Coby DVD938

[gmaslin]

I did a search here and nothing came up so before I venture into trying, I'd like some feedback on the possibility of success. The device is a combo DVD player/receiver(radio tuner plus amp)/karaoke machine. Will a remote that doesn't support EFC style 994 entries like a URC-6131 get all the functions right?

[The Robman]

I've read this post 3 times and I still have no idea what you're asking.

Is this a "code search" post where you really want to add an upgrade for the Coby to your existing JP1 remote?

Or are you asking if the Coby remote itself is a JP1 remote?

[gmaslin]

Let me try again. I have many devices which include a Coby DVD938. I am planning on getting a JP1 compatible remote to unify all the various device functions. All of the devices are single function except the DVD938. Its multiple functions are described above. Before I decide on a Universal remote, I would like some advice on the suitability of a remote that doesn't support EFC style 994 commands for controlling the DVD938.

[3FG]

Looking at our upgrades for Coby-branded equipment (see jp1-master-1.09) it seems that all Coby untis use NEC1 IR protocol. Most use device 0.xxx, although device 16 and 32 have been used.

If it turns out that all of the IR functions in your Coby combo unit use device 0.xxx, then EFC style keymoves wouldn't be necessary, because the NEC Combo executor will handle any subdevice for a single device. Probably the NEC 4DEV Combo executor would also cover the entire Coby unit.

However, we're just guessing about the device and subdevice numbers, and even if your unit uses NEC1.

IMO, there is no good reason to get a remote which can't perform keymoves properly. Also, the interface cables that work with USB are all JP1.2/1.3/2 and only support JP1 remotes like the 6131 by using a separate adapter block. Get a more modern remote; they all support keymoves. Even the Atlas 1056B03, which isn't shipped from the factory with keymove capability, can be easily patched to support keymoves.

[vickyg2003]

Since it seems we might not have an upgrade for this particular box, you might want to look for a remote that supports learning. With a learning remote you can capture signals to see what the OEM remote is sending. Otherwise you have to hope that someone has posted the upgrade already.

[gmaslin]

vickyg2003, 3FG and The Robman
Thanks for the attention and advice. I feel quite welcomed by the near immediate response but disappointed that I can't use that older remote to easily tie in the DVD938. What should I expect to pay for a completely functional remote? How important is a 5 digit EFC? How important is having more than 2K support? Does a learning remote require the original remote? Which universal remote features are the most important when tying in a device without its OEM remote?

[vickyg2003]

vickyg2003, 3FG and The Robman
Thanks for the attention and advice. I feel quite welcomed by the near immediate response but disappointed that I can't use that older remote to easily tie in the DVD938.

I think I might have misread your post. If you have a 6131 AND A CABLE, you can do without the EFC style keymove. We just create upgrades and use keystyle keymoves. The lack of EFC style keymove is very difficult to use by manual 994 type programming because you not only have to find a setup code that controls the fixed data, you also need to find a button that carries the correct function code. That makes it nearly impossible.

What should I expect to pay for a completely functional remote?

In the US? I like the RCA RCRP05B that runs about 20 at the grocery store. About $14 at kmart. Its the best of the bunch. I also like the ugly-Atlas, but now there is the JP2 atlas that you'd want to avoid for now. Then there is cable interface that needs to be added.

How important is a 5 digit EFC?

For a non-jp1 user, (without a cable), its very important. If a remote uses 5 digit EFCs you are more likely to be able to control a device without needing an upgrade.

Does a learning remote require the original remote?

Yes, a learning remote reads the IR signals, and does a little analysis to figure out how it repeats.

Which universal remote features are the most important when tying in a device without its OEM remote?

If you don't have an OEM remote, the most important feature is this community.

If say you needed the "Coby DVD-938 HomeTheater", if I were home, I'd look it up in the harmony database and create an upgrade for you.
Since I'm not home, I would use the Lookup Tool to find that Coby sometimes uses Nec1 0.246 upgrades to control their DVD Home Theater in a Box, but I see that the URC-6131 is not going to have that code or any substitute. If you had a cable, we'd try making an upgrade from the information listed from the Lookup Tool, unless we found a probable fit in the file section that used the Nec1 0.246. Even if you didn't have a cable, if you had access to an Atlas remote, (black ugly remote issued by many cable companies) we could even have you try out EFCs to see if this is indeed the correct code.



To me, this community is the best reason to go the JP1 route.

[The Robman]

Let me try again. I have many devices which include a Coby DVD938. I am planning on getting a JP1 compatible remote to unify all the various device functions. All of the devices are single function except the DVD938. Its multiple functions are described above.

OK, so I understand that you have multiple devices, and one of your devices (the Coby) is a combo unit, so it's really several devices in one. None of that is a problem for a universal remote. But then you go on to say...

Before I decide on a Universal remote, I would like some advice on the suitability of a remote that doesn't support EFC style 994 commands for controlling the DVD938.

and earlier you said...

Will a remote that doesn't support EFC style 994 entries like a URC-6131 get all the functions right?

It sounds like you're either (a) specifically looking for a remote that doesn't support keymoves or (b) you have a URC-6131 and are under the false impression that it doesn't support keymoves. I can't quite tell which.

If it's (a), my question is WHY would you specifically want a remote that doesn't support keymoves.

If it's (b), the URC-6131 DOES support keymoves, and both types! It supports copying a function from one button to another *and* it supports programming a button from scratch using an EFC. However, like all older JP1 remotes, it only supports 3 digit EFC codes, so if you're using a setup code that uses 2 variable bytes of data, you can't use EFC style keymoves (but the copy kind of keymoves would still work).

So here's some basic questions...
a) do you already have a JP1 remote? (or any UEI or OFA remote)
b) do you have a JP1 cable?
c) do you already have the URC-6131 or are you looking to buy a URC-6131?
d) if you have a URC-6131, has it been modified for JP1 use?

[gmaslin]

The Robman
This page seems to indicate that remote doesn't support those functions and has 5 digit EFC, not 3. Who am I to trust?

vickyg2003
Your reply is most thoughtful and appreciated. I am in the process of building a cable as we speak. I just bought the 1k resistors today and my brother is soldering everything for me according to the instructions found on this website. I have access to a 6131 remote but I don't know if it is an 'n' model or if it has pins. I have understood from your reply above that the lack of the 994 functions is overcome by directly programming with the cable, is this correct? Are any of the new cablevision remotes that ship with the Scientific-Atlanta 4200 boxes or those that shipped with the Dish 500 IRD's suitable for JP1? In other words, are they also 'Atlas'?

[The Robman]

I don't know the origins of that statement in that spreadsheet but it is wrong. I just tested it myself on a URC-6131 and I can confirm that it does support programming EFCs using the 994 command.

However, the URC-6131 shipped from the factory missing the 6-pin connector and an EEPROM chip, so both would need to be added in order for you to be able to program this remote using JP1.

[The Robman]

Am I correct in assuming that you already have a URC-6131 remote? And if so, have you already tried programming it to work the Coby? If so, have you found any setup codes that work at least some of the functions?

[vickyg2003]

I don't know the origins of that statement in that spreadsheet but it is wrong.

I was under the impression that the 6131 couldn't do efc style keymoves too, but I also just confirmed it does. I'm sure someone told me something that made me believe that. However, I just googled it and it looks like the 6131 can't do hex style keymoves.

[3FG]

The notion that the 6131 can't do EFC style keymoves is a persistent one, and I have read it many times since joining here. I expect to read it again in the future, partly because there is an element of truth: keymoves are poorly implemented in the 6131, but the limitation is not in manual entry, but in using a JP1 cable.

I suppose that the idea started because back in 2003/2004, adding keymoves via a cable didn't work at all on the 6131. Our tools didn't know about the keymove format used in the 6131. Once that was cleared up, the second issue is that it only supports 1 byte EFC-style keymoves, while older remotes can support at least 2 byte EFC style keymoves. See this thread for a good summary of the issues. The RDF4Spec_r004.pdf file gives a very complete description of the EFC formats, except for that used in some JP2 remotes.

Anyway, planning to use a 6131 without a cable (manual programming only) is not a good idea, IMO. The setup code base is 10 years old, and most combo executors can't be used.

Even with a cable, it is somewhat limited wrt keymoves, but it is workable.

[The Robman]

Even with a cable, it is somewhat limited wrt keymoves, but it is workable.

I know what you're getting at but I think that statement gives the wrong impression. Bottom line, there is nothing that can't be done, with regards to keymoves, using the URC-6131, it just might require an extra step.

For the folks that find this thread looking for a way to do 2-byte keymoves, here's what you do. First, create a "helper" upgrade that has all the additional functions in it, then do "copy" style keymoves based on the helper device.

[gmaslin]

3FG
I read the thread you linked in your post and believe I understand the inconvenience I'll have to accept using this remote. Since I am new to JP1, I'd like to proceed frugally so making use of what I have is desirable.

The Robman
Which EEPROM is the best to use on this unit and where are the instructions to put it in a 6131? Looking at the unit at hand, it appears to have a JP1 header without pins. Are there variations on this design for this model? Is a usb cable preferable to a parallel interface on this remote?

For the record, no one addressed my previous questions about the Cablevision and Dish Network remotes being suitable for JP1.