9th
October
2006
I found a code online that lets me add this feature to my Comcast remote.
What I liked most about my Dish DVR was the ability to press a button and skip forward 30 seconds in a recorded program. This feature allowed me to skip commercials, which was the main benefit to recording TV programs in the first place.
That’s why I was so surprised last week when we switched to Comcast that the feature was missing. Oh sure, I could speed up the commercials by 4x or so, then have to reverse again when I passed the return of the show, but there was no measured way to skip commercials.
Very disappointed, I casually mentioned it to Comcast on the phone during a call about another issue. After confirming with him that there was no “pre-programmed” feature on the remote to do that, I told him that I really hated it, and was considering switching back.
That’s when he told me that some industrious people had posted a hack for the remote online, and with “a little effort” if I “knew how to use a search engine well” I could possibly find it out.
Well, it actually took me nearly 15 minutes, but I found it, and here it is, for your TV commercial skipping pleasure (with a silver remote and a Motorola DCT3412 box)…
- Choose an unused or unneeded button on the “silver” remote to be the 30-second skip command. I used my “A-lock” button, and in retrospect (with two kids) that’s probably not the best choice, but I wanted it near the other DVR controls. Other choices are the PIP buttons at the bottom, (maybe there’s a hack for those too?) or the “help” button (there’s no help either).
- Press the “Cable” button at the top of the remote to put it into Cable Box control mode.
- Press and hold the “Setup” button until the “Cable” button blinks twice.
- Type in the code 994. The “Cable” button will blink twice.
- Press (do not hold) the “Setup” button.
- Type in the code 00173.
- Press whatever button you want to map the 30-second skip command to.
That’s it…you’re done!
*** Update 2010 **** (from comments below re: the new Platinum Remotes)
Ha! Take that, you…you… well, whoever you are that kept us from this feature in the first place…and thank you, to the AVS forum.
The Comcast guy on the phone claimed that they were “pressured” by Motorola to leave that off, but i have a hard time understanding why. It’s obvious why the networks and TV stations don’t like this feature, but why Motorola? Are they owned by (or own) a major media company?
Anyway, I’m happy again, and can now watch 2 hours of TV in an hour and 40 minutes, leaving me extra time to search the web for stuff I think I need…
Other stuff I've written:
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manywaters says:
Just use the page down button. When you’re not in the guide it does the same thing. You’re just adding a second page down button.
Larisa & Ryan says:
thank – you just made our night! we miss dish…but this makes it better.
chris says:
it only works on te remote with the grey ok/select button there are two versions one has a red ok/select button it wont work with this one
Q says:
This code does work with the red ok/select button
Hunter says:
Did not work for me with a red ok/select button…dammit!!!
Stan Buddle says:
Just what I was looking for.
Thanks to many people.
Stan Buddle
Bob says:
Thanks for the 30 second skip instructions!
They worked great with the Motorola DCH3416 DVR.
I selected the “Help” button for the skip command as it was right above the 15 second rewind button.
Bob says:
Well I’ve run into the same problem with the Rewind key as mentioned above. Pressing it rewinds the program to the very beginning.
Has anyone figured out a workaround for this or a way to reset the remote to the original settings?
Bob says:
I followed your directions for the 30 sec. skip but I picked the wrong button. I tried to do the step over again and pressed a different button now the skip works on both buttons. How do I clear it out?
Scott Hendison says:
Comment number 50 here asks the same question, and in the next comment, “Cill” answered like this…
“To remove it from the current button add the DEFAULT function onto the current button. Then the DEFAULT function will write over the current button and return it to DEFAULT.”
Nikki W. says:
You are a genius! Thanks so much. I just did it. And it worked!!!!!!!!
Gary says:
Hi there…just programmed my right cursor/forward key (white) for 30 second skip. Stupid me…I wanted my fast forward key (grey) and hit the wrong one. How do I take the 30 seconds skip off and restore the key to its’ original function?
Thanks!
Scott Hendison says:
Comment number 50 here asks a similar question, and in the next comment, “Bill” answered like this…
“To remove it from the current button add the DEFAULT function onto the current button. Then the DEFAULT function will write over the current button and return it to DEFAULT.”
I’ve not tried it, but others say it works…
Robin says:
Thanks so very much – I scatter rose petals at your feet!
Andy says:
So I have a new cable box and programmed the remote the way I always have and it doesn’t work. I need my 30 second skip!!!
It doesn’t work with newer boxes??
Scott says:
Wow, I wonder if they’ve blocked it somehow?
Allan says:
I had a ‘new’ Comcast installation on Tuesday – Got two dual tuners HD DVRs and a ‘black’ box – Able to get ‘On Demand’ with all three boxes – I was unable to program the remotes for the ‘new’ dual tuners to do a 30 second skip – I was able to program the remote for the ‘black’ box to do a 30 second skip on the ‘new’ dual tuners. Used code ‘00173′, same one everyone writes about. Of course, the ‘black’ box doesn’t have a pause function.
Allan says:
Regarding my post of Nov 26 2009, I have finally be able to program the ‘new’ dual tuner HD DVRs to do a 30 second skip. The trick was to temporarily change the AUX to CABLE, set the 30 second pause, then change AUX back to my usual auxiliary device.
Allan says:
Change AUX to CABLE
• Select AUX
• Hold SETUP (2 flashes)
• type 01376 (2 flashes)
Set 30-second skip
• Select AUX
• Hold SETUP (2 flashes)
• Type 994 (2 flashes)
• Tap SETUP
• Enter EFC 00173
• Tap CABLE
• Tap button to be programmed (2 flashes)
Change AUX back to usual device
bmac says:
What is EFC? My platinum remote does not have letters.
rick matthews says:
I have tried to program the platinum remote for the 30 sec skip what does the EFC before the 00173 mean I tried using all of the instructions but it will not program? please help
Allan says:
Note that this works for the “platinum” remote…
bill says:
Any way to program a 2-minute skip function? Most breaks are at least that long, but rarely only 30 seconds. Seems like 2-minutes would be just right.
Scott says:
No way I know of – I just press the skip 4x
Garry says:
The PLATINUM remotes are the ones to keep. I cant get that GOLD remote to program the 30-s skip. Bastards blocking it on new equipment?
Dave says:
I realize the forum specifies the Motorola box, but Comcast gave me a Cisco RNG200 dvr with a platinum remote. I’ve had no joy programming a commercial skip using the above procedures. Anyone else have any experience/success with this box?
David says:
Works great for me on the PNG200 – Note that the page up and down buttons do the same thing – page up is skip ahead 30 sec, page down is skip back
Rob says:
How do I change from AUX to Cable? What if I’m not using the AUX button?
Julie says:
Allan, thanks so much for posting this info. I just programmed my remote for my HD DVR, and it works perfectly. As far as the EFC part to type in, I just typed in the 00173 and it worked. I, too, just switched from Dish and was really missing that skip feature. Thanks!!!
jen says:
I followed these directions and now when I hit the red “all on” button, it either turns my box off and then on again or it turn my box on and then off again. Any suggestions?
Warren says:
Has anyone got this to work with a new Motorola DCT3416 I hd-dvr box? It seems to be an issue with the box rather than the remote (I can map 00179 just fine to a different button using either the original or Allan’s method).
I just cant get the 30sec skip code to ever work… Any ideas?
This is cox service south orange county california using this remote:
http://www.urcsupport.com/html.php?page_id=334
Thanks
Scott says:
I think he may have meant to just punch the numbers – EFC looks like it means, “Extended Function code” – I’m not sure though, and still have the old ones… no platinum for me.
Scott says:
EFC looks like it means, “Extended Function code” – try skippinjg it altogether, since there are no keys with letters.
Allan says:
Yes, I just entered what I had received from the technician. The two lines of instruction are equivalent.
type 01376 2 flashes = Enter the EFC 01376
I agree with Scott, EFC probably means “Extended Function Code”.