Best non zidoo box for 3D frame packed playback?

With the new updates to the Z9X 8K pro, I am more convinced than ever that I made the right move upgrading from my beloved OG Z9X. With the exception of 3D, the new box does everything I need with the all of the finesse that ZIDOO brings to the table.
Currently, I maintain my old Z9X purely for 3D movies...which I'd be more than happy to continue doing if it weren't for one thing. The OG Z9X uses the same code base as the 8K with respect to how my HARMONY remote interacts with my setup. I have a whole separate activity set up for 3D on the remote, but it involves a clunky step where I have to remove a piece of tape on the IR sensor of one box and place it on the other and then reverse the whole process afterwards...First world problems, I know...but, I know that it has stopped me from considering a 3D title or 2 when I've been at crossroads in deciding what to watch on a given night.

I LOVE HT5... so much so that I'm willing to forgo whatever benefits FEL playback may or may not offer on an UGOOS box..I can't go back to KODI...I WON"T...LOL....but it occurs to me that for a box dedicated solely to 3D playback, I don't really need all the niceties that HT5 affords...When I want to watch a 3D movie, all I need is a box that will open up to a posterwall (doesn't need to be as nice as HT5) with only my 3D MOVIES. I would like it to play at the same quality level as my OG Z9X..ie full frame packed support..

Hate to ask on a ZIDOO forum...first choice would be to stay with the OG Z9X...but the workaround is not acceptable if there is a box that offers the same video playback quality...Also, there is the family factor..I like to have my setup accessible to all members of the family. The all ZIDDO setup is not it.

 

You could leave the tape on the old Z9X and use phone Zidoo Controller app for this one. The app uses dedicated IP's to control multiple Zidoo's.

 

Thanks...but I've just only recently got certain members of the family to start using the HT with the idiot proof (they're NOT idiots) Harmony setup...I really want them to simply hit the 3D activity button I've setup on the remote and have it just work...

 

I have an idea that I've not fully processed yet as I've just got in from a night out...

A FLIRC.

As far as I know, all the Zidoo's remote buttons are reflected in keyboard commands for when a USB/Bluetooth keyboard is used.

So you add a FLIRC to the Z9X Pro, program it to the keyboard commands that correspond to the Zidoo remote with another remote that you don't use that can be programmed into the Harmony (don't know about you but I have a whole box full of old remotes). Because the Z9X Pro doesn't have USB ports on the front, you may need to bring the FLIRC around to the front with a short USB extension cable, but they're extremely responsive, so probably not.

Then cover the IR sensor of the Pro permanently and Bob's your uncle and Fanny's your aunt.

Flirc USB - Flirc

 

OK...I just happen to have an old FLIRC lying around!

When I'm more sober, I'm going to reread your post and see if it makes sense...

Thanks!

 

We'll catch up on this tomorrow - but I think it should work just fine! We just need to figure out what the remote codes are on a keyboard. I don't think I have any documentation on that so it'll be a case of plugging a keyboard in and stabbing at it

 

Ok, I just tried this and it works great - I mapped a Dune remote to the FLIRC

There are a couple of caveats.

The most important one is that you can't turn the box on and off from the FLIRC because when the box is off, the USB port and hence the FLIRC are powered down.

The other, which isn't a problem, is that not all keys on the remote are mapped to the keyboard, although there are other functions that are mapped that are not on the remote. As it stands you have all the buttons you need to control the device, including BD menus if you need that (popup menu/top menu etc).

Below are the mappings I've found and I've asked the devs if I've missed any:

Play/Pause - Enter
Stop - x
Up - Up
Down - Down
Left - Left
Right - Right
OK - Enter
Return - Esc
Home - Home
PgUp - PgUp
PgDn - PgDn
Subtitle - L
Audio - T
Top Menu - F6
Popup Menu - F12
1 - 1
2 - 2
3 - 3
4 - 4
5 - 5
6 - 6
7 - 7
8 - 8
9 - 9
0 - 0
Subtitle - F1
Aspect - F2
Bluetooth - F3
Mouse On - F4
Mouse Off - F5
Play Mode - F7
HT5 - F8
Music 8 - F9
Image Viewer - F10
Media Center - F11
Screenshot - PrtScn
Play Time - U
Download Sub - D
Reboot - CtlAltDel

 

Turning on and off aren't an issue as I've always just kept my boxes on all the time...
So if I'm getting you correctly, I can program my 3D activity on my harmony to use a DUNE media player..

 

Er.. kind of..

I just used a Dune remote to control the Zidoo using the FLIRC because it's funny.

Equally you could use a Sony TV remote, a Ferguson Videostar remote (points will be given to those who know what the hell I'm taking about there... ), or a Microsoft Mediacenter remote!

Point is, yes, using a FLIRC with the Pro, you can continue to use the 8K for normal human content and the Pro for 3D content with the Harmony remote with no clashes.

 

Thinking about this...Won't my 8K still respond to the "keyboard" commands from the Harmony Hub?

 

Interesting! Just this past weekend, I grabbed an extra Z9X from my guest bedroom, that just wasn't ever being used.... soley for the purpose of it being my 3D only player ... I installed it on the back bottom of my equipment rack... and facing out toward the rear. I then programmed my Harmony with this new 3D Zidoo player.... and most importantly, I set its IR commands to only use the Hub's IR output number 1 port and connected one of my many extra Harmony IR emitters and ran it down to it. Works great!

 

Wait..what?

Please explain how you set the IR commands for this activity to only come out of one of the ports.

 

Ah - I didn't know this was coming through a hub. I thought it was just a universal remote.

Although IR control is my last resort (I use RS232 and IP control wherever possible - RS232 on the Zidoo since it has discrete on/off), that's exactly how Crestron works - addressable IR ports and low powered IR emitters on the front of equipment (In fact in the past I've put the emitters inside the equipment next to the IR receiver to keep things neat). Their emitters are even supplied with a stick on shroud to stop errant signals squirting everywhere.

 

Harmony Elite Hub... it has 3 options.. the main Hub shoots out the IR commands as you would expect... which are used for all my normal equipment in my rack. It also has 2 optional IR emitter connections on the back that you can route to components that are not easily "seeable" from the main hub. In the programming you can set which of those ports to use... just like telling the Elite not to use the Hub for my Projector and just use my remote IR.

Steps to Configure IR Port 1

1. Open the Harmony App on your phone or tablet.
2. Tap the Menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner.
3. Select Harmony Setup.
4. Choose Add/Edit Devices & Activities.
5. Select Remote & Hub (or Devices, depending on app version), then tap IR Assignments.
6. Select the specific device you want to isolate to Port 1.
7. Change the output setting from All (default) or Hub to Port 1 (or Blaster 1).
8. Complete the menu flow and Sync your changes to the hub and remote. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

 

We finally had a subpar weather day here in Toronto (still 23 degrees, but rained all morning) and I got a chance to implement this in my HT....

A GREAT BIG THANKS to DEANO86! My setup is now exactly as I want it!!!!!!

for now...