HOW DO THESE THINGS WORK!

[Dave Sampson]

I am just getting started and so far so good. I am working with an RS 15-2104. I built an interface and have been doing some research. I have JP1 for Beginners and it is very well done. As is everything so far. I loaded up IR.EXE and with JP1 for Beginners help, downloaded its information. Then I changed a device code and uploaded the new settings. WOW! Hats off to you guys, everything works as represented. What I am having a hard time with is the fact that I dont really understand what is going on in the remote. If I did I could better understand the written software and instructions.

How is the remote organized? I envision a table with the information that actually pulses the LED. There would be another table with a value selected by the device code and the keycode that points to the location in the LED table. Could someone help me understand this. How does it learn? I dont think it is reading the input and actually saving the LED freq and pulses etc. Also is there a glossary available? As I read things I get confused by all of the new terms. Again, to all of those involved, thanks for all of the help on a really neat application.

[The Robman]

You're asking some very broad sweeping questions and I for one don't know where to start as far as trying to answer them. What is your goal here? Most of how the remote stores it's information should be transparent to the end user, and he shouldn't need to know it either unless he intends to get into writing some advanced tools, etc.

[Mark Pierson]

How is the remote organized?

Forgetting JP1, the remote has a list of Setup Codes (for numerous devices) and Protocols (invoked by the Setup Codes) contained in its firmware. When you select a given Setup Code, the remote then knows what Protocol to use. The Setup Code also provides the data to the Protocol, which determines how the IR signal is assembled and sent to the device.

And before you ask... NO, we cannot get at the list of built-in Setup Codes or Protocols since they are in the firmware. JP1 only gives us access to the EEPROM storage area.

How does it learn? I dont think it is reading the input and actually saving the LED freq and pulses etc.

When a JP1 remote learns a signal, it essentially just records the IR pulses coming from the other remote. That's a bit over-simplified, but in theory is what's going on. When you press a button that has a learned signal on it, the remote just plays back the signal it learned.

Now, with JP1, you can add our own Setup Codes and Protocols. In addition, you can program the remote easier from the PC than can be done on the remote itself. You can also do many things that cannot be done directly from the remote.

[Dave Sampson]

Thanks guys for the help. I just wanted to better understand what was going on in the remote. Always curious about how things work (broke more good things that way!). Also by knowing what is being done and why it helps to understand what tools are being used and why. Otherwise you have to just memorize a procedure. I have a very poor memory! Thanks Mark for the explanation. It helps me understand what is being discussed when setup codes and protocols are described.

Looking forward to me and the remote having a nice long weekend. Thanks again.

[johnsfine]

Also is there a glossary available?

I built one a a while ago. It seems to have been restructured by someone since then, but the content is still mostly there. From the following page click on "definitions"

http://www.hifi-remote.com/jp1/faq/