These instructions are for the Motorola HD DVR DTC6412 and the Comcast On Demand Remote (Comcast URC-106XXXXX Silver Remote).
This tip was found at Wikibooks and is a great resource about the Motorola DVR. You will find the following tip, as well as a plethora of other information there.
The following technique can be used to map an unused or unneeded button on the “silver” remote to the 30-second skip command. Current versions of the i-Guide software will skip forward 30 seconds into a recording when this command is sent. A good choice is the ‘A / Lock’ button since many users don’t need that function; you can feel both the ’15-second-back’ and ’30-second-skip’ buttons with one finger and move between them without looking. Another option is to reprogram the ’15-second back’ button, since PgDn already provides that functionality.
- 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 (ex: A / Lock). The “Cable” button will blink twice if successful.
Note: This does not work on boxes with the Microsoft TV Foundation Interface (currently Washington State). As of firmware version 12.22 Insight Cable has disabled this feature. Comcast software Version 73.44 disabled this feature, but the latest software, Version 74.53-3321, re-enables it (this has been confirmed on the 3416 w/ 16.20 firmware).
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I can’t tell you how much of a difference this little trick makes in watching recordings on my Comcast DVR. When I first got the system, I was truly bummed that there was no :30 skip button. But now, thanks to this little gem of a tip, I have it. No more guessing as to when to stop the FF! Thanks so much – keep up the the good work!
Thanks for your kind words. I use this all the time as well.
Big win. Thanks very much…..
I love this little trick! I use it all the time now. Much better than the fast forward & guess at the stop point…
I programmed the wrong button for the 30 second skip. (info button) Is there a way to re-program the info button back to it’s intended function?
Here’s a great Wikipedia article for reprogramming the remote, including how to re-map a key back to its original function:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Programming_the_Remote
I only recently got the Comcast DVR and it was driving me crazy that I could back up in short increments but couldn’t skip ahead the same way — until now. Thanks so much for this!
I can’t believe this and I work for the company. This is almost better than DVR itself!
It would be great if there were also a 15-second skip forward button. For baseball, tennis and a few other sports 30 seconds is too much, but 15 would be ideal.
AWESOME!!!!! this rocks – thank you so much!
To Eric – there’s a 15 second back program, which might work for you. Here’s the abbreviated instructions – same process as the process for this original post except for the second code:
Cable
Hold Setup until Cable button blinks twice
Type in 994 (Cable button blinks twice)
Setup
Type in 00179 (15 second back code)
Press button to assign feature
Brilliant
Doesn’t work on 75.59 – a25p2-2.S1.r-8. Anyone know if it can be made to work on this version?
This is perfect for hockey games. 3 presses of the 30 second skip and you are back with 1 second to spare before the game starts again from commercial.
Cam
–Rj Dollen
Ok so I must be really dumb! I did this and it only ffwds 1 sec. What did I do wrong?
THANKS!!!!!!
Great tip. Worked for me on whatever the new Motorola HD-DVR is