Arris VIP 2853

[Fredric QJ B. <e5...@gm...>]

I've got this box from Swedish Bredbandsbolaget (firmware
4.6.1.telenor.33_161206_1056). They only supply the RF version of the
remote but IR works as well (36kHz). Logitech remotes have it in the
list and it works.
I got some codes from an old preprogrammed multi remote, but it was
missing some important keys like "OK" etc. I read it out with an audio
in connected IR detector with a 3V button cell (as it was a 3V
detector) built from plans found on lirc  pages, then built a
transmitter for the COM-port. I got some life but had to build the
most complicated version fed with USB voltage to make it work
reasonably (I recall using just a resistor and an IR-led when changing
region of the DVD-player I've got - but that was a different laptop).
Still a disappointment, not at all like any cheap remote working from
a far distance. Tuning the frequency didn't help much either. Tried
five different IR diodes, some desoldered from other remotes, not much
difference.
Sat for hours 1,5m from the Arris box with the laptop in my knee and
tried every logical combination of codes that could be derived from
the other codes. I got a reaction on some codes but nothing with
functionality except a few ones that were doubles.

I bought an IR remote from a competitor (Telia - there's at least one
more TV company that uses the same box), they use the same box, got
that the other day.
https://www.telia.se/privat/tv/produkter-tillbehor/produkt/fjarrkontroll-vip-1003
It worked pretty well, it's missing EPG, three buttons had changed
places compared to their titles (info, text, menu), the REC button
doesn't work nor the double button CH+ and CH- but I do get LED  flash
on the box for all these non working ones.
I swapped the button caps on "menu"  and "info" , then rewired the
traces between "info" and "text" and got a much correct working
controller apart from REC and CH-buttons. I could now add missing
codes to my programmable controller: OK, play/pause, rew, ffw, mute,
the four color buttons and power. So I've got an almost complete set
apart from the EPG and REC - for €9. EPG can be reached from menu
though.
The RF remote has two types of exit-buttons, one that says exit and
one that's a bent arrow - they work the same as far as I can tell.
There's a search button but the search function is usually mapped to
the yellow button anyway. It also has buttons for their play-service
and film-service but these are also mapped on color buttons and can be
reached through the menu. The last two missing buttons are the skip
forward and backwards buttons, the jump 5min in a recording so you can
skip commercials - the time can be changed in "settings" 1,2,5 or
10min.

Question is if someone has the Logitech multi and can share codes for
my missing buttons or perhaps the black Arris IR remote that looks the
same as the RF version, believe it's called REX IR on Arris's
homepage?
Then I could use WinLirc to program my multi.

I'd love an Android app of lirc where you could take a photo of your
remote and then map functions to where you touch the remote image.
Imagine swipe up and down if remote is zoomed in, swipe left or right
to swap controller. IR interface with battery cell hooked to the audio
(never got the double IR plug to work, too low voltage). I know there
are similar apps, haven't seen one with these functions (yet).

I read out the Telia Motorola VIP 1003 (controller mentioned above)
that is compatible with Telia VIP 2853, it's a lot of the the same
16bit codes as I already figured out but the pre-data is 0xF061
instead of 0x6170, maybe it just looks for the $61 value and then
checks the last 16 bits - or more than one code is working. The other
values in header are very much the same.

I did find Arris REX IR controller on eBay yesterday at reasonable
price, so I bought that, not sure if it will work properly though as
these companies are free to stuff in their own firmware and I suppose
if they invest in a bunch of customized remote controls with their
logo and stuff they want to make sure only that one fully works...
We'll see.

Best Swedish Regards, Fredric.


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* Fairchild Channel F collector extraordinaire *
http://channelf.se - The Gallery of Channel F