Apple iPod Remote

Post by **The Robman** » Fri Oct 28, 2005 8:26 pm

Mark Pierson wrote:Thanks, Mike! Both these cases are true. Prev and Next do fast scan when held (as documented in the manual ), and holding Play turns the iPod off (a quick press of Prev, Next, or Play turns it on).

OK then, now we're getting somewhere. Well Mark, if you want to be Mr. Scientist, your next assignment is to find out how many repetitions of the signal are required to convert the NEXT and PREV buttons into FFWD and REWIND buttons, and to convert the PLAY button into a POWER-OFF button. Then maybe I can tweek the protocol that I wrote so that when it's given a certain code, it will make sure that the signal repeats at least that many times, then you could assign such a code to the POWER button, for example, and just a short tap would power the unit off.

Also, what does a long hold of PLAY do (if anything)? I'm thinking of trying to create a POWER toggle button, but in order for it to work a long hold of PLAY would have to do nothing. In other words, if the song is already playing, I wouldn't want it to pause, and vice versa.

Mark Pierson · Post by **Mark Pierson** » Fri Oct 28, 2005 10:19 pm

The Robman wrote:how many repetitions of the signal are required to convert the NEXT and PREV buttons into FFWD and REWIND buttons, and to convert the PLAY button into a POWER-OFF button.

Keep in mind it's VERY difficult to get the iPod to do any testing with!

Not knowing any other way to test this, the best I can come up with is somewhere around a 1/2 second does it. I tried a macro using Play;Play, but that just seemed to toogle it on and off.

Maybe someone with Tommy's DigiTrace or something similar can load up the upgrade and protocol and take a look at the stream those buttons put out?

Post by **The Robman** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 8:06 am

I'll put something together where you can control the number of repeats and then see what the minimum is to get it to work, when you get your hands on the iPod that is!

Nice to know that you have such firm control over those kids!

Post by **The Robman** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 1:23 pm

Here's a new version of the upgrade where the POWER, FFWD and REWIND buttons should all repeat at least 5 times. If 5 isn't enough, edit the red protocol byte below until it's big enough to force the "held" version of the button to work with a short tap of the button. (To make a button repeat you add 128 to it's OBC).

Upgrade Code 0 = 8F D0 (Video Acc/2000) Apple iPod Remote (KM v8.35)
FF 00 76 F8 DE 81 77 E1 C2 50 30 A0 60 90 A1 C0
60 90 30 50 A0 C0 60 90 A0 A0 91 61 A0
End

Upgrade protocol 0 = 01 FF (S3C8+) Apple iPod Remote (PB v3.11)
44 8D 31 8B 12 87 44 08 08 01 13 03 43 01 13 01
0E 4F 29 11 A5 08 B6 68 06 E4 05 06 69 05 F6 01
46 37 60 03 E6 0D 05 77 60 C6 28 80 45 C6 20 04
59 C6 1C BC E6 8D 01 46
End

Mark Pierson · Post by **Mark Pierson** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 3:29 pm

The Robman wrote:Nice to know that you have such firm control over those kids!

Wait until your kids become teenagers!

If 5 isn't enough, edit the red protocol byte below until it's big enough to force the "held" version of the button to work with a short tap of the button. (To make a button repeat you add 128 to it's OBC).

Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to work. I went as high as $40 on the repeat byte and nothing happens. I guess it's not related to the repeats?

For my own curiosity, each learned signal shows +9002 -2266 +550 -96716 as Sent RepeatedlyWhile Key Is Being Held. Is that essentially what you're sending with this protocol?

Another thing that may provide a clue: while I said last night that it was about 1/2 second press, it's more like 1-1/2 - 2 seconds.

Post by **The Robman** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 5:06 pm

I'll look into it and see what I can come up with.

Post by **The Robman** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 6:10 pm

Are you sure that you loaded the device upgrade to go with the protocol? I just loaded both of them into my URC-8910 and with the duration byte set to 45, I timed the signal and it lasted between 7 and 8 seconds. If that's not enough to make the unit power off then I don't think this is going to work.

Mark Pierson · Post by **Mark Pierson** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:06 pm

The Robman wrote:Are you sure that you loaded the device upgrade to go with the protocol?

I modified my existing upgrade using 133 (5 + 128) for Power Off, 134 (6 + 128) for Scan Fwd, and 137 (9 + 128) for Scan Back, and uploaded the new protocol code.

I timed the signal and it lasted between 7 and 8 seconds.

I'm getting a solid LED for several seconds as well.

If that's not enough to make the unit power off then I don't think this is going to work.

That's why I asked if you're repeating the whole signal, or only a portion of it.

On the OEM remote, as well as my 8810w with the original upgrade, the press & hold of Play takes almost 2 full seconds. The Scan Fwd & Back functions take about half that (~1 second). Holding Vol+/- takes effect in about 1/2 second.

Why do I mention this? Because the original learned signals all seem identical except for the OBC so I don't see how different repeat rates are being used... unless the dock handles the repeats differently(?).

Post by **The Robman** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:49 pm

OK, try this for me. Load the learned signals back into the 8910 and see if pressing and holding them also trip the LKP functions to work? If they don't, I guess it's possible that the Apple remote starts sending a different signal when the buttons are held.

If it does work, then my protocol should also work.

Hey, what about when you press and hold the PLAY button using my protocol, does that cause the LKP functions to kick in?

Mark Pierson · Post by **Mark Pierson** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 8:09 pm

The Robman wrote:Load the learned signals back into the 8910 and see if pressing and holding them also trip the LKP functions to work?

I'm using the 8810W (8811), and the learned Play signal does Power Off when held as do the Scan and Volume functions.

If it does work, then my protocol should also work.

Unless you're not sending the proper repeat...

Hey, what about when you press and hold the PLAY button using my protocol, does that cause the LKP functions to kick in?

No.

I learned the Power Off (OBC=133) from one remote to another and I think I see the problem. Your protocol is sending OBC 133 instead of repeating OBC 5.

Here's the learned data from your protocol:
+9002 -4498 +550 -574 +550 -1700 +550 -1700 +550 -1700 +550 -574 +550 -1700 +550 -1700 +550 -1700 +550 -1700 +550 -1700 +550 -1700 +550 -574 +550 -574 +550 -574 +550 -574 +550 -1700 +550 -1700 +550 -574 +550 -1700 +550 -574 +550 -574 +550 -574 +550 -574 +550 -1700 +550 -1700 +550 -1700 +550 -574 +550 -574 +550 -574 +550 -574 +550 -1700 +550 -574 +550 -40514 +9002 -2266 +550 -96716
Repeat when held:
+9002 -2266 +550 -96716

And here's the original (Play function):
+9002 -4498 +550 -574 +550 -1700 +550 -1700 +550 -1700 +550 -574 +550 -1700 +550 -1700 +550 -1700 +550 -1700 +550 -1700 +550 -1700 +550 -574 +550 -574 +550 -574 +550 -574 +550 -1700 +550 -1700 +550 -574 +550 -1700 +550 -574 +550 -574 +550 -574 +550 -574 +550 -574 +550 -1700 +550 -1700 +550 -574 +550 -574 +550 -574 +550 -574 +550 -1700 +550 -574 +550 -40514 +9002 -2266 +550 -96716
Repeat when held:
+9002 -2266 +550 -96716

Post by **The Robman** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 8:28 pm

Mark Pierson wrote:
The Robman wrote:Hey, what about when you press and hold the PLAY button using my protocol, does that cause the LKP functions to kick in?
No.

I learned the Power Off (OBC=133) from one remote to another and I think I see the problem. Your protocol is sending OBC 133 instead of repeating OBC 5.

Duh, I outsmarted myself. You're actually testing version 2.1 of the protocol. I posted an earlier version then deleted it because I thought it wouldn't work and now that I re-think it, it will work.

But that still doesn't explain why holding the PLAY button (which is OBC 5) wouldn't trigger the power off function though.

At any rate, here's the 2.0 version of the protocol...

Upgrade protocol 0 = 01 FF (S3C8+) Apple iPod Remote (PB v3.11)
44 8D 31 8B 12 87 44 08 08 01 13 03 43 01 13 01
0E 4F 29 11 A5 08 B6 18 06 37 10 03 E6 0D 05 77
10 E4 05 06 19 05 F6 01 46 C6 28 80 45 C6 20 04
59 C6 1C BC E6 8D 01 46
End

Mark Pierson · Post by **Mark Pierson** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 8:43 pm

The Robman wrote:But that still doesn't explain why holding the PLAY button (which is OBC 5) wouldn't trigger the power off function though.

Holding Play DOES power off. Assigning OBC 133 to Power does nothing, held or otherwise.

At any rate, here's the 2.0 version of the protocol...

That's more like it!

Using a value of $11 or more for the repeat works! Anything less and the function works like the normal OBC 5. The "enhanced" Scan and Volume functions work too.

Post by **The Robman** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 8:57 pm

Great, $11 it is then!

Mark Pierson · Post by **Mark Pierson** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 7:49 am

The Robman wrote:$11 it is then!

Shall I PayPal that to you?

With this upgrade JP1 users don't need to buy the $29.00 Apple remote to use with the new universal dock! Maybe they should PayPal something to me?!?

Post by **The Robman** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 9:26 am

Mark Pierson wrote:
The Robman wrote:$11 it is then!
Shall I PayPal that to you?

With this upgrade JP1 users don't need to buy the $29.00 Apple remote to use with the new universal dock! Maybe they should PayPal something to me?!?

Well, you get the JP1 expert 10% discount, but everyone else pays the full $11 (plus shipping!!!)