Home Theater Master MX900 and the UMC-1

[vvv]

I have heard about a lot of people using Harmony remotes but is anyone using anything from Universal Remote Control? I updated the IR database from my MX900 today and have not found anything related to Emotiva let alone the UMC-1.

My thought is that I would use the supplied remote and just learn the codes. My only concern is that I need discrete codes for the inputs in order to create macros.

Thoughts?

[RayoVac]

I run the MX-850. No UMC-1 in the database yet. I have learned the codes AND used HEX for discrete inputs on the UMC-1. I get all the control I need, except I have an odd problem:

If I LEARN the Volume Up and Down from the UMC-1 remote, my MX-850 will only send ONE step of volume change to the UMC-1 then it stops transmitting or repeating.

If I use HEX codes for the Volume Up and Down... the VOL- works perfectly... hold the button on the remote down, it sends repeating commands to continue Volume Decrease (I can see the MX-850 status shows that it is continuously transmitting). The VOL+ does not work consistently. The MX-850 again shows continuous transmission, but 95% of the time, the UMC-1 only takes ONE volume step up. I have to keep pressing the button to increase volume.

I have not been able to nail down what changes, but out of the blue, the VOL+ on the MX-850 will work properly, sustained pressing of VOL+ increases volume until I let go. 10 mins later, it will stop working again. I thought it was a URC problem, until it started working randomly... now I am thinking it "might" be a UMC-1 problem... although the UMC-1 remote works just fine, so it makes me lean back to the MX-850 as being an issue.

Anyway... to answer your original question, between learning from the UMC-1 remote and using the posted HEX codes in the MX Editor to fill in the missing discrete inputs... the MX-900 should work as well as any other universal remote.

Here is the thread where Dann G. posted the HEX for most of the inputs and buttons you would use:

emotivalounge.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=preamps&action=display&thread=9361

[vvv]

Thanks for the reply. I have no known experience with Hex codes. What do I do with them and how do I get them to work?

[RayoVac]

Feb 22, 2010 11:30:31 GMT -5 vvv said:

Thanks for the reply. I have no known experience with Hex codes. What do I do with them and how do I get them to work?

Well first use your MX Editor and just learn all the buttons from the original UMC-1 remote. Then you will probably want to create New buttons in MX Editor for things like the Discrete Inputs, Dolby Volume etc.

In the URC MX Editor (or whatever software you have) you should have a choice for "Universal Editor" or something similar. Then an option for Hex Codes. You would copy the Hex code for the function you want (the whole string of numbers) from Dann's post I linked you to. Paste the Hex into MX Editor and in my version, I then drag a Button in the Hex window on top of the button on my MX-850... it now shows up as HE DA or Hex Data. Save the button, bingo you are ready to test.

Depending upon how different your editor is vs. mine... some steps may vary.

Raymond

[vvv]

Thanks. I will look for the Hex option. I was previously unaware of it.

[hemster]

I have an MX-900 and have added the discrete hex codes. I have not learned any commands into it.
Interestingly, I have no issues with the VOL+ and VOL- commands (i.e. continuous transmission by holding the button down just works).

I did start with a fresh set of batteries however! On used batteries, although the "operation" of the remote may appear to be functional, it can affect the LEARN sequence or the download to remote. So if you did not, try using new batteries when saving to the remote or learning.

Oh and use with either LEARN or hex codes for a given function, not both (you can tell which is which by the little letter icon on the button in the software).

[RayoVac]

Feb 22, 2010 15:35:28 GMT -5 hemster said:

I have an MX-900 and have added the discrete hex codes. I have not learned any commands into it.
Interestingly, I have no issues with the VOL+ and VOL- commands (i.e. continuous transmission by holding the button down just works).

I did start with a fresh set of batteries however! On used batteries, although the "operation" of the remote may appear to be functional, it can affect the LEARN sequence or the download to remote. So if you did not, try using new batteries when saving to the remote or learning.

Oh and use with either LEARN or hex codes for a given function, not both (you can tell which is which by the little letter icon on the button in the software).

Yeah.. the MX-Editor for the 850 will only allow a Learn or Hex etc. you can't do both. Funny thing was the totally different action the 850 does with a Learn on the VOL +/- vs. using the Hex Codes.

I did a little Googling... and apparently the 850 has had other quirky issues such as this. Guys who had a MX-700 and the 850 with a Velodyne sub had a very similar problems learning commands. Their solution was to Learn the codes on their 700, then load the config to the 850... Magic!!! But if they learned right to the 850... it would not work properly. The Editor is apparently the same for the 850 and 700. To bad the 900 is not the same, I would see if one of you guys could send me a config file. The 850 loads MXF files... not sure the 900 even uses the same editor.

I am going to put new batteries in it and see if it changes anything. Since it is so sporadic... I am thinking maybe it works after sitting and not using the remote for a while... will work for a bit then stop. Again... only affects the VOL+. VOL- works fine... go figure.