! cable and reprogramming the remote will essentially overwrite the remote's manufacturer programming of the remote,

Not overwrite, but if necessary override. The manufacturer programming is in a ROM that can't be modified. The JP1 programming is in a small eeprom. The remote looks in the eeprom first for any instructions and uses the ROM for whatever the eeprom doesn't tell it.

in doing this you can get a remote to do exactly what you want - get every button of a device remote put onto the universal remote?

Yes.

3) Where the heck can I get a cord to attach the remote to my computer? It seems they are serial ports (which my computer lacks) or USB for 35$ (more than the remote). I'm a student on a budget here.

The common and least expensive JP1 cable is for parallel (printer) port.

[The Robman]

The Serial cables are just for JP1.2 remotes so they wouldn't work with the URC-9910 anyway. If your PC has a parallel (aka, LPT1 / printer) port, all you need is a $15 "Simple" JP1 cable. If your PC lacks both a serial and a parallel port, and it's a desktop, you can add the ports using a $15 PCI card.

I have the PCI cards, the JP1 cables and the URC-9910 remote all available for sale.

[vickyg2003]

2) Assuming I dive into JP1, how hard is this process given I am only looking at three to four relatively straightforward devices (though I think the mits doesn't have codes for it on your forum)? Am I looking for endless hours of work here?

It takes a little bit of study to figure out what pieces of software you need to download, but beware this stuff can be totally addictive. It can chew up more hours than sudoku, freecell and solitare combined! First you tweak your remote, and then you start on your friends and family.

[deanis]

Am I correct in assuming that using JP-1, I don't have to worry about memory issues that come up when using the remote as is (the standard learning methods)?

[greenough1]

There are still memory limitations determined on the size of the eprom in the remote. But with JP1, you won't have to rely on learning. You can use upgrades and keymoves instead.

You item #1 looks familiar from a post in the SD dvdplayer forum at avsforum.com... Welcome.

jeff

[deanis]

Thanks.

I don't think I posted in that particular forum (I joined to better look into getting an HDTV projector - I could be wrong though), but I am quick becoming a frequent AVSer

[classicsat]

You can see if you can borrow access to a system with a parallel port.

Keymoves/upgrades save memory compared to learning, but themselves have limited capacity, but not that limited.

[ElizabethD]

If your PC lacks both a serial and a parallel port, and it's a desktop, you can add the ports using a $15 PCI card.

I have the PCI cards, the JP1 cables and the URC-9910 remote all available for sale.

I have parallel, but no DB9 serial. Any solutions? It's for a laptop not a big box under the desk. I googled for what a PCI card is but don't understand. Is that those things you push into the side of a laptop?

[kupakai]

I have parallel, but no DB9 serial. Any solutions? It's for a laptop not a big box under the desk. I googled for what a PCI card is but don't understand. Is that those things you push into the side of a laptop?

You would need a PCMCIA card (or PC card), not PCI card, which are for desktop computers; something more like these (I think these are what you refer to as "those things you push into the side of the laptop" ):
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/4 ... Card_.html
http://cgi.ebay.com/RS232-Serial-Port-D ... dZViewItem

Do you want to use it for serial JP1.x cable or the serial JP1 cable? If it is for JP1.x cable, people have gotten USB to Serial adapters to work (I have), and are usually cheaper. See
https://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6993

If it is for JP1 serial cable, The USB to serial adapters don't work, but I don't know if the above PC cards work with the bit banging method that the JP1 cables use. Has anyone tried it?

[ElizabethD]

Thanks. Pricey stuff. Crazy. I'll look it over more, though.
Can't be USB. It's for bit-banging. I wonder what sort of specs something like this needs both in the computer on on the gizmo.

[ElizabethD]

That ebay price is better. But no specs of any kind. I wouldn't know if it can be used as a normal RS232, DB9 equivalent or some other (slow??) purpose. Or if my laptop will like it.