Replacement Remote for V2?

BigbobOz · Post by **BigbobOz** » Sat Dec 21, 2019 17:09

Can't see an option for replacement/second remotes on the online store. Can they be sourced from elsehwere or is there a way to get an older remote to work with the V2?

I've got some remotes for the T series PVRs

Thanks,
Rob

prl · Post by **prl** » Sat Dec 21, 2019 17:31

The V2's firmware omits the plugin that allows the remote code set to be changed. If I ever knew why it was done that way, I've since forgotten.

Although it's possible to install the plugin, it crashes if you try to use it, because some other required components aren't installed in the V2.

Gully · Post by **Gully** » Sat Dec 21, 2019 17:38

Sounds like a Harmony remote might be the way to go - and pretty useful in other ways as well.

prl · Post by **prl** » Sat Dec 21, 2019 18:24

I forgot to mention that the U4 remote will work on the V2 (and vice versa), but there are a few minor differences in which buttons are on the remotes.

I use a Harmony remote for normal use on our T4, but it's still handy to have the original remote cometimes.

prl · Post by **prl** » Sat Dec 21, 2019 18:28

OK: I've found why there's no control over the remote code set on the V2: it lacks the capability to change the configured code set in the OS (no /proc/stb/ir/rc/type file)

BigbobOz · Post by **BigbobOz** » Sun Dec 22, 2019 15:54

Thanks for the details.

I have a logitech remote but don't love the spongy feel their buttons have. I'll get it out and reprogram it I suppose. Will be a work around for my HDMI-CEC problem.

I quite like the the V2 remote otherwise.

Rob

prl · Post by **prl** » Sun Dec 22, 2019 17:06

Currently, the Beyonwiz shop only has a Logitech 350 universal remote and a "Beyonwiz Replacement Remote for T2 T3 T4 & U4" (actually the T3 remote) available.

I'm not sure how the lack of availability of a V2 remote sits with the ACCC Consumer Guarantee requirement:

Products must:
...
have spare parts and repair facilities available for a reasonable time after purchase unless you were told otherwise.

The V2 isn't exactly an old model.

Note that the "Replacement Remote" above lists it being usable on the U4 (which it is), but because it's not actually a U4 remote, it can't be used on the V2 (which can be controlled by a genuine U4 remote).

Also the "Replacement Remote" lacks some buttons that are on the genuine U4 remote, so it isn't actually a complete replacement for that remote.

Gully · Post by **Gully** » Sun Dec 22, 2019 18:01

prl wrote: ↑
Sun Dec 22, 2019 17:06
Currently, the Beyonwiz shop only has a Logitech 350 universal remote and a "Beyonwiz Replacement Remote for T2 T3 T4 & U4" (actually the T3 remote) available.

I'm not sure how the lack of availability of a V2 remote sits with the ACCC Consumer Guarantee requirement:
Products must:
...
have spare parts and repair facilities available for a reasonable time after purchase unless you were told otherwise.

The V2 isn't exactly an old model.

I think it could allow someone to return it for full refund though of course they would need to contact Beyonwiz first to see what options are, etc. (not a lawyer, just a personal opinion, etc)

prl · Post by **prl** » Mon Dec 23, 2019 08:48

Yes, but surely it's better to be compliant?

Gully · Post by **Gully** » Mon Dec 23, 2019 10:11

prl wrote: ↑
Mon Dec 23, 2019 08:48
Yes, but surely it's better to be compliant?

Totally agree, but sometimes that's how you "encourage" compliance.

BigbobOz · Post by **BigbobOz** » Fri Jun 05, 2020 19:31

Still not happy with the remote options. Really not a fan of the Logitech remotes, buttons are rubbish.

Tried an One For All universal remote, really like the buttons and feel of it but there are some commands it can't do with the V2 or T4 units.

Any others people have tried?

Thanks,
Rob

Barboots · Post by **Barboots** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 11:04

I bought a Philips Prestigo for a cheap experiment years ago when Dick Smith were heading into the red. I quite liked it, and when setting up a second viewing room I tracked down three more on eBay for next to nothing. The programming is a bit mind-bending... but once set up they have a nice feel and balance, not to mention the buttons in the right spot.

Bad news... discontinued.

I think that Harmony have killed the market for competition. Do none of their models have reasonable button mechanics?

Cheers, Steve

MrQuade · Post by **MrQuade** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 11:11

Barboots wrote: ↑
Tue Aug 11, 2020 11:04
I think that Harmony have killed the market for competition. Do none of their models have reasonable button mechanics?

The hub-based ones have a different type of construction to the standard IR ones, and I haven't personally had any problems with the mechanical aspects of either of mine.

What button mechanics are you referring to? Durability issues, ergonomics, or tactile response?

They're certainly not perfect (mostly some odd software and configuration quirks), but I honestly wouldn't use anything else now. (Everyone's requirements are different)

prl · Post by **prl** » Tue Aug 11, 2020 12:12

Some of the buttons on my Harmony 785 (discontinued) are now getting a bit unreliable and the silvering on the VOL+/- and MUTE buttons has pretty much all rubbed away, but it's now nearly 12 years old.

Unfortunately, I don't think any of the current Harmony IR remotes are as good as the 785, and the hub-based ones are expensive.

telesynth · Post by **telesynth** » Thu Aug 20, 2020 19:53

Just got a Harmony 350, how do you get the Media list to play recordings?

MrQuade · Post by **MrQuade** » Thu Aug 20, 2020 20:34

telesynth wrote: ↑
Thu Aug 20, 2020 19:53
Just got a Harmony 350, how do you get the Media list to play recordings?

You need to map the "media" button command to one of the buttons on the Harmony remote.

Harmony remotes generally need a bit of customisation to get them mapped the way you like them.

I personally use the DVR button for that purpose on my Harmony. (Long-press is mapped to the TIMER button)

telesynth · Post by **telesynth** » Thu Aug 20, 2020 20:43

You can program buttons? That’s great, but I didn’t think the 350 could do that. Something like an Edit option for the V2 device?

MrQuade · Post by **MrQuade** » Thu Aug 20, 2020 20:50

telesynth wrote: ↑
Thu Aug 20, 2020 20:43
You can program buttons? That’s great, but I didn’t think the 350 could do that. Something like an Edit option for the V2 device?

Pretty sure you can. I don't remember what the full capabilities are in terms of macros and the like. My recollection was that it was just limited to a single activity.

telesynth · Post by **telesynth** » Thu Aug 20, 2020 21:15

I’ll check this out and report back.

telesynth · Post by **telesynth** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 09:34

Its ridiculously simple to edit the button mapping in the Harmony 350. The first time you run the app it's a wizard to configure your devices. The subsequent times you run the app, the home page has a link to edit the button mapping. Every unassigned button is surrounded by a blue border. Dead easy. Now to find a use for the big up and down buttons...

prl · Post by **prl** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 17:00

telesynth wrote: ↑
Fri Aug 21, 2020 09:34
Now to find a use for the big up and down buttons...

NEXT & PREVIOUS, perhaps?

telesynth · Post by **telesynth** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 17:07

Good idea! On a side note, can I stop Next/Previous from doing a zap to last channel? I'd rather they did nothing at all. Is this possible to disable on the V2?

MrQuade · Post by **MrQuade** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 17:14

telesynth wrote: ↑
Fri Aug 21, 2020 17:07
Good idea! On a side note, can I stop Next/Previous from doing a zap to last channel? I'd rather they did nothing at all. Is this possible to disable on the V2?

Not that I am aware of. AFAIK, you can only set them to immediately zap, or you can configure them to bring up a zap menu.

telesynth · Post by **telesynth** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 17:26

Thinking of key mapping, where is keymap.xml located?

MrQuade · Post by **MrQuade** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 17:33

telesynth wrote: ↑
Fri Aug 21, 2020 17:26
Thinking of key mapping, where is keymap.xml located?

It's in /usr/share/enigma2

But you shouldn't overwrite that one, as it will be potentially wiped out any time you perform a firmware update.

You can create a copy and put it in your /etc/enigma2 directory, and then edit your settings file to point to the new keymap.

However, if the master keymap file ever *does* get changed by a firmware update, then you will need to manually update your copy anyway.
It's a bit of a hacky change, but some users like to do this (such as the Topfield colour button holdouts).

Here is an old set of instructions I wrote about this process.
viewtopic.php?f=56&t=10049&p=135003#p135003

prl · Post by **prl** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 17:36

/usr/share/enigma2/keymap.xml.

You'd need to comment out or remove the two lines

Code: Select all

		<key id="KEY_PREVIOUS" mapto="historyBack" flags="mr"/>
		<key id="KEY_NEXT" mapto="historyNext" flags="mr"/>

in <map context="InfobarChannelSelection">

That change doesn't seem to have any undesirable side-effects.

The box has the Unix editor "vi" installed (a cutdown-version that may be related to the stevie editor).

You may need to re-do your changes after an on-line update, and you will need to after an update/install from USB.

MrQuade · Post by **MrQuade** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 17:39

prl wrote: ↑
Fri Aug 21, 2020 17:36
The box has the Unix editor "vi" installed (a cutdown-version that may be related to the stevie editor).

I recommend installing nano

opkg install nano

prl · Post by **prl** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 17:40

MrQuade wrote: ↑
Fri Aug 21, 2020 17:39

prl wrote: ↑
Fri Aug 21, 2020 17:36
The box has the Unix editor "vi" installed (a cutdown-version that may be related to the stevie editor).
I recommend installing nano
opkg install nano

De gustibus non est disputandum

telesynth · Post by **telesynth** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 17:41

Thanks!

prl · Post by **prl** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 17:42

No problem.

adoxa · Post by **adoxa** » Fri Aug 21, 2020 23:47

You can also have a custom keymap, which is currently only documented in the commit (I would quote it, but Sucuri doesn't like it).

MrQuade · Post by **MrQuade** » Sat Aug 22, 2020 00:22

adoxa wrote: ↑
Fri Aug 21, 2020 23:47
You can also have a custom keymap, which is currently only documented in the commit (I would quote it, but Sucuri doesn't like it).

Oh nice. That's way smoother than overriding the whole thing. Nice!

(I missed that by a whole year!)

BigbobOz · Post by **BigbobOz** » Fri Jan 22, 2021 19:42

I saw Beyonwiz is finally selling V2 replacement remotes. Have ordered one, very excited.

Anyone have their Beyonwiz hooked into MQTT?

BigbobOz · Post by **BigbobOz** » Sat Dec 11, 2021 10:41

Ok, so I bought a replacement remote after posting the above. Almost identical to the original, all good except the batteries it came with, leaked and have killed the remote. Worse the power button is effectively stuck on - signal sent not the button itself.

Have tried contacting Beyonwiz by email and Zendesk, no response. Ayone have a number to call?

Thanks,
Rob

BigbobOz · Post by **BigbobOz** » Wed Jan 26, 2022 22:32

Still no word from Beyonwiz

In the mean time, I've found a good replacement option - Sofabaton.

Had another search for a universal remote when I read Logitech are pulling out of universal remotes and came across this one. Very happy with it so far. Easy to program via an app on your phone via bluetooth. Have a lot of devices already in their library but can copy codes pretty easily but not perfect.

In theory can operate as a bluetooth remote as well, haven't go around to syncing it to the PS4 just yet but in theory will do that as well.

Rob

GregH · Post by **GregH** » Mon Jan 16, 2023 14:46

OK the Harmony 350 main power on button (top left) on my remote has died. The V2 replacement remote is out of stock and no idea when they'll be back in stock. The Harmony 350 is discontinued, so what cheap options are out there. Is the V2 remote for $50 a universal remote? Will it control the TV with codes. In a bit of a bind at the moment

Greg

telesynth · Post by **telesynth** » Mon Jan 16, 2023 15:50

The Beyonwiz V2 remote only works for the V2. You will still need to use your TV and audio remotes. I am disappointed with the Harmony 350. You can press buttons fast and the V2 processes them slower so you always overshoot the program or media you want. Very annoying. I don't know of a decent universal learning remote anymore. The Sony I had was fantastic but mine broke for programmed settings. I don't know of a good learning remote which is standard size, doens't need touch screen (bright light in the room and you have to look at it to touch the right button) and will actually last. Sorry, no good news.

prl · Post by **prl** » Mon Jan 16, 2023 16:18

telesynth wrote: ↑
Mon Jan 16, 2023 15:50
The Beyonwiz V2 remote only works for the V2.

That's not quite correct. The V2 remote will work with a U4 and vice versa. However, replacement U4 remotes aren't even listed at the Beyonwiz shop, and the remote that is available in the shop advertised as "Beyonwiz Replacement Remote for T2 T3 T4 & U4" will not work with the V2 (it's the original T3 remote).

sub3R · Post by **sub3R** » Mon Jan 16, 2023 17:05

GregH wrote: ↑
Mon Jan 16, 2023 14:46
OK the Harmony 350 main power on button (top left) on my remote has died. ...

Paul_oz53 posted the link to ButtonWorx button repair kits in this post.

If you decide to order one of those kits to repair the remote, while you are waiting for it to arrive you may be able to clean off the “gunk” that is probably preventing the button from working. There are a couple of topics on the forum explaining how to do that.

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