MERLIN OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS REV6

Congratulations on your purchase of the Merlin, one of the most advanced Universal Remote Control in the world. Before you start setting up the Merlin however, we advice you to read through the manual fully in order to get acquainted with the different parts of your Merlin, and the terminology as described and applied in the examples. We hope that you’ll have many years of trouble free operation and enjoyment from your new Home Automation and Multi Media Control Centre.

The battery compartment is located at the bottom of the MERLIN. The Merlin required 4 AAA sized batteries. Press and lift up the battery catch in order to gain access to the battery compartment. Insert a new set of batteries in the correct position, whilst observing the correct polarity. Do not attempt to insert batteries in the wrong position, since this may affect the operation of the electronics in the Merlin. Close the battery compartment again and confirm that there is text visible on the LCD display.

Note: Even when the batteries are removed for replacement, the learned codes are protected in Flash Memory.

Contents

THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE MERLIN

LCD DISPLAY COMPONENTS

ADJUSTABLE CONTROLS

SETTING UP THE MERLIN

CHANGING THE DISPLAYED TEXT

ADVANCED PROGRAMMING TECHNIQUES

USING THE MERLIN

The different parts of the MERLIN

Transmitter window

Infrared signals will emanate from behind this window.

Receiving window

Used when learning commands from other remotes, this window is placed at the bottom of the MERLIN, so that the two remotes are vertically oriented for easy transfer of remote control information.

NUMERICAL Keypad

The numerical keys 0-9 are used to enter numeric digits.

The 2 additionally keys provided are for the TELETEXT functions. Namely TEXT and CLEAR TEXT.

FASTEXT keys

These are used for :

· FASTEXT on television. [also used for MENU functions on some televisions.]

SCROLLPAD

Some components feature menus that are navigated with UP, DOWN, LEFT and RIGHT direction commands. The SCROLLPAD are used for certain MERLIN programming functions.

LEFT SELECT key SEL-L

Used to confirm acceptance of certain commands, and to enter the Merlin Programming Menu.

RIGHT SELECT keys SEL-R

When pressed, the MERLIN main display is shown. This main display shows the available devices.

This key is used to change from programming mode to normal operation, and is used when programming commands into the Merlin.

BATTERIES

TOUCH SENSITIVE LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY (LCD) WINDOW

The LCD screen provides a wealth of information, including function selection name, function names, learning and programming steps, as well as useful indicators for battery status, and other indicators. The LCD screen features back-lighting, making it easy to view when the room ambient light is very low.

Within this screen, all operating messages (function name, mode names, etc.) are shown. After a key is pressed on the Merlin, the LCD display will stay ON for 2 minutes, before switching OFF.

LCD DISPLAY COMPONENTS

There are 3 different SCREENS, which are further split into BANKS and PAGES. They are:

PROGRAMMING screen

MAIN screen

MACRO screen

The following information describes these screens and the use of them in further detail, in some cases via practical examples and exercises.

MAIN SCREEN [ 1 ]

This is the default screen. This screen displays:

TV	AUX1
VCR	AUX2
SAT	AUX3
HIFI	AUX4
MCRO
MERLIN

1. 8 pre-defined pieces of Audi Visual equipment. They can however be substituted and renamed to your own preferred choice of Multi Media or Home Automation equipment.

2. MACRO [MCRO] display. Also acts as a 2^nd INFO display when programming certain functions.

3. The main INFO display. Displays additional icons for backlight, signal transmit indicator, battery life, and BANK selection.

The LCD display consists of several touch sensitive areas:

4. The bottom right hand and left hand corner of the INFO display are touch sensitive areas that allows you to switch between the 4 available BANKS of each selected device. They are indicated by small arrows, and are only functional when you have selected a particular device.

5. Except for the text on the INFO display, all other text display areas are also touch sensitive. That includes the 10 text areas within the 4 available BANKS for each of your AV equipment

Let’s use a quick example to give you an initial feel of the MAIN screen.

a. Press and release the SEL-R. The MAIN screen should now be visible.

b. Briefly press the area on the LCD display marked TV. The LCD display screen will now change and take you to the first BANK of the TV control functions. Note the symbol B1 at the lefthand side of the LCD display. Except for the INFO display, all other visible text areas are touch sensitive.

c. Press the bottom lefthand or righthand corner of the LCD display and at the same time check that the display changes and brings up a different set of commands for your TV. Note that the INFO display reads “ TV MODE”. Also note that the B1 symbol will change to B2, B3, or B4.

d. Repeat step “a” to take you back to the MAIN screen. That concludes the initial demonstration.

PROGRAMMING SCREEN[ 1 ]

Press the SEL-L button for 5 seconds, until you see “SET MODE” displayed in the INFO display. You are now in the PROGRAMMING screen.

NOTE: To prevent accidental loss of the names of the available functions on this page, these names cannot be edited. Additionally, the Merlin will default to the MAIN screen after 2 minutes if no key press is detected whilst you are in the PROGRAMMING screen.

You should now see the above information on the LCD display. Let us now go through these available functions in order of importance.

PGRM – PROGRAMMING function.

Lets you set up your TV/VCR/SAT/HIFI to communicate with the Merlin, via our own library of codes.

6. Turn ON your TV with your original remote control.

Briefly press PGRM on the LCD display. [If you cannot see PGRM, press the SEL-R key a few times until you see the MAIN screen. Now press the SEL-L key for 5 seconds until you get back into the SET MODE screen.]

7. Press ‘PGRM’ key.

1. The INFO display informs you that you are in the code search mode. The available options are BRAND search[BRAN] and Library search [LIB].

BRAND search

Select BRAND search by briefly pressing on BRAN.

2. The LCD display now shows you the above information. You are looking at the available locations on the LCD screen, where you can store your particular AV equipment. [NOTE: Only the first top 8 positions are available for storing codes at this stage] Select TV for this example.

3. The first 4 rows on the left hand side of the display indicates the type of equipment for which we have codes in the Merlin library. Since we are setting up a TV, press TV on the display.

4. The name of the first available TV brand in the Merlin is now displayed on the top line of the display. Search for your particular television brand by using the ‘Up’ or ‘Down’ arrow keys on the scroll pad.

5. If after searching, you find your TV brand, press the SEL-L key. (If you wish to cancel instead, press the SEL-R key.)

6. Search for a suitable code for your TV brand by pointing the front of the Merlin towards your television and slowly and patiently pressing and releasing the UP and DOWN arrow keys on the scroll pad, using an interval of at least 2 seconds between key presses. The “####” display will show a different 4 digit code upon each UP/DOWN key press, which is applicable to your TV brand. Your TV will switch off once a suitable code is found. Stop searching when the TV switches off. If you arrive at the end of BRAND codes before your TV switches OFF, ‘SCAN END’ is displayed on the LCD. The Merlin now turns to LIBRARY search instead. If you arrive at the end of the LIBRARY search before a suitable code is found, ‘LIB END’ is displayed on the LCD and the display turns to SET MODE. You are then advised to try the LEARN function instead. (see further in this manual for details on how to operate the LEARN function.)

7. Try the numbers key pad to see if your TV respond to the Merlin, and if the numbers on the key pad bring up the equivalent channel on your TV. [NOTE: On most modern televisions you can switch ON your TV by just pressing a number key on the number keypad. If your set does not work in that manner, please read “Alternative set-up methods” in the Advanced Programming section.]

8. Press the SEL-L key to store the code and to take you back to the SET MODE screen. [NOTE: if you wish to cancel this set up, press the SEL-R key to take you straight back to Set MODE.]

LIB- Library search function

1. Press ‘PGRM’ key on the LCD display.

2. Select Library search.

3. Select the location where you wish to store the code for your equipment. For this example you should select TV.

4. Select the type of equipment that you are searching a code for. In this case it is for a television code.

5. Search for a suitable code for your TV, by using the ‘Up’ and ‘down’ keys on the scroll pad, until you find desired code. Your TV will switch off once a suitable code is found.

6. Stop searching when the TV turns OFF. NOTE: When you arrive at the end of the code library, ‘LIB END’ is displayed on the LCD display and the Merlin returns to the SET MODE.

7. Press one of the numbered keys on the keypad to see if your TV switches ON again. [NOTE: On most modern televisions you can switch ON your TV by just pressing a number key on the number keypad. If your set does not work in that manner, please read “Alternative set-up methods” in the Advanced Programming section.]

8. Press the SEL-L key to store the code.

4. LEARNING FUNCTION

To set-up by learning codes you will need a fully functional original remote control.

Please note that the MERLIN can only learn infrared commands. It is not compatible with UHF and Ultrasonic remote controls. There are also a number of infrared remote controls that use encoding methods which the MERLIN cannot learn.

1. Press the SEL-L key for 2-3 seconds to go to the SET MODE screen, if you are not already there.

2. Press the ‘ LRN’ key.

3. Select desired Device.

4. ‘LEARN KP’ is displayed on the LCD.

5. Press desired key for learning. ‘LEAR LCD’ is displayed on the LCD display.

6. Align the sensor of your original remote control with the bottom end of the MERLIN approximately 3 to 5 cm apart. Choose between a key from the key pad or from the LCD display on the MERLIN that you wish to use to duplicate/store the function from the original remote, press and release. Then press desired key on the original RC until MERLIN LCD displays ‘COPY OK’ or ‘ERROR’.

7. If LCD shows ‘COPY OK’, r

epeat step 4 to 6 to learn other keys. If LCD shows ‘ERROR’, repeat steps 4 to 6 for the same key on the original remote control that caused the error message.

8) To exit the Learning mode, press the SEL-R key.

5. RECONFIGURATION FUNCTION

1) If you are not already in the SET MODE screen, press the SEL-L key for 2-3 seconds to get into SET MODE.

2) Press the ‘ RCNF’ key on the LCD.

3) Select the desired Device from those available on the LCD display, that you wish to re-configure.

4) Slowly and patiently press and release the key you wish to re-program, until you find the desired function. NOTE: Use this feature of the Merlin with great care. You are advised to have the original remote control close at hand, in case you need to switch ON your A/V equipment, or get in/out of TEXT whilst you are in the re-configuration mode.

(LCD displays transmitted code as “RCNF: ###H”, where ### is a hex number)

5) Press the SEL-L key to store the required key code.

6) Repeat step 2) to 5) to reconfigure the other keys.

7) You can reconfigure a maximum of 8 keys for each A/V equipment. If you wish to cancel the Re-configuration mode without storing any code, press the SEL-R key. When you arrive at the end of all possible codes in memory, ‘DATA END’ is displayed on the INFO bar and the Merlin returns to SET mode.

6. DELETE FUNCTION

1) If you are not already in the SET MODE screen, press the SEL-L key for 2-3 seconds to get into SET MODE.

2) Press ‘ DLT’ key on the LCD.