Comcast Remote Codes For Motorola Cable Box Dch70

Setting Up Your Comcast Remote for a Motorola DCH70 Cable Box

You picked up a Comcast universal remote and it isn't controlling the cable box out of the box. That is normal. The DCH70 is a legacy Motorola model that predates most of the modern setup wizards. The codes you need depend on whether you are using the older black Comcast remote or one of the silver remotes they handed out in the 2010s. I have done this probably two dozen times across different houses, and the frustrating part is always the same: the code list in the manual is incomplete for the DCH70 specifically. The most reliable codes for the Motorola DCH70 series under Comcast are 003, 004, 011, 026, 035, and 178. Code 003 works on the majority of DCH70 units I have seen. If power and mute work but volume does not, try 004 next. I ran into a specific edge case once where a DCH70Q that was flashed to an updated firmware version simply would not respond to any of the standard Motorola codes. The workaround was to unplug the box, hold the power button on the side of the unit itself for ten seconds while it was unplugged, plug it back in, and then reprogram the remote with code 003. It cleared a stuck IR receiver state. That happened more often than I would like to admit, especially on boxes that had been sitting in standby for months.

Comcast Remote Codes For Motorola Cable Box Dch70 Step by Step

Here is how the programming actually goes on the older Comcast remotes. Method one, the manual code entry method: Turn the cable box on manually. Press and hold the SETUP button on the remote until the LED blinks twice. Enter the four-digit code, such as 003. Point the remote at the box and press POWER. If the box turns off, press SETUP once more to lock it in. If nothing happens, enter the next code from the list. This process usually takes about three to five minutes per attempt, sometimes longer if you are fumbling in the dark.

Method two, the auto-search method: If none of the listed codes work, you can use the auto-search feature. Press and hold SETUP until the LED blinks twice. Enter 9-9-1. The remote will cycle through codes automatically. When the box turns off, press STOP or NUMERIC ENTER within two seconds to lock in that code. Then press SETUP once to confirm. This method is slower and takes roughly four to seven minutes depending on how many codes the remote tests before it hits the right one. I should be direct about what this setup cannot do. Even after a successful code pairing, features like Guide, On Demand navigation, and quick-channel recall often do not function through the Comcast remote with a DCH70. You will still need the original Motorola remote for those functions or a third-party learning remote. Volume and power are generally reliable once paired, but anything beyond that is a bonus. Also, if your Comcast remote has a dedicated Cable button, make sure it is selected before entering codes. Selecting TV instead will waste your time.

There is also a hardware limitation worth noting. The DCH70 uses IR, not RF. That means the remote must have a clear line of sight to the front panel of the box. If the box is tucked behind a TV or inside an entertainment center, the connection will be flaky regardless of which code you use. A simple IR extender cable costs about eight dollars and solves that problem permanently. If you are dealing with a DCH70Q or DCH708 variant, the codes are mostly the same but 178 tends to work better on the newer variants. I have found that testing code 003 first and moving down the list in order saves time compared to jumping around randomly. Most of the time you will find a working code within the first three attempts.