What? You’re still not using a Harmony Remote to control your entire Home Theater system? Do you have more than 2 remotes sitting on the coffee table in front of the couch where you watch TV? For those who don’t yet own a Harmony Remote contr0l and subscribe to cable TV using one of the major cable providers (Time Warner, Cox, Comcast, Charter, etc.) you can use your existing cable remote control along with your Home Theater system to control the basic functions of various other components (besides your cable box) including your TV, DVD player and surround sound receiver. While your cable remote control should already be set up from the factory to control the most obvious cable box functions, this tutorial will show you how to tap into advanced programming functions for your cable remote, thereby eliminating superfluous remote control clutter.
Today, nearly all major cable TV providers use a programmable (universal) remote control supplied by Universal Electronics Corporation. While Universal Electronics makes several different models of programmable remote controls, the most common models currently used by the major cable TV providers are listed on Universal’s support website , located at http://www.urcsupport.com/
Typically, the exact model of your cable box remote control will be listed on the back of the remote control, sometimes underneath the battery compartment cover. Look carefully on the remote control to find the exact model supplied with your cable box and compare it with the models listed at Universal’s support website for detailed programming instructions (and remote codes) specific to your remote control model. Complete owner’s manuals for each remote control model can also be downloaded in PDF format from Universal’s support website.
From factory default, Universal’s remotes are pre-programmed to operate the cable box (converter) provided by your cable system, an RCA TV, a Toshiba DVD player, an RCA VCR, and a Pioneer audio receiver.
For the purpose of this tutorial, it would be impossible to cover detailed programming for instunctions for every remote control model. Visit Universal’s support website should you require this information. However, there are similarities in the steps to programming which are common to all models. Please refer to the following steps:
- Turn on a device and, if applicable, insert video media, (e.g., video cassette or DVD).
- On the remote control, press a device key once (i.e., VCR, DVD, AUD, TV, or CBL); it will blink once. Then press and hold SETUP until the selected mode key blinks twice.
- Enter the four-digit code the corresponds to the device you wish to control. Codes for various AV components are listed at Universal’s support website. If you can’t find a remote code that works to control the device, please refer to the instructions below for “How to search for a device code”.
NOTE: If the code entered is valid, the selected mode key will blink twice. If the selected mode key emits a long blink, the entry is invalid. Repeat steps 2 through 3 and try entering the same code again. - Aim the remote control at the device and press PWR once. The device should turn off. If it does not, repeat steps 2 through 3, trying each code for your brand until you find one that works. If it still does not respond, try searching for the code using the procedure listed below.
- Repeat steps 1 through 4 for each device you want the remote control to operate. For future reference, write down each working device code and store this information in a safe place.
How to search for a device code:
- Turn on your TV.
- On the remote control, press TV once; it blinks once. Then press and hold SET UP until the TV key blinks twice.
- ENTER 9-9-1. The TV key blinks twice.
- Press 1 (the device code digit for your TV). The TV key blinks twice. Aim the remote control at the TV and press PWR once.
- Press and release the CH+ key continuously, then stop when the TV turns off.
NOTE: In the search mode, the remote control sends IR codes from its library to the selected device, starting with the most popular code first. - Press PWR. The TV should turn on, then press SET UP to lock the code.
NOTE: If the TV does not turn on during step 6, then slowly press and release CH- to go back through the codes, then press SET UP when the TV turns on. - To search for codes of your other devices, repeat steps 1 through 5, but substitute the appropriate key (e.g., AUX, DVD, CBL, or STB) for the device you are searching for.
Commonly used codes for advanced functions (please use with discretion)
Setting Master Power. (allows you to sequentially turn on or off up to five devices of your home entertainment devices with a single key press):
- On the remote control, press and hold SETUP until the last-selected device key blinks twice,then release SETUP.
- Enter 9-9-5. The last-selected device key will blink twice. Then press PWR once.
- For the first device you want in the power on sequence, press a device key (e.g.,CBL) once.
- Repeat step 3 up to four more times to add the second, third, fourth, and fifth device, as desired.
- To save the settings and exit the program, press and hold SETUP until the last-selected device key blinks twice, then release SETUP.
- To use the MASTER POWER feature after programming, point the remote control at the devices. Press and hold PWR for at least 2 seconds.
You will see the devices power on or off according to the programmed sequence. NOTE: If MASTER POWER is not programmed, pressing it will only command the last-selected device to power on or off.
Setting Volume Control Lock (locks the volume changing operation to a specific device, such as a surround sound receiver instead of changing volume the TV itself):
- Press and Hold in the SETUP key until the RED flashes twice and then release the SETUP key
- Enter in 9-9-3
- Press and release the Device key from which you want volume controlled. (i.e. AUDIO)
Setting Channel Control Lock (locks the channel changing operation to a specific device, such as the cable box or TV):
- Press and Hold in the SETUP key until the RED light flashes twice and then release the SETUP key
- Enter in 9-7-3 (Red light will blink twice after the 6)
- Press and release the Channel Up key
Clearing out a programmed device key:
- Press the device (TV,VCR,CABLE, AUD, etc.) button – then release
- Press and HOLD the SETUP button until the red LED flashes twice, then release.
- Enter in 9-9-2
- Press the device button twice. – Two blinks.
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