Automated playback of stored sequences using the BOCS remote:

Note: Macros are only available on remotes with firmware version 1500 and above. This feature was designed and implemented by a user under the open source firmware program. To have your remote upgraded or to purchase a remote with the new firmware, contact remoteupgrade@live.com : There is a small charge for upgrading your firmware.


Main uses:

  1. You really would like to use a BOCS remote in your main TV viewing location, just like you do in the rest of the house. In the past, we have told users to keep using their normal remotes in the main location since sources there are normally connected to your big TV using HDMI or Component. If you were to use a BOCS remote there, when you push the RED button it changes to channel 14 and you get SD instead of HD. This new option allows you to change how the RED, GREEN, and BLUE buttons work- instead of changing the channel, it can play a sequence that changes the input on the TV to HDMI1 and sets the active device to your cable box via IR or RF.

  2. You want a series of things to happen:  Instead of having to turn each device on or off manually, you can set one button to turn them all on or off at the same time. Another example could be when you press the GREEN button to watch a blu-ray movie, the system can change the TV to the right input, fire up the A/V receiver and using an X10 adapter, dim your lights or close the blinds.

 

How it works:


The remote can now store up to 4 unique “sequences” – each of which can hold 8 keypresses along with variable timing delays between each key. The sequences are associated to the LocalTV, AUX, DVD, or CBL mode buttons.  To capture a sequence, you hold down the mode button (LocalTV, AUX, DVD, or CBL) and “1” at the same time. Once the power button turns on, you press the first button you want sent in your sequence followed by the delay you want between the next button. This is repeated until your sequence is complete, then you press the # key to store it. After you program in a sequence, you can activate that sequence by pressing the shift key then the mode button associated with the sequence you want to “replay” (shift-LocalTV, shift-AUX, shift-DVD, and shift-CBL).

 

The AUX, DVD, and CBL sequences can also be assigned to play back when you press the RED, GREEN, or BLUE buttons (AUX sequence gets assigned to RED, DVD to GREEN, and CBL to BLUE) in case you want to change the way these buttons behave.

 

Once you get your system up and running well, it is a good idea to record all the sequence keys and delay patterns in case you ever need to reprogram the system.

 

Rules:

 

  • A maximum of 8 keys (not counting delays) can be stored in each sequence.
  • A different delay can be stored in between each key in the sequence (0-9, 0 is instant, 9 is a long delay).
  • The pattern must be key, delay, key, delay – you cannot enter two keys without a delay (or 0) in between.
  • Be sure to always use a mode button (Local TV, AUX, DVD, CBL, RED, GREEN, or BLUE) before a function key so the remote knows what device to send the key to.
  • End a sequence with the # key (or when you reach 8 keys it will automatically end the capture process)
  • BOCS buttons can be used in a sequence and will change channels as normal unless they are the last button is a sequence, then they will just make that device active. This is by design, to allow for changing your TV to a HD input but still have control over a device associated with a BOCS key via RF communications.
  • The Assignment of AUX to RED, DVD to GREEN, and CBL to BLUE are each handled independently – so you can have any individual BOCS button respond normally or play back its assigned sequence.
  • All sequences are saved to flash so you will not lose them when you change batteries.
  • Shift does not count as a key towards your 8 in a sequence therefore no delay should be placed between these buttons being pressed– i.e. shift-4 (TV input 4) is one key
  • You can replay a sequence within another sequence (selecting shift-DVD while in AUX sequence capture mode will play the DVD sequence within the AUX sequence replay). This allows for longer sequences when needed by playing one after another.

 

Programming a Sequence:

 

  • Hold the key you wish to store the sequence in (LocalTV, AUX, DVD, or CBL) and “1” at the same time until the power light on the remote comes on.
  • Enter the sequence one key at a time with a delay in between each key
  • Press # to end a sequence, or when you get to 8 keys it will end automatically
  • Assigning a sequence to a BOCS (Red, Green or Blue) button:
  • Press Local-TV, *, *, Local TV to assign shift-AUX sequence to the RED button. Enter the same keys again to un-assign it.
  • Press Local-TV, *, #, Local-TV to assign shift-DVD sequence to the GREEN button. Enter the same keys again to un-assign it.
  • Press Local-TV, #, #, Local-TV to assign shift-CBL sequence to the BLUE button. Enter the same keys again to un-assign it.

 

Playing back a stored sequence:

 

Press the sequence button directly (shift then local-TV, shift then AUX, shift then DVD, shift then CBL) – OR – Assign a sequence to it’s BOCS button and then just press the BOCS button

 

Configuration Setup and Remote Programming Example:


You want to be able to watch your DVR in another room by pressing a BOCS button – which changes the local TV to the appropriate channel and takes control of that source via RF… great, that is what the unit is designed to do. However, you want to view your HD-DVR on your main TV in High Definition. Also, since the DVR has an optical audio output that is connected to your receiver, you want the audio to come through there. For the above requirements, you would connect the DVR to the RED input of your BOCS unit, which addresses the needs of remote rooms, then connect the DVR to your TV via HDMI into HDMI-1 and connect the DVR to your receiver via an optical cable (see diagram below).

Historically a BOCS remote would not be recommended for use in the main room since it would take several steps to change the TV input, change receiver input and select the DVR as the active device – so an expensive Harmony remote or equivalent was the only option. Now, with programmable macros, pressing the RED button in the main room, (same as you would in any other room) can setup the TV, receiver and DVR with ease.

 

The setup on the main remote would be:

  1. Go into AUX sequence capture mode by holding down AUX and “1”
  2. When power light come on enter: TV, 0 , HDMI2input (mapped key), 0, AUX, 0 , optical2input (mapped key), 0, RED, #

Let's decode the above sequence to see that the playback would do:


It first sets the active device to TV and sends the “change to HDMI-1” command. Then selects the AUX device (the receiver) and sends the “change to Optical Input 2” command. The final command is to make the RED mode active. Why end with RED? Because your DVR is probably in a cabinet and can’t be controlled by IR, so ending on RED means that it is controlled via RF through the BOCS system. Programmable macros can help maximize the enjoyment of your new (or existing) BOCS installation without breaking the bank.