which interface?

SemperFi · Post by **SemperFi** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 10:55 pm

Finally I upgraded my computer. Got me a nice Abit socket 939 motherboard. Well I say nice. I neglected to take into account my jp1 capabilities. This board doesn't have a parallel port on it. So in the mean time I am using my kids computer to hook to the remote.

Anyhow I figured I would just build the usb interface. I get looking around and there is now a serial interface. Been a while since my last visit. I do still have a serial port so that leaves me wondering. Which is the better way to go? The serial looks cheaper and I have some of the parts laying around. Is it slower than the parallel? By a lot if it is? I never had any complaints on the parallel version. I guess the last question is does remote master work with all 3? I haven't used it yet but figured I would switch since it sounds like it is coming along nicely.

Post by **The Robman** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 11:09 pm

They all work, so go with whatever works for you. If you've got the parts to make a serial interface, go for it. If you're thinking ahead, I'd say go with the USB as that's not going anywhere for the foreseeable future whereas the serial could go the way of the parallel and be obsolete pretty soon.

underquark · Post by **underquark** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 2:43 am

Speed isn't really an issue - you're only shifting a few Kbytes (typically 2, occasionally 1 and sometimes 4) of data and it takes literally just seconds. Remote Master (or Keymap Master) is used to make the upgrades and the type of cable doesn't matter to it. IR.EXE is the program which interacts with your remote and it supports parallel, serial and USB cables.

SemperFi · Post by **SemperFi** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 3:06 pm

Thanks Rob I will probobly make the serial since I have the port. I plan on keeping this rig for a couple of years so I should be good to go for a while. I just wanted to be sure it would work with RM before I built it.

I bought a hdtv tuner a couple of months ago and finally got all the functions learned and made an upgrade. I am off to the files section to see if there is one there already. I forgot to look before I started. The original remote sucks big time. It had to be pointed directly at it. even then I usually had to punch the button several times. It is working great on my 2104 now.

Mark Pierson · Post by **Mark Pierson** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 3:37 pm

SemperFi wrote:I just wanted to be sure it would work with RM before I built it.

None of the interfaces work with RM... they're used with IR to communicate with the remote. Of course, you knew this... just a little rusty!

SemperFi · Post by **SemperFi** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 3:56 pm

Mark Pierson wrote:
SemperFi wrote:I just wanted to be sure it would work with RM before I built it.
None of the interfaces work with RM... they're used with IR to communicate with the remote. Of course, you knew this... just a little rusty!

Actually a lot rusty. But no I didn't know that. I guess I never read too much about the RM as I thought it was KM and IR combined together. From what you say I guess it is just a replacement for KM. That being the case I guess there isn't much advantage for me to switch to RM since I have a newer copy of excel. That is until the support drops for KM. Either way that is fine. I was just plain wrong about RM.

gfb107 · Post by **gfb107** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 3:58 pm

It is our ultimate goal to one day replace IR and KM with RM.

But that day is far, far away, as I am the only one working on RM, and I don't have much time for it these days.

SemperFi · Post by **SemperFi** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:04 am

You aren't going to believe this. I bought all the stuff at a local surplus outlet. Spent time this weekend soldering it up. Got it finished last night. Well I can't wait to see if it works. I pull out my computer to plug it in and guess what. NO SERIAL Port. AAARRRRRRGGGHHH. I can't believe it.

I never really looked. I was on a forum talking about motherboards and the one I bought everyone said there was not a parallel but that didn't bother me as my only need for it was for my remote and I knew other options existed. I assumed it still had serial. You know what you get when you assume don't you? Thats right no connection to the remote. I tried it on my other computer it works. So I now have 2 extra cables. USB here I come.

I just had to tell. I figure someone with a sick sense of humor would find this funny like I did.

Capn Trips · Post by **Capn Trips** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 12:34 pm

Just to prove you right:

Tommy Tyler · Post by **Tommy Tyler** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 2:34 pm

If you're talking desktop and not laptop, have you considered an add-on card? Newegg sells a 2 x serial,1 x parallel PCI card for under $12 with $5 shipping. My Intel MB had a parallel port, but I didn't want to risk damaging it with JP1 foolishness, so I added one of these, and it works great. It has a funny port address (at least on my machine) of 0xB400, but good old IR.exe has a box for "Other" than plain vanilla parallel port addresses, and loves it.

Personally, I think the USB interface is a piece of junk. (I can say that because I had a hand in the development of it.) I wouldn't suggest anyone use it unless they have a laptop with no serial or parallel port.

Tommy

whompus · Post by **whompus** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 3:10 pm

It is slow to initialize but does work in a pinch.