Panasonic DVD Recorder + Dishplayer

[biddle]

First and foremost, I am glad to see the den back up! Keep up the good fight guys!<p><p>Now to my real question, does anyone know of a reference for Dishplayer VCR codes? I mean the codes you enter for the IR blaster, not for the remote. I just bought a Panasonic DMR-E50 DVD recorder and was hoping to find the codes so that my dishplayer can control it like a VCR. If anyone knows of a technical reference for Dishplayer IR blaster codes, please let me know. I tried all the preset Dishplayer codes for Panasonic and most other major brands. Thanks for any and all help, and keep up the good fight!

[md2020]

You need to do some hardware modifications actually.
As I am sure the signal is not IR
but UHF
you can find by searching on the web people who had done this modification to allow you to control using that remote.
-
*NOTE*
The above has nothing to do with ECM/THEFT OF SERVICES/HACKING or whatever....
good luck

[biddle]

The signal to the DVD recorder is IR. This should be within the dishplayers capacity. I just need to know the right codes. What exactly is required to identify a IR signal (frequency, etc)? If there were I reference they I could cross reference my Panasonic DVD recorder with all the codes programmed into the dishplayer.

[md2020]

Ok SNIP SNIP -
Hope this helps....
Good Luck


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.:: Total Remote ::.
Reviewed by Eric Long, on December 14th 2002

Total Remote by Griffin Technology is a very innovative product that REALLY enables your PocketPC to control nearly any device from up to 100 feet. If you are looking for a truly universal remote control that is easy to program then look no further. Price $29.99.

The Total Remote combination of hardware and software from Griffin Technology is a very innovative combination that works extremely well. Unlike other remote control for PocketPC software that is out there, the Total Remote package includes a small piece of hardware that plugs into your headphone jack. This departs from other solutions that use the built in IR port (although TR can use that too) or use a device which plugs into your CF slot. Yes, that’s right, TR uses your headphone jack! What a concept! Through some miracle of modern technology, TR uses specially coded sounds to drive the two IR transmitters bundled in the device. I’m no IR transmitter/light bulb/thingamabob expert, but these things are massive. They are bigger than the ones that are built into most of my actual remotes.



Griffin Tech claims the remote works up to 100 feet. I don’t doubt it. I was unable to test this, as sadly, I don’t have a room 100 feet long in my house, but I was able to successfully surf channels from my dining room to the living room, which was easily 30 feet. Well, maybe in my future 20,000 square foot mansion I’ll be able to fully put it through its paces.

Using the Total Remote
For some reason, it takes about 30 seconds exactly to load Total Remote on my Ipaq 3600 (running from CF card). This is the only program I have ever seen that takes so long to load. I bet it loads faster if installed in main memory, though. Once you get past that initial slow startup, you are ready to use Total Remote and your Pocket PC.



Selecting Your Device
Right “out of the box”, TR supports 300 devices. They are categorized into TV, VCR, audio, DVD, CD, Tuner, Audio System, and Other. Each type of device has a different skin, with buttons appropriate to the type of device being controlled (i.e. there is no “play” button when controlling a TV). Each skin has the most commonly used commands shown on the initial screen. Other functions are accessed via pressing the SHIFT button, which changes to the next set of buttons. For example, the TV skin has the channel numbers, volume, and mute on the main screen. Pressing SHIFT once pulls up MENU, TEXT, OK, up, down, left, right, and four colored buttons. Pressing SHIFT again brings up F1 through F9 buttons. This allows you to have a virtual remote that has more buttons than will fit on the physical screen at one time.



To select which device(s) to activate (meaning be able to control), you browse through the hierarchy of devices, checking the box of each device you want to use. This will add the selected devices to your device list and allow you to select them as the device to control. You can use either the device menu or left/right buttons on the program interface to choose which device you are going to control. One note: I did notice that a couple of the pre-configured devices I tried did not work as intended. Also, I noticed that the Dish Network DishPlayer 7200 skin was blank…no buttons to push, and hence, no functionality.

Making Your Own Device
But what if Total Remote does not have your ACME Nuclear Powered 5 Million Jigawatt Jukebox on the list of available devices? Never fear, the process of making your own device is generally simple and intuitive. The only thing that might throw you at first is that you have to double tap the “+” buttons in the hierarchy to get them to expand. In most Pocket PC applications a single tap would expand a hierarchal tree, but TR requires two.



The first step to create your own device is to tap “New…” in the Device menu. Give the device a name, select the type device, and viola! Device is created. The next step is to program the buttons so that they will actually do something.

TR includes three different methods of programming your own device: One-Shot Sampling, Continuous Sampling, and Silent Sampling. One-Shot Sampling lets you program one button, then end the programming mode. Continuous Sampling lets you program multiple buttons until you manually end the programming mode. Silent Sampling is continuous sampling, without the guiding dialogs. In that mode you need only push the virtual button on the TR interface, and then push the button on the actual remote to program. You do not receive the confirmation that it was successful. This makes for fast programming. When finished, you manually stop that mode. This programming process is very straight forward and intuitive to accomplish.



Advanced Features
There are a few advanced features worth noting. The first is the ability to create macros. That is, you can program a macro that will turn on the tuner, select DVD as the input, wait 5 seconds for it to warm up, turn on the DVD player, turn on the TV, turn to channel 3, and press play on the DVD. All this from the press of one button. The potential for this is unlimited.

Another feature worth mentioning is the ability to create your own skins. Each skin is just a PNG graphic in the file hierarchy of the program. You can create your own and program it just like the included skins. This makes the program very versatile, indeed. Although I have not attempted it, you should be able to make your own graphic with buttons for various devices. You could then program them using each device’s remote to wind up with one virtual remote control that controls several different devices. For example, you could have a volume up/down that it programmed to control the TV, and play/pause that are programmed to control the DVD player and another set of play/pause/FWD/REW that are programmed to the VCR. This way you don’t have to switch between the various virtual devices, just use your own custom-created skin to control several devices at the same time. Can you feel the power?



Next, TR includes support for second signal. Apparently some remote controls out there send out different signals when you push the same button a second time. In effect the button toggles between two signals. TR includes support for this when programming your own buttons, although you can’t use Silent Sampling. You must use One-Shot or Continuous modes.

And Finally, you have the option to assign functions to hardware buttons and to blank the screen. These two functions let the Total Remote-toting Pocket PC function like a true remote control while conserving precious battery power.

Final thoughts
Despite the slow startup and a few built-in devices that are missing skins, this is a very powerful program. The powerful IR transmitters are effective up to 100 feet. The help is very useful and well organized. Programming your own device is easy. You can blank the screen and use hardware buttons. Total Remote can do everything but pop the popcorn.


·Easy to program your own device
·3 sampling modes of programming
·Macros
·300 built-in devices
·Second signal support
·Useful help
·Incredible range
·Custom skins
·Screen blanking
·Hardware button assignment


·Slow to start
·Some of the built in devices don’t work
·Some of the built in devices are missing skins


----------------------------


GOOD LUCK
MD2020

[md2020]

YOU CAN FIND THE FULL SCHMATICS AND DIAGRAMS AND INSTRUCTIONS BY SEARCHING ON THE WEB
KEYWORD: DISHNETWORK IR UPFIT

Overview:

JVC HM-DSR100U D-VHS DishNetwork Receiver IR upfit

This page contains instructions on how perform an InfraRed (IR) remote control upfit on DishNetwork receivers that receive only Radio Frequency (RF / UHF) remote control commands. This allows a universal remote to be used to control the receiver instead of being required to use the standard remote. These instructions pertain to the following receivers:
Brands from: DishNetwork / Echostar / HTS / JVC

Receivers based on the: 4000 / 4500 / older 5000 / older 2000 "Deluxe"

These models receive only UHF remote signals. Note: The modified receiver will still work with the original UHF remote control as well as an IR remote control at the same time.

Note: Mixed results have been reported on successfully upfitting on a Model 2000 non-deluxe.

Model 40xx, 41xx, 42xx, 45xx: Your receiver does not have IR capability.
Model 5000 Receivers: You can tell if your model 5000 receiver has the IR components based on the serial number of the receiver. BTFxxxxx and earlier receivers are UHF only and the IR Upfit will need to be performed. BTGxxxxx may or may not require the IR upfit components. BTHxxxxx and later receivers IR components already installed, giving it both IR and UHF capability by default.
Model 4700 and 4900 Receivers: These receivers already have the IR receiver installed. No modifications or programming is required on these receivers.
JVC HM-DSR100U D-VHS Receivers: This modification does not work on the these receivers. Follow these instructions to modify your HM-DSR100U.

UHF Remote TIP: If you are having trouble with UHF remote control reception, try relocating the antenna away from all electronic equipment. This can be done by using piece of coax cable, preferably RG6 or better, that is about 6 feet long.

Notes/cautions:


Don't perform this modification unless you are comfortable with electronics and a soldering iron.
Doing this modification will double plus super extra void your warranty.
If you blow something up, don't blame me. It works on mine and on many other people's receivers. There is no guarantee that it will work on yours.
I don't have any 4000 schematics or in-depth knowledge of the rest of the receiver, just the front IR panel.
IR is an unsupported function on 4000's and could disappear with any software update. Hopefully, the more modified machines there are out there, the less chance there is of this happening.
I am in no way affiliated with Echostar. I am simply a customer who needed this function and had the information on how to do the modification.
Read these instructions through at least once before doing anything.
Make sure the receiver is powered off, unplugged, card removed, etc.
If you have one of the unusual 4000 receivers with an IR input jack on the back panel, you can simply plug in a Xantec IR module or connect a stereo mini-plug cable to a device (audio receiver) with an IR output port.