Main menu set up for activity-based use. Discrete codes used for all devices except the cable box.

I programed in all of the buttons for the new DirecTV HD-DVR. Works great, have fun!

This is the type of macro driven activity based Main Screen I use for all my remotes. One button push turns on and sets the inputs and outputs for all of the components required for a given activity. Once an activity is started there are other macros to switch between activities. And finally a macro to turn the system off from the current activity. I usually put together a rough flow chart to aid in getting the macros right.

A complete home theater with 2nd zone.

A complete system setup for the following components.

Activity-based remote control configuration. Main Page #1 contains the activities. Each activity's pages contain a mix of DVD/DVR/Projector/Receiver commands that make sense for that activity. Main Page #2 contains the actual devices, and his hidden, although devices are accessible by pressing one of the unused LCD buttons on Main Page #1. Layout is extremely spouse/kids friendly. Amp is not a real device. Receiver powers on the external amp via a 12V trigger that is enabled using the Receiver's Zone 2 function. Receiver pages were completely filled, so I created an "Amp" device to mimic the Zone 2 On/Off function. A Utils LCD button on Main Page #2 contains pages for short cuts to actual devices, as well as Power Off confirmation messages. Because I have a front projector in my system, I use these confirmation messages to avoid inadvertent power offs. Discrete Power On/Off for all devices.

Lots of discretes and macros. I did extensive testing and troubleshooting to make sure it all works as flawlessly as possible. I prefer having a "Main" page vice the activity based layout - that's why the "Watch" and "Listen" pages are identical. One less step to get to where you want to be. If my wife can use it anyone can use it! Feel free to post your questions, comments, and suggestions.

A complete system file for MX-850 with many discretes. Main page has three spaced out labels: "Watch TV," "Media Center" and "Watch VCR," each selectable from each of the two buttons on the sides of the label. The system can be turned on either by pressing the main "On" button, or by pressing any of the "activities" (like "Watch TV") buttons.

This is combo learned and stock codes customized and working great with macros.

This is a novice's basic setup of the MX-950 remote. There are a few comments I would like to add regarding my design philosophy. I am fortunate in that my components all offered discrete on/off codes, enabling me to avoid variable statements for the various power statuses of the devices. The main program design issue I had was the main up/down/left/right "joystick" button in the middle of the remote. While it normally operates the codes for the Motorola STB, I had to design a situation in which it controls the TV menu system if that is accessed (hence assigning the joystick buttons to the Pioneer). I managed to do this by writing identical pages under both TV and STB devices; the default page is the STB device, where the toggle operates STB commands. When "menu" is pressed however, it opens the identical page under TV, wherein the toggle operates Pioneer commands. The MENU button itself toggles between the pages so that exiting the TV menu brings the remote back to STB-appropriate commands. Menu paging is seemless, with only the page title changing. I used variables to define the status of the AVR device selector (eg. TV, DVD, etc.), since changing from TV to TV or DVD to DVD... (more)