Trying to program my RadioShack 15-134

[urc6131]

I have been using a URC-6131 for 20 years. I program it with a parallel cable and I have my Windows XP machine for it. The software is IR.exe, I think v7.15. The remote is failing and I need to replace it.

I have a RS 15-134. Unfortunate for me, I found out it is using JP1.3. So I bought an FTDI board (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DXT54KHT). The board seem legit as Windows will install driver automatically for it. Not for Windows XP but I downloaded driver directly from ftdichip and it clears the Device Manager. No more device with question mark.

But still, my IR.exe can't seem to detect it. Checking Driver status shows that it "cannot find delcom device driver". What am I missing? Am I using the right tool for 15-134? Should I keep batteries inside? (The instruction isn't very clear. I did not use batteries and also only connected 4 wires (RTS, TXD, RXD and GND) according to the image)

(Frankly, there are a lot of first time for me. First time using JP1.3. First time using the USB FTDI cable. First time programming RS 15-134. Potentially, I need to switch to a different OS / Software too. It is a little overwhelming.)

[The Robman]

I don't think any of us remember how to fine tune IR.exe as it's been decades since it was the main JP1 programming tool. It has been replaced by a new program called RMIR. I don't think we'd started using FTDI cables when IR.exe was still around, so we probably never updated it to handle them.

What is wrong with your old URC-6131? Perhaps that can be fixed? If the problem is that the buttons are becoming less responsive, that means the conductive coating has worn out, but that can be fixed. If you can open up the remote, inside you'll find that there's a rubber button sheet that sits on the PCB, on the underside of that sheet you will see lots of black dots, which are the underside of the buttons. If you were to get some conductive paint, commonly sold as guitar shielding paint, you could use it to paint those black dots and restore the buttons on your URC-6131.

Here's some listings from Amazon and eBay:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FY3CQL4X
https://www.ebay.com/itm/176741079897

[urc6131]

Yes, many buttons on my URC-6131 is unresponsive. But over the years, it has gone through a lot of abuses and eventually it cracked. At the time, my fix was to JB-Welt the case back together. I don't think I can open it without cracking the case again. I think it is time for it to go.

I am going to try again tonight with RemoteMaster (RMIR). I plan on installing JRE 8 on Windows 10. Can someone tell me if I should program the RS 15-134 with its battery or not?

[The Robman]

FTDI cables do require batteries in the remote.

[The Robman]

You can get a replacement URC-6131 on eBay for $10. It won't have the 6-pin installed, so you would have to install that.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/145479496694

[HamburgerHelper1]

I think the URC-6131 needs the EEPROM installed as well as the pins

https://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2590

[The Robman]

I think the URC-6131 needs the EEPROM installed as well as the pins

https://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2590

You are correct, but IIRC it already has the other parts that needed to be added to remotes like the URC-6011. I don't know if the OP modified his 6131 himself, or if he bought it ready-modified. I used to have a little sideline where I bought store-returned 6131s and added the parts.

[urc6131]

I shipped mine to One-4-All and they upgraded for me for free.

[The Robman]

I shipped mine to One-4-All and they upgraded for me for free.

That was nice of them. What they actually did was, when they ordered the remotes, they ordered a small quantity with 1k EEPROM chips installed, so that when people sent their remotes in for an upgrade, they threw the customers remote away and replaced it with one of those.

[urc6131]

I have installed JRE 8 and successfully ran setup.vbs and ran RemoteMaster.jar

But then, as I try to Download from remote. I am getting "No Remotes Found" error. I have batteries in my 15-134. As I plug in the wires (RTS, TXD, RXD and GND). I can see the LED come up on the FTDI board, even before I plug in the USB. I tried starting RemoteMaster after I plug in the USB, same result. I can see the a green LED (in additon to red LED) blink during the Download. Here is the rmaster.err. Any ideas?

RMIR v3.2.11
...
LibraryLoader: Attempting to load 'DecodeIR' from 'C:\RemoteMaster\Windows-x86\DecodeIR.dll'...
LibraryLoader: Loaded 'DecodeIR' successfully from 'C:\RemoteMaster\Windows-x86\DecodeIR.dll'
Using IrpTransmogrifier as decoder of learned signals
Starting normal download
Interface Name = JP1.X Serial
Port Name = COM3
Testing interface: JP1.X Serial
Interface matched. Trying to open remote
Port Name = NULL
Failed to open

(Update: I am suspecting my cable is not using genuine FTDI chip)