Need help with UIRT2 and IR codes

[Kerry Wilkinson]

I've got my UIRT2 installed, and everything looks to be okay. I can learn and send IR codes from my Sony CD disk changer. Unfortunately my Denon AVR-3200 is a different story. I hit 'Learn' on the UIRT panel, and then press the remote button on my Denon, but it only fires once and I get about 5 bars across the learning progress bar. If I hold the remote button down it remains at 5 bars. If I hit it repeatedly it shows 5 bars, and sometimes for a second it pops up to 10 bars then drops back to 5. This means that the 'Okay' button on this dialog never gets enabled. IR debug mode does not work either.

I really would appreciate any help here, as the Denon was the main component that needs to be controlled by the UIRT2.

Thanks,
Kerry

[Kerry Wilkinson]

Bump.

I realize that this problem may be a tad too specific for many to be able to help me. But if anyone has a Denon reciever and could do me a favor and run a quick test and try to learn the remote codes I would appreciate it (on/off would be a great one :) ). This may help steer me in the right direction.

If there is a better way to get the Denon IR transmission codes into Girder I'd like to hear about it. I had success on one code by using a ccf with my Denon receiver in it and using a decompiler tool to create a text file of the ccf. I then copied the text of the IR code into Girder and it worked. Unfortunately it looked like most were from the internal database of the Pronto (if I understand this correctly), and the codes aren't actually shown.

Thanks for your time.

Kerry

[RobScreene]

Hi Kerry,

I have exactly the same problem with a Denon AVC-A10SE av amp (like the US AVR4800 without the radio tuner).

I have tried it with both an internal and external pre-assembled board from Luc.

Luc provided the filter and capacitor extra components in the receiver/plug packet he included. I was using a 10m 6-core shielded cable, but no learning worked until I added these right next to the IR receiver at the end of the 10m cable. I guess my WOL power supply noise was effecting the IR receiver.

Once done the receiving was much more reliable and learning my Pioneer CLD-925 Laserdisc and IR lighting control worked, but it still won't learn the Denon.

I think I may get the Pronto simulation/editor software and download a Pronto file to get the pronto codes for Denon amps, as this may allow me to use the Import button on the learn screen of the Girder 3.2 UIRT driver.

The other option is perhaps to understand the Raw IR debug screen a little more as I can't make head-nor-tail of it.

regards,
Rob.

[Kerry Wilkinson]

Thanks for the response Rob. It sounds like you and I are having the same difficulty. I think that it is more of an issue with the UIRT2 plugin. I don't know why the learn function would ever reset the progress bar to zero upon receiving the next IR signal. Unless the signal codes didn't match the first one, but I can't imagine that is the case here. I wouldn't mind taking a look at the source to see what it is expecting in this case.
We should keep each other posted if we make any progress. Thanks again.


Kerry

[scm]

Has anyone found a solution for this problem with the Denon codes? I am having the same problem. Even if I import an IR code directly from ProntoEdit, I cannot get the Denon to respond. I know the UIRT2 is transmitting something, because the Pronto receives a signal when I put it in training mode.

[scm]

Quick update on my situation:

I have found that I can't learn any codes, Denon or otherwise, through the learn function in the send module. (I can learn codes into Girder to active commands without a problem.) However, when I hit the debug IR button, it reads the IR from the remote just fine. If I use the import button in the learn module and import a code from ProntoEdit, I seem to be transmitting something, but not the correct code. What I mean is that I don't get a response from the desired equipment, but if I use the transmitter to "train" a Pronto button, Pronto does receive a signal and says it has learned. However, there is no response from the Pronto button either. I conclude that the transmitter is transmitting, but not the correct code.

Any suggestons?

[RobScreene]

Not learning any codes...

I followed the ultimate UIRT2 guide, FAQ link this described how to add an inductor and capacitor right next to the IR receiver to filter out noise from the WOL power supply.

Before adding this, I couldn't learn anything either.

cheers,
Rob.

[scm]

Rob,

Are you saying that once you added the ferrite core and capacitor you could learn codes or are you saying that even with them you still can't? I have both soldered at the receiver and still cannot train Girder for anything. I have a construction team starting next Friday on my theater room, and I will be putting the IR wires behind walls. I've got to get a solution quick, or I'm bailing and getting a traditional repeater.

Stephen

[Robin]

scm,

Not trying to sound too unhelpful ... but why not just sink conduit into the wall ? Put string in the conduit and you can pull a wire through later if you wanted ... that'll give you some lee-way on solving this problem (and allow future upgrades).

I had my original UIRT set up in a PC upstairs for a while ... got round the repeater bit (and over-length wires) by mounting the IR receiver very close to the ceiling ... cable length was then about 2.5m

Never got on too well with repeaters anyway !

[RobScreene]

Sorry, my opening line was meant to read "with regards to not learning any codes"!

Yes, they helped. Once the two were added next to the receiver (ferite in series with power supply, capacitor from power to gnd) then I was able to learn and send codes to my Pioneer 925 laserdisc and IR controlled light switch.

Conduit sounds very sensible, or perhaps just conduit around batons and ends! The string sounds like a great idea. I think most enthusiasts will always need to run more cables later! Centre bi-wire+front pairs bi-wire+ir receiver (serial ir UIRT cable)+ ir sender+behind-screen lighting feed+ drop-down screen power and trigger + IR repeater, subwoofer feed and power x2, etc, etc, etc!

Have you used shielded cable? I used 10m of 6-core shielded from Maplins.co.uk (about £10 delivered, as we have a newbourn girl and I didn't want to take an unnescessary trip into town).

So, the IR receiver 3 wires and sender pair run for 10m within the same shielded sleeve (6th red wire unused).

I'm still learning to tune the anti-repeat of Girder 3.2 with the UIRT driver's wait before sending and send repeat settings. I am getting some reasonable, if not totally reliable success.

regards,
Rob.

[scm]

Rob,

Congrats on the new baby girl. We are expecting our first in January and we found out tuesday that we are also having a girl!! This is also why I'm trying to get all of this theater stuff complete now. Pretty soon I think my spare cash will be headed other directions!! I got my wife to go along with this renovation because I convinced her the baby would be safer if I had all the wires hidden behind walls instead of out where she could get into them. It worked!!

Robin,

I think I will try the conduit idea for future up-grade potential. I can get to all of the area I need to run the wires except for about 10 feet, so the conduit wouldn't have to be that long. Thanks for the idea.

Right now, I'm concidering just going with a Xantech repeater system and using UIRT2 as an IRman. Seams like a waste, but if I can't get UIRT2 to transmit, what am I to do? The one thing I have noticed looking at the Xantech sight, however, is that it would use the same three stranded, shielded wire that UIRT2 uses, so I could run that wire no matter which system I end up using, right?