2.3 Update: Problem with AppleTV learning third-party remote

Question

2.3 Update: Problem with AppleTV learning third-party remote

Hello,

I'm trying to set up my third party remote (DirecTV HR21) after updating to 2.3. It all starts well; I go to Settings -> General -> Remotes -> Learn Remote, but I am having an issue when I am making my Apple TV learn the second key (down arrow); I get the error message "apple tv has already learned this button". It's as if the Apple TV thinks the 'up arrow' and the 'down arrow' on my remote are the same key. I tried several times, to no avail.

Anyone else having this issue?

Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on Nov 20, 2008 11:03 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 20, 2008 6:58 PM in response to PrefabSprouter

I'm experiencing the same problem with the current DirecTV remote not being able to learn more than the first button prompted to enter (arrow-down). The error message "appletv has already learned this button" appears when attempting to enter the second button prompted (arrow-up). Furthermore, I have attempted configuration on two separate DirecTV HR21 remotes in both AV1 and AV2 modes.

Come on Apple -- don't tease us! Testing wasn't done to make sure AppleTV can learn to respond to a current DirecTV remote? Yikes. I wonder what 3rd-party remotes were tested and confirmed to work.

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Answer 2

mlevack

Level 1

8 points

Dec 6, 2008 3:30 PM in response to JDMarshall

I am experiencing the same issue as well. It appears to learn the first arrow, but will not continue after that (stating it has already learned that button).

Has anyone figured ou a way to use the directv remote with Apple TV?

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Answer 3

Dec 12, 2008 3:00 PM in response to mlevack

I figured out the problem. Change the code of AV1 or AV2 on your remote to a different device (preferably any Sony DVD). Then try again. It worked for me. The problem was that the device I had AV1 set to did not have many of the keys programmed, as the device it was set to didn't use them.

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Answer 4

Nov 20, 2008 7:16 PM in response to PrefabSprouter

The new software disabled my Crestron universal remote and won't re-learn it--or I'm too technically-challenged to figure it out...

I'd wait to see if others have the same problem if you're currently using a universal remote.

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Answer 5

s_b_10

Level 1

9 points

Dec 13, 2008 10:04 AM in response to PrefabSprouter

This worked perfectly. I used code 20533 for AV1, then went through the AppleTV Learn Remote menu. Be sure to set the Playback Keys as well as the Basic Keys. I did run out of navigation buttons on the DTV remote, and had to use "1" for Skip Back, and "2" for Skip Ahead.

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Answer 6

Feb 18, 2009 10:14 PM in response to s_b_10

I tried using a non-Apple remote and it worked absolutely smoothly. I didn't even pursue this route until I lost my ATV remote. I used my Comcast remote that came with the HD box and programmed the remote for the "AUX" device. Yipee!

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