JP1.3 Extender question

Post by **vickyg2003** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 7:11 am

Bill, how much surgery would it require to remote the "stay active" feature on the RS remote extenders?

unclemiltie · Post by **unclemiltie** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:18 am

A fair amount.

The extender leverages the "main loop" that waits for keys, etc from the base remote which would have to be recreated in order to remove the stay active part. I'm sure that this would require some features (like probably the Xshift key remapping, long press to deactivate, etc) to be removed to make it fit within the available space.

However, since the extenders are a port of the Kameleon extenders, you could start from there. All of the registers and entry points are defined so you don't have to do that work. If you're interested in doing it, send me a mail and I'll drop you one of the source files. (they are all very similar but they do have their subtle differences)

Can I ask why? I've found that it's MUCH simpler on remotes that I've configured for others that the extender doesn't go away on a battery replacement. It's one of the features of the JP.3 extenders that I really like.

Post by **vickyg2003** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:21 am

Can I ask why? I've found that it's MUCH simpler on remotes that I've configured for others that the extender doesn't go away on a battery replacement. It's one of the features of the JP.3 extenders that I really like.

With an extender that deactiviates, you don't have to do a housecall for every minor change in a user's setup. While you can't make macro/keymove changes without a cable, you can change a setup and then reactivate an extender. Or should major changes be necessary, they can do a 981 and use a basic remote while waiting for the housecall.

jetskier · Post by **jetskier** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:51 am

I've been there on those housecalls. "The remote doesn't work anything. I changed the batteries and it still doesn't work". After 331 calls to explain how to activate, I pulled the plug on my extender use. I use the fast macro and fast macro initialization upgrades on my 10820, but they are in the non-volitale area of the remote's memory so they remain after a 981 reset and battery replacement.

unclemiltie · Post by **unclemiltie** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:51 am

vickyg2003 wrote:
Can I ask why? I've found that it's MUCH simpler on remotes that I've configured for others that the extender doesn't go away on a battery replacement. It's one of the features of the JP.3 extenders that I really like.
With an extender that deactiviates, you don't have to do a housecall for every minor change in a user's setup. While you can't make macro/keymove changes without a cable, you can change a setup and then reactivate an extender. Or should major changes be necessary, they can do a 981 and use a basic remote while waiting for the housecall.

This was one of the reasons behind the "long press deactivate" that is now in the JP1.3 extenders. You can deactivate, use the regular setup info and then reactivate. I can't see ever recommending a 981 reset to people as it destroys lots of things, but in the case of these extenders, if you have deactivated and do a 981, the extender goes away as does the keymove that activates it. Should be essentially the same behavior as you desire.

And you don't have the "changed the batteries nothing works" problem

Post by **vickyg2003** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 12:18 pm

Thanks bill. The only time I ever tried one of your extenders was trying to diagnose Capn-Trips problem, and that just scared me off. I will have to play with these a little more.