Build a JP1.x/JP2 cable using an FTDI Serial Converter Cable

Tommy Tyler · Post by **Tommy Tyler** » Sun Apr 08, 2012 5:23 pm

There's bad news and good news. First the bad news. I am totally disgusted with the Nokia Flash Interface concept and regret ever publishing instructions for building it. I have tried every way possible to correspond with Chinese merchants and manufacturers to try and verify a reliable source for the unique version of CA-42 that works. I've sent illustrated e-mails to the stores in eBay. I've sent illustrated e-mails to members of the Made-in-China organization requesting quantity quotes, trying to emulate as best I can the broken English they use in their correspondence. I've posted in the DealExtreme forum that promises help. Not one reply in the past month. For a culture that's always on the lookout for a way to make a buck, you'ld think we were at war with them. So I'm posting this final note recommending against trying to build this interface unless you just love to gamble.

Now the good news. I've published an article HERE that shows an easier way to build a better interface. It costs a little more than Nokia, but less than the price I had to charge at my store. It's built like a battleship and uses the FTDI chip and drivers we've learned to love. And it takes even less technical skill to build than the Nokia. You don't even need a soldering iron. Ah, but best of all, it puts an end to waiting for weeks and weeks for parts to arrive by mail from those fly-by-night merchants in Hong Kong or China.

Updated 6/25/2012 for an even easier assembly.

Ellen · Post by **Ellen** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 6:13 pm

I need yet another cable like I need a hole in the head. But on Tuesday I was placing an order at Digi-Key for components for another project and decided to include the FTDI cable, header and pins from Tommy's excellent guide. Parts arrived today.

I will say that it is ridiculously easy to put this together. I can only imagine someone having trouble if they have difficulty seeing very small items. If that's the case, a small magnifying glass will help to make sure you have a good crimp.

Installed the driver from FTDI.

Cable worked without problem in IR803.

As always, thank you Tommy for providing this info and your contributions to the jp1 community over the years. Very much appreciated.

Post by **The Robman** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 9:29 am

Hey Ellen, don't be such a stranger

Ellen · Post by **Ellen** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 4:03 pm

Hey Rob. I still stop in a couple of times a week

Post by **The Robman** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 7:31 pm

So you're a lurker these days, eh?

Ellen · Post by **Ellen** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 5:00 pm

I could never hold a candle to you and the other experts when it comes to answering questions and helping new users.

And I haven't added any new equipment to my system in a long time so no need to build new upgrades or ask questions for myself.

I mostly stop in just to keep up with what's going on. Watch out for new jp1-capable remotes (because we can never have enough remotes, right?) And obviously I like to keep track of new interfaces

tranx · Post by **tranx** » Sun May 13, 2012 10:01 am

Hi.

Having just decided to have a go, I want to try to make a USB JP1.2 cable for URC-7780 which is on order.

Having used the info kindly provided here, I am awaiting a reply to an email enquiry to info@audon.co.uk, but has anyone already found a source for these parts in Uk, please?

Regards
Chris

underquark · Post by **underquark** » Sun May 13, 2012 5:00 pm

FTDI have their Global Headquarters just down the road from me in Glasgow but ironically I can't just walk in and buy parts. They do, however, have a Web Shop and sometimes Amazon.co.uk lists stuff that is undoubtedly either by them or built to the same spec's..

tranx · Post by **tranx** » Mon May 14, 2012 1:31 am

Thanks underquark. I went to the website you linked and found the very TTL-232R-3VR (3.3V) which Tommy Tyler mentions.

The URC-7780 remote, which I want to connect to laptop, carries 4xAAA 1.5V batteries but is the 3.3V connection recommended in order to match the link to USB?

Tommy Tyler · Post by **Tommy Tyler** » Mon May 14, 2012 7:15 am

The 3.3V version is recommended because 6V remotes have a voltage regulator to drop the voltage to 3.3V for the flash processor, and that's what you're interfacing to.

tranx · Post by **tranx** » Mon May 14, 2012 8:06 am

Thanks Tommy. Think we may find the URC-7780 screen too small to tell what device is currently set. Problem is that the range of JP1s in uk is not so extensive and we need at least 8 devices. If there were more buttons per device we might manage with 6 devices though.

Post by **mathdon** » Mon May 14, 2012 3:21 pm

Hi, Tranx. I think that the URC-7780, and the very similar URC-7781, are among the best UEI remotes available. Although I have a collection of remotes for testing and development, the one I use every day is a URC-7781. You might find my extender for it to be useful. You can set that up so that Magic+digit acts as a device selector, so that you can select any device without being able to see the screen.

tranx · Post by **tranx** » Tue May 15, 2012 5:23 am

Hi Graham.
Nice to hear you think the 7780/1 are good UEI remotes. In fact between my last post and your reply I had already found the instructions and readme for your Extender A1!

That Magic+digit device selection sounds great, and ToadTog use most interesting, but I still have to get the lead and programs sorted out and get to try and understand the various terms and principles involved.

I thought the memory shortage leading e.g. to restriction to about 50 learned instructions, might prove a nuisance which I hope will be circumvented with JP1 progs and Extender, and that device selector would be especially useful.
Regards
Chris

pH7_jp1 · Post by **pH7_jp1** » Tue May 15, 2012 5:41 am

...restriction to about 50 learned instructions, might prove a nuisance which I hope will be circumvented with JP1 progs and Extender,...

You almost never need to keep the "learn" memory occupied when you use JP1, with or without the extender. Usually you can find your device(s) in the library here and not even need to learn at all. In rare cases you may need to learn buttons, but with JP1 you can then can create an upgrade and free up the storage again.

tranx · Post by **tranx** » Tue May 15, 2012 9:39 am

pH7_jp1 wrote:You almost never need to keep the "learn" memory occupied when you use JP1, with or without the extender. Usually you can find your device(s) in the library here and not even need to learn at all. In rare cases you may need to learn buttons, but with JP1 you can then can create an upgrade and free up the storage again.

Thanks, I shall look for an upgrade library and see if my devices are already there.

Installed Remote Master etc. which seems ok so far, and ordered a ready-made JP1.2/3 USB cable from diygadget.com who post internationally for $5 and have a $22.99 offer on, but haven't got the URC-7780s yet to try out what is on offer at the website.

Regards
Chris

JP1 Remotes

Build a JP1.x/JP2 cable using an FTDI Serial Converter Cable

Build a JP1.x/JP2 cable using an FTDI Serial Converter Cable

Source in uk please?