[mythtv-users] Best IR usb Tx & Rx

[Matthew Bodkin]

Hi Michelle -

Michelle Dupuis wrote:
> For the sake of others looking for an IR txrx I thought I'd ask a 
> couple of questions on the list...I looked at your site and a few 
> things aren't clear:
I'll make sure it gets clarified.
>  
> 1.  Does the commandir offload all processing (DSP) from the CPU - in 
> other words is there any CPU load during IR Rx or Tx
First, we originally designed it for LIRC because people have problems 
with 1) controlling 56kHz set-top boxes with serial blasters which stall 
the CPU ("uninterruptable" kernel code to get signal timings in range) 
and 2) controlling more than 1 device, especially multiple identical 
set-top boxes which otherwise means digging into codesets, or long 
setups of multiple LIRC instances. 

Yes it offloads.  LIRC tells it what needs to be transmitted on what 
modulated frequency and goes back to sleep.  Similarly, it tells LIRC 
what's been received (and demodulated in hardware) for event processing. 
The on-board microcontroller takes care of the signal processing.

It's a little more $ since it's Linux-only and naturally the volume is 
less.  We also wrote and maintain the driver unlike most other LIRC 
hardware, and created LIRC Config for customizing remotes and 
configuration with popular Linux programs - 
http://lircconfig.commandir.com/

> 2.  Is the IR Rx only for learning remote codes, or can it be used for 
> listening for IR commands to be send to Lirc?
It can both "listen" to any remote (38kHz) and irrecord.  Basically as 
long as the lircd.conf doesn't have the "frequency 56000" line (which is 
mostly set-top box remotes) you can use it with LIRC with CommandIR.
>  
> Thanks,
> Michelle
No problem, hope that helps.

Matthew

>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* Matthew J. Bodkin [mailto:matthew.bodkin at innovationone.ca]
> *Sent:* Friday, July 13, 2007 4:23 PM
> *To:* Michelle Dupuis
> *Subject:* Re: [mythtv-users] Best IR usb Tx & Rx
>
> Hi Michelle,
>
>   Well I won't "spam" the list, but I'd claim we make the best - 
> www.commandir.com <http://www.commandir.com> - USB Tx + Rx, and we're 
> in Toronto.  Cheers,
>
> Matthew
>
> On Fri, 2007-07-13 at 13:27 -0400, Michelle Dupuis wrote:
>> With my myth box pretty stable, I'm now looking at adding remote 
>> control capability.  Although I have a great Slink-e IR TxRx on my 
>> windows server with Girder, there seems to be no way to tie this to 
>> my Myth system. 
>> So, does anyone have a recommendation for the best usb based IR 
>> transmitted and receiver?  Ideally something generic (so it can 
>> handle a wide range of remote codes and frequencies).. 
>> I'm handy with electronics so I've thought of building a simple 
>> one...but if I had to buy a USB interface chip and connector I'd 
>> probably match the price of some Chinese made IR TxRx.... 
>> Thanks 
>> -MD-