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B5−01, B5−02, B5−03 – Philips Pronto TS1000 User Manual

Page 39: Unofficial philips pronto & marantz rc5000 faq

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Unofficial Philips Pronto & Marantz RC5000 FAQ

Section B5: Working With ProntoEdit:

Discrete Codes

B5−01 What are discrete codes?

Discrete codes are versions of toggle codes that only perform one function. For instance, a "POWER"
button on a remote would be a toggle in that when it is used the current power state is reversed. If your
device is on, it turns off. If it's off, it turns on. A "discrete" code would be a signal that ONLY turns
the device on or off. If it is already on it remains so. These are most often used to ensure your home
theater components stay completely in sync for powering on and off and changing device inputs.

Such specialized and otherwise hidden codes may also be available for direct access to other "toggled"
or "rotating" functions such as television inputs, receiver soundfield settings and on−screen display
modes.

Unfortunately, many devices or entire brands do not have discrete on/off codes. To control such
devices discretely with the Pronto you could look into the popular SmartLinc and HouseLinc systems,
as they often provide proprietary methods of accomplishing this. If you have a device that does not
have a remote controllable power switch, you could plug it into your receiver's switched outlets (if it
has them) so that when the receiver is off, it is off. Or invest in X−10, which are power control
modules with have specific on and off commands.

B5−02 How do I find or create them?

Mostly by a lot of hard work. Often a remote that came with a single model of a component may have
a few discrete codes that could be used on other similar models. Or, as with many of the ones on this
site, the actual structure of an IR code is analyzed and then changed to see what the resulting code
does. There are utilities in the

Pronto File Area

that can assist with this, such as IR Tool and

ProntoUtil.

But first, you should check the File Archives at

Remote Central

to determine if your device −− or even

if your brand −− has discrete functionality available. By now, discrete codes for most common devices
−− if they exist −− have been found.

Finally, there's a

forum

on Remote Central designed to specifically help users locate discrete codes.

B5−03 How can I use them?

In ProntoEdit, discrete codes are stored as hex. This means that a "power on" command for a Sony
receiver would look like:

0000 0066 0000 000d 005f 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018

0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0017 0018 0018 0018 0017 0018 0018 002f 0429

To use them the entire string must be copied. For complete help on how to use discrete codes with
buttons that do not have an existing IR code or those that already do, plus a quick list of devices that

RC: Philips Pronto & Marantz RC5000 Unofficial FAQ

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