Clandestine code storage.
While I was thoroughly testing the remote’s learning capabilities, I made an unusual and entirely accidental discovery – the existence of two completely hidden devices. To find them you must first enter learning mode for any device, select the “learn a key” function, and then choose any button on which to capture a code. At this point you can either learn a new command, or just wait 15 seconds for the “failed” message to appear. Now, press the [Learn] button.
As mentioned earlier, while in learning mode pressing any device button will exit the setup menu and return you to that device. If you instead press [Learn], which isn’t actually a device, the remote still exits – but to a non-existent ninth device, marked on the LCD as “UP” (Un-Programmed?). I have then re-entered learning mode and captured codes that are subsequently unavailable under any of the remote’s 8 normal devices, but remain functional on that hidden device. It’s even possible to enter the setup menu and try to change the preprogrammed code; however no code numbers are listed or accepted. A similar tenth device, distinguishable as it has absolutely no displayed name, can be found by exiting with the [Macro] button instead of [Learn]. Both hidden devices will flash the [AUX2] button when used, although it is not possible to access their commands by directly selecting [AUX2].
Since these covert devices are so difficult to access they serve little practical purpose, but if you had wanted to hide a few potentially dangerous device commands that the rest of your family shouldn’t be able to use (and had enough learning memory available)... well, this might be the perfect hiding place.
Macros – maybe?
We now come to one of the more important features of a true system automating universal remote control – macros. A remote’s macros are what turn your collection of independent devices into a full-fledged interoperating system, so that instead of flitting back and forth between different remotes or devices to get everything ready for your next activity or task, you can simply press a single button and the remote does it all for you. Some people may prefer to call this concept “activities”, but that’s essentially a marketing name for combining macros with device punchthroughs.
The package promises that the ZR800D does support macros... although specifics are conspicuously vague. The manual, however, offers painfully clear details. There are a total of 3 macros, each with up to 10 steps. Those three macros cannot be assigned directly to hard buttons, such as the [Power], [All Off] or any device key, but rather are stored on a dual-key combination of [Macro] plus a number from [1] to [3]. So, to transmit the macro stored in slot 1, users will have to hold the [Macro] button and press the [1] key at the same time.
Recording a macro is done through the main setup menu – select one of the 3 available slots, and then choose “Set Up”. While the LCD displays “Select Key”, start recording steps from any of the remote’s devices. No step counter or other feedback is provided during recording, but when you run out of steps the device LEDs will stop flashing. Press the [OK] button to save, or [Exit] to cancel.
Those 10 available steps include changing devices, so if you had wanted to create a button that powered on all 8 devices supported by the remote, it would only be possible to deal with 5 of them from a single macro. Although there is no way to add a manual delay between steps, chances are those will never be needed as the remote pauses automatically for nearly 3 seconds between each step as they are played back. A sample 10-step macro took 28 seconds to transmit – hold that remote steady!
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