Steve
04-21-07, 07:41 PM
I found this surprising cheap and full-featured Universal R7 (http://www.universalremote.com/product_detail.php?model=47) remote for $30 at Circuit City. It works great with the HR20 and all my associated home theater components. See the picture below.
I find the size, balance, key positions and tactile feedback of this remote more to my liking than any of the Harmony's. Unfortunately, it does not offer PC-based programming. However it has the ability to learn on every key (except one or two) for each of the seven devices it can support. In addition, it can store 9 macros, each with up to 20 keystrokes.
There are a couple of undocumented features that make it work well. I knew these because I also own a URC-100 that explains these features in its documentation. Strangely, the R7 documentation doesn't.
First, the device code for the HR20 is the DirecTV code listed in the Satellite section of the R7 manual, and not one of those listed in the DVR section.
Second, you can program the power on and off key macros to do anything you want, including powering off and on all components. My power on macro not only sends the discrete on commands to all the devices, but also all the propoer TV-watching input commands to my receiver and display.
Third, you can use the "pause" key to insert a .5 second delay in any macro. Storing it as the first key in a macro will allow you to hold the button for a second before the macro kicks in. This allows you to normally press the key to just invoke that keys normal function.
Last, you will need to "learn" the HR20's discrete power on and power off commands on two keys of another component, such as AUX. This allows you to call those keys from the "on" and "off" macros you create. I also learned the discrete on/off commands for my other components on unused keys for those components, so the power on/off macros could turn them on and off as well.
Most keys are already properly labeled to match the factory programming behind them. I had to learn a few, like the "-", the four color buttons, which I mapped to the four bottom buttons and Back, which I mapped to the Input button. The Favorites button already had the List command factory programmed to it.
If any of these tips are unclear, download the URC-100 manual as a supplement to the R7 manual.
I think if you're adept at working with non PC-based universals, you'll love this remote. especially at this price. Uses two "AA"s. /steve
http://www.universalremote.com/images/product_page/R7/image_R7.jpg
I find the size, balance, key positions and tactile feedback of this remote more to my liking than any of the Harmony's. Unfortunately, it does not offer PC-based programming. However it has the ability to learn on every key (except one or two) for each of the seven devices it can support. In addition, it can store 9 macros, each with up to 20 keystrokes.
There are a couple of undocumented features that make it work well. I knew these because I also own a URC-100 that explains these features in its documentation. Strangely, the R7 documentation doesn't.
First, the device code for the HR20 is the DirecTV code listed in the Satellite section of the R7 manual, and not one of those listed in the DVR section.
Second, you can program the power on and off key macros to do anything you want, including powering off and on all components. My power on macro not only sends the discrete on commands to all the devices, but also all the propoer TV-watching input commands to my receiver and display.
Third, you can use the "pause" key to insert a .5 second delay in any macro. Storing it as the first key in a macro will allow you to hold the button for a second before the macro kicks in. This allows you to normally press the key to just invoke that keys normal function.
Last, you will need to "learn" the HR20's discrete power on and power off commands on two keys of another component, such as AUX. This allows you to call those keys from the "on" and "off" macros you create. I also learned the discrete on/off commands for my other components on unused keys for those components, so the power on/off macros could turn them on and off as well.
Most keys are already properly labeled to match the factory programming behind them. I had to learn a few, like the "-", the four color buttons, which I mapped to the four bottom buttons and Back, which I mapped to the Input button. The Favorites button already had the List command factory programmed to it.
If any of these tips are unclear, download the URC-100 manual as a supplement to the R7 manual.
I think if you're adept at working with non PC-based universals, you'll love this remote. especially at this price. Uses two "AA"s. /steve
http://www.universalremote.com/images/product_page/R7/image_R7.jpg