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...Continued from Page 6.
Four and twenty macros...
The Unifier is capable of holding a total of 24 macros: 16 power macros for each device�s [Off] and [On] keys, plus 8 device selection macros on the device keys. To program a macro, hold a device button and press [Mute]. Next, select the key to place the macro on, either [On] or [Off] or, for automatic device-switching sequences, enter macro mode via the [Audio] device and then select the desired device.
Now begin recording up to 50 commands � the LCD keeps track of how many steps you�ve used. Changing devices counts as a step, and 0.5 second delays can be added between commands by pressing the [Pause] button. If you�d like to have device switching macros only play back when the button is held for a certain length of time, begin the macro by adding a delay � the number of delays indicates how long the key needs to be held before the macro will transmit. So, for a one second delay press [Pause] twice and then enter your steps. Save a macro by pressing [Light].
One item to note is that after playing any macro back, the remote will automatically change to whatever device the macro was saved on � this is commonly referred to as a �page jump�. So, if the DVD device�s [Off] button macro was on the TV device when it was saved, pressing [Off] will always change the remote back to TV. It operates this way on device switching macros as well, so theoretically it would be possible to completely secure access to a device by giving it a macro with a jump to a new device and no hold delay. Anyone in-the-know could still access those controls by pressing the device button and [Pause], thus cancelling the macro. Hey, unadvertised parental control!
Advanced configuration.
Only one main setup option remains: punchthroughs. This feature allows you to take a small group of controls from one device and automatically �punch� them through to other devices, without learning those commands over and over again. Five punchthrough groups exist: the 3 volume keys, the 3 channel keys, the 5 transport keys, the 9 menu keys, plus the 2 power buttons (which may be macros). Punchthroughs work with preprogrammed or learned codes and are activated on a function-by-function and device-by-device basis.
So, if the [Off] and [On] keys should always turn the entire home theater system on and off, that group would need to be punched through to the 7 other devices. Or, the receiver�s audio could be controlled under just the DVD and satellite devices, while having the television�s audio for all others.
Finally, it�s possible to clear portions of the Unifier as needed. Erase single learned codes, all codes under a device, or all codes for all devices; erase macros one at a time; or you could reset the entire remote back to factory defaults.
This review will now continue with a combined section for the URC-200 and URC-300. If you would rather jump ahead to the sections for all three models dealing with usability and infrared performance, along with the final conclusion, click here.
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