Can I use my Universal Remote with 7802 receiver?

[auntlang]

Is it possible to program a universal remote control to work with the new Fibe TV  Wifi set-top-box Arris VIP7802?  I am unable to find a code in order to do this.  I would like to be able to control everything with one remote.  Does anybody know the code? I contacted Bell directly and I didn't get the answer. 

[KYE]

First, the Fibe TV box, the Arris VIP7802 does in fact support IR all the time.  The IR receiver is just below the power light which required I raise the box up in the air a bit as the drawer slide rail on the AV stand initially blocked it.  When you disconnect the supplied remote by unpairing it, it switches to IR mode for the next couple of presses but re->pairs itself automatically and switches off the IR mode, a real annoyance when you are trying to program a learning remote.  I had to deliberately program the wrong TV to avoid having the VIP7802 turn the tv off all the time and I do not use TV volume.  I also note that the Arris VIP7802 remote is missing 3 buttons, one of which is for favorites.  I am still trying to sort that out with bell.  Apparently a pending firmware upgrade will help.

I was working with the Sofabaton U1 programmable remote which is an inexpensive Harmony look alike.  I successfully supported my Amp volume, HDMI switch, TV and the Fibe TV box from one single remote program setup, including a macro to turn them all on and off from one button click.  Below is my review that I left for it where I purchased it:

As a programmable remote, I found this unit was easy to program but the built in devices often had more codes to add to make them fully functional. I needed a new device added (Bell Fibe TV Arris VIP7802)and the support emailed me back indicating it had been added within 24 hrs. They also responded to my emails related to deficiencies quickly.
Strengths:
- easy to program via cell phone app and learning from existing remotes
- good support for huge number of devices but no documentation on which key does what.
- inexpensive
- supports bluetooth remote standard layout but no simultaneous IR support for other IR devices
- supports macros (key sequences assigned to one key) applies to all remotes programmed, not just one.
- supports many remotes so you can create a second remote for the same device but with the less frequently used functions for example.

Weaknesses:
- key repeats, either by click-click-click or holding a button down are too slow and annoying
- too few keys to support multiple remotes in one single setup.
- if you have two remotes to program you can't pick which one pairs with the app. Put one far away
- no cloning option, for two remotes, you have to program each from scratch
- difficult to aim at a full AV system (TV, amp, switch, TV receiver) but you get used to it once you find where to aim to hit them all at once, especially for macros.
- the number keys are too small and too close together

[auntlang]

So very helpful.  Thank you for taking the time to post.

[Joe7]

Hi Kye, I am using the Harmony 900 and the only button that doesn't work after programming it is the voice remote's Home button. For some reason, it is not learning just that button. I have tried to manually learn it with no success. Is it because it is a blue tooth command and the 900 uses IR? If so, wouId your procedure work if I reset my remote by holding down the play/pause and the home buttons on the voice remote for 3 seconds? You said that if you unpair the remote (which is what I assume would be the same as resetting the remote), the first few buttons pressed would be IR, not blue tooth. I only need it to be one button push to be IR so I can learn that one button. I have an extra voice remote that I will reset and try this with. If it doesn't work, do you know anything about Pronto Hex Codes and where I could find the code for the home button on the voice remote? With that code, I could simply give it to Harmony and they said they would code it into their system so that I could program that button. They are still providing very expansive tech support at 1-866-632-5644. This is my first time using this service so I don't know if your response will get emailed to me to my email on file or not

[KYE]

I had no problem learning the menu button, I don't believe there is anything unique about it.  As far as setting the remote to send IR, I gather you can unplug the power to the Fibe TV Box, Arris VIP7802 and the remote will go into IR mode, so that is likely the simplest.  If you reset the remote, you will loose the TV power and volume control until you retrain it for that.  For me, I didn't want the TV features as my volume is controlled by an amplifier, not the built in TV speakers.  If you know someone who does Arduino stuff, there is a way to capture the IR code in hex to convert to Pronto codes but that shouldn't be necessary as I have no reason to believe that one code can't be learned.  The Arris remote does fire the IR at a downward angle a bit.  I found I had to aim the learning remote  at more like 145 deg than 180 deg horizontal if that helps.  Sofabaton got the IR codes for the ARRIS VIP7802 from ARRIS in under 24 hrs, Logitech should be able to do the same?  Anyway, I hope this helps.

[AlexS]

The “favourite” button probably has disappeared for quite some time. Even the two Slim remotes don’t have that. Actually you can pull up the favourite list using Bell remotes via “option” or “right” button, then select the “favourite”.

[AlexS]

By default, the forum will email every reply and like.

[KYE]

Actually, when I mentioned favourite button, I was referring to the option button.  The voice remote for the Arris VIP7802 does not have an option button or the other two on that row.  I set up favourites on the Fibe TV box but still have no access to them on the Fibe TV box itself, but I do in the App.

[AlexS]

Well, actually it has both. The on-demand button is next to 0 button and the app button is next to home/menu & guide. The only function that disappear because of the absence of option button is that we cannot select a specific day in the guide. However, the new box can flip the guide super fast, and the fast forward and backward buttons on the old remotes still work.

[KYE]

I don't have the luxury of having seen the other remotes in action.  Perhaps the more important question is: "Does the option button work on the new VIP7802 Fibe TV box?".  i.e. would an old remote control the new VIP7802 box? If the answer is yes, then I will likely head over to the Bell Sales office and program it into one of my learning remotes to send it in IR.  You are correct the on demand and app button are on the voice remote in new locations.  It is the option button that is missing.

[AlexS]

I see. However, the flipping is the only feature that has been affected IMO. All other things either the same or has a great workaround. I talked about the compatibility of the Bluetooth Remote here.

https://forum.bell.ca/t5/TV/Upgrade-the-Legacy-4K-dvr-to-the-Cloud-One/td-p/8538 

And the Favourite list on the App is separate from the TV box. I always set up the box while using my phone as a reference.

[KYE]

To finalize the discussion on the "missing Options button" which Bell documents online as being required to view the favourites on Bell Fibe TV, the procedure with the voice remote is completely different, thus the missing options button.  Below is the process to view Favourites using the voice Remote for the Arris VIP7802 Bell Fibe TV Box:

1. Press the button that looks like a house (Home)
2. Go down to "Settings" "OK"
3. Go Right to "Menu and Guide" "OK"
4. Go Right to "Favorite Channels" "OK"
5. Go Right to "Manage Favorites" "OK" then "Back Arrow"<- Skip this if you have done it already
6  Go to "My Favorites" "OK" and the guide will pop up showing only your Favourites.

More important, this is a sticky setting.  Guide will now show favourites until you change it back.  To do that, you have to go through all the above over again and select "View all Channels" in step 6 above instead so you can get back to seeing your "customized" channels (as customized by you by selecting "customize guide" in step 4 above instead of choosing Favorites).

Now, if ever there was a reason to use a programmable remote this is it.  I am going to write a macro and assign it to a button to get a favourites Guide in one button press and another macro for a different button to switch back to the "all channels" guide.  Life is too short to go through all the above just to get the "junk" that clutters up the guide out of the way.  I really don't have two buttons to waste for this but I guess.  In my opinion, the ARRIS VIP 7802 should allow pressing the guide over and over again which should toggle between the various "options", remembering the last one you landed on for next time.

[AlexS]

You could tune in a random channel and press right button instead.

[Joe7]

What you said about using a reset voice remote work. The home button must’ve been after the reset so I was able to program it into my Harmony 900. Thx

[KYE]

Yes, thank you, I see the option through the right button but I need to clarify in my response why it did not work for me the first time I tried it after you mentioned it.

By Tune in a Channel, it is important to recognize that only occurs after the screen has completely cleared of all text/graphics overlays.  When you first select a channel and are watching it (i.e. tune), there is a menu overlay at the bottom of the screen about the channel.  As long as that is present, the right button is ignored.  Thus it didn't work for me.  Added to the fact selecting favorites does noting obvious didn't help either.  Read on for more detail.

Equally important:
1. Selecting favorites over all channels also simply toggles the guide.  When you initially select it, nothing happens so it would be easy to conclude that it didn't work but in actual fact you just toggled the guide display from all channels to favorites and vice versa.  To see the results, you still need to press the guide!  Not intuitive at all, neither the right button press, nor the need to still press guide.  This setting too is "sticky".  It will continue until you toggle it again.
2. The right arrow/button on a channel you are viewing also brings up other menu options, important to me was "aspect".
3. Pressing the left arrow is the same as pressing Home.
4. Pressing the down arrow brings up channel info but interestingly, the info button itself does nothing, go figure.
5. Pressing the up arrow brings up trending now.

My earlier instructions involved 9 button presses and using the right arrow involves 4-7 depending upon where you are in the menu at the time you start, neither all that efficient.  I would have liked it if they had the left arrow toggle between favorites and all channels instead of duplicating the function of the home button, you could just press home instead and that is more intuitive as well.  I also suggest they enable the info button and add a line about what the other arrows/button do so that you don't have to find out here or by accident.

[AlexS]

Well, I thought you skipped my previous message cause you didn’t mention it lol. I never tried to press option button while the info page is on though. I usually adjust the CC when I’m actually watching something.

Bell also can bring back the fast forward and backward buttons. Multiple presses is quicker to adjust the progress bar than long presses. Actually they could have take off the on-demand button since the dvr doesn’t even allow back on PPV movies, but CHCH is the only channel I’m aware of not having on-demand sec available on Fibe TV app.