Trouble learning Kenwood VR-507 codes

[Benj]

I've had no problems so far learning and emitting codes for my JVC VCR and my Scientific Atlanta cable box. But I've tried a bunch of buttons on my Kenwood VR-507 remote without success.

Details:
- I'm using plugin 2.5.9 and firmware 5.6 with Girder 3.3.0.
- It happily learns Girder eventstrings, and triggers on them successfully
- The plugin learn appears to be successful, progress bar goes to completion, and a code appears in the code 1 field with freq. 38.5 kHz
- Hitting test button to emit IR, but Kenwood doesn't respond
- I've tried with and without RAW mode
- I've tried upping the repeat count to 10
- I've tried sweeping the freq. ranges from 36-40 kHz
- I've tried various buttons (Video3, Setup, Volume up) all exhibiting same problem

Here is the IR debug code from learning the Video3 button:

Code: Select all

A694 581A 157 2C3C 053E 015 05C4 0539 015 05C6 053E 015 05C1 053E 015 10CD 0539 015 10CF 053E 015 10CA 053E 015 05C4 0539 015 10CF 053E 015 10CC 0539 015 10D2 0539 015 05C4 053E 015 05C2 053E 015 05C1 053E 015 05C4 0539 015 05C4 053E 015 05C4 0539 015 10CF 053E 015 05C1 053E 015 10CD 0539 015 10CF 053E 015 10CC 0539 015 05C4 053E 015 05C2 053E 015 05C1 053E 015 05C4 053E 015 10CB 053E 015 05C1 053E 015 05C4 0539 015 05C6 0539 015 10D0 0539 015 10CF 053E 015 10CB 053E 015 FFFF
0345 581F 157 165E 0539 015 FFFF
0767 581F 157 165E 053E 015 FFFF
0766 5824 157 165C 053E 015 FFFF
0767 581F 157 1659 053E 015 FFFF
0767 581F 157 165E 053E 015 FFFF
0767 581A 157 165C 053E 015 FFFF
0767 581F 157 165E 0539 015 FFFF
0767 581F 157 165E 053E 015 FFFF
0766 581F 157 165E 053E 015 FFFF
0767 581F 157 1659 053E 015 FFFF
0767 581F 157 165E 0539 015 FFFF
0767 5824 157 165C 0539 015 FFFF
0767 581F 157 1659 053E 015 FFFF
0767 581F 157 165E 0539 015 FFFF
0767 5824 157 165C 0539 015 FFFF
0767 581A 157 1660 0539 015 FFFF
0767 581F 157 1659 053E 015 FFFF
0766 581F 157 165E 053E 015 FFFF
0767 581A 157 1660 0539 015 FFFF

[Guest]

Benj,

Can you send me what appears in the 'Code1' and 'Code2' boxes after learning this button [video 3] (make sure Learn in Raw mode is checked) as well as what Carrier frequency gets selected?

Thanks,

Jon

[Benj]

Jon,

After learning Video3 with RAW mode selected, code 1 is R076681585614 and code 2 is blank. The detected carrier freq. is 38.5 kHz.

Another detail I failed to mention is that my proximity while learning is the usual that it seems to like: about 4 inches. When testing, I've tried a normal short distance as well as putting the emitter right up against Kenwood's IR window. Anyway, proximity doesn't seem to be a factor. But you probably guessed that by now.

Thanks,
-Benj

[jrhees]

Hmmm... that's not right. It appears that somehow the learn process is only seeing the latter part of what your Kenwood remote is sending (the repeat sequence) and not the long sequence at the beginning of the burst.

Can you try again, BOTH:

1. An IR Debug of the Video 3 button
2. At the same position, a RAW LEARN of the Video 3 button as follows:
a. Press the LEARN button
b. Wait a few seconds
c. Position the remote and make sure it is steady and doesn't move during learning.
d. Press and Hold the remote button.

Post those codes (IR Debug, Code 1, Code 2) here on the forum

Thanks,

Jon

[Benj]

Jon,

I hope I didn't waste much of your time. I was fooled by the simplicity of programming my other two components, where it always picked up the right code on the first try, despite less than optimal alignment. Now I just tried again, taking your suggestion to steady and immobilize the UIRT and my remote, and now all is well.

For the Kenwood, I have to try ~3 times, and basically wait until something shows up in the code 2 field. If it starts flashing and stays flashing, that's usually a good take. If it starts flashing, hesitates, and then finishes flashing, that's a bad take, usually due to imperfect alignment. Putting the UIRT and my remote on the floor facing each other helped a lot, so this should go relatively quickly now. I tried the Setup and volume up buttons, too, and they're all working now.

Thanks for the great product and quick responses!

-Benj

[jrhees]

One other tip (for you and others) is that since the USB-UIRT is analyzing the waveform put out by the remote (including amplitude, etc.), a fresh set of batteries in the remote can make a big difference. When batteries get weak, the first part of a burst comes out at a greater amplitude and then decays...

-Jon