Multiple Beyonwizes in a room

prl · Post by **prl** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 14:25

Some lucky folk have more than one Beyonwiz

Unfortunately, all Beyonwizes have the same codeset for their remote, which means that if more than one BW can "see" the remote, then they all respond to it. I have two BWs (DP-S1 & DP-H1) in the same cabinet. Currently, if I want to run just one, I turn it on manually, and then the remote (apart from the power button) only operates it.

If I want both on (testing streaming or recording two and watching a third program), the only way I can deal with it is to drape a folded sheet of newspaper over the front of the one I don't want to control and weight it down with a coaster. To "switch" control between the BWs, move the newspaper. Sort of defeats the purpose of the remote

Is my situation common? Please only answer if you have two BWs (no matter where they are situated) or are thinking about having more than one.

The "separate rooms" option also includes situations where they're in the same room but the remote doesn't affect both, and "same room" includes when they're in different rooms but the remote does affect both!

sub3R · Post by **sub3R** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 16:08

This is one of the very few polls I have seen that had the correct options, so I was able to vote.

I voted ?They're in separate rooms so I don't have a problem? ? which we don?t at the moment because they are in separate rooms & don?t interfere with one another.

In the future we may end up having a problem if we sell & buy another home that has a different layout. ie. a more open plan living area. If this happens it would be an advantage if each BW & associated remote had different user selectable codes.

PS. Not so sure about the lucky bit.

DaveR · Post by **DaveR** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 20:36

Interesting poll, Peter. I was about to reply saying that there are only about 3 people who have multiple BWs in the same room. Then I decided to view the poll results before posting. And guess what? 3 people have answered that they have multiple BWs in the same room

The whole Beyonwiz concept is a single Beyonwiz device in each room - all networked together - so I don't think different IR codes ever crossed Beyonwiz's mind.

But it would be nice to see a choice of codes for each machine. It would also be nice to have discrete on and off codes.

prl · Post by **prl** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 21:18

Good call on the count.

I basically wanted the H1 as a third HD tuner. We only have one TV, so it's all in one place.

Pity that it looks like its going to be a pretty small sample size. Vote early! Vote often!

Vortical · Post by **Vortical** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 14:31

Mine are in different rooms and it would be a pain if I wanted them in the same room.

I voted for the option like sub3r but can see how annoying this would be and would prefer that they could have different codes but this should be optional, as it is handy if one remote gets buggered you can just use the other one.

prl · Post by **prl** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 14:57

My preference would be:

A few (2-4?) switchable codesets in the BW PVRs
Ability to buy a remote with an alternative codeset at a reasonable price; and/or
two switchable codesets in the "standard" remote; slider switch under the battery cover to select;
More than 1 BW codeset available simultaneously in the BW programmable remote

After all, they do want us to buy as many of their PVRs as possible, don't they?

Vortical · Post by **Vortical** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 22:28

prl wrote: More than 1 BW codeset available simultaneously in the BW programmable remote[/list]After all, they do want us to buy as many of their PVRs as possible, don't they?

Exactly

sub3R · Post by **sub3R** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 10:23

Some good suggestions Peter. Definitely better than the newspaper trick - I would get fed up pretty quickly with that.

peteru · Post by **peteru** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 13:26

In the past, I have specified RCU features for a PVR. My solution was to have the remote switchable to one of four sets of codes (by holding down POWER+1, POWER+2, etc.). The PVR itself could be switched to alternative code sets by using the front panel buttons and menus.

Since I have also written the microcode for the front panel controller, I added the option of being able to define any set of acceptable remote codes for the PVR, so you could for example also use your old VCR remote to control the new PVR.

prl · Post by **prl** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 14:03

That sounds much better than a slider switch in the battery compartment.

j s · Post by **j s** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 08:00

prl wrote:That sounds much better than a slider switch in the battery compartment.

The advantage of a slider switch is that you can actually see what it is set to instead of forever wondering as you would with a soft switch sequence.

peteru · Post by **peteru** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 09:20

Physical slider switches are much more expensive (both parts and manufacturing process) and have a much higher failure rate.

grunta · Post by **grunta** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 00:43

maybe the poll should also include "I don't have a second because of the remote problem"

prl · Post by **prl** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 09:22

Hi grunta, perhaps you're right, but it's a bit late in the life of the poll. I'm happy to ask a moderator to add it if ti's a serious suggestion.

Gully · Post by **Gully** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 09:54

Happy to do it but everyone needs to realise the votes already cast stay as is and you don't get to change them.

IanSav · Post by **IanSav** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 10:26

Hi Gully,

Given the low vote count, can all the votes be reset so that the poll can effectively be restarted with the expanded option list?

Regards,
Ian.

Gully · Post by **Gully** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 10:42

Happy to do that if Peter wants it.

(There is no reset as such just a matter of deleting and recreating the poll I think)

grunta · Post by **grunta** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 13:00

I think its valid...... as BW need to know they are missing out on sales because of it, not just annoying people with it

prl · Post by **prl** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 13:12

OK, that's fine with me. Gully, could you weave your magic?

Gully · Post by **Gully** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 13:47

Okay, I've woven my magic

Let the voting commence!

prl · Post by **prl** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 14:50

Gully wrote:Happy to do it but everyone needs to realise the votes already cast stay as is and you don't get to change them.

Ummmm.... It looks like you wiped the old votes: I've been able to recast my original vote, though!

But thanks anyway!

Gully · Post by **Gully** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 15:17

prl wrote:
Gully wrote:Happy to do it but everyone needs to realise the votes already cast stay as is and you don't get to change them.
Ummmm.... It looks like you wiped the old votes: I've been able to recast my original vote, though!

But thanks anyway!

Peter

Sounds like some cross wires.

I posted the idea of adding an option would leave the votes as is, but then there were a few posts suggesting a reset and I read you as agreeing to that.

prl · Post by **prl** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 15:29

No problem; I'm happy to go with it either way!

bohemian · Post by **bohemian** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 18:29

I voted: I don't have a second because of the remote problem

In the not to distant future I will be replacing my toppy 5000 with another HD-PVR.

Because I cannot use two bwizers in the same room I would have to get something else.

DaveR · Post by **DaveR** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 21:34

bohemian wrote:I voted: I don't have a second because of the remote problem

In the not to distant future I will be replacing my toppy 5000 with another HD-PVR.

Because I cannot use two bwizers in the same room I would have to get something else.

There's little point in having 2 wiz's in the same room. Just put the 2nd wiz in the bedroom. Then from the bedroom you can play files off the loungeroom wiz's HDD and visa versa.

Then put a 3rd wiz (a H1) in the sapre room.

And then put a wiz fridge in the kitchen so you don't miss anything while getting a beer.

grunta · Post by **grunta** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 00:23

Dave? wrote:
bohemian wrote:I voted: I don't have a second because of the remote problem

In the not to distant future I will be replacing my toppy 5000 with another HD-PVR.

Because I cannot use two bwizers in the same room I would have to get something else.
There's little point in having 2 wiz's in the same room. Just put the 2nd wiz in the bedroom. Then from the bedroom you can play files off the loungeroom wiz's HDD and visa versa.

Then put a 3rd wiz (a H1) in the sapre room.

And then put a wiz fridge in the kitchen so you don't miss anything while getting a beer.

the one downfall with your idea Dave is not everyone has the whole house wired with coax everywhere
and you'd have to go to each room to program it

prl · Post by **prl** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 16:48

Dave? wrote:...
There's little point in having 2 wiz's in the same room. ...

It seems there's some disagreement with you on that from the poll numbers, Dave. IIRC the original poll had 6 people who had no problems because their BWs were in different rooms, and 4 who were annoyed because their BWs in the same room were a pain, with none who had BWs in the same room and had a good workaround for the remote problem.

The current poll has (at the moment) 2 users with BWs in separate rooms, 2 who have two BWs in the same room and think the remotes are a pain, and 3 who say they're held back from getting another BW because of the remores being hard to use on two BWs in the same room. Small samples, admittedly, but there are folk out there who, for whatever reason want to have their BWs in the same room.

Our TV doesn't have a digital tuner (let alone a HD tuner), so the second unit (H1) is our third tuner for when we have two things recording, and a low-power option when we don't need the full capability of the S1. They share the same cabinet and feed the same TV.

peteru · Post by **peteru** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 19:58

If I could get two Beyonwiz boxes operating next to each other, Beyonwiz would have been $800+ richer.

As it stands, that money is going to another company because I can not get two Beyonwiz products to operate next to each other.

glow · Post by **glow** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 18:47

Well I've now got two Wizzes P1+S1because my prize (S1) for the video contest just arrived.
I've only got one TV so both are in the same room.
I didn't realise the remotes would be the same.

Perhaps I should have selected the P2 - according to the manual it seems to have different codes.

peteru · Post by **peteru** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 19:27

I wonder if the front panel from a P2 could be retrofitted to a P1.

IanSav · Post by **IanSav** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 22:07

Hi Peter,

peteru wrote:I wonder if the front panel from a P2 could be retrofitted to a P1.

Don't you just need to load the P2 microcode into the P1's panel. That should give you the alternate code set.

Regards,
Ian.

peteru · Post by **peteru** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 00:52

I don't think they are field programmable.

prl · Post by **prl** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 05:29

IanSav wrote:Hi Peter,
peteru wrote:I wonder if the front panel from a P2 could be retrofitted to a P1.
Don't you just need to load the P2 microcode into the P1's panel. That should give you the alternate code set.

Regards,
Ian.

Isn't it only PowerToggle that's interpreted in the front panel? Aren't all the other codes interpreted by the Beyonwiz applications? The discrets PowerOff was added without changing the front panel microcode. If I'm correct, changing the microcode would let the P1 respond to the P2's power toggle, but all the other codes would stay P1 codes.

IanSav · Post by **IanSav** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 17:49

Hi,

I am not fully familiar with remote control terminology and technology but I believe that there is a device identification code in the remote control preamble sequence. I believe that this device identifier is different between the DP-P2 and the other models. This ID is probably associated with the front panel controller in some way. I suspect that the actual command codes that do all the work will be identical between all models and are passed on to the main board for processing.

Regards,
Ian.

DaveR · Post by **DaveR** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 23:21

prl wrote:The discrets PowerOff was added without changing the front panel microcode.

The front panel could have had a spare unused code that they made use of. But I believe you are correct, and all codes (except power on) are passed on to the firmware to respond to as required.

prl wrote:If I'm correct, changing the microcode would let the P1 respond to the P2's power toggle, but all the other codes would stay P1 codes.

Possibly. If you change a SD toppy's RCU codes via TAP or firmware the original power code still works.

glow · Post by **glow** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 21:44

Where are the infrared receivers located on the P1 and S1? I couldn't find it in the manual.
I tried to use a Christmas card to cover the box which I don't want to control but even after putting 3 cards across the front width of the P1 I still couldn't stop it reacting to the Pop-Up button. The S1 seemed to be easier - just a card across the centre covering the display.

tonymy01 · Post by **tonymy01** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 22:03

A torch will show you where it is in the S1, look for some photos I put in the forum about this once before.
Regards

DaveR · Post by **DaveR** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 23:51

glow wrote:Where are the infrared receivers located on the P1 and S1?

S1 is almost in line with the centre of the front 'USB/card reader door'.

P1, P2 and H1 is on one end of the small display window (can't remember which end).

prl · Post by **prl** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 08:14

glow wrote:Where are the infrared receivers located on the P1 and S1? I couldn't find it in the manual.
I tried to use a Christmas card to cover the box which I don't want to control but even after putting 3 cards across the front width of the P1 I still couldn't stop it reacting to the Pop-Up button. The S1 seemed to be easier - just a card across the centre covering the display.

I use the Canberra Times TV guide, folded again, with the fold tucked under the DP-S1 or H1, and wrapped close to the front, and then held in place with a coaster or two on top. It's important to get whatever's blocking the IR transmitter to cover the whole window in the front panel, and to be close to the window, otherwise the IR signals "leak" around the corner. Take care not to cover ventilation holes.

Is this convenient? No.
Does it work? Most of the time.

bpratt · Post by **bpratt** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 12:31

glow wrote:Where are the infrared receivers located on the P1 and S1? I couldn't find it in the manual.
I tried to use a Christmas card to cover the box which I don't want to control but even after putting 3 cards across the front width of the P1 I still couldn't stop it reacting to the Pop-Up button. The S1 seemed to be easier - just a card across the centre covering the display.

Yes, I'm interested in finding out where the infrared receiver is on my P1.

I see things which might be it, but want to be sure though.

Perhaps the location of these infrared receivers on all BeyonWiz models should be added to the FAQ so that we don't get asked the same question again ?

tonymy01 · Post by **tonymy01** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 12:54

Shine a torch thru the front panel, simple. It is a rectangular box with (often) metal housing and a black plasticy bit that is the IR sensor (some IR receivers don't have the metal housing but I would imagine all the Wiz ones do). It is joined to the front panel with 3 metal legs.
Regards

glow · Post by **glow** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 18:57

I'm still trying to come up with a respectable-looking cover for the IR receiver.
As suggested I currently use a folded TV guide from the newspaper with a CD cover to weigh it down on top. Not a great look when you are trying to show your mates your fancy new PVR!

DaveR · Post by **DaveR** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 17:46

glow wrote:I'm still trying to come up with a respectable-looking cover for the IR receiver.
As suggested I currently use a folded TV guide from the newspaper with a CD cover to weigh it down on top. Not a great look when you are trying to show your mates your fancy new PVR!

Might be worth buying a P2 front panel and remote control (assuming the firmware plays no part in it).

Paul55 · Post by **Paul55** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 21:00

After reading this thread, I'm still not sure if the P2 has different codes and can be used in the same room as a P1/S1/H1.
Hopefully, BW have been clever enough to realise they got this wrong. They may have a 'vision' of a BW in each room, but consumers should been given choices.
With the increase in channels, it'll be less unusual to need more than 2 tuners - particularly with the P2 having PayTV input.
Even now, the channels put shows of similar appeal against each other. eg. Tuesday night is a viewing desert for our household, while Wednesday has shows that interest us on all commercial channels concurrently - and ratings season hasn't even started yet

tonymy01 · Post by **tonymy01** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 21:29

I am 99% sure the P2 has different codes because Dave said so some months ago

IanSav · Post by **IanSav** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 22:31

Hi Tony,

tonymy01 wrote:I am 99% sure the P2 has different codes because Dave said so some months ago

I believe that the DP-P2 can use the same code set as the other Beyonwiz models but it can also be set to use a different code set as well. That is, a DP-P2 can be configured to be different to the other models such that both can be used in the same room at the same time.

Regards,
Ian.

prl · Post by **prl** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 22:50

tonymy01 wrote:I am 99% sure the P2 has different codes because Dave said so some months ago

The P2 manual says so, too. The P2 remote can be switched between the two code sets.

But this isn't the right way to manage the problem. What if you want two P2s in a room?

IanSav · Post by **IanSav** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 22:55

Hi Peter,

prl wrote:But this isn't the right way to manage the problem. What if you want two P2s in a room?

Set one to the DP-P1 code set and the other to the DP-P2 code set.

Regards,
Ian.

prl · Post by **prl** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 22:58

IanSav wrote:Hi Peter,
prl wrote:But this isn't the right way to manage the problem. What if you want two P2s in a room?
Set one to the DP-P1 code set and the other to the DP-P2 code set.

Regards,
Ian.

I thought you could only switch the code sets on the remote.