JP1 Remotes

[jmezz13]

I'm not sure this is exactly relevant to this specific issue related to the Arduino interface and RMIR, but it is relevant to both the Arduino IRWidget and Barf's Arduino GIRS interface with the CH340 chip/driver. If there is a better place to post this info, please advise.

After some time of not doing much JP1, I had a need to learn a new remote and I started IRScrutinizer and it would not connect to either of the two interfaces I mentioned above. It gave a "COM port in use" type of error for both. Long story short, it seems to be due to an updated CH340 driver that is not compatible (at least in Windows 11, 22H2). I had to rollback to 3.7.2022 from 3.8.2023 and all worked well again. See this link for more info and a source for the download of the older driver version.

I can also verify that the three checkbox options mentioned previously are available on my Windows 11 machine.

[mathdon]

I have now upgraded my second PC to Windows 11, keeping the main development one on Windows 10, so I can now test in both versions. I have now used Win11 to test the following Arduino setups:

1. The JP1 EEPROM interface using a Chinese Arduino Nano clone with ATMEGA328P processor and CH340 USB-to-Serial chip. This is the configuration that ylaviolette used. When I followed the instructions for loading the JP1 EEPROM software into the Arduino, I got an upload error. Repeated upload attempts gave the same error. In Device Manager, Ports COM & LPT > CH340 -> Port Settings > advanced, I got the same screen that ylaviolette's screenshot shows, including the three entries under the Com Port box which are, by default, all unchecked. Checking the Enabling the Serial Port Enumerator box fixed the issue and enabled the Arduino app to complete the upload. With that done, RMIR worked as intended to download my JP1 remote. If I then disabled the Serial Port Enumerator and tried again to download the remote in RMIR, I got No remotes found, so it seems that Serial Port Enumerator needs to be enabled for both loading the Arduino sketch and running the interface in RMIR. This setting appears to be preserved for the particular COM port between uses.

2. The JP1 EEPROM interface using a genuine Nano Every, which has superseded the original Nano. This worked directly without a problem. Indeed, the Device Manager display for the Port advanced settings does not have the extra three entries under the Com Port box.

3. The AIRWidget with the Chinese Nano clone. The AIRWidget does not support the genuine Nano Every, so this is the only case to try. The Serial Port Enumerator needed to be enabled for the Arduino Sketch to upload, but once uploaded, IRScope ran with the Serial Port Enumerator either enabled or disabled.

I will update the instructions for both JP1EEPROM and AIRWidget to explain the Win11 situation. I am immensely grateful to ylaviolette for discovering this issue and how to fix it, as I don't think it would ever have occurred to me to look at Port Settings > advanced or to try this checkbox.
_________________
Graham

[kc123]

This thread has veered to mostly Arduino solutions. Is that because there is no JP1.2/3 solution with Windows 11, a cable and a driver?

I only jump back into JP1 every few years, usually when I have new gear to integrate. Problem is I've upgraded to a Win11 PC in the meantime. I see the tools have also changed. I have Java Development and the RMIR/RMDU tools installed and they seem to launch and read files just fine.

Anticipating some driver issues I bought the latest cable from DIYGadget:

https://www.diygadget.com/remote-control-accessories/jp1-2-1-3-flash-usb-cable-for-universal-remotes-ftdi-chip

This cable is supposed to have an authentic FTDI chip. There was already a FTDI com port in my PC (probably to control some of the Alienware lighting effects) and therefore a driver already installed. When I connected the JP1 cable the driver installed and assigned it to another Com port. Everything looks good in Device Manager but RMIR can't find the remote.

I went to DIYGadget site to download the drivers but their download link just went to TIAO's site for Delcom and Prolific drivers!

I did install the latest driver from FTDI site (it was a few months newer) but no change. I tried the JP1Test.BAT but it couldn't find the remote either. The cable has four conductors (pins 2 and 6 are not connected). I used the JP11USB option (although I did try them all).

1- Is there an old FTDI driver (that will install on Win11) for this to work?

2- Has anyone had successful transfers with this cable and Win11?

3- I have an old prolific cable that would work under Win10 with an even older Vista driver. Is there a possible solution with this (maybe not authentic PL2303)?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[The Robman]

I wished you'd asked for our advice before buying a cable from DIY as we haven't had much success with them in recent years, and you'll find that you get zero prod support from them.

The Arduino stuff is about making a cable/adapter for JP1 (EEPROM) remotes, not JP1.x remotes.

Please read the first post in this thread for all the latest info on cables that can be used for JP1.x remotes. Specifically, we recommend FTDI cables, that can be bought for under $10 on eBay or under $20 on Amazon. You need to get a cable with 6 connectors in order to ensure that it has the 4 that we need for JP1 use, and you'll want to swap out the connector that it comes with for a 2*3 connector to fit a remote. There are other options too where some people glue the individual connectors together, or cut a 1*6 in half to make a 2*3, but most people just buy some 2*3 connectors when they're buying their cable.

For example:
Here's an FTDI cable for $6.72 with free US shipping
https://www.ebay.com/itm/326276716709

Here's a listing for 40 2*3 connectors for $1.45 plus $3.49 shipping from China:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/263051820184

If the China shipping is too slow, here's a listing for 10 2*3 connectors for $9.58 with free US shipping:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/304102714605
_________________
Rob
www.hifi-remote.com
Please don't PM me with remote questions, post them in the forums so all the experts can help!

[kc123]

Thanks Rob. Just purchased the cable from ebay. I guess I can use the connector from the DIYG cable. $30 for a 10 cent connector!

[mdavej]

Just to confirm, FTDI cables are plug and play in Win11 and earlier. Maybe Prolific will work on Win11 as it did in Win10. I haven't tried.

[kc123]

Just to follow-up for others looking for a Win11 JP1 solution. I don't believe there are any pre-made cables available today. You will have to change out the connector on a six wire FTDI-based USB-to-Serial adapter such as the one below.

Do NOT buy anything from DIYGadgets, no matter how much the website seems to indicate their cables are specifically made for JP1, they do NOT work and they are well aware of it.

I did purchase the cable suggested by Rob above:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/326276716709

and used the pinout from from the 1st post:

pin - type - color
1 - (empty):VDD
2 - RTS (usually Yellow)
3 - GND (usually Black)
4 - TXD (usually Green)
5 - (empty)
6 - RXD (usually White)
CTS (usually Blue, not connected)
5V (usually Red, not connected)

to change out the straight 6 pin connector for the 2x3 connector. Hint: use a very small screwdriver (ie eyeglass) to lift the black tab of the connector while pushing the wire into the connector, then pull the wire/pin out. If you lift too hard on the tab you may break it, but since you are discarding it anyway, not really a problem. My cable wire colors matched those above. Note that the Pin1 indicator (little triangle) on the connector may NOT be in the right place, ignore it and mark the real Pin1 that aligns with the remote's pin header.

I used the latest the FTDI driver (Ver 2.12.36.4, 2021 date) with Windows 11 (Win11 24H2) and had successful transfers with RMIR v3.1.5.

My only issue is if I remove and reinsert the USB connection to the PC, RMIR will not find the remote again. If I plug it into a different USB port or reboot it will find it. Not a major issue for me but if someone knows a solution, let me know.

[The Robman]

Glad you got it all working.