UIRT problems?

[kari]

Hello, and welcome.

1. In my experience Ruud's programmer *always* finishes with an error. In most cases, however, it does manage to finish the programming, despite the message. I would recommend Danijel's programmer. It works just as well with any firmware.

2. Are you by any chance using a 10MHz crystal? If so, it might explain both why the 10MHz firmware mostly works (in fact, it's the only explanation I can imagine for that) and, possibly, why you are haveing problems with it (you are overclocking it by more than a factor of 2). If this is the case, I would recommend replacing the crystal with a 4MHz one, and then trying the 4MHz firmware.

3. You have to have a plugin appropriate to the firmware, Danijel's plugin will only work with his firmware. (Actually, it *will* work, but in UIR only mode). I thought there was also a plugin awailable for Ruud's firmware, but I'm not certain. You might also wish to have a look at Jon Rhees' firmware and plugin http://www.geocities.com/jon_rhees/UIRT/.

As for replacing one of the IR LED's with a standard red LED, I'm not so sure but that it might impact transmitting power (over and above the loss of one of the two emitters). Standard red LED's typically need voltage of about 2V and max current about 30mA. IR LED's often need voltage of 1.3 .. 1.5V and max current of 100mA. Add to that, that Ruud's circuit has limited transmitting power to begin with, and I would at least not expect any great transmitting distance. If you would like some ideas about boosting the transmitting power, you will find circuits on Jon's page (see link above), my modification of Ruud's circuit at http://www.home.mastersites.com/kari/UirtX.gif, and the new UIRT2 on Luc Degrande's site http://users.skynet.be/sky50985/. Note that all those circuits require external power supply, though.

Hope this is of some help.

-Kári.

[Zac]

Hello all..
I'm new to this forum - glad to have joined.
I'm sorry if this post is too long.

I built UIRT about a month ago using Ruud's schematic. It works great but I have problems which I am sure can be rectified by asking help from the folks in this forum.

The UIRT that I built has PIC16F84A-04/P and connected to ASUS M/B.
The problems that I have are the following:

1. I can not use Ruud's PIC programmer software. It just keeps saying
error writing. I've tried the new and old version with no success. Any
update of this PIC programmer that might work?

2. Then, I tried Danijel programmer. His programmer can work fine
programming Ruud's U.HEX firmware file and Danijel's own 10MHZ
firmwares. His 04MHz firmwares for some reason do not work with my
PIC although my PIC is 04 MHZ...the flashing/programming process
goes OK (there is no error) but the UIRT does not respond to comport
watcher or girder using 04MHz firmwares...

Anybody have this problem and solution to this.

3. In girder, correct me if I am wrong, using U.HEX the unit only functions
as UIR NOT UIRT since there is no driver for sending IR codes - I am
using girder 3.1. I've tried Danijel girder driver with U.HEX firmware
when I enable the device I got I message saying "NO OG" or
something like it. :) ..

Using Danijel 10Mhz.hex firmware and his driver I got no error message but the IR emitter does not work. Went to plugin settings and sent IR codes using SONY tv remote to IR modules and pressed send button on the plugin but the volume on TV did not change (I used the volume up button on remote).

Also using Danijel driver and serial port watcher I've noticed that when I send an IR code the serial port watcher software either shows a couple of lines (strings) - the second string is not the same as the first...:-) or it receives codes one at the time but not the same - i'd say there is 50% error.

Is it because I am not using the right parts for IR emitters?

I do not think that causes the problem though. I would say any 860-950nm IR emitter should work.

I am using a regular red LED in series IR emitter SEP8703 which is the same as Radio Shack high output IR (blue tinted LED). Just for testing I've put red LED to see if it works and when it is already stable i'll change it to another SEP8703. I am sure that this IR emitter should work since this is what I use with my home made remote extender.

It looks like that it's working actually since the red LED blinks every time the IR receiver module receives a pulse from my SONY TV remote and every time I press the send button on the plugin but it does not seem to send "right codes" to tv. Also I used a camcoder and verified that the IR blinks every time i send IR codes.

I am looking forward to making my UIRT to work with girder so that I can
control a SONY Hi-8 camera for doing video capturing with ATI MMC 7.6 tv software. It'd be nice to press one button and girder will start ATI MMC capturing and at the same time sending "playback" IR to Hi-8 camcoder. I guess I should have bought a Digital-8 intead of (mini) DV. ..:-)

Anybody have any ideas to make my UIRT work?
Thanks,

Zac.

[Zac]

Thanks for the reply Kari.

I am using 10mhz. So you may be right that this is why only 10mhz of Danijel's firmwares work. I did however try Jon Rhees 4 and 10 mhz firmwares and neither worked but I was not surprised because his design is a bit different from Ruud's.

I agree with you that power is a bit concern on the original design since it relies on the serial port to drive the circuit. I tested and verified however, that the serial ports of Asus board have enough power to drive the the circuit including the led's.
As well when I tested the IR emitter was placed just one inch from TV's IR receiver module.

Currently I use a red led @ 2.0v and 20ma and an IR led @ 1.7 and 50ma.
They both blink normally every time I send something to them. Had to use a camcoder to view the IR led... oh yeah talking about this I read on some article on the net the other day... there is a person who says that he can see IR with his bare eyes.... wow..... that's cool...... :)

Btw, what Girder 3.1 UIRT driver can I use with Ruud's firmware?

I'll pick the 4mhz and see the difference.
When everything works ok.. I'll add an amplifying transistor on the output and use 7805 to feed the IC and IR receiver module.

Anybody ever tried which works best with this schematic...a ceramic resonator or x-tal.?

Thanks,

Zac.