UIRT

[Antonio Perides]

Hello, I just finished my UIRT today using hardware from Ruud and modifications (22pf caps), programmer and firmware from Danijel Pticar.

They worked in fine in my office computer, but in my two home computer
they work more or less: they are recognized by test programs (both from Ruud and from Danijel), Girder, uice, etc. but no pressed button are recognized .

Are there some serial deviance im my home computers because the recognition functions very well in the office???

My config:
@ work: Pentium III 800 (Via mobo)
@ home: Celeron 450 (PCChips mobo) & Pentium 166 (I think it's is a generic VX mobo)

If someone can give me some help I'll be very grateful.
Thanks in advance, sorry for the bad English and regards from Brasil,

Mauro

[windtrader]

Mauro.

Did you learn a IR code from a remote to a Girder command and then when you pressed the remote button and it did not execute the command?

If you go to the event string for the command, the IR code will show in the window on the right. When you press the remote button, it should display the same IR code down at the bottom of the window. If this is not happening, you have not learned to code correctly or assigned it to the command properly.

Try this - Press a few of the remote buttons making sure you have the remote pointed directly at the UIRT receiver. If the IR code does not flash at the bottom of the page, the UIRT is not receving the code or getting it to Girder.

If you want Girder to send an IR command you need the UIRT plugin. Make sure you have this installed and set properly.

Don

[Antonio Perides]

Helo Don

If the IR code does not flash at the bottom of the page, the UIRT is not receving the code or getting it to Girder.


This is the bahavior in my home computer, device works (don´t fail to initialize) but don´t receive the code.

In my office computer same device and same remote works great.

Thanks,
Mauro

[windtrader]

Mauro,

It sounds like the IR receiver on the UIRT2 is not working properly. One reason it works on your work PC but not the home PC is different levels of noise inside the PC. Your home PC may be noiser than the one at work due to different quality of PC, how much noise is on the powerline, and other electrical devices that generate noise.

Another problem is the location of the IR receiver. If it is near florescent lights, it may cause interferene. Try to locate it away from other electrical sources and lights.

Try this: add a new command, go to plugins, select UIRT2 driver, go to settings, click on the learn button and watch the status bar. It should not get any activity or very little (2-4 bars/minute) . If the bar moves across as you watch you are seeing IR noise that does not allow a clean IR code to get to the UIRT2.

If this is the case, what usually works is using good shielded cable between the UIRT2 and the IR receiver and adding the ferrite core and the cap to the receiver. You can find pictures of this in the Guide.

[Antonio Perides]

It sounds like the IR receiver on the UIRT2 is not working properly.


I´m using UIRT, I´ll start to do UIRT2 next weekend :-)


Your home PC may be noiser than the one at work due to different quality of PC, how much noise is on the powerline, and other electrical devices that generate noise.


There are a simple way to feed UIRT with another power supply? Where I put +5v and GND?


Thanks,
Mauro

[windtrader]

Getting +5V is covered here

http://www.fukushima.us/uirt2/UIRT2B-External%20Connections.htm

If you are going to do a UIRT2 I recommend you have complete read of the Guide.

Don

[Antonio Perides]

Don, thank for the support.

Getting +5V is covered here
http://www.fukushima.us/uirt2/UIRT2B-External%20Connections.htm
If you are going to do a UIRT2 I recommend you have complete read of the Guide.


I'm really moving to UIRT2 this weekend but for me is a personal question make UIRT1 works. I think that I don't have enough power to drive UIRT. I measurred +3.4v between Vc and GND pins of IR Receiver (and I think they needs at least 5v)

Voltage beteween PIN 5 and 4 of PIC are about +4.1v. There are something that I can change (resistor, diode) to get more power???

Again, thanks and sorry borring you with my troubles.
Mauro

[Promixis]

Also - consider using a serial cable with only tx,rx and ground. I counldn't get my uirt to work on one computer without these changes.

[Antonio Perides]

Hello mjcumming

I'm intended to do it, but where I put +5v and GND from external power supply?

Regards,
Mauro

[tkflight]

I too have the same problem with my UIRT (NOT UIRT2). The thing that stood out for me from your posts is the voltage levels. They are identical to mine. Actually, when I'm not in "listen" mode, the voltages between VCC, and circuit GND are a respectable 4.9V.

I suspect that we are drawing too much power from the RS-232 ports of our computers, and the voltage is dropping. I am trying to determine if it is a problem with my RS-232 ports not supplying enough, or perhaps the draw on one of the components I used is too high.

I haven't yet figured out how to piggyback an external PS to this. I'll post back if I ever get to the root cause of this.

I too am going to a UIRT2, but really want to understand what is happening here.

Regards,
Pat

[Antonio Perides]

Actually, when I'm not in "listen" mode, the voltages between VCC, and circuit GND are a respectable 4.9V.

Same occurrs to me. Vcc are about 5v and when I start girder they droop to 3v

I am trying to determine if it is a problem with my RS-232 ports not supplying enough, or perhaps the draw on one of the components I used is too high.

I´m my case I´ve checked value of components several times, and they are all ok. So I think there´s some wrong with RS-232.
I´ve finished UIRT2 last week and they works fine but I really want UIRT working.

I haven't yet figured out how to piggyback an external PS to this. I'll post back if I ever get to the root cause of this.

Do you tried use only TX, RX and GND from RS-232? I´ll make some tests with this next saturday

I too am going to a UIRT2, but really want to understand what is happening here.
So do I.

Regards,
Mauro

[tkflight]

Well, life is a process of discovery... :)

I managed to get some codes out of my UIRT. Here's what I did: I disconnected DTR, and moved RS-232 GND to circuit GND. Connected an adjustable voltage wall-wart to GND, and Vcc with a 100Ohm current limiting resistor (this is important... Why will be evident in a minute.)

After this change, I managed to get the UIRT with Ruud's firmware to transmit codes from my remotes. The problem was that Girder was not able to talk to the UIRT, unless I used the UIR plugin, which doesn't allow me to transmit. So... I reprogrammed the PIC with the 1.6 Rhees firmware. To do this, I had to put the circuit back(DTR/GND/RTS), so I could get the 13V from RTS for programming.

Now here's the problem... When I swapped everything back around, I forgot to use the current-limiting resistor, and plugged the PS right into Vcc. This turned out to be very bad... Once I went into 'listen' mode, I got a string of garbage codes from the UIRT. When I went to pick the thing up, I burnt my finger on the 47uF cap... "This is not right," thought I.

After disconnecting everything, and surveying the damage, my preliminary diagnosis is that I've burnt out my IR receiver. Incidentally, I'm using a PNA4612M00YB, which as near as I can tell is identical to a PNA4602M, with a fancy metal case.

I'm now wondering, as I tend to my burnt finger, if the reason I couldn't get my circuit to work off RS-232 power is because there's no internal limit to the amount of current the PNA46x2M will pull... Perhaps the addition of a 1.5K current-limiting resistor on the Vcc leg of the receiver would prevent the circuit from starving the RS-232 power supply? The specs indicate that it draws 3mA max. I'm not sure why it sucked more than that... I'm not a guru with these things, so perhaps someone more experienced has some ideas?

[Antonio Perides]

if the reason I couldn't get my circuit to work off RS-232 power is because there's no internal limit to the amount of current the PNA46x2M will pull... Perhaps the addition of a 1.5K current-limiting resistor on the Vcc leg of the receiver would prevent the circuit from starving the RS-232 power supply? The specs indicate that it draws 3mA max. I'm not sure why it sucked more than that... I'm not a guru with these things, so perhaps someone more experienced has some ideas?

Hello, I think you are in the correct way. I don´t know nothing about eletronics but, when I use a IR receiver TSOP1736 the circuit dosen´t responds anything, I think they need much more current than rs232 can supply but when I use another IR receiver (I don´t know correct type) the UIRT responds OK but no IR codes are received. V measures between Vcc and GND pins of IR receiver are a little low than spected, about +3.9v(less than +3v in when using TSOP1736)

Above behavior using an old pentium 166 vxpro and a cheap PIII pcchips motherboard. Using an PIII vith Via chipset thinks works well with both IR Receiver, and voltages measureds between Vcc and GND pins of receiver are about +5.1v

Well I moved to UIRT2 and things works perfect and they do much more than I spected.

[tkflight]

Well,

I toasted something for sure. I don't know what though, and I haven't the time to look into it right now. Odds are pretty good I cooked the cap, and I might have burnt out the PIC.

Oh well... Life is a learning experience.