JP1 Remotes

I think the confusion originates with me saying that if he were to try looking for an FTDI cable, he needs to get one with 6 connectors as the ones with 4 won't work.

xonewm, while we do only need 4 connectors to make a JP1 cable, so 2 of the connectors are wasted and not needed. The 4 connectors that we need are only available on the 6-connector FTDI cables, if you get a 4-connector FTDI cable, one of the connectors that we need is one of the 2 that get dropped. Hope that makes sense.

Got the remote case open; pic of IC info:
http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/dload ... e_id=26688

When testing with Realterm the remote was "non-functional" while RTS was green. The remote never flashed twice to indicate access. It did not appear to enter serial mode or otherwise respond to Realterm actions other than set and clear RTS.

Using an ohmmeter, I believe the JP1 pins are(looking at the end of the plug)

5 3 1
6 4 2

5 & 1 are empty
3 is white GND wire
6 is green RXD wire
4 is black TXD wire
2 is red RTS wire

per pics of USB IC.

Robman, just saw your post about missing connector on 4 wire JP1.
I'll look into ordering the 6 wire cable.

Thanks.

xonewm wrote:When testing with Realterm the remote was "non-functional" while RTS was green. The remote never flashed twice to indicate access.

This says that the PC is communicating with the remote and that the RTS line is working. The instructions on the use of RealTerm say

As long as the RTS indicator is green the remote is being held reset and its keypad is inoperative. Click on the RTS Clear button to turn OFF the green indicator, and note that the remote's indicator flashes twice to indicate it has come out of reset and resumed normal operation.

So did you look for the two flashes when you clear RTS? If you looked and did not get them then it indicates to me that the remote is defective, as this test only uses the RTS line. I do not think you will get a different result with a different cable, but you are of course welcome to try it.

Thanks for the info.

There were no flashes after clear RTS.
I remember reading posts else where that the flashes did not always occur.

I have already ordered a cable linked to by Robman. It was inexpensive so I'll know more after it arrives.

I hope my current remote is okay.
Doesn't matter to me but my wife is harder to retrain.

It looks like the cable doesn't supply power to the remote.
The remote will need to have batteries installed.

Check your wiring on the connector.
TX and RX wires may be reversed on some cables.

Looking at the picture you uploaded the pinout should be like this:

ckeays, your drawing is the same as the end of my the cable, less the notch.
Strangely, the notch on the RCRP05BR socket is on the left.

If your drawing is viewing the back of the remote(not the end of the plug), connectors 2 & 6 are reversed, per color, from my cable.
Obviously, 2 & 4 would be okay since they're in the middle.

The IC in my cable is labeled "RTS" and is the red cable.
I'm under the impression the RTS wire must be correct for Realterm to disable the remote with RTS "green" set, which it did.

I'm reasonably sure I could swap the red and green wires, but I think I'll wait for the other cable to be delivered first.

Purchasing a new remote may be the final option,but I gotta know.

troubleshoot the cable.

Don't connect the cable to the remote.
Join RX and TX together. (Use a temporary wire jumper in the connector.)

type something in realterm or whatever terminal program you prefer.
If what you are typing appears on the screen your cable is working.

I found some of these cables (if they are knockoffs) work but don't work well at higher baud rates.

Try baud rate 115200. If it doesn't work at 115200 the cable is garbage.

Received a different cable. Came with inline 6 pin plug.
Installed 2x6 plug leaving 1 & 5 empty, same pin out as original cable. Different color code though.
RealTerm test now receiving 2 blinks on clear RTS; does not appear to be entering serial mode after break set/clear.

Not sure I specified, or even if it matters, but I'm using Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit which requires F8 during startup for unsigned drivers. Drivers are working though so it's a non-issue as the USB is recognized.

sometimes the chinese cables have Rxd and Txd reversed. try reversing the wires in the connector. With good batteries in the remote, it should work.

Will do.
Gonna take a while. TXD wire broke.
Got the wire fixed temporarily.
Now the double blink is after clear break.
Still not in serial mode.

Moved the RXD & TXD wires back to original pins.
Executed RMIR (by mistake) and successfully down loaded the remote!
Haven't got a clue why.
Possibly the RXD wire was not making a good connection?

Thanks to The Robman, 3FG, mathdon, and keays for your help.
Have been out of town visiting family. Will get back to this project soon.

Willie