Help: Error Received from UIRT!

[Francois]

I just received a preassembled UIRT2 kit from Luc, and am experiencing difficulties with the receive function:

When I try to learn a command via girder, about a second after the 'Learn IR Code' dialog box appears, I get a dialog box which says 'Error Received from UIRT!' with only an 'Ok' button. :(

Once I exit the dialog box, Girder receives IR signals with the following code: FF0102FF0102 repeateadly, until I turn it off.

I was able to test the send function (Using pronto codes), and this works very well. I also did check my circuit (I haven't soldered anything yet as I wanted a breadboard proof of concept first), and everything seems fine (GND,+5V, and about 360mV at the output of the IR receiver -though this may not mean anything as I only have a multimeter). The UIRT tester seems to be working well (version 01 04 FB), though the GetGPIOcaps function sometimes gives me a checksum error.

Am I doing something wrong, or what should I try/do next to make this device work in Girder?

Thanks

francois

Note: the receiver has the ferrite and the condensor trick to clean up the signal, so that may eliminate some possible sources of trouble

[ramick]

How long is your cable to the IR receiver and what type of cable are you using?

When you transmit IR to the receiver, does the Learn box progress bar show anything?

Have you tried the raw mode or the test button?

Is the IR receiver wired correctly (have to ask)?

[Francois]

Ramick,

I'm using a double shielded 4 conductor cable from RadioShack which is about 8 feet long. I have tried the raw mode and the test button, and get the same error message as with the default learning options.

I presume that the error message prevents me from getting the progress bar (it takes about one second for the message to appear after pushing the learn button).

As to how the IR receiver is wired, I checked and double checked but can't find any error (I have the ferrite in series on the left pin, with a +5V reading; the center pin of the IR detector is connected to Ground, and there's a 0.1 mu F capacitor between these two pins. The right pin is directly connected to the UIRT...

I am wondering if my problem is with the hardware (defective components/wireing) or with the software... clearly there is some communication between Girder and the UIRT which may indicate that the software is fine, or at least part of it. I have replaced the capacitor with another one with no improvement (Is there a way to source just the receiver, to make sure that the one I have is not causing my problems?)

Thanks for your help

Francois

[Luc]

I think you made an error in connecting the receiver.
The left pin is the output and the right pin is the 5V supply. Have a look at my website for connection diagram or at Don's (Windtrader) where there is a picture of the receiver with ferrite and cap.

You probably destroyed your receiver :cry:

[Francois]

I can't spell left and right correctly! My e-mail description was wrong, and I believe my receiver is wired correctly... but I have a hunch that the receiver HW is not working properly

I ordered a spare Vishay receiver just to be on the safe side, and will report if I have some further problem

:) *** IT DID SOLVE MY PROBLEM, now everything works as intended ***



Thanks for your help with this!

Francois

[SGS]

I recieved my fully aswsembled UIRT2B a few weeks ago, and finally had the chance to hook it all up. Everything seems to initialoze OK, as I can add-in the UIRT plug in without issue.

But when I try to learn an IR code, I get the same "error recieved from UIRT" message immediately, that others have reported here. The progress bar never starts moving, and Girder's yeloow light is blinking feverishly with the FF0102 code.

What should I be trying?

-S

[Luc]

As far as I know: all the problems with these symptoms have been caused by wrong connection of the receiver, eventually causing some damage.
Or like in the messages above by a bad receiver, question remains why it went bad.

[SGS]

From my further reading, it does sound like these problems are due to issues with the receiver circuit.

It looks like I set everything up correctly, but I suppose it's conceivable I burned the thing out with my "expert" soldering job.

So, going with the theory that the receiver component is no longer going to work - where's the best place for me to get another one?

Thanks Luc !!

[Luc]

I don't know of a good supplier on "the other side of the Atlantic"... maybe Francois can tell where he got his one.

[Caffiend]

I ordered my receivers from Newark. I don't think Jameco had them. Of course I spent about $30 on wasted parts trying to get my UIRT2b to work until I finally wised up and bought the USB one. :roll:

-will

[maxtrash]

I'm now having the exact same problem. It used to work for me but then I started pulling the cable the receiver was on to 'clean' some things up. Not very smart since it didn't work from then on.

I've replaced the receiver with a new one, but unfortunately it still doesn't work. Any suggestions on what to try next?

Thanks!

[maxtrash]

well, I got an old large IR-receiver wich must be soldered differently. I probably fried this one as well, so who knows not everything is lost :-(

I'll get a new one and try again with a short cable.

[maxtrash]

After soldering the new receiver (correctly this time) it worked!

Phew!