From: Kieran A. <ka...@op...> - 2000-03-23 00:25:14
|
Michael, I was glad to read your message but got a depressing chill as I saw the word "eventually". If it provides any impetus to you all at X10, I'd like to say that the one thing I'm enjoying most about X10 items (I'm still a newbie here), is the ability to play with them in my own programming environment. I would think that many of your other customers would say the same thing. Thanks for the quick reply to my message. Please let me know if there is any "official" timetable on a release date. I'll be sure to pass it along to those people I've been bragging to over the past few weeks about how I'm automating my house. Then I'll go ahead and buy one. (Even the wife has some good things to say about it!) Best regards, Kieran Michael Cole wrote: > Kieran, > > > I see that many of your products allow me to use other software to issue > > X10 commands to control appliance modules, wall switches, etc. I can > > also read activities that occur, ie: detect Motion detector signals. > > I'd like to be able to do this with your IR Commander, but don't want to > > buy it if this is not possible. Is there any documentation available > > that provides the information necessary to allow me to send instructions > > to the IR Commander from other software? > > We haven't yet published information for communicating with IR Commander > from other programs. I expect that we will do so eventually. The most recent > release of IR Commander allows and responds to input from X10 RF devices, > including the Hawkeye motion sensor, through an MR26A receiver. > > Regards, > > Michael Cole > X10.com |
From: Daniel L. <dan...@ho...> - 2000-03-31 04:01:06
|
I can't wait to be able do something with mh and this as well. Anybody got any more ideas as to how to crack the code on this? -Dan >From: "Jason Linhart" <ja...@ne...> >Reply-To: mis...@li... >To: <mis...@li...> >Subject: Re: [misterhouse-users] IR Commander >Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 21:27:17 -0600 > >I got mine on Tuesday and have been using it with NT4.0 ServicePack 6a. >It's been working really well. I just had to swap the serial port that the >firecracker was sitting on a couple of times before it was happy. It seems >like during the test phase the codes are being transferred from the pc to >the IR commander. After you apply the changes the little green status bar >counts down. During this tranfer period you cannot send any commands to >the >unit. > >Has anyone taken theirs apart yet to see what the innards consist of? I >can't wait until we can get this thing working with mh. It's not the >perfect solution, but it will do for awhile. All I really want is a box >like this that can learn IR commands and then spit them out when mh tells >it >to. I had hopes that the weeder tech pro version would be available, but >when I called a few months ago, the guy said that he was swamped and it >probably wouldn't be until next year. > >.jason > >----- Original Message ----- >From: Kieran Ames <ka...@op...> >To: Mister House <mis...@li...> >Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2000 7:42 PM >Subject: [misterhouse-users] IR Commander > > > > I just got the IR Commander in the mail this evening. Has anyone > > purchased this for an NT platform? If so, can you get the x10.exe > > software (download from http://x10.com/commander.htm ) to work on NT? > > Thanks, > > Kieran > > > > ________________________________________________________ > > To unsubscribe from this list, go to: >http://sourceforge.net/mail/?group_id=1365 > > > > > > >________________________________________________________ >To unsubscribe from this list, go to: >http://sourceforge.net/mail/?group_id=1365 > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com |
From: Thomas H. <tha...@so...> - 2000-03-31 05:36:37
|
I also have one. Sitting not being used at all. I hope someone figures out how to make it work with MH... At 07:54 PM 3/30/2000 PST, you wrote: >I can't wait to be able do something with mh and this as well. > >Anybody got any more ideas as to how to crack the code on this? > >-Dan > >>From: "Jason Linhart" <ja...@ne...> >>Reply-To: mis...@li... >>To: <mis...@li...> >>Subject: Re: [misterhouse-users] IR Commander >>Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 21:27:17 -0600 >> >>I got mine on Tuesday and have been using it with NT4.0 ServicePack 6a. >>It's been working really well. I just had to swap the serial port that the >>firecracker was sitting on a couple of times before it was happy. It seems >>like during the test phase the codes are being transferred from the pc to >>the IR commander. After you apply the changes the little green status bar >>counts down. During this tranfer period you cannot send any commands to >>the >>unit. >> >>Has anyone taken theirs apart yet to see what the innards consist of? I >>can't wait until we can get this thing working with mh. It's not the >>perfect solution, but it will do for awhile. All I really want is a box >>like this that can learn IR commands and then spit them out when mh tells >>it >>to. I had hopes that the weeder tech pro version would be available, but >>when I called a few months ago, the guy said that he was swamped and it >>probably wouldn't be until next year. >> >>.jason >> >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: Kieran Ames <ka...@op...> >>To: Mister House <mis...@li...> >>Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2000 7:42 PM >>Subject: [misterhouse-users] IR Commander >> >> >> > I just got the IR Commander in the mail this evening. Has anyone >> > purchased this for an NT platform? If so, can you get the x10.exe >> > software (download from http://x10.com/commander.htm ) to work on NT? >> > Thanks, >> > Kieran >> > >> > ________________________________________________________ >> > To unsubscribe from this list, go to: >>http://sourceforge.net/mail/?group_id=1365 >> > >> > >> >> >>________________________________________________________ >>To unsubscribe from this list, go to: >>http://sourceforge.net/mail/?group_id=1365 >> > >______________________________________________________ >Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com > > >________________________________________________________ >To unsubscribe from this list, go to: http://sourceforge.net/mail/?group_id=1365 > |
From: <se...@me...> - 2000-04-01 00:35:55
|
I've got it one step farther.. got one and hooked it up to a couple of powermids so I could control multiple AV setups... now just waiting on mh code. :) If I only worked at the embedded processor company still... there wer a couple of guys there that would have figured it out in no time! ah well. Dave (new to the list, btw... Hi all!) -----Original Message----- From: mis...@li... [mailto:mis...@li...]On Behalf Of Thomas Harding Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2000 11:33 PM To: mis...@li... Subject: Re: [misterhouse-users] IR Commander I also have one. Sitting not being used at all. I hope someone figures out how to make it work with MH... At 07:54 PM 3/30/2000 PST, you wrote: >I can't wait to be able do something with mh and this as well. > >Anybody got any more ideas as to how to crack the code on this? > >-Dan > >>From: "Jason Linhart" <ja...@ne...> >>Reply-To: mis...@li... >>To: <mis...@li...> >>Subject: Re: [misterhouse-users] IR Commander >>Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 21:27:17 -0600 >> >>I got mine on Tuesday and have been using it with NT4.0 ServicePack 6a. >>It's been working really well. I just had to swap the serial port that the >>firecracker was sitting on a couple of times before it was happy. It seems >>like during the test phase the codes are being transferred from the pc to >>the IR commander. After you apply the changes the little green status bar >>counts down. During this tranfer period you cannot send any commands to >>the >>unit. >> >>Has anyone taken theirs apart yet to see what the innards consist of? I >>can't wait until we can get this thing working with mh. It's not the >>perfect solution, but it will do for awhile. All I really want is a box >>like this that can learn IR commands and then spit them out when mh tells >>it >>to. I had hopes that the weeder tech pro version would be available, but >>when I called a few months ago, the guy said that he was swamped and it >>probably wouldn't be until next year. >> >>.jason >> >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: Kieran Ames <ka...@op...> >>To: Mister House <mis...@li...> >>Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2000 7:42 PM >>Subject: [misterhouse-users] IR Commander >> >> >> > I just got the IR Commander in the mail this evening. Has anyone >> > purchased this for an NT platform? If so, can you get the x10.exe >> > software (download from http://x10.com/commander.htm ) to work on NT? >> > Thanks, >> > Kieran >> > >> > ________________________________________________________ >> > To unsubscribe from this list, go to: >>http://sourceforge.net/mail/?group_id=1365 >> > >> > >> >> >>________________________________________________________ >>To unsubscribe from this list, go to: >>http://sourceforge.net/mail/?group_id=1365 >> > >______________________________________________________ >Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com > > >________________________________________________________ >To unsubscribe from this list, go to: http://sourceforge.net/mail/?group_id=1365 > ________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe from this list, go to: http://sourceforge.net/mail/?group_id=1365 |
From: Bruce W. <br...@mi...> - 2000-04-01 20:29:12
|
> I can't wait to be able do something with mh and this as well. > > Anybody got any more ideas as to how to crack the code on this? The only suggestion I can come up with is what Kieran has already done ... contact X10 and plead with them to document the protocol. I really don't understand why all hardware companies don't document their protocols. Much more sales that way. Kiran, did you get any more response from Michael Cole? How did you come up with his email as being the owner of the x10-ir commander code? Do you think more email from the rest of us would do any good? Bruce |
From: Kieran A. <ka...@op...> - 2000-04-01 23:12:20
|
Bruce Winter wrote: > <snip> > > Kieran, did you get any more response from Michael Cole? How did you come up > with his email as being the owner of the x10-ir commander code? Do you > think more email from the rest of us would do any good? > > Bruce Ahhhh... me and IR. I know nothing about it but boy, have I used bandwidth! I originally wrote to X10 saying I was considering purchasing the product, but wanted to know about its software. That's when they mentioned documenting the protocol EVENTUALLY. I wrote back saying that _eventually_ sounded quite negative. They never wrote back. I then purchased IR Commander anyway(duh??), along with ActiveHome and various other things on sale. I haven't even gotten to the ActiveHome installation part yet. IR Commander has been doing nothing for me.(x10.exe... It won't run on my machine.) I called their Tech Support and they indicated that they're not too good with NT. They said they'd have one of their programmers get back to me next week. (I might be able to use that conversation to get them to discussing releasing code. I'd sure purchase more products if I could interact with it on my own terms.) If they have nothing good to say, then I'll probably send the IR Commander back. So, where does that leave me? Well, like I said... lots of bandwidth being used here. (I'm glad I got a cable modem for Christmas!) I've found lots of info but lack the experience to put it to good use. I did find a page that mentioned that if you own an All-In-One remote, you can look inside the battery case. If you see 3 empty solder terminals, they correspond to the Send-Receive-Gnd pins of a Serial Port. (I cracked open an RCA Universal Remote I have, but no indication there of how to tie in.) But, it's interesting reading and is available at http://people.ne.mediaone.net/wasser/OFA/index.html. I put a snippet of that page at the bottom of this mail. I also found some documentation on interfacing a homegrown IR X-ceiver via the parallel port. I don't know, however, if doing that is appropriate to mh development. However, since you asked, I'll just include these pointers so that you and the group can either tell me the wonderful thing I've done or explain to me how simple-minded I am. ;-) I found a page at http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lakes/7156/ir.htm titled "Universal IR Controller for a PC". they have a circuit diagram that seems straightforward enough... (25 years since I did my Electronics in the Navy). At the bottom is a link to their home page (http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lakes/7156/home.htm) which says: You can now download the Universal IR Controller for a PC source code and executable here --- http://www.electronicsaustralia.com.au/files/ir1_1.zip IR1_1.ZIP (~30Kb) from the Electronics Australia web site. This zip file includes an executable and the source code that I think someone who writes in C could translate into Perl. I guess this means that one could point their remote control at this do-hickey and "scrape" the appropriate codes. I would guess that this could then be invoked from mh. (Y/N)?? Also, I looked into the Serial port as a place to go (since we have Serialport.pm). This page http://www.armory.com/~spcecdt/remote/remote.html I found to be interesting, but he writes in awk http://www.armory.com/~spcecdt/remote/control.awk and I don't know that either! That's all I got. My IR Commander is sitting next to my keyboard doing nothing. I'm reading a lot, but don't know how to (or if I can) capitalize on C code, awk and the schematics I've found. Sooooooo, How's everyone else's weekend been?? Kieran <snippet> Connecting your OFA Upgradable to a PC serial port If you open the battery door on your One-For-All remote control and in there you see a part of the circuit board with three empty holes in a nice neat row, you have a remote control that can be run from a computer serial port! This port should be avalable on all "Upgradable" models (including the One Call models): URC-2005 One For All 5 "Upgradable" URC-2093 One For All 3 "One Call 3" URC-2094 One For All 4 "One Call 4" URC-4000 One For All 6 URC-4005 One For All 6 "Upgradable" URC-4050 One For All 6 Hi-Fi "Upgradable" URC-5000 One For All 12 URC-6050 One For All 8 Hi-Fi "Upgradable" URC-6800 One For All "VCR Pro 8" URC-6885 One For All "VCR Pro 4" To take advantage of this capability you will need to buy or build a special cable. The document http://www.John-Wasser.com/OFA/SerialCable.html covers both where you can buy the cable and how you can build it yourself. You will also need to aquire or build software to send the correct signals out the serial port. The document http://www.John-Wasser.com/OFA/SerialSoftware.html covers both where you can buy OFA control software and where to find the data that will allow you to write your own. Controlling X-10 devices Home Automation Systems (http://www.techmall.com/smarthome/) sells the special X-10 infrared base station (HAS-4040 IR X10 Command Console $29.95) you need in order to control X-10 devices from your OFA remote. They also sell several models of the OFA remotes. |
From: Bill B. <bb...@ld...> - 2000-04-02 01:05:47
|
With all the discussion going on about the IR Commander, I decided I might like to buy one. I have scoured X10.com's web site (don't you just love how it's organized :^P ) but I can't find the IR Commander anywhere. Does anyone have the URL of the page where it can be found? Thanks, Bill Bass Greenville, SC |
From: Kieran A. <ka...@op...> - 2000-04-02 01:29:26
|
Try http://www.x10.com/products/ux17a_bj2.htm Good luck! Keep us informed on how it's working for you. Kieran Bill Bass wrote: > With all the discussion going on about the IR Commander, I > decided I might like to buy one. I have scoured X10.com's > web site (don't you just love how it's organized :^P ) but > I can't find the IR Commander anywhere. Does anyone have > the URL of the page where it can be found? > > Thanks, > Bill Bass > Greenville, SC > > ________________________________________________________ > To unsubscribe from this list, go to: http://sourceforge.net/mail/?group_id=1365 |
From: Bob K. <Bkr...@as...> - 2001-01-09 03:40:03
|
I purchased one late December, software still fails. They tried to tell me it was the firecracker, but that works (with it's software) on all my machines. The ensuing struggle to get it to work has hosed my other X10 stuff and I've been spending my evenings trying to get the house back together;) BTW, Anyone want to play with an X10 Mouse Remote? Worked but my PC's config has changed and I don't need it. Bob Kressley -----Original Message----- From: mis...@li... [mailto:mis...@li...]On Behalf Of David R. McCoy Sent: Monday, January 08, 2001 6:39 PM To: mis...@li... Subject: Re: [misterhouse-users] IR Commander Mickey, I received the IR Commander in Oct 2000 and there was a major problem with the software. I was assured that as soon as a fix was released (only 2-3 weeks max is what X10 rep said), that I'd receive an e-mail. I'm still waiting, no e-mail and as of this past weekend (I haven't checked since Fri) no update posted to their website. IR commander is supposed to work with MH but I'm still waiting for X10's fix. I hope this helps. Save your money until they get the problem fixed. David R. McCoy ----- Original Message ----- From: "AO Services" <mi...@ao...> To: <mis...@li...> Sent: Monday, January 08, 2001 6:09 PM Subject: [misterhouse-users] IR Commander > I've been going through the archive and I've become confused :-) > > Does the IR Commander work right with MH? Does it have the ability to learn > codes? Is there still a major problem with loading the software? > > If it does work, I plan on ordering one tonight. > > Mickey > > > ________________________________________________________ > To unsubscribe from this list, go to: http://sourceforge.net/mail/?group_id=1365 > > > ________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe from this list, go to: http://sourceforge.net/mail/?group_id=1365 |
From: Clive F. <cfr...@3v...> - 2001-01-09 11:00:04
|
In the absence of any alternative for infra red output from my PC, I made my own little box from components costing less than $10. ( http://www.ziplabel.com/cir ). (I managed to get it working initially without using a soldering-iron.) I got it working last weekend, and it is now turning on the TV for designated programmes I want to watch (triggered by tv_info.pl) and turning on the radio in my hi-fi each morning to wake me up, using mh. I can use mh to control units which require a single infra red code (eg changing TV channel) very well. But units which require several IR codes are still a problem (eg VCR timed recordings). If the IR code is too short it is not recognised, and if it is too long then the start of the second code is sent before the first code is finished. However I hope that it is only a matter of time before I get to the bottom of this. I thought someone else out there might also be interested in trying this. Clive |
From: Ernie O. <eo...@sh...> - 2001-01-09 13:32:08
|
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 I just wish it didn't use the parallel port, but it's the way to go. My first application will be on school nights to send a mute signal to the TV before reminding the kids loudly tat it's bed time and then unmuting it. http://www.shokk.com ICQ-17933910 Ernie Oporto > -----Original Message----- > From: mis...@li... > [mailto:mis...@li...]On Behalf Of > Clive Freedman > Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2001 6:00 AM > To: 'mis...@li...' > Subject: RE: [misterhouse-users] IR Commander > > > In the absence of any alternative for infra red output from my > PC, I made my > own little box from components costing less than $10. ( > http://www.ziplabel.com/cir ). (I managed to get it working > initially without using a soldering-iron.) -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGPfreeware 6.5.8 for non-commercial use <http://www.pgp.com> iQA/AwUBOlsS3wCUqYWuktDkEQIKewCfejb1EFEFnplQMVd5lkGl03Ux4E0AnRzH bFfciQuVSa0r6EkiYyjSmt0B =Bkyn -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- |
From: Bill B. <bb...@ld...> - 2001-01-09 22:15:37
|
----- Original Message ----- From: "Clive Freedman" <cfr...@3v...> Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2001 5:59 AM > In the absence of any alternative for infra red output from my PC, I made my > own little box from components costing less than $10. ( > http://www.ziplabel.com/cir ). (I managed to get it working initially > without using a soldering-iron.) > <snip> > > I thought someone else out there might also be interested in trying this. > > Clive > I built one on these about three years ago. I had it working on my previous pc using the "Monster Clicker" program. Since jumping into home automation however, I have not had the chance to try getting this device working with mh. I for one would be VERY interested in seeing what can be done with this device. For anyone who doesn't know what we are talking about, this is a DIY IR learning remote. It can be built for less than $10 US. It has no smarts at all. It connects to a parallel port on your PC. It works by using the PC to do all timing functions. Learned signals are stored as binary files, one file for each signal learned. Signals are transmitted by playing back the file. Effective and cheap. The primary advantage is cost. The primary disadvantage is that it is processor intensive. It MUST disable interrupts while transmitting or learning a signal in order to count the duration of the on and off IR pulses. In the Windows world, disabling interrupts is considered taboo. For transmitting an IR signal, this isn't too big of a problem because the interrupts are only stopped for 1-2 seconds. The most noticable problem with this is that the pc's clock is stopped when the interrupts are disabled. For learning a signal, the amount of time that the interrupts are disabled can be 20-30 seconds for each signal you learn, depending on how fast you are at using the software. This can very easily cause various interrupt buffers to overflow, meaning that when the interrupts are re-enabled, some of the interrupts which occured will have been lost. This CAN lead to system instability, but I personally never had that problem from using it. It does mean that while you are busy learning new signals, that your pc is pretty much out of commision for any other function. Fortunately this is not something that you do very often. FWIW, there is one other interesting possibilty for this device... Processors are much faster now than when the original software for this device was written. This means that the newer processors could handle the timing issues without stopping everything else if a proper device driver were written. What would be required is to write a driver that installs into the pc's clock tick routine so that it is executed unconditionally every so many microseconds. If there is anyone out that has experience programming at this level, I would be happy to offer assistance in ironing out specifications on what the code must do. Unfortunately I don't have the expertise to attempt to write such code myself. Bill Bass Greenville, SC |
From: Ernie O. <eo...@sh...> - 2001-01-10 02:16:21
|
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 How do you cope with cable lengths in running this from a computer closet into where it can aim at equipment in an entertainment room, possibly on the other side of the house. Serial connections are best for this, since parallel cable runs have some real limits. Maybe this just isn't the solution, but the DIY part is so appealing. =) Also to avoid everyone having to take machines down to repeatedly learn the same codes all time, what would work great is if there was a library of these codes that could somehow be referenced just the same way that my "8 in 1 Remote" has stored codes. http://www.shokk.com ICQ-17933910 Ernie Oporto > -----Original Message----- > From: mis...@li... > [mailto:mis...@li...]On Behalf Of > Bill Bass > Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2001 5:16 PM > To: mis...@li... > Subject: Re: [misterhouse-users] CIR - Computerized Infrared Remote > (was IR Commander) > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Clive Freedman" <cfr...@3v...> > Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2001 5:59 AM > > > In the absence of any alternative for infra red output from my > PC, I made > my > > own little box from components costing less than $10. ( > > http://www.ziplabel.com/cir ). (I managed to get it working > > initially without using a soldering-iron.) > > > <snip> > > > > I thought someone else out there might also be interested in > trying this. > > > > Clive > > > > I built one on these about three years ago. I had it working on > my previous > pc using the "Monster Clicker" program. Since jumping into home > automation however, I have not had the chance to try getting this > device working with mh. I for one would be VERY interested in > seeing what can be done with this device. > > For anyone who doesn't know what we are talking about, this is a > DIY IR learning remote. It can be built for less than $10 US. It > has > no smarts at > all. It connects to a parallel port on your PC. It works by using > the PC to > do all timing functions. Learned signals are stored as binary > files, one file for each signal learned. Signals are transmitted > by playing back the file. Effective and cheap. The primary > advantage is cost. The primary disadvantage is that it is > processor intensive. It MUST disable > interrupts > while transmitting or learning a signal in order to count the > duration of the > on and off IR pulses. In the Windows world, disabling interrupts > is considered taboo. For transmitting an IR signal, this isn't too > big of a problem because the interrupts are only stopped for 1-2 > seconds. The most noticable problem with this is that the pc's > clock is stopped when the interrupts are disabled. For learning a > signal, the amount > of time that > the interrupts are disabled can be 20-30 seconds for each signal > you learn, depending on how fast you are at using the software. > This can very easily cause various interrupt buffers to overflow, > meaning that when the interrupts are re-enabled, some of the > interrupts which occured will have been lost. This CAN lead to > system instability, but I > personally > never had that problem from using it. It does mean that while > you are busy > learning new signals, that your pc is pretty much out of commision > for any other function. Fortunately this is not something that you > do very often. > > FWIW, there is one other interesting possibilty for this device... > Processors are much faster now than when the original software for > this device was written. This means that the newer processors > could handle the timing issues without stopping everything else if > a proper device driver were written. What would be required is to > write a driver that installs into the pc's clock tick routine so > that it is executed > unconditionally every so many microseconds. If there is anyone out > that has experience programming at this level, I would be happy to > offer assistance in ironing out specifications on what the code > must do. Unfortunately I don't have the expertise to attempt to > write such code myself. > > Bill Bass > Greenville, SC > > > ________________________________________________________ > To unsubscribe from this list, go to: http://sourceforge.net/mail/?group_id=1365 -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGPfreeware 6.5.8 for non-commercial use <http://www.pgp.com> iQA/AwUBOlvF6gCUqYWuktDkEQJnIwCfQwPfEoY21v9XnUOMlkaUDA1UwroAn3JK t9gkuEMXnLSFngtMjDSbqwt7 =ljcK -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- |
From: Bill B. <bb...@ld...> - 2001-01-10 14:05:26
|
----- Original Message ----- From: "Ernie Oporto" <eo...@sh...> Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2001 9:16 PM > > How do you cope with cable lengths in running this from a computer > closet into where it can aim at equipment in an entertainment room, > I have the device close to the pc so the parallel connection is short. I have about 100 feet of cheap speaker wire connected to the IR LED at the "business" end. The only thing on this wire is the LED. I also have about 10 feet of the same wire used to connect the IR photo-transistor (for learning). I suspect that the transistor may be more likely to have problems with long cable runs. > > Also to avoid everyone having to take machines down to repeatedly > learn the same codes all time, what would work great is if there was > a library of these codes that could somehow be referenced just the > same way that my "8 in 1 Remote" has stored codes. > This is a problem. Because the unit has no "smarts", the "timing" is handled in the software. The code that does the recording and playback uses a simple loop to receive and transmit the signal. It works because the receive and transmit loops are identical code except for the "read" or "write" to the device. The read and write both require the same number of processor cycles, so the timing for both loops remains matched. The only information that is recorded when you "learn" a signal, is if the input bit is high or low on each pass. A simple bit stream is all that is recorded. The playback works in reverse fashion, simply setting the output high or low on each pass based on whether the recorded bit is high or low. This only works because the record and playback loop require the same number of cpu cycles to execute. This is also why interrupts MUST be disabled when sending or receiving. If an interrupt occured during this processing, the "number of loops per second" would not be consistant. The downside of this is that the execution timing of the loops varies from one machine to another based on cpu speed. Signals "learned" on one pc would not play back correctly on another pc, except MAYBE it would work if the processors were the same, but it could also depend on the motherboard that is generating the cpu timing cycles. This can be fixed with better software. The existing code was written to run on 386/33 or possibly slower machines. Faster processors in use now could make much better use of this device. An actual "timed" loop could be used instead of a "run as fast as you can" loop. This would make the learned signals processor independant. The crucial point to improved software is making sure that the "record" and "play" loops are executed at exact time intervals without any possibility of missing or delayed loops. Bill Bass |
From: David T. C. <cr...@vo...> - 2001-01-10 13:16:39
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It looked like some code was written specifically for this thing... I'm asuming that there would be custom code required for workin on Linux. Based on the fact that it is learning and storing info to binary files. DTChew -----Original Message----- From: mis...@li... [mailto:mis...@li...]On Behalf Of Bill Bass Sent: 09-Jan-2001 17:16 To: mis...@li... Subject: Re: [misterhouse-users] CIR - Computerized Infrared Remote (was IR Commander) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Clive Freedman" <cfr...@3v...> Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2001 5:59 AM > In the absence of any alternative for infra red output from my PC, I made my > own little box from components costing less than $10. ( > http://www.ziplabel.com/cir ). (I managed to get it working initially > without using a soldering-iron.) > <snip> > > I thought someone else out there might also be interested in trying this. > > Clive > I built one on these about three years ago. I had it working on my previous pc using the "Monster Clicker" program. Since jumping into home automation however, I have not had the chance to try getting this device working with mh. I for one would be VERY interested in seeing what can be done with this device. For anyone who doesn't know what we are talking about, this is a DIY IR learning remote. It can be built for less than $10 US. It has no smarts at all. It connects to a parallel port on your PC. It works by using the PC to do all timing functions. Learned signals are stored as binary files, one file for each signal learned. Signals are transmitted by playing back the file. Effective and cheap. The primary advantage is cost. The primary disadvantage is that it is processor intensive. It MUST disable interrupts while transmitting or learning a signal in order to count the duration of the on and off IR pulses. In the Windows world, disabling interrupts is considered taboo. For transmitting an IR signal, this isn't too big of a problem because the interrupts are only stopped for 1-2 seconds. The most noticable problem with this is that the pc's clock is stopped when the interrupts are disabled. For learning a signal, the amount of time that the interrupts are disabled can be 20-30 seconds for each signal you learn, depending on how fast you are at using the software. This can very easily cause various interrupt buffers to overflow, meaning that when the interrupts are re-enabled, some of the interrupts which occured will have been lost. This CAN lead to system instability, but I personally never had that problem from using it. It does mean that while you are busy learning new signals, that your pc is pretty much out of commision for any other function. Fortunately this is not something that you do very often. FWIW, there is one other interesting possibilty for this device... Processors are much faster now than when the original software for this device was written. This means that the newer processors could handle the timing issues without stopping everything else if a proper device driver were written. What would be required is to write a driver that installs into the pc's clock tick routine so that it is executed unconditionally every so many microseconds. If there is anyone out that has experience programming at this level, I would be happy to offer assistance in ironing out specifications on what the code must do. Unfortunately I don't have the expertise to attempt to write such code myself. Bill Bass Greenville, SC ________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe from this list, go to: http://sourceforge.net/mail/?group_id=1365 |
From: Fenghua Z. <fh...@ya...> - 2001-01-14 04:10:50
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Has anyone tried the mouseremote as an input device for mh? It uses RF (not IR), and it seems it has enough functionality to control mp3 playing, movie viewing, ... on a PC, or has it? Some people said the mouseremote has trouble working with a wheel mouse, is this true? Thanks for any input. Fenghua |
From: Jay A. <mis...@ar...> - 2001-01-14 06:07:20
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In regards to the mouse remote, it seems to work great, at least on most computers except for my Sony VAIO. I think this is because the program/driver that runs it can not be handled on my comp along with everything else. The mouse remote is especially nice if you have remote capability of viewing your comp monitor, and it has nice signal range. It is very handy even if you just want to play around. I got mine with a wireless video sender kit from X10, I don't like the video part but I don't mind the MouseRemote. Jay Archer mis...@ar... ----- Original Message ----- From: "Fenghua Zong" <fh...@ya...> To: <mis...@li...> Sent: Saturday, January 13, 2001 4:47 PM Subject: [misterhouse-users] X10 MouseRemote with mh? > Has anyone tried the mouseremote as an input device for mh? It uses RF > (not IR), and it seems it has enough functionality to control mp3 playing, > movie viewing, ... on a PC, or has it? > > Some people said the mouseremote has trouble working with a wheel mouse, > is this true? > > Thanks for any input. > > Fenghua > > > > ________________________________________________________ > To unsubscribe from this list, go to: http://sourceforge.net/mail/?group_id=1365 > > |
From: Clive F. <cfr...@3v...> - 2001-01-09 13:56:18
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>>> In the absence of any alternative for infra red output from my >>> PC, I made my own little box from components costing less than $10. ( >>> http://www.ziplabel.com/cir ). >I just wish it didn't use the parallel port, but it's the way to go. The supplied software copes with LPT1 and LPT2 (but not LPT3). I have a spare parallel card I am about to install so that I can use LPT2 and not interfere with my printer/scanner.. Clive |