JP1 Remotes

[Joe Kane]

First off, as someone with a fair amount of IR experience, I have to say 'hats off' for the tools produced in conjunction with this forum.

In the early 90s, my then employer was working with an upstart company that was building a database of IR code, a language to describe the protocols , and developing a line of 'universal' remotes that were programmable via proprietary software, a 3 pin interface (not yet 6) in the battery compartment. From my knowledge of those days and the protocols and descriptive language, I'd day you've really accomplished a great deal with the JP1 interface.

After that time I have spent far more time in Pronto IR code space. I have an ADI (Ocelot) IR setup at home, a large database of Pronto based codes, and both homegrown and acquired tools. The system works more on a keycode storage system, as opposed to the protocol algorithm that UEIC uses. Accordingly, I'm more versed in Remote Central and Makehex.

I was aware of the JP1 site for what it is, but since I don't primarily use UEIC remotes these days, I never spent a whole lot of time exploring the site.

I do have a UEIC-centric need now, and after spending lots of time exploring the various tools offered here (RM, IR, PB, IRSCOPE), I can see definite uses for your toolsets, especially since you have added Pronto based import and export. I have worked on many flavors of tools in the past, but since I tend to work on/process new IR code in spurts, I never really polished anything to the level you have here.

The tools themselves provide various pieces of functionality that I could include in my current IR work-flow. If I could find a way to script them for my particular work-flow it would be more beneficial to me, but I digress.

So prelude aside, here is what I'm trying to do:

I have a small population of URC8811B00 (Signature 6_806_60) remotes that I'd like to reprogram for a custom purpose. Long story short, I need to make some small custom alterations to a known protocol (GI Cable), and program a set of remotes for a proof of concept.

I know the protocol well, and I know its also well described in IRP form. Before I modified the protocol, my first step is to attempt to recreate it using the various tools here, and load the protocol upgrade into a new device. Once I was convinced that I can do this reliably and can control the target device, I'd work on making the custom modifications.

Rather than re-capture codes for a protocol that was well known, I was trying to get cleanly from IRP format to a protocol upgrade that would load on the 8811 remotes. So far this has proved to be a little challenging.

Knowing that UEIC puts their 'well known' protocols in ROM (at least in the past), I don't think there is any clean way to read out the stored ROMed database/protocol definition of GI for this particular remote. I have searched through the forums and upgrades, and couldn't find an explicit protocol upgrade for GI cable that works on the 8811. Yes there are device upgrades, but I didn't find a combo that was appropriate for my case.

I have now played with PB, IR, and RM quite a bit, and even tried to copy the protocol.ini definition for GI cable into the 'decode' section' of PB (after added the appropriate 'protocol upgrade =' etc While I'm pretty familiar with this protocol, I'm not entirely sure how to completely describe it in the PB builder fields, particularly it's unique checksum. What I also noticed is that the protocol upgrade definition produced in PB is several bytes smaller than the definition in the ini file, and smaller than what I paste into the 'decode'.

As far as I can tell, the URC8811B00 remotes are using Sc38+ processors. I also note that in the protocol.ini definition only includes references to SC38. I know that the protocol upgrade definitions differ between the two, but haven't yet found the decoder ring to translate. Perhaps the translation to SC38+ is handled in s/w by IR/RM?

Among the various tools, I haven't found (but have tried many combinations) of getting from an IRP definition to the specific protocol upgrade.

What I can do:
I have the simple parallel port to Jp1 cable, and can read/write the 8811 remotes. I have added a new device (1479) along with a protocol upgrade (PID set to 1E1, because my remote doesn't have it natively).

I tried converting the protocol.ini GI cable data into a protocol upgrade as follows:

[Capn Trips]

The GI Cable protocol (00C4) is built in to the 8811 and both RM and KM fully support making upgrades for the 8811 with this protocol. I'm not sure that I understand your dilemma. The protocol upgrade (not required for the 8811) is:

[Joe Kane]

What I what to be able to do is modify the protocol for a specific purpose. Before I did that, I wanted to confirm that I can load the original protocol (as an upgrade) int othe 8811 and convince myself that that part of the process works. As part two, I want to make changes to the protocol. I was hoping to be able to do that from within PB.

When I paste the protocol.ini version of GI into PB, and do the decode, it produces a smaller output, and one that (so far doesn't properly) control the target device.

[Capn Trips]

Yeah, but I'm telling you that the protocol upgrade you "calculated" from the S3C8 matches exactly the protocol used by the tools for S3C8+, so I'd wager that it is correct for the 8811. If by "doesn't work" you mean that one OBC that you tested does not do what you hoped it would do, I would first try other OBCs. The protocol is fine.

You provide a LOT of background but you're still talking in riddles that simply obscure the missing info. What device are you trying to control? We cannot guess at OBCs without SOMEthing about the device.
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Remotes: OFA XSight Touch, AR XSight Touch
TVs: LG 65" Smart LED TV; Samsung QN850BF Series - 8K UHD Neo QLED LCD TV
RCVR: Onkyo TX-SR875; Integra DTR 40.3
DVD/VCR: Pioneer DV-400VK (multi-region DVD), Sony BDP-S350 (Blu-ray), Toshiba HD-A3 (HD-DVD), Panasonic AG-W1 (Multi-system VCR);
Laserdisc: Pioneer CLD-D704.
Amazon Firestick
tape deck: Pioneer CT 1380WR (double cassette deck)
(But I still have to get up for my beer)

[ElizabethD]

The protocol CapnTrips posted from KM is identical to what RM puts out for 881x remotes

[The Robman]

I have created a commented PB file that exactly replicates the executor that's built into UEI remotes, and I have created a KM file that uses the protocol so you can test it.

Both files are zipped together here:
http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/dload.php?action=file&file_id=8553

Load the PB file into PB to make changes, then re-assemble it. If you don't change the protocol id or the number of input bytes, you can copy the new protocol straight to IR to test it, but if you want to save it for future use, you should also copy it to the KM file.

If you want help making the changes for this first attempt, describe how you want your new version to work and I can help you make the changes. Then once you know how to do it, you should be able to do it yourself next time.
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Rob
www.hifi-remote.com
Please don't PM me with remote questions, post them in the forums so all the experts can help!

[The Robman]

[The Robman]

[Joe Kane]

[The Robman]

[vickyg2003]

[The Robman]

Manual Settings upgrades have typically been a problem for RM. For the longest time there wasn't a way to start one in RM, you could only import them. There is a way to start them in RM now, but it's not fool-proof, I've had cases where the executor code just wouldn't save, or the settings that state how to handle it wouldn't save, I don't remember exactly. But regardless, the controls are somewhat hidden whereas in KM they are all out in the open.

Like I said, I'm just talking about the development stage, once the upgrade is finished the final test should be to import it into RM and if it doesn't import correctly (which is sometimes the case when the code uses more than 1 variable byte) you can make the final corrections in RM and save an RM copy too.
_________________
Rob
www.hifi-remote.com
Please don't PM me with remote questions, post them in the forums so all the experts can help!

[Joe Kane]

Thanks Rob.

Running through the tools for a while, it still wasn't entirely clear to me which one was better suited (KM vs RM). I get some funny behavior sometimes in KM and PB where the function buttons were resizing and just about disappearing after I had gone through a number of iterations. I'd have to quit the spreadsheet and restart. Some of the process flows in RM seem a little awkward and it took me a while to get the process down, and some of the subtleties are just that. I don't mean it as a knock in any way; the tools are very powerful.

I've got everything working now, and have confirmed I can edit with PB and see the proper protocol changes reflected in output.

As to EFC vs. OBC. vs. Hex and this comment from Liz:

[The Robman]

[mr_d_p_gumby]