Channels and volume keys mapped to arrow keys

rickgtx · Post by **rickgtx** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 1:53 pm

Hi, I mapped the channels and volume keys to the arrow keys on my URC-6820 to simulate the OEM remote.

Now, where is the best place for the arrow keys to go? I don't need them often. I tried shift-arrow, but it is a bit cumbersome.

Any suggestions?

TIA
Rick

BTW, This mapping of channels and volume keys to the arrow keys is the only way I can get my wife to use the remote.

Capn Trips · Post by **Capn Trips** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 1:59 pm

If you have a numeric keypad, AND you do not usually use direct input of channel numbers, how about 2, 4, 6, and 8 for U, L, R, and D?

rickgtx · Post by **rickgtx** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 2:05 pm

Thanks. Thought of that but I need to enter channel numbers more than arrow keys. Also this is a TV/DVD so I need the play, stop, ff, rev too. Maybe something with LongKeyPress?

Post by **vickyg2003** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 2:25 pm

There's a LKP in the prebeta extender for this remote. If you're interested in testing let me know.

Post by **The Robman** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 3:57 pm

You could create two versions of the upgrade, one with the ch/vol functions on the arrows and another with the real arrow functions on the arrow buttons. You could program the 2nd upgrade to one of the hidden device buttons and then switch to it when needed using a macro.

pH7_jp1 · Post by **pH7_jp1** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 4:52 pm

Two different TVs that I programmed a remote for used only 4 keys on the OEM remote that had printed the arrows and beside the buttons printed Vol+, Ch+, ... There were only the 4 codes and the TV did the right thing depending on whether it was displaying a menu or not. In this case, I programmed the same codes on the arrow buttons and on the Ch & Vol buttons.

Mark Pierson · Post by **Mark Pierson** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 5:11 pm

Here's a radical idea...

Why not map the functions to the appropriate buttons on the 6820?

Or, if you're really set on having volume and channel control on the arrow buttons, I suppose you could map the arrows to the Vol and Ch buttons.

Post by **The Robman** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 5:42 pm

Mark Pierson wrote:Here's a radical idea...

Why not map the functions to the appropriate buttons on the 6820?

because...

rickgtx wrote:BTW, This mapping of channels and volume keys to the arrow keys is the only way I can get my wife to use the remote.

Remember Mark, WAF is the only rating that matters!

underquark · Post by **underquark** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 6:08 pm

It would help if we could see the OEM remote and know what its target device is because - as pH7 jp1 states - it might not be an issue.

LKP on volume and channel keys wouldn't - IMHO - be a good idea as these are keys that are generally pressed and held for a variable time. Doing something such as putting them on Shift-arrow and then making the Format button a Set or Shift key might, however, work.

Capn Trips · Post by **Capn Trips** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 12:23 am

The Robman wrote:
Mark Pierson wrote:Here's a radical idea...

Why not map the functions to the appropriate buttons on the 6820?
because...
rickgtx wrote:BTW, This mapping of channels and volume keys to the arrow keys is the only way I can get my wife to use the remote.
Remember Mark, WAF is the only rating that matters!

At the risk of sounding like a 19th-century male chauvinist pig, for crying out loud, tell her to get over herself, and that THIS is how it's gonna work! And if she doesn't want to use the remote, GREAT!

If the functions are mapped to clearly labeled logical buttons and do not require pressing shift keys nor undue concentration to know the difference between a long and short keypress, how much more straightforward could it be?! A person of normal intelligence, eyesight and manual dexterity will in two or three sessions learn and adapt to the "new" layout. Even a wife.

(on the other hand if there are extenuating circumstances not previously described (i.e. NOT normal intelligence, eyesight and manual dexterity) which REALLY make this a burden or impractical, rather than an individual's stubbornness to change, then keep trying to develop a workaround - but at some point one should weigh the cost vs. gain)

rickgtx · Post by **rickgtx** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 9:00 am

The Robman wrote:You could create two versions of the upgrade, one with the ch/vol functions on the arrows and another with the real arrow functions on the arrow buttons. You could program the 2nd upgrade to one of the hidden device buttons and then switch to it when needed using a macro.

This sounds interesting. Just need to figure out how.

For what it is worth, here is the OEM remote layout. I programed #14 keys to arrows. #30 keys are the ones I'm trying to find a place for. They are used for the DVD. This is a Haier HLTDC15 TV/DVD.

Thanks so much for the suggestions.
Rick
PS. I think this is a good example of bad remote design.

rickgtx · Post by **rickgtx** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 9:38 am

Capn Trips wrote:If the functions are mapped to clearly labeled logical buttons and do not require pressing shift keys nor undue concentration to know the difference between a long and short keypress, how much more straightforward could it be?!

Why do it? Because I can.

This is just a convenience. Many OEM remotes use an up/down & left/right for channels and volume. Channels and volume is probably 98% use of a TV remote. Once you orient your fingers, you do not have to look at the remote - great for those with glasses. I thought this was a common problem that had a clever solution.

Rick

Post by **The Robman** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 11:39 am

rickgtx wrote:This sounds interesting. Just need to figure out how.

You already know how to create an upgrade, right? So, all you need to do is create two upgrades, one with the buttons arranged for the wife and another with the buttons arranged for you. Then assign the wife's upgrade to the standard device button that you intend to use for this device, and assign your upgrade to one of the hidden device buttons. Then, to activate the hidden device button, you would program a macro to one of the macro buttons (or any other button that works for you) where the only step in the macro is the hidden device button.

rickgtx · Post by **rickgtx** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 12:25 pm

I'm not sure about assigning to a hidden device and how to get to it. With ir.exe I show 10 devices for my 6820 and I have 6 devices keys. So I picked the most likely 6 devices to program #1, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8. I left #2, 5, 9, and 10 alone. The AUD device #8 is my TV/DVD 2015.

So I make another upgrade like DVD/2016 and put it another device, like #2 SAT? Then how do I access it?

These are devices I control:
0093*TV Sharp
0490*DVD Panasonic
1039 DVD Pye DVR Mod PY90DG
1314 DVD Apex TV/DVD Mod 1314DV
1330 VCR Tobshiba TV/VCR Mod MV13N3
2015 DVD Haier TV/DVD Model HLTDC15

johnsfine · Post by **johnsfine** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 12:38 pm

To access up to ten devices on a 6820, define a macro for each device you want whose device key doesn't physically exist.

Those extra four device keys do exist in the firmware, so you can include a press of one of those device keys in a macro and it will function correctly even though the button doesn't physically exist.

If you don't have enough extra buttons (such as M1 and M2) to dedicate to those macros, you can use "shifted" buttons. A quick press and release of SET before another button shifts it. Since SET is harder to press than other buttons, you might want another macro for that (I think this trick works in an 6820, but I'm not certain): Dedicate some other key as shift, and make it a macro containing just SET, then you can define multiple shifted keys and they will be easier to use than if you had left SET as the only shift key.