source code for ir.exe

CollieJim · Post by **CollieJim** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 3:50 am

Is it possible to get the source code for IR.EXE? If so, where is it?

The parallel port on my ancient laptop failed, so I got a USB to Parallel Converter. Only to find it does not work.. I'm not sure why. The printer works with it. The cable I'm using is Tommy Tyler's "micro perf" circuit, which is powered by the remote.

Anyway, I have a USB Experimenters kit that I should be able to use if I can get IR's source code.

TIA
Jim

Post by **The Robman** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 6:44 am

IR.exe doesn't work with USB-to-Parallel converters because it uses "bit banging" to transmit the data, so the source code won't help.

Post by **vickyg2003** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 7:54 am

What you need is a USB-JP1 cable. I purchased one of these, and I must say its much more reliable than my Parallel-JP1 cable. I fiddle with the batteries on each and every JP1 remote that I have, to get them to work with the Parallel-JP1 cable, but the USB cable works all the time.

CollieJim · Post by **CollieJim** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:03 am

Thanks. I live in Australia and am in the process of verifying postage for a USB-JP1 cable from DIY-Gadget.

Without knowing the details of the protocol used to communicate with the interface (are they available?), giving 'bit banging' as a reason does not really tell me much.

With respect to my experimenter's board, I'm not thinking in terms of USB to Parallel. The board has 2 input lines and allows explicit independent control of 8 lines out.

johnsfine · Post by **johnsfine** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:28 am

If you could understand the IR.exe source code and you could recompile after minor changes, it sounds like your USB experimenter's board would give you plenty of control to make a new kind of JP1 interface.

IIRC the development system used to compile IR.exe is "Delphi". The language is Pascal (with certain Delphi specific extras).

I expect that would be harder and take longer than getting a JP1 USB cable.

Post by **The Robman** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:30 am

I can send you a USB cable if you like. If I send it using Priority Mail International, the postage would be $11. It would cost less to send it via First Class Mail but I would need to weigh the envelope to get the exact rate, but it should be about $5 or $6.

Here's some more info on "bit banging":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bit-banging
http://www.ganssle.com/articles/auart.htm
http://www.dwhoffman.com/bit_banging/bbi2c_preview.pdf

CollieJim · Post by **CollieJim** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 12:04 pm

Pascal would not be much of a problem (I've been banging my head against the Silicon Wall for the past 30 years), but I don't have Delphi.

Rob, sounds good. How much is the USB cable, and how do I arrange payment?

Post by **The Robman** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 2:56 pm

CollieJim wrote:Rob, sounds good. How much is the USB cable, and how do I arrange payment?

Click on the "Rob's Remotes For Sale" link in my sig for more info.

Post by **The Robman** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 10:41 pm

Hey Jim,
Postage will be just $3 US.

e34m5 · Post by **e34m5** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:09 am

You would need Delphi to work on the IR code. I did some work on it a couple of years ago.

IIRC there weren't any special third party components used in IR.exe. It was all standard Delphi.

CollieJim · Post by **CollieJim** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 10:21 am

Thanks. For a once-off project it appears a bit cheaper to get the USB cable...