JP1

[ChadTower]

This thread is an offshoot of this one.

I think one of the next projects I'm going to take on in the coming weeks is learning JP1 programming and getting good remotes set up for the various rooms in my house. 

[gonzobrian]

You sound like me.  I have one for almost every room of my house.  My wife thought I was crazy untill I got rid of all the remotes off the coffee table and replaced it with one.  What is really cool is you don't have to punch in all those number when programing the remote.  It's all done on the computer.  Most of my devices I have found someone has already supplied the code.  Once I get the remote like I like it I save the file, that way if the remote looses memory I just re upload the saved file and I'm back up and running.  Or what I do a lot is play around with it to see what I can get it to do.  If I mess up I have a saved state to return to.

[boykster]

Its a good plan.  I use pronto remotes -> Neo's in most rooms but a better one in the theater.  JP1 is a very versatile and powerful protocol, and is a good way to go.  I really like programmable touchscreen remotes, but if you don't then the JP1 is a great way to go.

I'll assume you've already found some good resources, as you're good at teh googlez, but this is a good one:

http://www.hifi-remote.com/jp1/

[ChadTower]

I like the touchscreen remotes.  I don't like paying more for a remote than I do 75% of the components it would control.

[shmokes]

I dislike touchscreen remotes.  Why would I want to do with two hands what I can already do with one hand for a fraction of the price?

[boykster]

I like the touchscreen remotes.  I don't like paying more for a remote than I do 75% of the components it would control.

Ebay is your friend.  I buy ProntoNEO remotes regularly off of ebay for ~$20-40, often they are "broken" and need a bit of TLC, but for the most part, ppl buy them and don't ever program them and want to get rid of them for something. 

Right now however, there are only fairly high priced (xmas markup?) NEO's.  The JP1 is a great hard button alternative though.

I dislike touchscreen remotes.  Why would I want to do with two hands what I can already do with one hand for a fraction of the price?

I agree, that's why prono NEO's are a good alternative.  Touchscreen for advanced functionality, but a good set of hard buttons for standard stuff (ch+, ch-, vol+, vol-, up, down, left, right, ok) that you can operate with one hand in the dark.  Also, if you program all remotes with the same layout, you can even operate a touchscreen with one hand.

You will NEVER have the same level of advanced control with a hard button only remote than with a touchscreen.  Show me a hard button remote that you can hand to a visitor in your house that they can figure out how to use without a manual....

Just my $0.02

 

[patrickl]

I never liked the pronto's. Well I admit they looked cool when they were first introduced years ago (that same look seems a bit dated now though), but it's just too impractical and non ergonomical. I'd say the Harmony series is just as easy to pick up and use as the pronto. The harmony has buttons besides the screen which actually works better for me than a touch screen (especially one with only two columns of buttons)

I owned some of those cheap AllInOne remotes before and they all tended to break down/hang/crash a lot. Maybe they improved, but they won't get my business again.

If you need a remote for many rooms it might turn expensive to get Harmonies or Pronto's, but then how many rooms can one have that need a programmable remote?

I also wonder how much time is spent on getting those JP1's to work. Isn't it more efficient to pay a bit extra for something that works off the shelf?

[gonzobrian]

I never liked the pronto's. Well I admit they looked cool when they were first introduced years ago (that same look seems a bit dated now though), but it's just too impractical and non ergonomical. I'd say the Harmony series is just as easy to pick up and use as the pronto. The harmony has buttons besides the screen which actually works better for me than a touch screen (especially one with only two columns of buttons)

I owned some of those cheap AllInOne remotes before and they all tended to break down/hang/crash a lot. Maybe they improved, but they won't get my business again.

If you need a remote for many rooms it might turn expensive to get Harmonies or Pronto's, but then how many rooms can one have that need a programmable remote?

I also wonder how much time is spent on getting those JP1's to work. Isn't it more efficient to pay a bit extra for something that works off the shelf?

I've use JP1 for about 5 years now and I have never had one "break down/hang/crash" not sure what all that means but they are rock solid.  But like I said if for some reason you loose your programing all you have to do is plug it into your computer and upload your saved file.  In 5 years I have never had to do this for any other reason that I wanted to fix what I messed up playing around with diffirent macros etc.

Also to address your question about time and money.  I have more of one than the other.  But all things considered I probably had one weekend invested in it.  The support, documentation and software are all readily available and easy to understand and use.  Nothing like the time I invested in learning how to back up my DVD's, mod my xbox, hack my tivo etc.

[patrickl]

I've use JP1 for about 5 years now and I have never had one "break down/hang/crash" not sure what all that means but they are rock solid.  But like I said if for some reason you loose your programing all you have to do is plug it into your computer and upload your saved file.  In 5 years I have never had to do this for any other reason that I wanted to fix what I messed up playing around with diffirent macros etc.

I tried 2 or 3 OneForAll remotes and they all would stop functioning completely and/or required reprogramming quite often. Maybe I had crappy models or something. The ones I had even had to be reprogrammed if the batteries ran out.

Also to address your question about time and money.  I have more of one than the other.  But all things considered I probably had one weekend invested in it.  The support, documentation and software are all readily available and easy to understand and use.  Nothing like the time I invested in learning how to back up my DVD's, mod my xbox, hack my tivo etc.

Actually the Harmony set-up can take some time to get right too. You need to look up all the devices and maybe fine tune the activities you want to use. There was a delay programmed in by default in there that I wanted out.

Guess it depends on your income and/or available amount of free time if it's woth it. For me spending a weekend to save maybe $50 or $100 is not an option. Maybe for an RF solution with several remotes that might change though. But then of course, the higher comfort level of a Harmony is already well worth it to me.

[SirPeale]

I tried 2 or 3 OneForAll remotes and they all would stop functioning completely and/or required reprogramming quite often. Maybe I had crappy models or something. The ones I had even had to be reprogrammed if the batteries ran out.

I've got one, and although I liked it in the day, I can barely use it anymore.  Doesn't have any of my DVD codes in it, and since I don't have a VCR anymore all it does for me is a TV remote.

Supposed to be good forever ---my bottom---.

[gonzobrian]

If the remote is jp1 capable you can upload codes for what ever device you want.  They did not have to be stored in memory when you bought the remote.

[SirPeale]

If the remote is jp1 capable you can upload codes for what ever device you want.  They did not have to be stored in memory when you bought the remote.

It's not.  It's an All-4-One brand remote.  Supposedly good forever (as in never having to buy another remote).

[gonzobrian]

As long as it is an All-4-One remote you can mail it back to them they will update it for you.  It should also come back being jp1 capable.  Not sure if they pay shipping. 

[SirPeale]

As long as it is an All-4-One remote you can mail it back to them they will update it for you.  It should also come back being jp1 capable.  Not sure if they pay shipping. 

Really...

*taps fingers*

Looks like I have an email to write...

[gonzobrian]

As long as it is an All-4-One remote you can mail it back to them they will update it for you.  It should also come back being jp1 capable.  Not sure if they pay shipping. 

Really...

*taps fingers*

Looks like I have an email to write...

Here is a link with phone number etc.  And it looks like they pay for return postage 
http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4926

[NiN^_^NiN]

I just use an old PPC

Once handed touch screen with other options like connecting to the wifi etc

For someone hwo has the whole house wired connecting tot he server through the pda is very handy 

[AlanS17]

I just use an old PPC

Once handed touch screen with other options like connecting to the wifi etc

For someone hwo has the whole house wired connecting tot he server through the pda is very handy 

Not all PDA's have good infrared, though. Some models are better than others in that regard, and it helps to know what you're doing in advance.

[ChadTower]

Still, not a bad idea at all, if you can find one cheap or have one lying around.

[patrickl]

I guess a PDA can work as a remote, but realize that there are hardly any hard buttons on it. I'm reallly a big PDA addict. I have 5 PDA's which are all usable as remote control. Yet I have never liked any of them using it as a remote. I still rather have something that fits comfortably in my hand and has buttons on it.

[xmenxmen]

I've use JP1 for about 5 years now and I have never had one "break down/hang/crash" not sure what all that means but they are rock solid.  But like I said if for some reason you loose your programing all you have to do is plug it into your computer and upload your saved file.  In 5 years I have never had to do this for any other reason that I wanted to fix what I messed up playing around with diffirent macros etc.

I tried 2 or 3 OneForAll remotes and they all would stop functioning completely and/or required reprogramming quite often. Maybe I had crappy models or something. The ones I had even had to be reprogrammed if the batteries ran out.

Also to address your question about time and money.  I have more of one than the other.  But all things considered I probably had one weekend invested in it.  The support, documentation and software are all readily available and easy to understand and use.  Nothing like the time I invested in learning how to back up my DVD's, mod my xbox, hack my tivo etc.

Actually the Harmony set-up can take some time to get right too. You need to look up all the devices and maybe fine tune the activities you want to use. There was a delay programmed in by default in there that I wanted out.

Guess it depends on your income and/or available amount of free time if it's woth it. For me spending a weekend to save maybe $50 or $100 is not an option. Maybe for an RF solution with several remotes that might change though. But then of course, the higher comfort level of a Harmony is already well worth it to me.

I have 2 jp1 remote in each room that requires a remote.  I found 2 to be a good number as I found myself plus others sometimes misplacing it.  Solution, grab the 2nd one.  For whatever reason, the other one will come back out another day.

On the type of JP1 remote, I have found the Radio Shack 2116/2117 to be quite reliable.  My luck with the All 4 One is just so-so.  Last check some Radio Shack still have those and every so often they are found on ebay. 

And for me, it's all about feeling the button.  Tried a touch screen once, give up after having to look at scrren and using 2 hands.

[miles2912]

You want the cadillac of remotes..  get a Logitech Harmony 880.  All of my remote problems are solved.  Took me a few days to program it to my liking, but now that it is dialed in I put away the 7 other remotes it replaced.  JP1 was fun (and cheap relatively speaking) but it can't match what the Harmony can do.

Don

[DrumAnBass]

Yah I am using a Logitech Harmony 550 - essentially the same as the 880 without the color LCD. Works pretty well; took me a little bit of effort to get the bugs out but generally easy to set up.

You can get em for around $75.