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I spent the better part of this afternoon figuring out a strange application of vintage Directivos and modern remotes: Using two Harmony 200 remotes on two identical RCA DVR40 Directivos. Here's how I made it work.
The problem: Wanting two identical, high capacity, Tivo powered Directv DVRs with 30 second skip, expandable, dual drive capability, without too much expense.
The answer: Two RCA DVR40 units with Terrabyte HDs, yielding about 979 hours each (used about $50 each). Two Harmony 200 universal remotes (new about $17 each.) One old Peanut remote ($10 on bay).
The catch: The DVR40 has capability for Remote Address setting, but the Harmony 200 seems to not.
This may seem impossible, as the Harmony 200 has no multi-tuner switch on the surface. Moreso, it has no Remote Address capability through keypress codes, as the Tivo Peanut remote did. However, with a little patience, a little ingenuity, and some brute effort this can be done.
First, work with only one of the Harmony 200 remotes. We'll duplicate the second one later. (The only reason to have two is if you have two users in the house. One will control both Tivos just fine.) Plug the Harmony into the computer and go through the normal Logitech process of identifying your Tivo models and Audio amplifier or TV for sound control.
The pre-configured buttons for your audio device (or other device for button 3) will work fine. But here's the brute force part. ALL the default buttons in Logitech's database for the DVR40 (and many other Tivos, I suspect) are set to Remote Address 0 (Zero). This means both your Tivos are going to receive the remote signal and change simultaneously. This is a disaster when trying to change channels while recording, delete recordings etc. So unfortunately you need to learn all of your desired Tivo functions from your Peanut remote, one at a time, into the Harmony software, and repeat every button twice to achieve instances of each function for two separate Remote Addresses. (Remote Addresses are simply a different frequency that each Tivo will use to receive remote signals independently of the other Tivo.)
So, this is the process:
1. Set the Peanut to Remote Address 1. (Hold Pause and Tivo until lighted, press 1 and then right arrow.) Do this away from the DVRs so they can't receive any signal yet.
2. In the Harmony software click learn, New function, name the button, such as "RA1 Menu", and go through the learn process onscreen. (RA1 designates Remote Address 1, and this code is really important in keeping track of which remote is which.
3. Repeat for every button you need on the Peanut.
4. Switch to the second Tivo receiver in Harmony software.
5. Change the Peanut to Remote Address 2.
6. Learn all the Peanut buttons AGAIN, naming them RA2 Menu, etc.
7. Assign all the RA1 buttons to the first DVR.
8. Assign all the RA2 buttons to the second DVR.
9. Use the Peanut to change the Remote Addresses on the Tivo DVRs. Use the same process from Step 1, but this time aim the Peanut directly at DVR1. Cover the front of DVR2 so it doesn't receive the signal. Then cover DVR1 and set DVR2 to RA2.
10. Test all the buttons on each Tivo, and then fix any that you screwed up. Believe me you will have to sync the remote a few times to get everything right.
11. When your remote is the way you like, connect the second remote and click sync and they will both be the same.
Notes:
You can get away with a few non-Tivo remote buttons mixed in. For example, if your Peanut, or RF24 white remote are programmed to turn on your tv, change inputs etc, you can learn these functions into your Harmony as well. However, NEVER teach your Harmony any TIVO functions from any white remote EVER, or from a Peanut in RA ZERO mode. If you do, your tuner will revert to RA ZERO every time you push those buttons on your Harmony and you will be constantly resetting the DVRs.
When you have everything set, take the batteries out of the Peanut and the white Remotes, and any other old Tivo remotes, and hide those suckers. An unaware passerby could screw up all your work by pressing a bunch of buttons on the old remotes.
Make sure you have no Harmony buttons assigned to stock button defaults. Remember any button presets from the Logitech site are coded RA ZERO and will reset your DVRs. Even if you never use the Slow Motion button, set it to something, even to pause, so that an accidental keypress won't disable your system.
Logitech says point the old remote straight at the Harmony to learn functions. However a slight angle will be much more effective.
The problem: Wanting two identical, high capacity, Tivo powered Directv DVRs with 30 second skip, expandable, dual drive capability, without too much expense.
The answer: Two RCA DVR40 units with Terrabyte HDs, yielding about 979 hours each (used about $50 each). Two Harmony 200 universal remotes (new about $17 each.) One old Peanut remote ($10 on bay).
The catch: The DVR40 has capability for Remote Address setting, but the Harmony 200 seems to not.
This may seem impossible, as the Harmony 200 has no multi-tuner switch on the surface. Moreso, it has no Remote Address capability through keypress codes, as the Tivo Peanut remote did. However, with a little patience, a little ingenuity, and some brute effort this can be done.
First, work with only one of the Harmony 200 remotes. We'll duplicate the second one later. (The only reason to have two is if you have two users in the house. One will control both Tivos just fine.) Plug the Harmony into the computer and go through the normal Logitech process of identifying your Tivo models and Audio amplifier or TV for sound control.
The pre-configured buttons for your audio device (or other device for button 3) will work fine. But here's the brute force part. ALL the default buttons in Logitech's database for the DVR40 (and many other Tivos, I suspect) are set to Remote Address 0 (Zero). This means both your Tivos are going to receive the remote signal and change simultaneously. This is a disaster when trying to change channels while recording, delete recordings etc. So unfortunately you need to learn all of your desired Tivo functions from your Peanut remote, one at a time, into the Harmony software, and repeat every button twice to achieve instances of each function for two separate Remote Addresses. (Remote Addresses are simply a different frequency that each Tivo will use to receive remote signals independently of the other Tivo.)
So, this is the process:
1. Set the Peanut to Remote Address 1. (Hold Pause and Tivo until lighted, press 1 and then right arrow.) Do this away from the DVRs so they can't receive any signal yet.
2. In the Harmony software click learn, New function, name the button, such as "RA1 Menu", and go through the learn process onscreen. (RA1 designates Remote Address 1, and this code is really important in keeping track of which remote is which.
3. Repeat for every button you need on the Peanut.
4. Switch to the second Tivo receiver in Harmony software.
5. Change the Peanut to Remote Address 2.
6. Learn all the Peanut buttons AGAIN, naming them RA2 Menu, etc.
7. Assign all the RA1 buttons to the first DVR.
8. Assign all the RA2 buttons to the second DVR.
9. Use the Peanut to change the Remote Addresses on the Tivo DVRs. Use the same process from Step 1, but this time aim the Peanut directly at DVR1. Cover the front of DVR2 so it doesn't receive the signal. Then cover DVR1 and set DVR2 to RA2.
10. Test all the buttons on each Tivo, and then fix any that you screwed up. Believe me you will have to sync the remote a few times to get everything right.
11. When your remote is the way you like, connect the second remote and click sync and they will both be the same.
Notes:
You can get away with a few non-Tivo remote buttons mixed in. For example, if your Peanut, or RF24 white remote are programmed to turn on your tv, change inputs etc, you can learn these functions into your Harmony as well. However, NEVER teach your Harmony any TIVO functions from any white remote EVER, or from a Peanut in RA ZERO mode. If you do, your tuner will revert to RA ZERO every time you push those buttons on your Harmony and you will be constantly resetting the DVRs.
When you have everything set, take the batteries out of the Peanut and the white Remotes, and any other old Tivo remotes, and hide those suckers. An unaware passerby could screw up all your work by pressing a bunch of buttons on the old remotes.
Make sure you have no Harmony buttons assigned to stock button defaults. Remember any button presets from the Logitech site are coded RA ZERO and will reset your DVRs. Even if you never use the Slow Motion button, set it to something, even to pause, so that an accidental keypress won't disable your system.
Logitech says point the old remote straight at the Harmony to learn functions. However a slight angle will be much more effective.
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