Glossary | Home Theater Direct MX-500 manual

17. Glossary

Discrete codes: Versions of toggle codes that only perform one function. Some examples would be "POWER ON" and "POWER OFF" or "VCR," "TUNER" and "DVD" receiver inputs. These types of signals are most often used to ensure your home theater components stay completely in sync for powering on and off and changing device inputs. Some of the preprogrammed codes in the MX-500TMcontain discrete codes. If your original remote contains discrete codes, these can be taught to the MX-500TMas well.

Device: The MX-500TMremote control is capable of controlling a certain number of devices, or pieces of equipment. Examples of devices would be televisions, DVD players, receivers or VCRs. Some devices, such as receivers or dual-cassette decks, may be treated by some remotes as more than one device. Also known as components.

Firmware: Indicates the programming software stored on the remote control. The MX-500TMremote can have its firmware flashed (upgraded) to a newer version.

Frequencies: The range of infrared carrier frequencies that a remote control is capable of learning or controlling. Most remotes operate between 30 and 60kHz, however some use higher and are thus known as high frequency.

The MX-500TMoperates and can learn frequencies between 10 kHz and 100kHz.

Hard buttons: Refers to all physical (mechanical) buttons on a remote control.

High frequency: Indicates an infrared system that employs

17. Glossary

frequencies higher than the industry standard. Some examples would be Bang & Olufsen, Kenwood (455KHz) and older Pioneer Elite (1.125MHz). Such devices are never preprogrammed into off-the-shelf remote controls and can generally only be used with very specific learning remote controls.

Infrared: "IR" A portion of the light spectrum below our visible range, used by many modern remote controls to transmit signals. The MX-500TMuses IR signals.

Infrared emitter: A light emitting diode used to transmit infrared signals from a remote control. Generally, the more and better the emitters, the stronger and wider the resulting signal. A remote with strong emitters can generally be used without pointing at the desired device. Emitters are also partially responsible for any limits on the range of frequencies that can be controlled. Emitters are always placed at the "top" of a remote control and are typically shielded by a red plastic window. The MX-500TMhas 2 very strong IR emitters.

Infrared receiver: The portion of a device that receives infrared commands from a remote control. Since infrared is actually light, it requires line-of-sight visibility for best operation, but can still be reflected by items such as walls and glass. Poorly placed IR receivers can also result in what is called "tunnel vision," where they are set so far back into the chassis of a device that the operational range of any remote control is severely reduced.

Joystick: A feature on some remote controls, the joystick is a single pointer which replicates five functions for menu