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using JP1.x serial cables on Mac

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 4:39 pm
by unclemiltie
I figured I'd start this as a main topic here so that hopefully those who have been successful in using their JP1.x serial cables with USB-serial adapters can give those of us who have not the right combination.


My intel mac is running Parallels Desktop and Windows Vista (can run XP if I want it to) so I'd be interested in anyone who has a working JP1.x setup in that environment.

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:16 am
by gfb107
I have ported the jp12serial DLL that IR and RMIR uses to Linux. I have tested it on Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty Fawn).

It is my understanding that Intel Macs can run Intel Linux apps natively. Is that true?

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 5:10 am
by unclemiltie
I can run any Intel-based OS natively using Parallels (a Virtual Machine) but I'm not a Linux person so I've never tried. I'd rather do windows than yet another OS since I need windows to drive the JP1 work that I do and installing/learning another OS is a pain.

The underlying OS for MacOS is Mach, which is a Unix derivative. I wonder how much work it would be to port the driver to MacOS? (oh, I fear another learning project coming on!) It would be cool if we could get RMIR to run on MacOS for both the JP1.x and the JP1 interfaces. (yea, a dream?)

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 6:43 am
by gfb107
I thought you could run (some) Linux apps directly on MacOS without using a VM.

I have hopes of adding support for the JP1 interface to RMIR - I've had more than one offer to write the code for me when I ask for details so I can implement it myself. Unfortunately nobody has delivered either the information or the implementation.

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 6:47 am
by The Robman
gfb107 wrote:I have hopes of adding support for the JP1 interface to RMIR - I've had more than one offer to write the code for me when I ask for details so I can implement it myself. Unfortunately nobody has delivered either the information or the implementation.
What info do you need Greg?

(Note, I won't know the answer myself, but I'm hoping that airing the question publicly will draw out someone who does know the answer).

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 7:24 am
by gfb107
Basically I need the code from IR for reading/writing using the parallel port. I've tried looking in the Delphi source, but I couldn't find it.

I don't know why I have so much trouble with it, but I can't seem to read Delphi source code.

Ideally it would be C or C++ code.

I guess I also need the code that activates gwiopm.sys

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 2:17 pm
by The Robman
The original "remoteif" program that Dan Nelsen wrote to communicate with the remote before Mark pauker came up with IR.exe was written in C, so that would probably work for your purpose.

Here's a link: remoteif.c.zip

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:08 pm
by gfb107
Thanks Rob

Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2007 11:49 am
by e34m5
Let me know if I can be of help. I did some work in IR.exe a couple of years ago.

I am very proficient in Delphi.

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 3:36 pm
by unclemiltie
To answer my own question:

I received my USB to serial adapter today from an ebay purchase. (very cheap, see below) and installed it under MacOS X 10.4.10, Parallels Desktop and Windows Vista. All is well with my home-made JP1.x interface!


For those who want to do the same, this is the one that I bought:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=020

It set me back a whole $7.00 including shipping and it works fine. There are NO INSTRUCTIONS with it but the drivers were included and after a bit of playing around I figured it out.

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 3:54 pm
by gfb107
unclemiltie,

Would you try up/downloading using RMIR on your Mac (I assume it has an Intel processor)? It would be really cool if Parallels wasn't needed.

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:56 pm
by gfb107
Rob or e345m,

Can either of you find me the code for the JP1 Serial and/or JP1 USB interface support? Now that I've got JP1.x Serial and JP1 Parallel down, I think adding those others would be fairly straight forward.

A hint

Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 11:08 am
by mlibbey
Just replicated your success with Parallels. The driver installation wasn't obvious to me -- you use the Devices > USB > USB IO Controller Menus to install. Browse the file system to pick the driver you download.

A hint

Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 11:08 am
by mlibbey
Just replicated your success with Parallels. The driver installation wasn't obvious to me -- you use the Devices > USB > USB IO Controller Menus to install. Browse the file system to pick the driver you download.