Electrohome Marquee 8500 CRT projector

[The Robman]

Here's a quick summary of the signals learned in the original file that was posted. (Note: I omitted the SELECT and M2 buttons as the signals were too inconsistant with the rest of the learns).

MENU
Once:
+20 -2618 +20 -742 +20 -362 +20 -742 +20 -742 +20 -742 +20 -742 +20 -39138
Repeat:
+20 -2618 +20 -742 +20 -742 +20 -362 +20 -1116 +20 -742 +20 -742 +20 -39138

INFO
Once:
+20 -2618 +20 -740 +20 -362 +20 -740 +20 -740 +20 -740 +20 -740 +20 -39140
Repeat:
+20 -2618 +20 -740 +20 -740 +20 -740 +20 -740 +20 -362 +20 -1118 +20 -39140

MUTE
Once:
+20 -2618 +20 -736 +20 -386 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -39138
Repeat:
+20 -2618 +20 -386 +20 -1114 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -39138

M1
Once:
+20 -2618 +20 -748 +20 -362 +20 -748 +20 -748 +20 -748 +20 -748 +20 -39140
Repeat:
+20 -2618 +20 -748 +20 -362 +20 -748 +20 -1116 +20 -362 +20 -1116 +20 -39140

M3
Once:
+20 -2618 +20 -736 +20 -374 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -39140
Repeat:
+20 -2618 +20 -374 +20 -736 +20 -1114 +20 -736 +20 -374 +20 -1114 +20 -39140

POWER
Once:
+20 -2618 +20 -738 +20 -362 +20 -738 +20 -738 +20 -738 +20 -738 +20 -39140
Repeat:
+20 -2618 +20 -738 +20 -738 +20 -738 +20 -738 +20 -738 +20 -738 +20 -39140

LEFT
Once:
+20 -2618 +20 -736 +20 -374 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -39142
Repeat:
+20 -2618 +20 -374 +20 -736 +20 -1116 +20 -374 +20 -736 +20 -1116 +20 -39142

RIGHT
Once:
+20 -2618 +20 -738 +20 -362 +20 -738 +20 -738 +20 -738 +20 -738 +20 -39142
+20 -2618 +20 -374 +20 -1112 +20 -738 +20 -362 +20 -738 +20 -1112 +20 -6374
+20 -2618 +20 -374 +20 -1112 +20 -738 +20 -362 +20 -738 +20 -1112 +20 -39142
+20 -2618 +20 -374 +20 -1112 +20 -738 +20 -362 +20 -738 +20 -1112 +20 -39142
+20 -2618 +20 -362 +20 -1112 +20 -738 +20 -362 +20 -738 +20 -1112 +20 -39142
+20 -2618 +20 -374 +20 -1112 +20 -738 +20 -362 +20 -738 +20 -1112 +20 -39142
+20 -2618 +20 -374
Extra:
+20 -1112 +20 -738 +20 -362 +20 -738 +20 -1112 +20 -39142
+20 -2618 +20 -374 +20 -1112 +20 -738 +20 -362 +20 -738 +20 -1112 +20 -39142
+20 -2618 +20 -374 +20 -1112 +20 -738 +20 -362 +20 -738 +20 -1112 +20 -39142
+20 -2618 +20 -374 +20 -1112 +20 -738 +20 -362 +20 -738 +20 -1112 +20 -39142
+20 -2618 +20 -374 +20 -1112 +20 -738 +20 -39142

UP
Once:
+20 -2618 +20 -746 +20 -362 +20 -746 +20 -746 +20 -746 +20 -746 +20 -39142
Repeat:
+20 -2618 +20 -746 +20 -362 +20 -746 +20 -1118 +20 -362 +20 -1118 +20 -39142

DOWN
Once:
+20 -2618 +20 -742 +20 -362 +20 -742 +20 -742 +20 -742 +20 -742 +20 -39142
Repeat:
+20 -2618 +20 -742 +20 -362 +20 -742 +20 -742 +20 -742 +20 -1114 +20 -39142

ONE
Once:
+20 -2618 +20 -736 +20 -370 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -39510
+20 -2618 +20 -370 +20 -736 +20 -1114 +20 -736 +20 -370 +20 -736 +20 -39510
+20 -2618 +20 -370 +20 -736 +20 -1114 +20 -736 +20 -370 +20 -736 +20 -39510
+20 -2618 +20 -330 +20 -1114 +20 -736 +20 -370 +20 -736 +20 -39510
+20 -2618 +20 -370 +20 -736 +20 -1114 +20 -736 +20 -370 +20 -736 +20 -39510
+20 -2618 +20 -370 +20 -736 +20 -1114 +20 -736 +20 -370 +20 -736 +20 -39510
+20 -2618 +20 -370 +20 -736
Extra:
+20 -1114 +20 -736 +20 -370 +20 -228 +20 -490 +20 -39510
+20 -2618 +20 -370 +20 -736 +20 -1114 +20 -736 +20 -370 +20 -736 +20 -39510
+20 -2618 +20 -370 +20 -736 +20 -1114 +20 -736 +20 -370 +20 -736 +20 -39510
+20 -2618 +20 -370 +20 -736 +20 -1114 +20 -736 +20 -370 +20 -736 +20 -39510
+20 -2618 +20 -370 +20 -736 +20 -39510 +20 -330

TWO
Once:
+20 -2618 +20 -744 +20 -362 +20 -744 +20 -744 +20 -744 +20 -744 +20 -39512
Repeat:
+20 -2618 +20 -744 +20 -362 +20 -1118 +20 -744 +20 -362 +20 -744 +20 -39512

THREE
Once:
+20 -2618 +20 -736 +20 -366 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -39510
Repeat:
+20 -2618 +20 -366 +20 -1112 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -366 +20 -736 +20 -39510

[garyfritz]

Unfortunately I have no idea how to interpret that information. Is there a guide somewhere? Does e.g. "+20 -2618 +20 -742 +20 ..." mean "IR on for 20 usec, off for 2618 usec, on for 20, off for 742, on for 20, ..." ? How do those correspond to key codes, OBC, EFC, or whatever?

I re-learned the codes with the remote set to protocol B (42 kHz). This time there are definitely learned codes in there, including one (on the UP key) that IR says it doesn't understand and I should report. There are some significant differences between what I just learned and what you posted above. I updated the post here with this new learned set.

[The Robman]

The learns in the most recent file don't show a frequency either, so I'm guessing that those don't work either.

I posted the burst times mainly for John's benefit as he might make some conclusions just from looking at them, I'm not expecting you to do anything with them as I don't know how to read them myself yet, either.

Here's the times from the most recent file...

Power
Once: +20 -2238 +20 -1130 +20 -362 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -39140
Repeat: +20 -2238 +20 -1130 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -39140

Select
Once: +20 -2238 +20 -1114 +20 -362 +20 -742 +20 -742 +20 -742 +20 -742 +20 -39140
Repeat: +20 -2238 +20 -742 +20 -742 +20 -1114 +20 -742 +20 -362 +20 -1114 +20 -39140

Left
Once: +20 -2238 +20 -1114 +20 -362 +20 -742 +20 -742 +20 -742 +20 -742 +20 -39140
Repeat: +20 -2238 +20 -742 +20 -742 +20 -1114 +20 -362 +20 -742 +20 -1114 +20 -39140

Right
Once: +20 -2238 +20 -1114 +20 -362 +20 -742 +20 -742 +20 -742 +20 -742 +20 -39140
Repeat: +20 -2238 +20 -742 +20 -1114 +20 -742 +20 -362 +20 -742 +20 -1114 +20 -39140

Down
Once: +20 -2238 +20 -1122 +20 -362 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -39138
Repeat: +20 -2238 +20 -1122 +20 -362 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -1122 +20 -39138

Up
Once:
+286 -1882 +78 -122 +164 -776 +704 -438 +378 -378 +378 -378 +378 -378 +378 -38924
+286 -1882 +98 -114 +164 -776 +758 -384 +378 -758 +698 -822 +378 -38924
+378 -758 +378 -38924
+704 -438 +378 -758 +378 -38924
+378 -758 +378 -38924
+378 -378 +378 -378 +378 -378 +378 -38924
+378 -378 +758 -384 +378 -38924
+286 -1882 +286 -1882 +378 -758 +758 -384 +164 -776 +698 -822 +378 -378 +286 -1882 +378 -758 +758 -384 +78 -122

1
Once: +20 -2238 +20 -1114 +20 -362 +20 -740 +20 -740 +20 -740 +20 -740 +20 -39510
Repeat: +20 -2238 +20 -740 +20 -740 +20 -1114 +20 -740 +20 -362 +20 -740 +20 -39510

2
Once: +20 -2238 +20 -1124 +20 -362 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -736 +20 -39510
Repeat: +20 -2238 +20 -1124 +20 -362 +20 -1124 +20 -736 +20 -362 +20 -736 +20 -39510

3
Once: +20 -2238 +20 -1114 +20 -362 +20 -740 +20 -740 +20 -740 +20 -740 +20 -39510
Repeat: +20 -2238 +20 -740 +20 -1114 +20 -740 +20 -740 +20 -362 +20 -740 +20 -39510

[garyfritz]

The learns in the most recent file don't show a frequency either, so I'm guessing that those don't work either.

Um. They did. Or at least I thought they did. I just tried loading it up again, and learning it again, and now it doesn't seem to work. I'm losing it...

[johnsfine]

Rob, in comparing those timings to the IRP notation you posted earlier, I would assume that each +20 represents the beginning of an ON period.

The actual length of an ON period according to the IRP is one or two times 376.

Seeing "+20 -362 +20" in that data forces one to bend that interpretation a little. Best guess, those a phase glitches. Without a phase glitch two ON periods in a row would look like one double length ON period. But with a phase glitch the start of the second ON period MAY be visible as a start.

So every "+20 -362 +20" represents an ON period followed by the start of a second ON period.

If every pair of adjacent ON periods has a phase glitch then every +20 and 362 of the following minus time should be treated as a single + period and the rest (if any) of the following minus as a true Off.

But if any phase glitches are missing then sometimes a +20 and 744 of the next minus would represent two ON periods and the rest (there must be more) of that minus period would be true off. In most phase glitch situations many potential glitches are missing. Here it is less obvious whether any glitches are missing. The minus number including the missing glitch would need to be longer than 1100 and for most of those the basic bi phase rules can tell you what the true state should be.

I still don't have time to walk through the individual numbers and translate them to the bi phase signals implied by the IRP.

[garyfritz]

So I guess we're kinda stuck here? We have an upgrade that sort-of works, but it seems to only work if the remote is pointed right at the front of the projector. For some reason the 9910's IR blaster doesn't seem to work. Plus several critical keys (like POWER and ENTER) don't work.

I'd hate to have to go buy a Harmony just to get this thing working...

[The Robman]

I tried decoding the data that I got from your learns using the method that John suggested, but I just couldn't get reliable enough results from it for it to be of any use.

[The Robman]

You know, UEI has equipment that can capture high-freq signals, so would you be interested in letting them capture the signals from your remote? I can arrange it if you want.

[garyfritz]

Hmm, interesting idea! So maybe THEY could decipher it and get us a working upgrade? (Being the cheapskate I am -- they wouldn't charge for this service, would they? If they did, it would probably be better to give in and get myself a Harmony.)

Too bad I can't get the 9910 working, so I wouldn't miss the Ehome remote while I sent it to UEI. But I have friends that have spares. I'm sure I could arrange a loan from one of them. Assuming UEI would do this without charge, then sure, let's set it up!

(Advance warning: I'll be gone for 2 weeks starting this weekend, with no access to email.)

[The Robman]

There's no charge, and if you're going to be away for two weeks, what better time than that to have UEI play with the remote.

[garyfritz]

You have a point there. I'll see if I can get it sent out before I leave. Hopefully they can get what they need & get it back to me in 2 weeks. I can't even turn the projector on without the remote. It doesn't have a control panel or built-in power switch.

[The Robman]

Gary sent his remote into UEI and they have created the following two upgrades...

The first is TV/1760, which is the "protocol A" code...
http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/dload ... le_id=4385

The next is TV/1761, which is the "protocol B" code...
http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/dload ... le_id=4386

[garyfritz]

Cool! Thanks Rob! I've got the projector torn apart right now, but I should have it back together this week and I'll give it a try then.

[garyfritz]

Success!! I just managed to control the projector with the protocol A upgrade. Haven't tried B yet but I assume it will work equally well.

A few little problems or oddities:

* The 9910's IR repeater doesn't seem to work at all for this device. If I cover up the 9910's IR emitter, nothing happens. The repeater is definitely getting the signal, as I can see its little internal LED blinking. Any idea why this doesn't work? Does the repeater work for custom protocols??

* It's not completely reliable. Sometimes I'll hit a button and nothing happens, even though the 9910's "send" LED lights and it just worked before. It seems to work more reliably if I hold down the button. Could we have too short of a burst in the protocol?

* The projector requires you to hold down POWER for a second before it powers on/off. I can hold down POWER on the 9910 and that works. I guess I can just put multiple POWER entries in any macros? Supposedly the projector also supports discrete ON/OFF codes, and those work instantly, but I don't see those in the upgrades. (A friend of mine uses the discrete on/off codes with his Harmony remote.)

Thanks Rob!
Gary

[The Robman]

The 9910's RF repeater does work with upgraded protocols, but it might not be able to handle high-freq signals, so I suspect that that is the problem.

When you say that you sometimes hit a button and nothing happens, what happens if you hold the button down, does this make it work? If so, it's possible that we need to set a minimum # of repeats for this signal.

It's unlikely that multiple presses of POWER in a macro will work, you'll need to find a way to increase the duration. One way this can be done by hacking the executor, but there are also JP1 tools to do this (I forget what they all are).

The discretes aren't included in these upgrades because all UEI had to go on was the remote that you sent in. If you have the discretes in a file (Harmony, Pronto, etc) of some sort, you should email that file to UEI so they can try to decode it.