View source for IR - Extending an IR receiver

This article describes how to extend IR reception using [[do-it-yourself|do-it-yourself (DIY)]] parts, a [[Hauppauge PVR-350|Hauppauge PVR-350]] (or similar) TV tuner with IR remote control, retail products and commercial equipment. 
 
{{tip box|An [[RF Remote]] can be used instead of an IR remote removing the need to extend an [[IR receiver]] in the first place (eg., the [[ATI Remote Wonder]])}}
 
 
[[Image:hauppauge1.jpg|450px|right|Early Hauppauge remote with receiver]]
 
==Applications for extending an IR receiver==
Moving a MythTV (or any media center machine for that matter) to a location other than that of the display can often be the most affordable solution to the stubborn problem of noise. Space constraints or aestetics may prevent a machine from residing near the display. Power-users often centralize their equipment to a machine room in the basement such as this  [http://ultimatemythtv.wordpress.com/ fellow] has.

Ultimately, if the machine that needs to be controlled is not within [[line-of-sight|line-of-sight (LOS)]] of the remote control or outside of it's nominal range, an IR receiver mounted in the viewing room can be wired to the remotely installed frontend. A classic example is the common practice of moving the machine to a cupboard or room [under the stairs] because space isn't available in a small apartment.

[[Image:Hauppauge2.jpg|thumb|90px|right|IR receiver dongle]]

Another popular practice with the advent of the wall mounted flat-panel display is to hide all of the existing home theatre equipment in a rack or enclosure flush to a wall or hiding them behind a panel or in a nearby closet, thus creating a streamlined or minimalist decor.

In this scenario each piece of equipment would also need to have it's respective IR signal forwarded or "repeated". An [[IR - control system|IR control system]] would be used to collect, concentrate and then deliver the signals from any remote control to the proper piece of equipment (eg. HT receiver, sat/cable box, DVD).

Regardless of the control system used to forward the IR signals, the room where a user will control the equipment must have some form of IR receiver which should be mounted in a location where the user's remote control will maintain maximum LOS. In most cases the IR receiver cable supplied with many tuner cards (often called a "[[dongle]]") isn't long enough to reach the remotely located machine. 

These receivers use a small IR diode encased in plastic leading to a short three-conductor cord which terminates in a connector, typically a 2.5mm stereo phone plug or DB-9 serial port connector.

{{Warning box|small|
msg=IR receivers that connect using a USB port such as the [[MCE Remote|MCE remote]] cannot be extended using the methods below. [[Other]] methods can be used with these types of IR dongles. Cutting the cord of an IR receiver that does not follow the electrical specifications listed below ''may be damaged or destroyed''.}}

Additionally, the methods used in this article extend to the use of [[home-built IR receiver]]s, ready-built [[do-it-yourself|do-it-yourself (DIY)]], retail and commercial offerings. Furthermore, a remote computer running [[lirc]] can be used as a powerful IR control system as [http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/296900#296900 described] by Mike Dean on mythtv-users. Many of the prebuilt and retail solutions also include an [[IR blaster]] making them a [[transceiver]]. Lirc can be configured to use an emitter, blaster or direct wiring to control external components such as set top boxes for cable or sat, your TV and even your A/V receiver. With some scripting finesse, a complete automation system can be designed around Lirc.

==Overview of IR recievers==
An IR receiver at a minimum consists of an IR detecting diode such as the Vishay TSOP 17xx series ([http://www.vishay.com/docs/82030/82030.pdf datasheet, PDF]) which detects the IR energy pulses and converts them to an electrical signal. The diode requires voltage to operate, a signal line to transmit the signal, and a ground. A diode is often used to provide rudimentary over-voltage protection and a voltage regulator can be used to provide more exacting regulation. Here is a schematic from Trimbitas Sorin's [http://stuff.nekhbet.ro/2006/07/10/make-an-infrared-remote-control-for-pc.html#comment-47105 excellent blogpost] which details the typical application of an IR detecting diode.
 
[Image:.jpg|100px|center]
 
The detection device usually requires +5V but can often be packaged with a voltage regulator expecting higher voltages. Many [[#Extending IR using commercial products|commercial]] receivers require +12V and have additional capabilities such as talkback LED's to indicate when a button is being pressed. Always refer to the supplied documentation for proper usage.

An IR receiver also requires decoding circuitry which is generally found on the tuner card or device. In the case of a USB connected device, the decoding circuitry is located alongside the detector

==Wiring==
Nearly any type of low voltage cable can be used to carry IR signals. V<sub>CC</sub> is generally 5-12V and the signal is usually ~3-4V. With that in mind, it becomes obvious that a 4-conductor, 12-gauge speaker cable is not an ideal choice as any considerable length will introduce excessive resistance to the circuit. Common cable types used to carry IR signals are:
* Category 5 (Unshielded Twisted Pair, solid 26ga, 8 conductor in 4 pairs)
* Security cable (Unshielded, solid 22ga, 4 conductor)
* Audio cable (Shielded Twisted Pair, 22ga, 2 conductor)
* Coaxial cable using [#Over coaxial cable|baluns or transceivers (RG/59 or RG/6, typical)
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==Types of IR detectors==
===Dongles bundled with tuner cards===
{{Incomplete}}
The following is a listing of IR capable tuner cards. Most will ship with a remote and the IR dongle but some OEM cards may ship with the jack and associated receiver circuitry. 
*Hauppauge
**[[Hauppauge PVR-350|PVR-350]]
**[[Hauppauge WinTV Nova-T PCI|WinTV Nova-T PCI]]
**[[Hauppauge WinTV Nova-T USB2|WinTV Nova-T USB2]]
**[[Hauppauge WinTV Nova-T 500 PCI|WinTV Nova-T 500 PCI]]
*[[Twinhan DVT Alpha]]
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Image:hauppauge1.jpg|Early Hauppauge remote with receiver
Image:hauppauge2.jpg|Hauppauge PVR Infrared receiver cable
Image:hauppauge4.jpg|Closeup of an IR diode on a dongle
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===Readybuilt -- Retail===
For the less adventurous, prebuilt receivers can be purchased. Some of the original vendors have since closed doors but are included here for completeness and because some sites are still up and contain useful information.
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* [http://www.irblaster.info/index.html IR Blaster.info] has separate serial IR receivers and blasters for sale <!-- must check on this part:, as well as IR repeaters for people with equipment in various locations around the house/apartment.-->
* [http://iguanaworks.net IguanaWorks] makes a very tidy little kit which has an exceptionally high-powered transmitter that you can buy from them unassembled or assembled (slightly more) for around $30USD. 
* [[USB-UIRT]] makes a USB infrared transceiver which works well with LIRC.
* [http://www.commandir.com/ CommandIR Mini] combines multiple IR blasters with a built-in universal remote receiver.  It's a Linux-only device so a bit pricier but you get a guarantee it will work with devices like set-top boxes, Linux tech support, and setup that doesn't require multiple LIRC instances.
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Image:.jpg|[http://iguanaworks.net/ Iguanaworks serial IR transceiver]
Image:.jpg|[http://www.commandir.com/ Linux-friendly IR transceiver]
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===DIY -- Homebrew===
* [http://www.lirc.org/receivers.html/ Lirc's] own page for do-it-yourselfers
* [http://stuff.nekhbet.ro/2006/07/10/make-an-infrared-remote-control-for-pc.html  Trimbitas Soren]'s excellent blog write-up with diagrams and detailed photographs with tools]
* [http://lnx.manoweb.com/lirc/?partType=section&partName=introduction The Manoweb Site] also has excellent documentation and photgraphs of how to build your own serial port receiever (the proprietor originally sold them over the internet but indicates on the site that as of 2007 Jul, pre-built receivers will no longer be shipped)
<!--
<gallery>
Image:.jpg|[http://www.lirc.org/receivers.html/ Lirc's own page for do-it-yourselfers]
Image:.jpg|[http://lnx.manoweb.com/lirc/?partType=section&partName=introduction Manoweb's comprehensive guide to building your own serial receiver]
Image:.jpg|[http://stuff.nekhbet.ro/2006/07/10/make-an-infrared-remote-control-for-pc.html Trimbitas Soren's excellent blog write-up with diagrams]
Image:.jpg|[http://www.irBlaster.com/ IR Blaster ]
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===Commercial===
Xantech
Channelvision
Russound
Leviton

==Extending an IR dongle==
IR dongles are, in effect, the tail end of the full receiver circuit which resides on the tuner card or module (with the notable exception of USB connected IR receivers). The rest of the circuitry resides on the tuner card or device and all that is needed to make the cable longer is some length of suitable cable, some tools and a way to connect it all back together again.

===Preparing the plug end===
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====Cut and prepare the receiver cable====
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<gallery>
Image:tp_stripper01.jpg|1. Cut the cable 8-10" (15-20cm) from the jack
Image:tp_stripper02.jpg|2. Strip outer jacket using TP strip tool
Image:lineman snips 01.jpg|3. Strip insulation from inner conductors
</gallery>
====Identify the cable conductors====
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<gallery>
Image:DMM_01.jpg|Digital Multimeter testing the tip, ring and shield of the receiver's jack
</gallery>
==== Prepare and solder Category 5 to jack end of cable====
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<gallery>
Image:tp_stripper_03.jpg|1. Prepare the Category 5 cable
Image:soldering_01.jpg|2. Bringing the soldering iron up to temperature 
Image:soldering_02.jpg|3. Completed solder joint
Image:crimp_01.jpg|4. Preparing to place a crimp over the connection
Image:crimp_02.jpg|An all-weather low voltage crimp encased with PIC
Image:crimp_03.jpg|5. Securing the cables with friction tape allowing for service loop
</gallery>
====Punching down to the telephone connecting block====
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<gallery>
Image:66block_01.jpg|1. Identify the pairs or conductors needed
Image:66block_02.jpg|2. Punch down green pairs
Image:66block_03.jpg|3. Splice and crimp the white/brown conductor
Image:hauppauge_04.jpg|4. Connect stereo plug to capture card
</gallery>
 
===Preparing the receiver end===
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====Connecting receiver cable to RJ-45 modular connector====
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<gallery>
Image:tp_stripper02.jpg|1. Prepare the receiver end of the cable
Image:.jpg|2. Cut conductors to length for connector insertion
Image:mod_crimp_01.jpg|3. Complete the crimp using a modular plug crimp tool
</gallery>
====Connecting Category 5 cable to RJ45 keystone====
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<gallery>
Image:tp_stripper_03.jpg|1. Prepare Category 5 cable
Image:110punch_01.jpg|2. Punching down keystone jack
Image:wallplate_quadkey.jpg|3. Attaching to wall-plate
Image:irext.jpg|4. Installing receiver cable
</gallery>

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====Testing the results====
==Extending IR using commercial products==
===Over twisted pair===
===Over coaxial cable===
===Mixed-use transceivers===
==IR Interference==
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==References==
[http://www.vishay.com/docs/80073/general.pdf General Overview of IR Transmission in Free Space], Vishay Corp.

[http://www.vishay.com/docs/80072/disturan.pdf Disturbance Sources for IR Receiver Modules], Vishay Corp.
==See Also==
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[[Category:Wiring]]