RF Capable JP1 remotes

Hichhiker · Post by **Hichhiker** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 8:32 pm

Is there such an animal? I heard some pronto versions support RF, but are there any JP1 remotes?

Just to be clear, I am talking about using RF control, not RF extension - as in controlling X10, RF controlled ceiling fans, etc.

Just curious.

-HH

mr_d_p_gumby · Post by **mr_d_p_gumby** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 10:23 pm

Hichhiker wrote:Is there such an animal?

No, sorry.

Hichhiker wrote:I heard some pronto versions support RF

I'd believe you heard wrong.

Hichhiker wrote:Just to be clear, I am talking about using RF control, not RF extension - as in controlling X10, RF controlled ceiling fans, etc.

Making a truly "universal" RF remote is difficult because there are numerous engineering and bureaucratic problems with allowing it to transmit on any old frequency. I don't think any manufacturer has deemed it worthwhile to make one for such a limited market.

IR remotes, on the other hand, all transmit on the same "frequency" - infrared, and the FCC could care less if you interfere with other IR remotes.

Hichhiker · Post by **Hichhiker** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 8:24 am

Makes sense, though these guys claim to have pronto codes for controlling some RF devices. http://www.embed-x.com/cgp.htm

It seems to me that you would not need it to send out on any old frequency, just on frequencies allocated for this sort of thing by FCC. I am sure there is a very limited set.

-HH

Mark Pierson · Post by **Mark Pierson** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 8:41 am

The problem is that the FCC tightly controls the RF spectrum. One thing they really frown upon are low-powered multiple frequency transmitters, which is exactly what we're talking about here.

Hichhiker · Post by **Hichhiker** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 9:22 am

Mark Pierson wrote:The problem is that the FCC tightly controls the RF spectrum. One thing they really frown upon are low-powered multiple frequency transmitters, which is exactly what we're talking about here.

Ok, let me ask a slightly different question then. Is there a JP1 remote that has an RF connection to a PC? Single protocol/single frequency in this case and I know non JP1 versions of this exist (ATI All-in-wonder, X10, etc.) I relalize I can probably use RF extender with an IR eye on a pc, but I would rather avoid extra to IR/from IR conversion. Do any RF extender remotes support direct connect to PC?

Post by **The Robman** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 11:48 am

Hichhiker wrote:Do any RF extender remotes support direct connect to PC?

No.

mr_d_p_gumby · Post by **mr_d_p_gumby** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 12:31 pm

Hichhiker wrote:Is there a JP1 remote that has an RF connection to a PC? Single protocol/single frequency in this case and I know non JP1 versions of this exist (ATI All-in-wonder, X10, etc.) I relalize I can probably use RF extender with an IR eye on a pc, but I would rather avoid extra to IR/from IR conversion. Do any RF extender remotes support direct connect to PC?

I'm sure you could tap into the IR emitter signal from the extender box and connect it directly to the PC through an optocoupler, thereby bypassing the to/from IR conversion. But this would be strictly limited to one RF frequency, and the recovered data would still contain the IR carrier.

Hichhiker wrote:...these guys claim to have pronto codes for controlling some RF devices. http://www.embed-x.com/cgp.htm

Yes, but this is hardly a "universal" solution, as you have to add a single-frequency RF transmitter to your PC or to your Pronto. If you are willing to go to these extremes, then I'm sure you could also find a way to add the same RF transmitter to a JP1 remote.

crust · Post by **crust** » Fri Oct 22, 2004 9:38 am

I've got my 2117 RF extender connected to a PC running WinLIRC, though I am sure it would work with girder too. I used the external LED output and a small circuit to drive a micro. Software on the micro performs the demodulation of the carrier and outputs a stream to the PC. Works like a champ, though it doesn't look pretty yet.

maxse · Post by **maxse** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 1:03 am

crust this sounds interesting. Can u explain this further for a nnob please. Are u suggesting using a cable to connect to the "exteder" output on the RF reciever for the 2117 and connecting it to the pc or something like that?

I bought like 4 2117s when they were on sale at Radio Shack. And I already bought on USB-UIRT for $50 and I need a couple more computers to control. Now i really dont want to spend $50 every time! Can u help me out with this, or prhaps exaplain what u r doing a bit further. Thankis.

classicsat · Post by **classicsat** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 3:35 pm

What crust is apparently doing is feeding one USB-UIRT with the blaster LED from a receiver directly coupled to the UIRT.

To make ome UIRT work more than one PC is beyond the scope of this forum.
Suffice to say it would involve some networking work to receive the Data from one UIRT, broadcast it over your network to the other PCs, and have your PCs respont to commensd overt the network,rather than a UIRT device.

crust · Post by **crust** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 12:28 pm

classicsat wrote:What crust is apparently doing is feeding one USB-UIRT with the blaster LED from a receiver directly coupled to the UIRT.

No, that is not what I am doing. I built a circuit that includes a micro, some analog interface circuit and a few misc parts that takes the electrical output from the extender box via the 2.5mm output on the box. I feed that into some interface circuit and then into a micro. I've written the software that demodulates the signal (since it is basically a 38kHz carrier) and outputs the proper signal through the serial port to the PC. There is no optical coupling, it is entirely electrical.

I will put some pictures / description on my site in a few days, just been too busy.

crust · Post by **crust** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 9:06 am

crust wrote:I will put some pictures / description on my site in a few days, just been too busy.

I put a text description and some picture of the circuit I built up on
my site. I don't have the schematics up yet (i never made any).

Tommy Tyler · Post by **Tommy Tyler** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 6:48 pm

Looks like you used a microcomputer to perform the function of a simple one-shot retriggerable multivibrator.

crust · Post by **crust** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 9:59 pm

Tommy Tyler wrote:Looks like you used a microcomputer to perform the function of a simple one-shot retriggerable multivibrator.

To duplicate the output of the one of the off-the-shelf parts, the signal needs to also be inverted, so i would have to use a 123A or similar. Mainly because the output voltage of the box is very low. I didn't have any in my bench stock. Secondly, the software performs the noise
rejection by ignoring signals that are obviously not real. It outputs a serial stream representing the widths of the pulses rather than requiring the PC to poll the port like most of the simple receivers around. The first version was simpler.

JP1 Remotes

RF Capable JP1 remotes

RF Capable JP1 remotes

Re: RF Capable JP1 remotes