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FAQ documents are collections of answers to Frequently Asked Questions. This particular FAQ file covers the operation of all remote control models related to the Philips Pronto. To view the answer to a particular question, click the number on the left side. A separate FAQ is also available for the new Pronto NG. | French (v1.07i) | Japanese (v1.02) |
Unofficial Philips Pronto & Marantz RC5000 Intelligent Remote Control FAQ
Compiled by Daniel Tonks and the online Pronto community. Requests for suggestions, additions or modifications are welcome! Version 1.09d November 1, 2004
Please note: although this document refers to the "Philips Pronto TS1000" and "ProntoEdit", unless directly specified all information also applies to the Philips ProntoPro TSU6000, Philips ProntoPro RU970, Philips Pronto TSU2000, Philips Pronto RU890, Philips Pronto RU940, Marantz RC5000, Marantz RC5000i, Marantz RC5200, Marantz RC9200, Onkyo CHAD USR5RF, Yamaha RAV2000, Yamaha RAV2000Z1, Marantz Touch Screen Setup, Onkyo CHAD Edit and Yamaha RAVedit.
For more information visit RemoteCentral.com
19982004 Daniel Tonks. All Rights Reserved.

Table Of Contents

SECTION A: HARDWARE & OPERATIONAL QUESTIONS General Description A101 Briefly, what is the Philips Pronto remote? A102 How many brands and models are there? A103 Approximately how much does it cost? A104 Where can I go to buy one? A105 What are the ProntoNEO and RC3200? A106 What are the Pronto NG and ProntoPro NG? Physical Characteristics A201 What are the hardware differences between models? A202 How much free memory is there? A203 How much memory do I really need? A204 What processor does the Pronto use? A205 How large is the remote? A206 How big is the screen? A207 How many colors can the screen display? A208 Can I put a different/better display into the Pronto? A209 How can I tell whether my remote has a light sensor or not? A210 How can I tell whether I have the Marantz RC5000 or RC5000i? Basic Hardware Interaction A301 What frequencies can the remote learn?
RC: Philips Pronto & Marantz RC5000 Unofficial FAQ 1

A302 A303 A304 A305

Can I use the Pronto with Sony *G (or VisionTouch) receivers? Can the Pronto work with RF equipment? Can the Pronto work with IRDA equipment (ie. Pace cable boxes)? How can I control my X10 system?
Using The Remote A401 Why does the backlight stay on as long as the LCD does, even though it's only set for half the time? A402 I've got a TSU2000. Why does my TV keep turning off? A403 Why is the REVERT button grayed out? A404 I hear there's a hidden game on the remote? A405 In the Macro Menu, why does the left hard button read "OPEN"? Can I change this? A406 Why doesn't the backlight come on when I set the arrow all the way to the left, as described in the manual? A407 Why do my Device and Macro Menu buttons not work? A408 What happened to my Mode button? A409 What happened to the Macro Menu's REC command? Batteries & Docking Station A501 Should I buy the docking station for my remote? A502 Why does the remote appear to behave erratically when battery power is still 50%? A503 How often should I recharge the remote? A504 Why does my rechargeable battery read only half full even when I know it's full? A505 Why is my desktop charger's light blinking? A506 I already have a docking station, can I buy another rechargeable battery? A507 My ProntoPro's docking station is dead. Help! Diagnosis and Repair A601 My remote is dead! What can I try to fix it? A602 My remote is rebooting all the time. help! A603 What can I do if the remote will not power up and I hear 4 beeps? A604 How do I connect to the remote with Hyperterminal? A605 What can I do if my buttons stop working? A606 I've broken the LCD screen and it's out of warranty. Can I replace it? A607 Why does the screen's contrast keep changing? A608 Can I buy spare parts for the Pronto? A609 What's that buzzing sound I can hear? A610 What else can I do to troubleshoot random problems? SECTION B: WORKING WITH PRONTOEDIT General Description B101 Briefly, what does the software allow me to do? B102 Is there editing software available other than ProntoEdit? B103 Where can I download the software? B104 Can I take screen captures of my file? B105 How can I change the program that opens CCF files? B106 I'm getting an "Invalid Configuration File Version", "File is not a valid configuration" or "CCF file is invalid or corrupt" message. What can I do? B107 Can I use Pronto NG.PCF files? How about.ICF and.NCF files? Software & Firmware B201 What are the current software versions? B202 What are the current firmware versions?

RC: Philips Pronto & Marantz RC5000 Unofficial FAQ 2
B203 What are the differences between the various firmware & software versions? B204 I'm told the software will not work with Windows XP. Is this true? Remote Communications B301 Where can I get a serial cable for the Pronto? B302 What does "Invalid Software Version" mean, and what can I do about it? B303 I'm getting a "Failed to get valid information from Pronto" error message when transferring CCFs, or timeouts when learning IR codes. B304 Can I make ProntoEdit, Touch Screen Setup, CHAD Edit or RAVedit work on a Macintosh Computer? B305 Can I hook the Pronto up to a USB port? B306 Why can't I get my computer to talk to the Pronto? Learning & Infrared B401 How can I tell whether my learned codes are "clean" or not? B402 Why won't my codes repeat when held down? B403 What does 0000, 8000, etc. mean in a hex code? B404 Why can't I get the Pronto to learn a particular device? B405 Why won't my buttons work twice in a row? B406 How can I copy the IR code from one button to another? B407 What is the password for the rcir.mdb infrared database file? B408 Why won't just tapping the button always work? B409 "Test IR" doesn't always work right. Why? Discrete Codes B501 What are discrete codes? B502 How do I find or create them? B503 How can I use them? Managing CCF Files B601 What are CCF files? B602 What does 'CCF' stand for? B603 How can I get rid of the "+" symbol before device names? B604 What do the short letter designations ([C], [D] etc.) mean? B605 What do all the symbols before device or page names mean? B606 Why can't I open the CCF file I downloaded? B607 How can I best merge CCF files? B608 With ProntoEdit v4.0, why can't I modify the gallery files? Designing Layouts B701 Why won't my panels or buttons show? (or How can I preview my CCF file without learning any IR codes?) B702 Why doesn't my home panel look or act like I designed it to? B703 How do I copy a device, panel or button from one file to another? B704 How can I design my CCF so when I make changes I don't need to relearn my remotes? B705 How do I add plain text to panels? B706 Can I add more FONTs to the Pronto? B707 How can I group buttons together? B708 Can I create a "back" button to return to the last page accessed? B709 Can I create multiple text lines on a single button or otherwise position text? B710 How do I define a custom grid? B711 What keyboard shortcuts are there? Macros

RC: Philips Pronto & Marantz RC5000 Unofficial FAQ

Acknowledgments

Thanks to everyone who has helped make the Pronto such a great remote, namely the regulars in Remote Central's Pronto Forum! Plus special thanks to Andrea Whitlock, Tom Held and Robert Wallace for developing alternative printable versions.

Recent Additions

v1.09d, November 1, 2004 Modified: B202, B301
v1.09c, April 17, 2004 Added: A106 What are the Pronto NG and ProntoPro NG? A210 How can I tell whether I have the Marantz RC5000 or RC5000i? A507 My ProntoPro's docking station is dead. Help! B107 Can I use Pronto NG.PCF files? How about.ICF and.NCF files? B204 I'm told the software will not work with Windows XP. Is this true? B908 Is it possible to change systemlevel bitmaps, such as the device bar and Home icon background? Modified: A303, A606, A209, A406, A505, B1204, B1206.
Take a Test Drive at www.harmonyremote.com today!
Unofficial Philips Pronto & Marantz RC5000 FAQ
Section A1: Hardware Questions: General Description
A101 Briefly, what is the Philips Pronto remote? The Pronto (and its siblings) are universal learning remote controls that offer large, righresolution dotmatrix LCD touchscreen displays along with a number of hard buttons. Their openended internal design allows for complete customization of the user interface, providing users with the opportunity to design a remote that's as simple and automated or as complex and "technical" as desired. A102 How many brands and models are there? There are currently fourteen models, based around the same Pronto concept: North American 1mb Philips Pronto TS1000 North American 2mb Philips Pronto TSU2000 North American 8mb Philips ProntoPro TSU6000 European 1mb Philips Pronto SBCRU890 European 2mb Philips Pronto SBCRU940 European 8mb Philips ProntoPro SBCRU970 OEM Philips Pronto (TS1003, sold with Philips HDTV sets only) Worldwide 1mb Marantz RC5000 Worldwide 2mb Marantz RC5000i Worldwide 2mb Marantz RC5200 Worldwide 8mb Marantz RC9200 Worldwide 2mb Onkyo CHAD USR5RF Worldwide 2mb Yamaha RAV2000 North American / European 2mb Yamaha RAV2000Z1 A103 Approximately how much does it cost? Different models of the Pronto come with different capabilities. MSRP prices range from $399 to $1299, although street prices are generally much lower. Black and white remotes go for up to $599, while color models retail for up to $1299. Most models also offer optional accessories. A104 Where can I go to buy one? The most current list of dealers for both the Philips Pronto and Marantz RC5000 is located at http://www.remotecentral.com/pronto/wherebuy.htm. For the TSU2000/RC5000i, the list is located at http://www.remotecentral.com/tsu2000/wherebuy.htm. Finally, a dealer list for the ProntoPro can be found at http://www.remotecentral.com/prontopro/wherebuy.htm.
A105 What are the ProntoNEO and RC3200? Even though the ProntoNEO and RC3200 sound similar to their more expensive counterparts, these are in fact totally different products incompatible with the "normal" Pronto's standards. Yes, they can be similarly customized with macros and bitmaps, however these newer models cannot use standard Pronto CCF files (they employ a new NCF format), or Prontoformatted IR hex codes. Currently, there is no way to convert a CCF to NCF format, or vice versa. A106 What is the Pronto NG and ProntoPro NG? The black and white Pronto "Next Generation" TSU3000 and SBCRU950, along with the color ProntoPro NG TSU7000 and SBRRU980, are very different remotes from the original Pronto hardware designs. They feature a completely new hardware platform with better screens, additional hard buttons, more memory, USB communications and a wealth of operational enhancements. In other words, progress! The software programs ProntoEdit NG and ProntoProEdit NG will be instantly recognizable to original ProntoEdit users, and can import Pronto CCF files and use regular Pronto hex codes. The new models share that distinctive "Pronto" feel that made the originals so popular. If you'd like more information on the Pronto NG, be sure to browse Remote Central for full reviews, a discussion forum, and a completely new file area.

A604 How do I connect to the remote with Hyperterminal? If your remote is constantly rebooting every few seconds, as in after you "CANCELLED" a CCF download in ProntoEdit, you can fix it via this method: 1. Connect your remote to your PC. 2. Open a terminal program (such as HyperTerminal, which is included with Windows). 3. Connect to the serial (COM) port your remote is hooked up to at 115200 baud, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit and no flow control. 4. Hit the reset button on the back of your remote control. On the terminal program you should start to see numbers such as "04", etc. 5. Hit the [ESC] key on your keyboard. A prompt, CABERNET> should appear. 6. Type dl ccf followed by return. You should see a slowly growing string of C's. 7. While those C's are appearing, download your CCF file to the remote using the XModem protocol (Transfer > Send File). 8. When the download has finished, type go followed by the return key on your keyboard. Your remote should now work correctly. This problem can also sometimes be fixed by attempting to upgrade the firmware while the remote reboots, however it may take many attempts to catch the remote at the right instant. A605 What can I do if my buttons stop working? There have been a few cases where people have reported that after a period of proper functionality some buttons eventually stop working. This can be fixed temporarily by hitting the reset button on the back of the Pronto. This problem was discovered to be a bug and has been fixed on the most current software releases. However, if upgrading your remote is not an option at this time you will need to disable the remote's audio feedback. You can accomplish this by going into the setup menu (press and hold the remote icon for three seconds) and setting the touch and button volumes to 'X'. A606 I've broken the LCD screen and it's out of warranty. Can I replace it? This tip only applies to black & white remotes: The answer is yes! The socalled "good" Pronto screens are made by Samsung and are available over the web. Some valid Samsung LCD screen part numbers for the TS1000/TSU2000/RC5000/RC5000i are: Samsung UG24U01WGHT3A (on some original Prontos) Samsung UC24U01WGHT3B (on some original Prontos) Samsung UG24U01WGHT3C (on some original Prontos) Samsung UG24U01WGHT3G (verified functional) Samsung UG24U01WGHT3L (verified functional) One source to purchase some of these models is http://www.earthlcd.com. (The cost is approximately $39 at last check.) Here's how to replace the screen (instructions provided by Aaron Macpherson): 1. The Pronto case is held together by three screws. Two are under the battery compartment and the third is under the label on the back, centered, close to the bottom. The location of this third screw can be found by running your fingernail near the bottom edge of the label and feeling for an indentation. The

RC: Philips Pronto & Marantz RC5000 Unofficial FAQ 22
tip of a knife can be used to pierce the label to give you access to the screw. The socket on the screws is a T6 or T7 Torx. Torx drivers are similar to Hex (Allen wrench) but have a starlike tip. Torx are available at most hardware stores (or in gift tool sets that you never really looked at). 2. Remove the three screws and gently work the case apart. Mine hung up on the rubber block that is the base for the five white push buttons. Be patient. Some of the components in the Pronto are sensitive to Electro Static Discharge (ESD). Make sure you are grounded before touching the inside of the unit. Use the same precautions that you would use to change out a board in your computer. 3. Now you have access to the Printed Circuit Board (PCB). Two more screws need to be removed to separate the PCB from the case. Be careful here, there is a flatcable (flex cable) that attaches the screen to the PCB. Lay the PCB and the top case out so that you can unplug the cable from the PCB. The connector on the PCB has two semicircular tabs on either side of the cable. With moderate pressure, slide the two tabs away from the connector until they stop (about 2mm). The cable should easily slide out now. 4. The screen is held in place with two more screws through a plastic support bezel. Remove the bezel and screen. There are some small hook features in the bezel that hold the screen in place so you will need to gently pop it out. 5. Now you are ready to reverse this process and reassemble your remote with a replacement screen. Be sure the flatcable is well seated in the PCB connector before sliding the two semicircular tabs back in place. Make sure the cable is out of the way of the Left and Right buttons when you reassemble the PCB to the case. Your may need to bend it into an "S" or "W" shape. You can practice with the old screen if you like. Be careful to not overtighten the screws during reassembly. Note: depending on the screen model you receive, some small cuts may need to be made in the Pronto case to clear newly arranged components on the LCD. A single edged razor or Exacto knife can be used to make these cuts. Be sure everything clears the case before tightening all screws! A607 Why does the screen's contrast keep changing? On all black and white models, the LCD screen's contrast will become darker as the screen warms up, either by using the remote or by external sources such as your hand. Although this can be annoying, you may be able to find a contrast level that is acceptable for both "cold" and "warm" states. A608 Can I buy spare parts for the Pronto? This tip applies only to the Philips Pronto TS1000 and TSU2000 remotes: The following is a list of spare parts that you can purchase direct from Philips (no information is yet available for Marantz or Yamaha). Prices posted do not include shipping or tax; call 18008353506 to order. Serial Cable (p/n 310420050961) $10.78 Rechargable Battery (p/n 310420050971) $45.26 AA Battery Insert (p/n 310420414501) $4.00 Battery Cover (p/n 310420414491) $4.00 Manual (p/n 86224050006) $35.00 New LCD Screen $99.00 (Call 18003009013; includes return shipping and installation in your remote). A609 What's that buzzing sound I can hear?

RC: Philips Pronto & Marantz RC5000 Unofficial FAQ 23
This tip does not apply to the Philips ProntoPro: The very faint buzzing sound is made by the inverter, part of the circuitry that generates the higher voltage needed for the display's EL backlight from the low voltage provided by the internal battery. This is completely normal, there is nothing to worry about. You need to be in a very quiet environment to hear it. All similar backlights used in other devices such as watches and palmtops make the same sound. A610 What else can I do to troubleshoot random problems? In addition to the tips mentioned above, if you're running older firmware you should ensure that IR code labels do not contain spaces. These are not the actual button labels, but rather the internal code label that reads, normally, "LEARNED". So, instead of "TV Power On" you could use "TVPowerOn". Other suggested troubleshooting tips include replacing the batteries, reflashing the firmware, uploading and downloading your CCF file again, and ensuring that you are running the most recent firmware revision. Worse comes to worse, sometimes gently shaking or tapping the remote can help things.
Section B1: Working With ProntoEdit: General Description
B101 Briefly, what does the software allow me to do? Philips ProntoEdit, Marantz Touch Screen Setup, CHAD Edit and RAVedit are software packages that allow users to design layouts, program macros or timers, insert customized bitmaps, archive, merge and share files, or learn IR codes. Unlike the design options available on the base remote, the PC software allows you to create almost anything you want your imagination is the limit. B102 Is there editing software available other than ProntoEdit? Yes, Stewart Allen has developed a Javabased editing package named Tonto. Tonto works with all Pronto remote models and will run on Windows, Linux and Mac OSX. To download Tonto or learn more, visit http://giantlaser.com/tonto/. B103 Where can I download the software? All three software packages along with many additional utilities and configurations are available on Remote Central in the file area. However, if you are unable to download from there, you can download ProntoEdit from http://www.pronto.philips.com, Touch Screen Setup from http://www.marantz.com, CHAD Edit from http://www.chadremote.com, or RAVedit from http://www.yamaha.com. B104 Can I take screen captures of my file? Yes! While in the Emulator, press the "Print Screen" key on your keyboard. A file of what was showing on the Pronto's display will be saved to c:\prontoscreens, as pronto0.bmp. Each time you press "Print Screen" the filename will increment, however if you restart the Emulator it will again start over at "0". The standard Windows practice of copying your entire desktop Emulator graphics and all to the clipboard will also apply. B105 How can I change the program that opens CCF files? This applies to anyone who works with multiple CCFhandling programs. The last software version you installed will always open CCF files when doubleclicked on. To change this behavior, simply reinstall the program you would rather have open CCF files. Note that there is no way to associate one program with a specific remote's CCF files, so if you open files designed with one remote in mind into another remote's package, you may receive a 'corrupt file' error message. B106 I'm getting an "Invalid Configuration File Version", "File is not a valid configuration" or "CCF file is invalid or corrupt" message. What can I do? If you are encountering the second or third error message listed above in the ProntoEdit, Marantz

RC: Philips Pronto & Marantz RC5000 Unofficial FAQ 26
Compatible with all CHAD Edit files. All Philips Pronto users: Always check your remote's firmware version by holding the icon of the remote for three seconds, then scrolling to panel number three. If it is older than the versions listed in the FAQ you will need to flashupdate your remote to the latest revision. To do this, download and install ProntoEdit v4.0, then use the TOOLS UPDATE FIRMWARE command. Be sure to select the correct remote model. Upon loading Marantz CCF files, multiple jumps, page history commands and custom scroll arrows will be stripped out. If you are using ProntoEdit v1.05: Compatible with files from ProntoEdit v1.05 or earlier. Not compatible with files from ProntoEdit v2.0 or newer. To use newer ProntoEdit files you must download, install and use ProntoEdit v4.0. Not compatible with ProntoProEdit files. See the above instructions for newer ProntoEdit files. Compatible with files from RC5000 Setup v1.02.3 or earlier. Not compatible with files from RC5000 Setup v2.0 or newer. See the above instructions for newer ProntoEdit files. Not compatible with Touch Screen Setup "large screen" files. See the above instructions for newer ProntoEdit files. Not compatible with RAVedit files. See the above instructions for newer ProntoEdit files. Not compatible with CHAD Edit files. See the above instructions for newer ProntoEdit files. If you are using ProntoEdit v2.0: Compatible with all ProntoEdit files. Not compatible with ProntoProEdit files. To use ProntoProEdit files you must download, install and use ProntoEdit v4.0. Compatible with files from RC5000 Setup v1.02.3 or earlier. Not compatible with files from RC5000 Setup v2.0 or newer. See the above instructions for ProntoProEdit files. Not compatible with Touch Screen Setup "large screen" files. See the above instructions for ProntoProEdit files. Compatible with all RAVedit files. Compatible with all CHAD Edit files. If you are using ProntoProEdit v3.2.0: Compatible with all ProntoProEdit files. Compatible with all ProntoEdit files. Compatible with all RC5000 Setup files. Not compatible with Touch Screen Setup "large screen" files. To use Touch Screen Setup "large screen" files you must download, install and use ProntoEdit v4.0. Compatible with all RAVedit files. Compatible with all CHAD Edit files. If you are using ProntoEdit v4.0: Compatible with all ProntoProEdit files.

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PCF file and rename it to.ZIP so "myfile.pcf" would become "myfile.zip". You can now open the file as an archive, and save any images you like out of the "graphics" directory. Note that the Pronto NG's black and white.BMP images are in 16shades and may have a transparancy color, while the original Pronto can only use 4 shades with no transparancy. Finally, color.PNG files designed for the ProntoPro NG may contain 24bit color.BMP or.PNG graphics, which cannot be directly used by the Pronto or ProntoPro (which supports 256 colors). These image files can be converted to appropriate.BMP formats using various image editing programs, but note that the ProntoPro NG supports "alpha blend transparancies", something not supported by the regular Pronto or ProntoPro, and any designs using that capability may not look correct after conversion. ProntoNEO.NCF and iPronto.ICF files work similarly to.PCF files: rename them to.ZIP, extract any images you like, then convert them to an appropriate 4shade or 256color.BMP format for importing into ProntoEdit.
Section B2: Working With ProntoEdit: Software & Firmware
B201 What are the current software versions? Current PC software versions as of April 17, 2004: US Pronto TS1000: ProntoEdit v4.0.5 US Pronto TSU2000: ProntoEdit v4.0.5 US ProntoPro TSU6000: ProntoEdit v4.0.5 European Pronto RU890: ProntoEdit v4.0.5 European Pronto RU940: ProntoEdit v4.0.5 European Pronto RU970: ProntoEdit v4.0.5 Marantz RC5000/RC5000i: Touch Screen Setup v2.0.4 Marantz RC5200/9200: Touch Screen Setup v2.0.4 Onkyo CHAD USR5RF: CHAD Edit v1.0.0 Yamaha RAV2000: RAVedit v1.0.0 B202 What are the current firmware versions? Hold down the icon of the Pronto/RC5000 on your remote for three seconds to get to the Setup menu. Screen number three contains the version numbers of the firmware contained on your particular remote. Current firmware versions as of July 1, 2004: US Pronto TS1000: App v4.85 / Sys v3.62 US Pronto TSU2000: APP v5.3 / Sys v4.8 US ProntoPro TSU6000: APP v1.4 / Sys v1.4 European Pronto RU890: App v4.85 / Sys v3.62 European Pronto RU940: App v4.86 / Sys v4.8 European Pronto RU970: App v1.4 / Sys v1.4 Marantz RC5000: App v5.2 / Sys v4.92 Marantz RC5000i: App v5.1 / Sys v4.91 Marantz RC5200: App v1.4.1 / Sys v1.3.2 Marantz RC9200: App v1.2.2 / Sys v1.3.1 Onkyo CHAD USR5RF: App v1.2 / Sys v1.2 Yamaha RAV2000: App v1.0 / Sys v1.0 All remotes use their own firmware update files. You cannot load the firmware from one remote to another. Be sure when updating that you select the correct model. Always check what version of firmware your remote has and compare it to what the PC offers before attempting to upgrade. Very often remotes direct from the factory will have a newer firmware version than is available to download.

RC: Philips Pronto & Marantz RC5000 Unofficial FAQ 31
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Section B3: Working With ProntoEdit: Remote Communications
B301 Where can I get a serial cable for the Pronto? All shipping remotes include one in the base package. If you don't want to wait you can use a Kodak DC210 digital camera cable or you can wire your own using the diagram below:
More information on working with Macintosh computers can be found later in this document. Note that the pinout is NOT the same as the cable that comes with Home Theater Master products. B302 What does "Invalid Software Version" mean, and what can I do about it? There are several versions of the Pronto software designed for various OEM customers, each one slightly different. When you download a software update intended for another version of your remote the above message will be displayed. Your only option is to get a software upgrade created for the specific version of your remote and use that to update instead. Although in the past the firmware for the Pronto could be crossloaded on the Marantz RC5000, this is not the case any more. Please do NOT upgrade the RC5000 with Pronto software or the Pronto with RC5000 software. If you have already flashing another model's firmware, you are likely receiving the error message above. You should instead flash your remote back to its proper firmware program with either RC5000 Setup or ProntoEdit and the most recent firmware update file. Always check what version of firmware your remote has and compare it to what the PC offers before attempting to upgrade. Very often remotes direct from the factory will have a newer firmware version than is available to download. B303 What can I do if the remote will not power up and I hear 4 beeps?
This usually indicates that the CCF file is corrupt. To correct this you can try downloading your file again from ProntoEdit or RC5000 Setup. Otherwise, you must reflash the firmware using the TOOLS | UPDATE PRONTO menu option in ProntoEdit (or TOOLS | UPDATE RC5000 in RC5000 Setup) while the remote is connected to your PC. You may experience this problem without ever having connected the remote to your computer. The solution is still the same: you must update your remote via the PC software. B304 Can I make ProntoEdit, Touch Screen Setup, CHAD Edit or RAVedit work on a Macintosh Computer? Yes! First, make a serial cable as per the diagram earlier in this document. If you made the PC version, use a standard DB9 to Mac DIN8 adapter to connect it to the serial port on your Macintosh. The following information was submitted by Ladd Morse: How to Use Virtual PC on your Macintosh for Flawless Pronto Upload/Download. One person's setup that works; your mileage may vary. Computer: Power Mac 8500 with XLRMHz G3 upgrade card OS: Mac OS 9.0.4 Virtual PC: Version 3.0.1 running Windows 95 Mac Serial PorttoPronto Interface Cable: Kodak Part Number 1008473 (for DC20/DC25/DC200/DC200 Plus/DC210/DC210 Plus/DC215) After installing Pronto Edit 1.5 onto my "C" drive in Virtual PC, the following adjustments were required for proper ProntoEdit/Pronto communication: Virtual PC preferences: Select COM port used (in my case, COM 1) Ensure COM 1 is set to "Mac Serial Port" Enable checkbox "nonmodem device" In Windows 95: Open up Windows "System Control Panel" (Path: My Computer: Control Panels: System) Click on "Device Manager" tab Select "Ports" Select Port used by Pronto (in my case, COM 1) Click on "Port Settings" Tab Change "Bits/Sec" setting to 2400 None of the above work? The following manual method may help: Use Zterm to upload the CCF file from your Pronto to your Mac. Set Zterm to use 115200 baud, 8 bits, no parity, 1 stop bit. Hold the Left and Right buttons on the pronto while inserting the Pronto cable quickly. You may notice a bad connection if you insert the cable more slowly. Type "ul ccf" followed by ENTER. Select Xmodem receive. The Pronto should then send the CCF and you'll see the Xmodem progress bar. Bring the CCF into ProntoEdit under VirtualPC.

RC: Philips Pronto & Marantz RC5000 Unofficial FAQ 33
Customize it. Now download the CCF back to your pronto by typing "dl ccf" and pressing ENTER. B305 Can I hook the Pronto up to a USB port? The answer is yes, however there are some conditions. First, the USB emulator you purchase must be able to emulate a serial (COM) port between 1 and 4 many prefer to operate as "COM 12" or something, but ProntoEdit will not work with that. Ideally it should function as COM 1. Secondly, some USB adaptors are known not to work this includes the Keyspan USBtoPDA adapter. However, the Keyspan USBtoSerial adaptor does work. B306 Why can't I get my computer to talk to the Pronto? There are several causes. But first, when you receive the "Pronto not connected or not responding" message, click on the "Details" button. This will list all found COM ports and what the error message was. If the message is "Access denied (in use by another application?)", that means another program is using the port. A common culprit here is the Palm HotSync software. Disable it and then try again. If the error is "Opened but no response from Pronto", you can check several things: 1. Ensure the COM port is functional. Try something else out on it. 2. If nothing else will work, the port may not be configured correctly in your system BIOS or Windows. Its IRQ may be shared by another device, such as a modem. By default COM 1 and 3 use IRQ 4, while COM 2 and 4 use IRQ 3. However, since COM ports cannot actually share IRQs with anything else, you will either have to disable one of the shared COM ports or set one to another IRQ. If you have an older ATbased system, the port may be configured correctly but may not be connected inside the system. If using a notebook, make sure the port in question is not configured to "IR" mode, since that disables the physical port and/or may interfere with others. 3. If the port works but ProntoEdit just can't seem to see it, make sure you're using COM 1. Many users have found that trying to use any other port has failed if COM 1 itself is not in use. It is possible to use other COM ports, but the ports before it should be "busy" or "inuse" by other applications.

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Section B5: Working With ProntoEdit: Discrete Codes
B501 What are discrete codes? Discrete codes are versions of toggle codes that only perform one function. For instance, a "POWER" button on a remote would be a toggle in that when it is used the current power state is reversed. If your device is on, it turns off. If it's off, it turns on. A "discrete" code would be a signal that ONLY turns the device on or off. If it is already on it remains so. These are most often used to ensure your home theater components stay completely in sync for powering on and off and changing device inputs. Such specialized and otherwise hidden codes may also be available for direct access to other "toggled" or "rotating" functions such as television inputs, receiver soundfield settings and onscreen display modes. Unfortunately, many devices or entire brands do not have discrete on/off codes. To control such devices discretely with the Pronto you could look into the popular SmartLinc and HouseLinc systems, as they often provide proprietary methods of accomplishing this. If you have a device that does not have a remote controllable power switch, you could plug it into your receiver's switched outlets (if it has them) so that when the receiver is off, it is off. Or invest in X10, which are power control modules with have specific on and off commands. B502 How do I find or create them? Mostly by a lot of hard work. Often a remote that came with a single model of a component may have a few discrete codes that could be used on other similar models. Or, as with many of the ones on this site, the actual structure of an IR code is analyzed and then changed to see what the resulting code does. There are utilities in the Pronto File Area that can assist with this, such as IR Tool and ProntoUtil. But first, you should check the File Archives at Remote Central to determine if your device or even if your brand has discrete functionality available. By now, discrete codes for most common devices if they exist have been found. Finally, there's a forum on Remote Central designed to specifically help users locate discrete codes. B503 How can I use them? In ProntoEdit, discrete codes are stored as hex. This means that a "power on" command for a Sony receiver would look like:

0000 000d 005f 0018 002f 0429
To use them the entire string must be copied. For complete help on how to use discrete codes with buttons that do not have an existing IR code or those that already do, plus a quick list of devices that
RC: Philips Pronto & Marantz RC5000 Unofficial FAQ 39
are known to lack discrete codes, please see this page on Remote Central. The most common places discrete codes are employed are in automatic input switch macros assigned to devices or system power macros. For instance, if you have discrete codes each time you change the Pronto from "VCR 1" to "DVD" you can have the remote automatically set the inputs on both the television and receiver. This is great for other family members who may have difficulty keeping both the television and receiver in sync.
Section B6: Working With ProntoEdit: Managing CCF Files
B601 What are CCF files? CCF files are used with the ProntoEdit and RC5000 Setup packages. They include a full configuration for the remote control, including layout, IR codes, macros, graphics and more. These can be shared between all Pronto and RC5000 users running the most recent software and firmware. B602 What does 'CCF' stand for? It stands for 'Cabernet Configuration File'. 'Cabernet' was the original codename for the Pronto while it was in development. When it was renamed the 'Pronto', the CCF file extension stuck. B603 How can I get rid of the "+" symbol before device names? This tip applies only to ProntoEdit v2.0 or newer: As described in the previous question, the "+" symbol indicates that the device "needs programming" on TSU2000 and TSU6000 models. That results in the remote requesting a preset code for each device the first time it is selected during normal operation. Unfortunately, this setting resets each time your file is downloaded. What's more, each new device added in ProntoEdit 2.0 employs this "feature". To correct this problem: 1. Make sure that "Developer Mode" is enabled (download Pronto.ini Workshop from the file area to make this configuration change). 2. In ProntoEdit, rightclick over each device name and unselect the "needs programming" option. B604 What do the short letter designations ([C], [D] etc.) mean? Here is a complete list of what functions each letter code references: [A] is an alias to a device's action list. [B] is an alias to another LCD button. [C] is learned/hex code for infrared signals (command). [D] is a delay. [J] is a page jump. (RC5000) [K] is an alias to a hard key. [S] is a beep (sound). (Pronto) [T] is a timer. (Pronto) B605 What do all the symbols before device or page names mean? Here is a complete list of what each symbol references:

RC: Philips Pronto & Marantz RC5000 Unofficial FAQ 62
universal_size=960 Keep the "size=380" line as is. While you're in there, I strongly suggest making the change described just further up this page in FAQ section B1108. Save your changes and you'll now be able to use ProntoEdit v2.0. If you have a problem with the pronto.ini file being "read only", then you may have installed Marantz Touch Screen Setup, which does strange things to your pronto.ini file. The Pronto.ini Workshop utility linked to earlier will correct that issue. This is no longer a problem with ProntoEdit v3.0 and newer.