Microsoft XBox Media Center & X3Ir w/ URC-6131N

dtw_2005 · Post by **dtw_2005** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 1:29 am

OK, I have the 6131n and I'm running the 2k extender, but i don't think that anything to do with my problem. Anyways, I have my remote programmed to my xbox for xbox media center and it works great. Just recently, i bout an X3Ir. All that the X3Ir does is allow me to turn my xbox on and off via the remote. Well, the 6131n functions just like my xbox remote when controlling xbox media center, but not with the x3Ir. (there are 2 separate Ir receivers here). For instance, select turns my xbox on. Well with the original m$ remote, it works great. 25ft is as far as i can test it. However, the 6131n only works up to about 2.5ft if even that far. The remote works just fine at a distance with the other receiver. How could this be?? My only conclusion is that it could be something to do with the frequency being too high or too low, how would i change this? But then again, i really have no clue. Any thoughts?

whompus · Post by **whompus** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 2:59 am

I guess it could be frequency, could also be a slight difference in timing. If so you would most likely have to get the X3Ir programmer and software to program it to the timing or frequency of the button on the 6131n. I am not real sure. I have been keeping an eye on this device myself. Have not used one yet though. Keep us informed on how it goes.

Post by **The Robman** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 8:04 am

I don't know anything about the X3Ir, but if it's sole purpose is to let you power the Xbox on and off (I assume you can't do that otherwise), then maybe you should use X10 for this purpose instead. I don't know what an X3Ir costs, so I don't know how the cost compares, but for X10 you're looking at $20 for the IR543 and about $13 for an appliance module.

whompus · Post by **whompus** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 11:45 am

It also lets you program it to power on the unit with mod chip enabled and use another button to power it on with mod chip disabled.

dtw_2005 · Post by **dtw_2005** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 11:59 am

Thanks for the advice Rob, and i will indeed go that direction if i cant get this to work. And the price range is about the same mid 30 range. So whompus, you might wanna go that direction, ill let you know how it works out.

I have used the programmer to program the codes and i can use the learn mode to capture the codes from the 6131n. The learn mode is kinda crappy though, it returns a different code almost every other time, and with the 6131n, sometimes i gives the exact code as the m$ one, sometime it is almost the same with two or three of the values different, sometimes it is nothing like the original code, and I'm pretty sure if i can't determine the code it just says FFFFFF (that shows up with every button on the 6131n). At a really close distance it almost always yields the same as the m$, but about an inch away, it tends to yield one of the varieties.

I was curious though if i could change some value of a code with the x3Ir programmer that would be the same code, but different frequency? (I'm not even sure i I'm making sense here or not) but for instance in remote master, i select RCA 0522 and i can enter the obc code and it does all the work for me. With the x3Ir i have to enter a 6value code that is a hex string i think. I'm am at work right now and i will post an example as soon as i get home, but if u want to see the codes, you can dl the x3Ir programmer: it lists all the codes on the m$ remote http://dwl.xbox-scene.com/~xbox/xbox-sc ... V1.2.1.rar

But the question is would changing any of the 6 values of the code yield the same code at a higher/lower frequency? Does this even sound like a logical approach or am i wasting time? oh and sorry for such a long post.

dtw_2005 · Post by **dtw_2005** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 2:11 pm

OK, x3Ir has codes for signals such as select=FA52D0 up=AA5965 0=CA50F3 play=8A5A57 etc. Now, would changing any of the values affect the frequency but still result in the same RCA code?

whompus wrote:It also lets you program it to power on the unit with mod chip enabled and use another button to power it on with mod chip disabled.

I missed this one. I had forgotten about this. So using the x10 wouldn't be the best alternative to this problem as the x3Ir allows 2 different codes to emulate how long the power button is being pressed. This allows the xbox 2 be turned on with the modchip on one way and on with the modchip off the other way.

whompus · Post by **whompus** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 2:59 pm

You may find some info on the fourms at these sites.

http://www.teamxecuter.com

http://www.craxtion.com

dtw_2005 · Post by **dtw_2005** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 1:41 am

I just wanted to make a quick post to say that i haven't gotten anything to work just yet, and the I'll be on a mission trip to Nicaragua for the next week, so if anyone posts any ideas, i won't be able to respond for a week or so. Thanks though

dtw_2005 · Post by **dtw_2005** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:24 pm

Ok, i used the 6131n to teach a learning remote(not jp1) a signal, and the x3ir picked it up all the way across the room (25ft) ... but the 6131n only works up to a few feet. So i might have 2 just get a different jp1 remote, but i'd like 2 get this one to work if possible. Does anyone know how to increase the signal. Im not too concerned if there is a possibility of damaging the remote, because Hey, a dead remote isn't much worse than a remote that works a shorter distance than my arm

Post by **The Robman** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 7:17 pm

If you are using a protocol upgrade, you can tweek the duty cycle to send a stronger signals, but it will drain the batteries quicker. Now, I'm not expecting you to know how to do that, so if you tell me what code or upgrade you are using to work the X3Ir, I can advise you on what to do next. Actually, does it matter what code you use?

dtw_2005 · Post by **dtw_2005** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 10:10 pm

The Robman wrote:If you are using a protocol upgrade, you can tweek the duty cycle to send a stronger signals, but it will drain the batteries quicker. Now, I'm not expecting you to know how to do that, so if you tell me what code or upgrade you are using to work the X3Ir, I can advise you on what to do next. Actually, does it matter what code you use?

Thats was the conclusion i had come to after weeding through the forums, but im still confused on how to do it

well it doesn't really matter what code i use, but i'd like to use the rca 0522 code because that is what controls the other xbox receiver.

Thanks Rob, i would appreciate it

Post by **The Robman** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 10:39 pm

Oke Dokee, DVD/0522 it is then.

First up, here's an exact replica of the DVD/0522 code, along with the protocol code. Load this into your remote and verify that it works. [Notice that I've changed the name of the code to DVD/1522, so change the name of the code assigned to the device button also].

Upgrade Code 0 = 25 F2 (DVD/1522) RCA DVD (KM v8.36)
AF 0C 3E FE FC F5 5F 20 22 2A 15 19 1D 1C 1F 17
47 3C 08 27 59 58 56 57 1A F4 78 53 20 22 B0
End

Upgrade Protocol 0 = 00 AF (S3C8+) RCA (KM v8.36)
28 60 11 8B 12 95 45 04 08 00 FA 03 D4 00 FA 01
E0 0F 8C 07 D0 07 BC 8D 01 46
End

The code above has a duty cycle of 30%. To change the duty cycle, we need to tweek the first two bytes of the protocol code. So, once you've verified that the above code works just like the built in DVD/0522 code, try replacing the protocol with one of the following...

Upgrade protocol 0 = 00 AF (S3C8+) 40% duty cycle
36 52 11 8B 12 95 45 04 08 00 FA 03 D4 00 FA 01
E0 0F 8C 07 D0 07 BC 8D 01 46
End

Upgrade protocol 0 = 00 AF (S3C8+) 50% duty cycle (PB v3.11)
44 44 11 8B 12 95 45 04 08 00 FA 03 D4 00 FA 01
E0 0F 8C 07 D0 07 BC 8D 01 46
End

Upgrade protocol 0 = 00 AF (S3C8+) 60% duty cycle (PB v3.11)
52 36 11 8B 12 95 45 04 08 00 FA 03 D4 00 FA 01
E0 0F 8C 07 D0 07 BC 8D 01 46
End

Let us know if it makes any difference.

dtw_2005 · Post by **dtw_2005** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 7:55 pm

Robman, What you recommended worked

I tried each one and the distance increased significantly each time ... 60% works just great!!! Thank you very much!!! .... I know i said it didn't make a big deal if it could damage the remote, but is this likely to damage the remote?

Oh, and there is another slight problem that i think you would know how to fix easy. OK, the x3Ir works perfectly, but the other receiver (the Microsoft dongle one) is a little unresponsive. I used the old Ir file vs the new one (with your fix) and the results were pretty much the same. I'm not sure if i can explain this just right, but w/ the original m$ remote, if i quick tap a button, the dongle picks it up; but if i use the 6131n, i have i to hold the button for an extra bit of time for the dongle to pick it up (distance doesn't seem to matter a lot). If i do a quick tap on the 6131n, the led on the remote blinks, but is hardly ever picked up by the dongle. I was thinking if the repeat rate were increase or the duration of the signal was increased, it would fix this problem ... What are your thoughts Rob, any advice? Thank you again for your help

Post by **The Robman** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 8:24 pm

One possibility is that the M$ remote is forcing the signal to repeat a certain number of times regardless of how short the button press was. This is something we can replicate by tweeking the protocol also. What code are we talking about for this one?

dtw_2005 · Post by **dtw_2005** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 8:44 pm

its the same code the rca 0522. The x3ir only turns the xbox on and off ... the dongle allows remote control operations ... so i'm using the same code to control both ... but tweaking the duty cycle didn't seem to affect the dongle reciever it just seems like it picks and chooses when to accept the code no matter the distance. The longer i hold a button, the more likely it is to respond.