JP1 Remotes

digital_silence · Joined: 22 May 2004 Posts: 252

Hi all,

What I really mean (subject string is too short to fit the whole question there) is the following:

If I want the JP1-compatible remote (say 8811 or 8910) to transmit the infrared command to the device (like set-top box), can I do this REMOTELY, from the PC via JP1 interface?

The reason I need this is that I sometimes need to flick the channels on my set top box when I am not at home (and nobody is). This is all to do with timer-recording programs and being able to switch between them, if the Program Guide is unclear or last-minute changed...

The "operator (me) <-> home" communication part is relatively easy (remote PC control via the Internet or LAN), but what's then? I absolutely don't want to get engaged in designing the electro-mechanical robotic-type button-press machine... (:-)

I would be also reluctant to open the RC and modify it (like, say, soldering the MOSFET switches in parallel with the buttons and then "pressing" the button by shorting this switch) - I consider this to be a last resort, because it's not a neat solution (requires a non-standard modification to the standard equipment).

So, what looks by far the easiest solution to me is to control the JP1-compatible remote from PC via JP1 interface to get it to transmit the required command.

Can this be done? If yes, then - how?

If what I am asking is really a JP1 trivia basics, please excuse my ignorance, and send me back to JP1 school (links?).

Thanks.

The Robman · Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 7:19 am Post subject:

No, not using a standard JP1 remote.

There were UEI remotes that pre-date the JP1 world that could do this.

Have you considered getting a Slingbox?
_________________
Rob
www.hifi-remote.com
Please don't PM me with remote questions, post them in the forums so all the experts can help!

eferz

digital_silence · Joined: 22 May 2004 Posts: 252

Thanks for your replies guys.

Using Slingbox sounds like a bit of an overkill for what I really need... and its price does not necessarily fall into budget category either...

Also, don't forget about the "fun of building your own gadget"... I might even consider building the simple parallel port resistor ladder based D/A converter - I might even have one around, gathering dust in the far corner of my garage - I built it years ago for sound output (yes, a lot of PC games supported that interface too, before Creative finally took over everything...)
Then I may be able to "play" back a recorded IR WAV sequence... and it's all NOT for the sake of saving $$'s, but just for the fun of it... Simple "Buy'n'Play" seems plain boring and non-challenging... to me, anyway...

Or, as I said, sacrificing one RC (not even the JP1, but any cheap remote that supports my settop box) and simulating the button presses with semiconductor switches...

vickyg2003 · Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 8:51 am Post subject:

Well knowing how you like to restore old equipment a LIRC app might appeal to you. I want to do something very similar to this. I have an ancient laptop running Puppy linux, I bought an IR transciever, but I've seen plans on how to make them. I haven't found the source code, but I know there is open source code to do what you want to do.

eferz · Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 10:07 am Post subject:

Barf · Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 11:47 am Post subject:

Let me add my $0.02.

I would recommend either a "smart" USB IR-Transmitter like USB-UIRT, TIRA, Irtrans, Iguana, or CommandIR, or an Ethernet-to-IR box like GlobalCache or IrTrans. The smart USB boxes can be controlled from e.g. LIRC or a program like Eventghost. The Ethernet boxes can be used with for example my software, which eferz linked. (Thanx! Very Happy

)

Problem is of course that they are comparatively expensive. And it may give you a new hobby!

digital_silence · Joined: 22 May 2004 Posts: 252

Thanks everyone.

It looks like LIRC or WINLIRC would be the way to go... building the hardware for those will not be an issue for me.

Need to do a proper homework first, though...
(going to "reading" mode now...)

Thanks again for all your suggestions, boys and girls!

vickyg2003 · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 6:02 pm Post subject:

Barf, I'm interested in pursing LIRC, I've planning on ordering the the Iguana transceiver. However, I know absolutely nothing about Linux, and there are two computer languages (C and Java) that I can't even read, much less write in, so I'm a long, long way away from being able to develop this myself.

I don't know what your schedule is like, but I'd sure like your help in getting started since you already wrote your IR war dialer.

I know next to nothing about Linux, but I have an VERY OLD laptop that is running puppy Linux. The only thing I do on that PC is browse TitanTV.com and IMDB.com while watching TV. TitanTV will allow you to export these cute little text files that will remind you of TV shows you want to watch. It would be really, REALLY cool to be able to use these text files to drive the PC to change the channel on my set top box, so that I won't miss my shows.

There is a lot of need for something like this, would you be interested in developing something like this?

Barf · Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 11:43 am Post subject:

Hi Vicky,

good look with Lirc and Linux. The hardware requirements are very mundane, in particular if using a "smart" device. Be sure to check out the "-l"- (listen) option, that way you get a Lirc server that accepts commands from the network (of course including the local machine). (My previously mentionend software can connect to such a Lirc server).

Almost all settop boxes comes with a timer, and in some cases (may or may not equal Linux based systems :wink ) this can be used to e.g. issue shell commands or Lirc commands. (Here is a (German language) contribution on how I used the timer to turn on a Denon AV-Receiver over telnet from a the Tuxbox software.)

There is a vast number of software packages for things like this. I do not think reinventing the wheel would be a good idea.

vickyg2003 · Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 12:47 pm Post subject:

eferz · Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 1:15 pm Post subject:

vickyg2003 · Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 1:28 pm Post subject:

Barf · Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 3:05 pm Post subject:

vickyg2003 · Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 4:41 pm Post subject: