HowTo: re-program the Dreambox remote!

[seb131]

How To re-program the Dreambox remote

This HowTo is from myself and everything describes here has been tested by me (including the interfaces making). I writted first in french and translated it in english, don’t hesitate to correct my English mistakes if needed

Don’t hesitate to contact me if you need help on reprogramming !

Seb

Introduction

The Dreambox remote control is based on the Omega model from UEIC Chinese manufacturer. It has a JP1 connector available in the battery slot which allow to reprogram completely it.

The goal of this HowTo is to explain the most easily possible how to re-program a Dreambox remote control only.

All aspect related to JP1 remote control programming are not mentioned here and those who would like to go forward by purchasing a programmable remote control could find all information on this forum h__p://www.hifi-remote.com which contains a lot of information and in which I found all my answers.

[seb131]

Re: HowTo: re-program the Dreambox remote!

Cable selection
Several JP1 connectors exist. The external connector has always the same shape but in the time the UEIC models have been improved and from a simple eeprom memory they change to a flash one.
Eeprom remotes have a JP connector version 1, those with a flash have a release 1.2 or 1.3. UEIC have release a single model with a release 1.1 (so this one is quite unused).
For release 1 a dedicated cable is required, and for 1.2/1.3 another one is required.



The model number is mentioned on the stick on the battery hood.
Depending of the model, some differences could exist (Lame! button instead of exit, inverted DREAM and TV buttons).

Dm800 remotes are JP1.2 models (10381038) and the RDF file of the V4 model (dm702x) is compatible.
Notice that clone dm800 remote have a fake JP1 connector which is not soldered to any circuit !
If you have a clone Dreambox and if you would like to play and to re-program the remote controller, you must first purchase an original one.

JP1 cable scheme

JP1.2/1.3 cable scheme

Some pictures of my cable for less than 5 euros !

6 pin connectors have been cut in an old IDE HardDrive wire.


If necessary, some additional explanations are available from here: h__p://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/dload.php?action=category&cat_id=39&sid=a4ed728619 bf033d918a85f0803efcdb

If you are really useless with your hands and if you have some money to spend (or if you don’t have serial or parallel port on your computer), you can purchase directly a cable from this webstore: h__p://www.diygadget.com

[seb131]

Re: HowTo: re-program the Dreambox remote!

Installing the softwares

Download the last realease of IR (actually it is the 1.4):
h__p://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/dload.php?action=category&cat_id=40
Uncompress IR in a directory, create in it a sub-directory named RDF and another one named MAP.
Download the pack file called “RDF files needed for IR and RM Version 1.28” from this web page: h__p://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/dload.php?action=category&cat_id=81
Unpack it in RDF sub-folder.
Download the 3 RDF single files for Dreambox from this page (because the pack doesn’t contain the latest releases for Dreamboxes) and copy them in the RDF sub-folder as well (replace previous ones): h__p://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/dload.php?action=category&cat_id=44 (search for the word dreambox on the page)

Download the pack named “Maps and Images required for RM - Version 1.xx” from here: h__p://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/dload.php?action=category&cat_id=81
Unpack it under MAP sub-directory.
Replicate the file called Dreambox.map in DreamboxV2.map, DreamboxV3.map DreamboxV4.map and DreamboxV5.map. The .map files are not mandatory and contains the remote layout (jpg caption with the layout of the keys).

From the same page than before, download the software “RM – RemoteMaster” and install it.

Execute RemoteMaster (RM). At the first startup, an error message explains that no RDF file were found. Specify then the folder you created before which contains all RDF files.
Now another error message indicates that the images are not found. Specify then the MAP folder created before with contains all images and maps.

[seb131]

Re: HowTo: re-program the Dreambox remote!

Programming

Plug the interface on the PC and on the remote controller (connector under battery cover, red wire in front of pin 1). Normally the batteries should be present in the remote, but in some cases with the JP release 1 (parallel port) it could be necessary to try with old batteries, new ones, or without any ones. With the JP1.2/1.3 they should be present.
Execute IR. In the Interface menu, select JP1 Parallal if you have a JP1 remote and a parallel cable, or JP1.x if you have a JP1.2 with a serial cable. Click on Check interface from interface menu in order to check the perfect working of the cable.

If all is OK, in Rmote menu click on Download from Remote. Then all the content of the remote is displayed. First of all, do a Save As action from the file menu and save your actual content. Store and keep it carefully ! in case of manipulation error it will be possible to re-inject it and to come back to the initial configuration.

IR tool looks complicated but in fact it is very simple and only 3 tabs are useful for us: General, Key Move and Macro (we will also use quickly Protocols and Devices ones but just to copy-paste some codes).

[seb131]

Re: HowTo: re-program the Dreambox remote!

Modification of a pre- programmed device code
First of all, it is possible to setup an existing device code in the IR interface instead of configuring it manually by a key manipulation on the remote.
For this, just mention, in the left tab of the General tab, the device type (TV, VCR or SAT) and the code number.
Then upload the modification to the remote using the Upload to Remote fonction from the Remote menu.
The codes specified in the interface must exist already in the eeprom of the remote. All the codes are available here: h__p://plugandplay.fr/ressourses/tutos/codetcm.pdf
This capability is very limited and we will see later how to add our custom codes in order to manage our own devices (even if they don’t belong to SAT, VCR or TV catagory).

[seb131]

Re: HowTo: re-program the Dreambox remote!

Add a third Device
The Dreambox remote control has two devices buttons called Dream and Tv to swith the mode. But in reality the remote is capable to manage 3 or 4 devices (depending of the model). If the picture below you can see that a third devide slot called AUX is available. Due to the fact that there is no dedicated button to swith to this mode, we need to create a custom macro.
Note: it is possible to control only 3 (or 4) devices, but it is possible add much more custom devices in memory and to send them Infrared codes even then the remote current mode is for another device. We will see this possibility with the Key Move tab.

In the Macros, tab, click on Add, then select shift+DREAM and associate commande AUX. Then upload the result to the remote control. Now it is possible switch to this AUX device by pressing successively Shift then Dream buttons.

[seb131]

Re: HowTo: re-program the Dreambox remote!

Manage volume of another device
Several options are available in the right side of the General tab. The one which is interesting for us is the VPT (Volume Punch Through) which allow to control another device when we press vol+ and vol- buttons (ie. an ampli device or the tv).
You just need to select in VPT Device, the device which will control the volume in all mode. Set to On VPT Status, and set to Yes the « TV/AUX/DREAM/… uses VPT » option if you want to have the option activated in the corresponding mode.

Note: it is also possible to manage the volume independently using Key Move instead of VPT option. The big advantage of the Key Move is the possibility to manage a device which exist in the eepom but which is not necessarily associated to a device slot (personally, I am using Key Moves because I have only 3 slots and I manage 4 devices).

[seb131]

Re: HowTo: re-program the Dreambox remote!

Add unsupported Device
Ok, it’s fine but my new Plasma 3D Tv is not supported and the code doesn’t exist is the memory L Don’t panic! I’s possible to add as many new code device as we want (or replace existing code).
First of all, go to the following page and check if for your device model a RM or KM file exists: h__p://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/dload.php?action=category&cat_id=4
If there is no, take another similar model from the same manufacturer (if it doesn’t fit, it will be necessary to test another one, and so on …)
We will use Remote Master (RM) which can read as well KM or RM files. Execute RM (it is possible to configure RM path in IR tool in order to launch RM from the IR icon toolbar)





Open the KM or RM file downloaded (if the file is a KM type, change the filter type if the file selection dialog box). If you see a warning message box, don’t care about it.
In the Remote menu list select your Dreambox controller model. For a dm800, select Dreambox V4. If you have some warning message, don’t care about it.

If the device has not the type SAT, TV, VCR or DVD, change it ofr one of these one (anyone, it doesn’t really matter, it must just be an existing one in the Dreambox remote eeprom).

The Setup Code is the code number which will be added in the remote eeprom. If this code is already existing, it will be replaced by the new definition. You can modify it and specify any code number you want.

In the Buttons and Layout tabs, check that the affectation of the buttons is consistent with the layout of our Dreambox remote and also with what we would like to obtain.
It is possible to customize all the buttons. You can assign or remove a function to a button using the mouse contextual menu. You can assign a function by drag&drop (from the right section to the left one). All buttons could be used twice by using the Shift function. Codes in red correspond to function not already assigned (each time you will assign a function it will become black).




The Functions tab allow us to add new codes if they are not all available. In this case, you must know the EFC (or Hexa) code (you can check or ask on the JP1 forum, or check in another KM or RM file of a similar device).
Ie. it was useful for me in order to implement discrete code found in another RM files (discrete codes are distinct codes for power-on and power-off).







When everything is ready go to Output tab.



Click on the copy icon on the left side of the Device Upgrade Code panel. Then return in IR tool, and in the Devices tab, click on Add. In the new windows, paste the copied code in the upper section (other sections are automatically filled). Then validate.



The code of the new device is added and is displayed in the left list.

[seb131]

Re: HowTo: re-program the Dreambox remote!

Go back in RM tool. If the Upgrade Protocole Code is not empty, click on the copy icon.


Then in IR software, under Protocols tab click on Add, paste the code in the upper section and validate.




Now the new device has been added and the corresponding code can be assigned to a Device slot in the first tab.

[seb131]

Re: HowTo: re-program the Dreambox remote!

Create a macro

A macro is a sequence of successive press of buttons. Only function affected to a button could be used. A single signal code not assigned to a button must before be associated to a Phantom button (it is a virtual key, we will see that later on).
A macro is exactly like a sequence of manual press on the remote keys. It means that if we want to switch on the TV, then the Dreambox, we need to press the TV key, then Power, then the Dream key and Power key again. A pause is mandatory between each code, if they is no pause the launch of the macro will crash the remote (and you will need to reset it by removing the batteries). The Shift function alone is used to create 1 second pauses (unfortunately it is not possible to modify the delay value).





In order to create a macro, click on Add icon in the Macro tab. You can use the Clone icon to replicate an existing macro in order to not start one from scratch if you need. Edit and Delete icons are for edition and suppression.



In this example, we associate the shift-Power combination to a sequence which will switch-on the TV, then the Dreambox.
In the target section we select the button which will be used to execute the macro. If we check Shift, it will be necessary to press the shift key before the macro key.
In Available Keys we find all the availble remote controller keys. At the bottom of the list we can find Phantom (virtual) key and keys associated to shift button.
With the Add icon (or a double clic action on a key function in the list) you can insert in the macro definition a new command at the end of the sequence. With the Ins icon do the same but insert it after the command which is selected and highlighted. The Add Shift and Ins Shift are similar but they add the shift function (it is similar than to select directly the sfhit+button at the bottom of the list).
In Note, you can add your own comments.

[seb131]

Re: HowTo: re-program the Dreambox remote!

Re-configuration of a key

With the Key Moves tab you can affect some command codes to keys for a specified selected Device mode. By the way it is possible to re-configure a key or to assign a command code to an unused key.
You can also assign a command code to a key for a device which is not the current one (you can control the volume on another device without using the VPT option, or you can control another device, like an remote controlled lamp, with a same key in any mode). Of course, any new device should have been added in the eeprom before but the association of it with a device slot in the first tab is not mandatory to create Key moves.






Clic on Add to add a new Key Move. In Target, select the Device mode and the key to be re-programmed. You can also select a Phantom key if the goal is to use the key move in a macro afterward.
In the table, doucle clic on the line which corresponds to the appliance to which you want to send the code signal. If this device is not associated to a mode in the first tab, you can specify manually its code (Setup Code) and its type (Device Type). The code is visible in the Devices tab (of course the device should have already defined and inserted into the eeprom list).
Select then the key in the Key menu (the Key option button must be checked). If the code is not associated to a key you can check the EFC option button and specify it (or same with Hex Cmd if you know the hexa code instead).
The ECF code is available in RM from the RDF file of the device. But it is perhaps easiest to associate to code to a key in RM and to re-inject the modified device in IR.
The picture below show how to control the volume of the Dreambox using the shift-Vol combinaison.



The picture below show how to associate a discrete code for a later macro use.

[seb131]

Re: HowTo: re-program the Dreambox remote!

Virtual keys
Phantom keys are virtual buttons (which doesn’t exist physically on the remote controller) to which it is possible to associate a code.

Those virtual buttons are only customizable from the Key Move panel and can only be exploited in macros. Several interests exist for this possibility. First, it will be possible to associate a phantom key to a code of another device (in order to control a device when the remote is in a mode to control another one). Secondly, it will be possible to associate a command code which is not by default associated to a physical key. It is very useful to implement discrete codes which switch-on and switch-off the device using distinct code. By the way you can create macro which switch-on or off several devices even when we don’t know if they were on or off before. Most of the recent Tv and all the audio amplifier have such codes, but only the Gemini images have it implemented for Dreamboxes.
In the Dreambox remote memory, 7 phantom keys are present, so using the shift combinaison we have 14 possible phantom keys.
Phantom keys are associated to a mode (TV, DREAM, AUX), it means that the code assigned to a phantom key will be only available in the corresponding device mode. If you need the phantom key available in all modes, you should create (or duplicate and edit) it for all modes.

[seb131]

Re: HowTo: re-program the Dreambox remote!

Advanced use

Thanks to the combinaison of Key Moves and macros we can do a lot of really nice stuff, like swithing off all the devices with one key press, or switching the audio ampli to a mode + switching on the corresponding device + switching off all the others + putting the remote in the relevant mode to manage the selected device.

The example shown below show a turning on sequence of 3 different devices: TV, Dream and Amp (through Phantom1). Due to the fact that there are only 3 available device slots, the Denon Amp has been as a new device in the eeprom but is not associated to a device mode in the first tab (because I use the 3rd slot to control my Popcorn Hour device)
The discrete codes of the Denon ampli have been added as Key Moves.





Notice the association of keys shift4 to shift6 which switch the ampli mode. Those 3 combinaisons have been duplicated for each Device mode (Dream, Aux and Tv) in order to be available permanently.

[maniootek]

Re: HowTo: re-program the Dreambox remote!

Notice that clone dm800 remote have a fake JP1 connector which is not soldered to any circuit !
If you have a clone Dreambox and if you would like to play and to re-program the remote controller, you must first purchase an original one.

I have dreambox 800 hd clone and if i buy original remote control then will it work with my clone dreambox?

[BM300]

Re: HowTo: re-program the Dreambox remote!

I have dreambox 800 hd clone and if i buy original remote control then will it work with my clone dreambox?

Yes, it works.
Even the old DM7000 works nicely