Universal Remote Unifier URC-100 User manual

Owner’s
Manual

Thank You!
Thank you for purchasing the Unifier™
URC-100 Pre-Programmed and Learning Remote
Control. The Quick Setup DVD tutorial supplied
with the Unifier demonstrates the process of
setting up and automating a home entertainment
system. Watch the DVD first to familiarize
yourself with the capabilities of the Unifier and
the process of setup. This manual is designed to
assist you step-by-step as you setup the Unifier
to replace all of your remote controls and
automate your home entertainment system.
URC-100 Owner’s Manual © 2004 Universal Remote Control, Inc.
The information in this manual is copyright protected. No part of this manual may
be copied or reproduced in any form without prior written consent from Universal
Remote Control, Inc. UNIVERSAL REMOTE CONTROL, INC. SHALL NOT BE
LIABLE FOR OPERATIONAL, TECHNICAL OR EDITORIAL ERRORS/OMISSIONS
MADE IN THIS MANUAL. The information in this manual may be subject to
change without prior notice. Unifier is a registered trademark of Universal Remote
Control, Inc. Power of Simple is a trademark of Universal Remote Control, Inc.
DoubleTap learning is a trademark of Universal Remote Control, Inc. All other
brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
companies or organizations.
500 Mamaroneck Avenue, Harrison, NY 10528
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

1
Table of Contents
Getting Started.......................................................... 2
Button Layout ........................................................... 3
Basic Operation ........................................................ 4
Basic Setup................................................................ 5
Pre-Programmed Method........................................... 5
Learning Method ....................................................... 8
Volume Control Punch Through ............................. 11
Advanced Setup ..................................................... 13
Own Two VCR’s? Set Aux to be VCR2 ..................... 13
Editing Device Names ............................................. 15
Macro Button Setup................................................. 17
Erasing Settings........................................................ 19
Recalling Pre-Programmed Settings ......................... 22
The Optional Expander ........................................... 23
Pre-Programmed Code Tables ................................. 25
Frequently Asked Questions.................................... 48
Specifications/Warranty.......................................... 50

Getting Started
Congratulations!
You’ve purchased one of the most advanced and easy
to setup remote controls ever made. The Unifier’s
built-in library includes thousands of different brands and
models of remote controls. In most systems, all you have
to do to setup the Unifier is enter which brands and
models you own. If you own a component too new to be
in the library, the Unifier uses advanced DoubleTapTM
learning technology to quickly set each Unifier button,
one at a time. Setting up your Unifier to replace all your
existing remote controls can be done in a few minutes.
Basic Setup is described on pages 5 to 12.
The Unifier’s exciting advanced features automate and
customize operation in many ways. You could use
Macro Setup to power on all of your components and
start the show with the press of one button! With the
Unifier’s unique macro capability you can automate the
most complex home theater system. Any of the names on
the display can be edited as you like. It is best to delay
any Advanced Setup (described on pages 13 to 22) until
after you finish Basic Setup.
Battery Installation
Remove the battery compartment
cover by pressing up the cover
lock. Insert four AAA batteries into
the battery compartment as shown
in the diagram.
2
The Unifier
+
+
+
+
-
-
-
-

Button Layout
3
URC-100
LIGHT
Button
SHIFT
Button
FUNCTION
Buttons
DISPLAY
DEVICE
Buttons

Selecting a New DEVICE Changes
All Button Commands Instantly
The Unifier can operate eight different devices even
though it is only one remote control. Let’s try it now!
Press the CABLE DEVICE button. The top of the screen
changes to CABLE. Now all of the buttons of the Unifier
operate a Cable box. To operate any of the other devices,
simply press one of the eight device buttons.
The SHIFT Button
Press SHIFT to access a second command for each
button. While the Unifier is in SHIFT mode, the display
will blink. If you don’t press a button within ten
seconds, the Unifier will timeout and return to normal
operation. The orange button labels indicate some of
the commands available when you are in SHIFT mode.
Note: The AUDIO device has unique SHIFT functionality.
It can issue input commands to your A/V Surround Sound
receiver by pressing the DEVICE buttons after SHIFT is selected.
Light Button
Press the LIGHT button to backlight all the buttons. To
turn off the backlighting, press the LIGHT button again,
or just wait ten seconds (the backlighting automatically
shuts itself off).
4
The Unifier
LIGHT
Button
CABLE
DEVICE
Button
SHIFT
Button

Basic Setup
You can start setting up your Unifier using either the
Pre-Programmed Method or the Learning Method.
However, all the buttons of the Unifier are setup at once
with the Pre-Programmed Method, so it is usually faster
than the one-button-at-a-time Learning Method.
Pre-Programmed Method
Power on the A/V component you wish to setup, so that
you can test codes by sending power off commands.
Refer to the pre-programmed code tables on pages
25 - 46 and write down the code numbers listed
for your A/V component. The code numbers are
listed by categories of devices, then by brand. See
page 25 for a category list.
Press and hold both the SHIFT and ENT (Enter)
buttons for approximately three seconds. The top of
the display will blink “SET” then one of the eight
device names. You are in SETUP mode now.
Note: You have 30 seconds to perform a step while you are
in SETUP mode. If you don’t press a button within that time,
the Unifier will time out and return to normal operation.
5
URC-100
SHIFT
Button ENT
Button
1
2
3

6
The Unifier
Choose the name of the device you’d like to
setup. Use the cursor LEFT or RIGHT buttons to
change the flashing name.
For Example: I wanted to setup the TV Device button
first, so I pressed the cursor LEFT or RIGHT until “TV”
was flashing on the display.
Point the Unifier at the component, then enter the
first three digit code number from your notes using
the numbered buttons. After you enter each three
digit code number, look at the component to see if
it turned off.
Continue to enter code numbers until the
component powers off.
For Example: I have a Sony TV. I found the code
numbers 070, 139,147, 126, 185, 194 and 085 under
Sony in the TV TABLE. Using the numbered buttons on
the Unifier, I entered 070 and looked at the TV. It
didn’t turn off, so I entered 139, then 147 and so on,
until I found the code that powered off the TV.
4
5
LEFT RIGHT
Using the
numbered
buttons,
enter the
3 digit code
number.

7
URC-100
Note: If your component fails to turn off after you have
entered all the code numbers listed for your brand, you can
scan through the other brands in the table by alternately pressing
the Channel Up(or Down) and Power Off buttons (there is a
chance that your component was actually manufactured by
another brand). However, most of the code tables are so
large that it is usually faster to use the Learning Method on Page 8.
When the component turns off, save the code
number you entered by pressing the LIGHT button.
The Unifier responds by flashing SAVED on the
display twice, then returns to normal operating
mode.
When the display shows a device name, you are
back in normal operating mode. Now it’s time to
test all the buttons. If some buttons don’t work, try
repeating steps 1-6 with the remaining code
numbers, to see if you can improve the match to
your component.
For Example: My Sony TV powered off with TV code
number 147. However the number buttons didn’t work
when I tested them. So, I repeated steps one to six, using
other code numbers and eventually discovered that when
code number 185 is set, all the buttons work perfectly.
Repeat steps one through seven for each of your
devices. In most systems, you can finish basic
setup in just a few minutes and put all your old
remote controls away.
7
8
6
Channel Up
and Down
scan code
numbers.
LIGHT
Button

8
The Unifier
Learning Method
The Unifier can learn commands from your old remote
controls one-button-at-a-time by following these simple
steps:
Line-up the Unifier with your old remote control,
head-to-head, one or two inches apart.
Press and hold both the desired DEVICE button
and the SELECT button for approximately three
seconds. The top of the display will show
“LEARN”. You are in LEARN mode now.
Note: You have 30 seconds to perform a step while you are
in LEARN mode. If you don’t press a button within that time,
the Unifier will time out and return to normal operation.
1
2
SELECT
Button
DEVICE
Buttons

9
URC-100
Press any button you want to teach a command to.
Once you press a button, the top of the display will
change from “LEARN” to “READY”.
SHIFT Functions: You can teach a second additional
command to a button by pressing the SHIFT button, then
pressing the button you want to teach. Additionally, using
the SHIFT button, you may teach commands to the
DEVICE buttons themselves (on AUDIO only). Select the
AUDIO device in Step 2, press SHIFT and then the Device
button you want to teach.
Press and hold the button on your old remote
control until the display changes to “RETRY”.
3
4
Press
any
Button.
READY
RETRY

10
The Unifier
Press and hold the same button on your old remote
control once again.
The Unifier’s unique DoubleTap learning technology
ensures compatibility with the widest variety of remote
controls ever!
Once you have taught the button twice, the display
will change to either “GOOD” or “FAILED”.
If the “GOOD” label appears on top of the display
and “SAVED” flashes on the bottom, you were
successful. Now, press the next button you wish to
teach (repeating steps 3 through 6 until you have
learned all the buttons you want).
If the “FAILED” label appears on top of the display,
try to teach the same button in Unifier once again
by repeating steps 3-6.
Once you completed teaching all the buttons, save
your work and return to normal operation by
pressing the LIGHT button. Test all your new
commands. If any of them don’t work, try learning
again using these notes:
Move to another room. Plasma TVs, sunlight, halogen or
quartz lighting can interfere with the learning process.
Although the old remote control seems to work fine,
change the batteries to fresh alkaline batteries.
Vary the distance between the remote controls
gradually. Try 1/4”, 1”, 2”and so on, up to 4 feet.
Tap the button on the original remote control instead of
pressing and holding it during the learning process.
7
5
6

11
URC-100
Volume Control Punch Through
In most home entertainment systems, the sound
volume is only controlled by one device. In some
systems, it is the TV speakers that make the sound, so
you would use the TV device on the Unifier to raise
and lower the volume. In another system, it might be a
surround sound receiver and speakers that control the
sound, so you would use the Unifier’s AUDIO device
to adjust the volume. Constantly switching the Unifier
to TV or AUDIO to adjust the volume is inconvenient
in daily life.
You can use Punch Through to set the Unifier’s
volume buttons to always control the sound in your
system. That way when the Unifier is set to VCR or
DVD, the volume up, down and mute buttons will
work perfectly without switching back to AUDIO or
TV. Here’s how:
Press and hold both the DEVICE button that
doesn’t have volume control commands yet and
the MUTE button for about three seconds.
For Example: You want to make the DVD volume buttons
control the sound. Press and hold DVD and MUTE.
Note: You have 30 seconds for each step, otherwise the
Unifier will time out automatically.
1
Mute
Button
DEVICE
Buttons

12
The Unifier
The Unifier displays SET in the display.
Press the SHIFT button. The Unifier displays
PUNCH in the display.
Press the Volume Up button. The display confirms
by displaying “VOL”. This sets up the group of three
buttons (Volume Up, Volume Down and Mute) in
one action!
Press the Device button for the device that has the
Volume control commands you want (i.e.,TV for
systems using the TV speakers, AUDIO for systems
with surround sound receivers). The bottom of the
display will flash “SAVED”.
The Unifier will flash the device’s name twice and
return to operating mode.
Repeat steps 1-5 until all your other devices (VCR,
CABLE, CD, etc.) operate the volume perfectly.
Note: The Punch Through feature is not limited to
volume and can also be applied to other groups of
buttons. If you find yourself switching to a particular
device frequently to use a group of controls, consider
using Punch Through for another group, as listed here:
VOL - Volume Up, Volume Down and Mute
CH UP- Channel Up, Channel Down and Prev. Channel
PLAY - Play, Stop, Pause, Rewind and Fast Forward
GUIDE - Guide, Menu, Info, Exit, Up, Down, Left, Right, Sel
POWER On - Power On and Power Off
5
6
3
4
2
SET
PUNCH
VOL

13
URC-100
Advanced Setup
After you’ve finished all your basic setup, you can
choose to make operation easier by customizing the
Unifier just the way you want, using the Advanced Setup
features described in this section.
Own Two VCR’s?
Set Aux to be VCR2
Any device button can be setup for ANY type of
component (for example, you can make the AUX device
button operate a second VCR). To setup a device button
for a different type of component, use these steps:
Power on the A/V component you wish to setup, so that
you can test codes by sending power off commands.
Refer to the pre-programmed code tables on pages
25 - 46 and write down the code numbers listed
for your A/V component.
Press and hold both the SHIFT and ENT (Enter)
buttons for approximately three seconds. The top
of the display will blink “SET” for a moment.
Note: You have 30 seconds for each step, otherwise the
Unifier will time out automatically.
1
3
2
SHIFT
Button
ENT
Button

14
The Unifier
In this step you choose the name of the device
you’d like to setup. Use the cursor LEFT or RIGHT
buttons to change the flashing name.
For Example: I want to setup AUX as my second VCR,
so I press the cursor LEFT or RIGHT until AUX appears
in the display.
Press the MUTE button, then use the left and right
buttons to select the type of component you plan
to operate with this device button.
For Example: I want to operate a VCR, so I press the
cursor LEFT or RIGHT until VCR appears in the display.
Note: Each name that appears in the display may
include several types of components. For example, the
SAT category includes Digital Video Recorders like
those from TiVo and Replay. See page 25 for a list of
component types each Code Table contains.
Point the Unifier at the component, then enter the
first three digit code number from your notes
using the numbered buttons. After you enter each
three digit number, look at the component to see
if it turned off. Continue to enter code numbers
until the component powers off.
When the component powers off, save by pressing
the LIGHT button. The Unifier responds by
flashing SAVED on the display twice, then returns
to normal operating mode.
4
5
6
7
LEFT RIGHT

15
URC-100
Editing Device Names
The Unifier can display your own custom names for each
of the eight device buttons. For example, you can
rename AUX to “LIGHTS” or SAT to “DISH”, etc.
Press and hold both the device button you want to
rename and the ENT button for about three seconds.
Note: You have 30 seconds for each step, otherwise the
Unifier will time out automatically.
The Unifier flashes EDIT in the display.
Then the old device name appears, with the first
space/character blinking on and off:
1
ENT
Button
Device
Buttons
2
EDIT
AUDIO

16
The Unifier
Change the character by using any of the number
keys. Each press of the same number button
selects the next character of that number’s group,
as shown below.
Once the character you want appears, move to the
next space by pressing the RIGHT cursor button.
Press the LIGHT button to save changes.
4
5
A,B,C,1 D,E,F,2 G,H,I,3
J,K,L,4 M,N,O,5 P,Q,R,6
S,T,U,7 V, ,X,8 Y,Z,9
3
DOWN Cursor
button deletes the currently
blinking character.
LEFT Cursor
button
moves blinking
character left.
RIGHT Cursor
button
moves blinking
character right.

17
URC-100
Macro Button Setup
Imagine turning on your TV, your DVD player and
your surround sound receiver by pressing a single
button on your Unifier! What would normally take
three remotes and three button pushes, the Unifier can
accomplish with the press of one button. We call that a
“Macro”. Any of the Power On or the Power Off
buttons (on any Device) and all eight of the Device
buttons themselves can be set to be Macro buttons!
To setup a macro button, follow these easy steps:
Press and hold both the desired DEVICE button and
the MUTE button for three seconds.
For Example: If you want to make the DVD Power On
button a macro button, press and hold DVD and MUTE.
The Unifier displays SET in the display.
Note: You have 30 seconds for each step, otherwise the
Unifier will time out automatically.
Press the button you want to be a macro. The
Unifier screen changes to the macro step display:
1
2
Mute
Button
DEVICE
Buttons
SET
M1 ##
Number
of
Steps
ID

18
The Unifier
Navigate to the device that has a button you want in
your macro using the DEVICE buttons. Then press
the button with the command you want. Whenever
a button is pressed, another Macro step is counted
and displayed on the screen.
Don’t worry about the number of steps. Each
macro button can store up to 50 steps, so you are
not likely to run out of steps!
Note: You can program delays in between commands
by pressing the PAUSE button. Each press adds half a
second to the delay.
Press the LIGHT button to save your macro. The
Unifier will flash SAVED twice in the display.
4
3
PAUSE
Button
Advanced Options:
You can setup a DEVICE button to be a macro by press-
ing Audio and Mute for 3 seconds. Once the display says
SET, press the Device button you wish to set as Macro
button. Then follow steps 3 and 4 to setup the macro.
Another option for DEVICE button macros is to only send
the macro if the button is pressed and held. This is setup
by entering a delay as the first step of the macro. The
amount of delay determines how long the user must press
the button before the macro is sent. The advantage of this
option is that a normal press of the DEVICE button will
simply switch devices without issuing the macro.