REMOTE CONTROL REM 77 (TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN)
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During the market launch of the QUAD 77 System in 1995~96, this remote control was promoted as an outstanding technological
characteristic of the system. Why? For the first time - say the inventors - important data for the user on the remote control could be
seen through the technology of the bidirectional link—the remote control does not only send data, like any conventional remote
control, but also receives feedback, which can be represented in the display. The further advantage of such a remote control is in the
fact that they can "re-learn" the equipment composition and thus adjust to new configurations, without the user intervening.
Now - and that is undecided to the discussion - the question raises itself, which serious music lovers such a feature really uses? What
uses it that e.g. the title running time of the CD Players is represented not only on the equipment own display, but also on the remote
control? Who please please uses the feature to read off on the quite small display of the remote control Tuner RDS data, radio text
etc.? And which has that everything with high-quality music reproduction to do? In addition the "bi-directional remote control" is
not new. Its use is well established by Bang & Olufsen and Japanese manufacturers such as Kenwood now use this technology in
"low price" products.
But - we do not want to accuse the
marketing department too much - finally
it acts during the remote control "QUAD
77", as already during the description of
various components of this series
suggested, in order an important
instrument, in order to call partly useful
auxiliary functions, which cannot be
affected at the equipment.
Appearance
This remote control comes along in two
different versions: one in grey, for the
Nextel-coated devices, and in anthracite,
for the devices in "Carbon" . The remote
control has LCD panel over a large
turning wheel. On the left and right of LC
display are 10 keys. A firm function is
assigned to 4 of these keys. Top left and
right are, respectively "STANDBY" for
shutdown and/or audio muting of the
system and "SOURCE", choosing input
and relevant "Top level menu". The
bottom left and right buttons navigate
within the menus, being "EXPAND”
down the present menu and "SWAP”
menu level or page
The remaining keys, so-called "soft
keys"; do not have a fixed function. Their
function changes according to the
connected equipment and SOURCE
selected, with respective functions
displayed. For example, the same buttons
serve in the CD player menu to select
previous or next tracks; with the tuner,
they move up or down the station
memories. Similarly, the large knob is
primarily responsible for the audio gain
control, but this knob serves other
functions such as balance adjustment, depending on menu options chosen.
Usage
The remote control was always sold separately and was delivered with a "Charging Cradle". The small plug, on a cable from the
Charging Cradle, must be attached thereby to "MASTER" equipment with appropriate socket.
There can be remote control problems whenever fluorescent tubes or energy saving lights are used in the same area. This leads to
unpredictable malfunctioning. To be fair, every remote control system can be irritated by these sources of light, but a bi-directional
system like the QUAD 77 can be affected substantially more by the emissions.
Many remote control functions in all applications cannot be discussed here. The system is dynamic and behaves differently
depending on attached equipment. Here are some general characteristics.
Q 77 REM Notes.doc http://www.quad-hifi.de/ on 5 October 2005 p1 of 2
at: http://www.binarynow.com/
Caution: In no case should two "MASTER" devices be operated with a remote control in the same area - for example a full amplifier
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and a "MASTER" CD player. In this case the remote control tries to interact to both "MASTER" devices at the same time. Even if
these devices are connected by QUADLINK cables, such a configuration cannot be managed with the remote control.
RESET Command
As already mentions in the context of the technical manuals, it is necessary to RESET the remote control on first use or if you add
new QUADLINK devices (CD player, tuner, etc) to the system. Initializing the remote control looks for and integrates the attached
devices into the control system.
To RESET, put the remote control into the Charging Cradle with "SOURCE" key pressed. When you release the SOURCE key,
“RESETS” appears in the display beside a key. The remote control can now be removed from the Charging Cradle.
After you briefly press the SOURCE key, the display shows "press any key". After pressing a key, the initialization process starts
and, after a short time, all attached devices should be represented in the remote control display, on the "top level menu".
As indication that the equipment is now running through remote control, each changes the display in the buttons of the devices from
red to green. If equipment is not recognized, displays remain red. If the communication between remote control and "MASTER"
equipment was disturbed, the remote control shows "Help" and the equipment does nothing at all. In this case the whole procedure
must be repeated.
Battery Replacement
The remote control uses four 1.5V NiCad AA cells in its power supply. Since the cells are soldered, it is not easy for the user to
make an exchange. The supply from the cells should be disconnected at the jumper first. Cells cannot be replaced when the remote
control is being used.
The remote control will not function if
the cells are flat. The equipment will
retain previous settings, but the remote
control must be used in the cradle until
the cells are recharged and the display of
the remote control shows system
information. NiCad cells suffer from a
"memory" effect, which means they
charge less fully as they age. Discharging
them completely helps their ability to take
up a full charge on the next “refill”, but
this is only possible by leaving the remote
control on and out of its charging cradle.
Software Versions
The trade faced this remote control very
sceptically, with the situation made more
difficult because the remote control’s
internal software was volatile The first
software version, v1.35, had many
problems, in particular with load
management, which were fixed in v1.37.
With v 2.03, the system became able to
operate complex equipment such as the
integrated tuner.
To identify the software version, put the
remote control into the Charging Cradle
with "SOURCE" key pressed. The
display indicates software version on the
left, with the "RESET" function nearby
on the appropriate soft key. There was
also a Windows 3.1 Basic program called
"REMSIM" which used a PC to
demonstrate various remote control
routines.
Q 77 REM Notes.doc http://www.quad-hifi.de/ on 5 October 2005 p2 of 2
at: http://www.binarynow.com/
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