JP1 Remotes

i_am_jim · Joined: 26 Dec 2008 Posts: 134

I've owned three cables used to modify JP1.2/1.3 remotes. My first was a Serial cable. When it came it didn't work. The seller had me snip two wires and it started working, but the Serial port was a pain, so the next time I needed to change my remotes I ordered a USB cable. It worked great but I lost it. I replaced it with a cable from diygadget.com. The first cable they sent was DOA. They sent another my Win8 computer recognized but the drivers they linked to didn't make it work and diygadget.com couldn't make it work either. So, I got a refund and ordered from another vendor whose cable worked right off.

I writing this to say, if you're going to jump into JP1 programming, buy a cable with an FTDI chip. You can tell because the vendor will brag about it if it is. Also, I suggest you buy from one of these vendors:

EDIT: Confirmed working alternatives to chip partner:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-6Pin-FTDI-FT232RL-USB-to-TTL-RS232-Serial-Adapter-Cable-for-Arduino/312234679584

[Moderator note]Check the following thread for the latest information on where to get cables and how to connect them:

http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=16360

jgfarrell · Joined: 12 Apr 2010 Posts: 19 Location: Vancouver, Canada

If you're buying a cheap FTDI cable from Ebay or wherever, be aware that _if_ it contains a counterfeit FTDI chip, the latest drivers (including from Windows Update) will cause you problems.

Version 2.12.00 (26 August 2014) will semi-permanently brick counterfeit chips, and 2.12.00 (29 September 2014) and later versions will simply fail to function. (Google "FTDI brick")

Earlier driver versions will work, and can still be downloaded, surprisingly enough, from the FTDI website. (Download the VCP drivers under "No Longer Supported")

John

i_am_jim · Joined: 26 Dec 2008 Posts: 134

What source do you suggest?

mdavej · Expert Joined: 08 Oct 2003 Posts: 4501

Chip_partner above is a known good supplier, so far.

mdavej · Expert Joined: 08 Oct 2003 Posts: 4501

I recently got somecables from a few different vendors, one of which was in the US. I can't recommend any of them over Chip_partner. The US vendor was just as slow to ship as getting the cable all the way from China, despite being just 100 miles from my home. While all the cables I got did function, they were inferior to Chip_partner since they had no TX/RX activity LEDs.

Chip_partner had some issues a while back with their listing picture and description being wrong. But it's all sorted out now.

wtherrell · Joined: 06 Nov 2017 Posts: 12

Order shipped next day so I should have it this week. They are including a socket extender free of charge with each JP1 order through Dec. 31.

JackFrost · Joined: 25 Dec 2020 Posts: 12

Can anyone help and confirm that I could use this board and 6pin cables? I can either order from china/ebay and wait 2-3 weeks or I can buy it locally. They sell in Poland board from Waveshare with 6x 1pin cables:

https://www.waveshare.com/ft232-usb-uart-board-type-a.htm

they also sell a USB cable like the one below but not sure if it is a genuine chip that will not be bricked by the latest driver. Since I plan only using it once for programming one remote, I don't mind a pcb board sticking out from my notebook.

USB cable available in Poland:

The Robman · Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2020 12:53 pm Post subject:

Best I can say is, it *might* work. As you can see from my post in the other thread where you're talking about this, my FTDI cable *does* work with the streamer remote whereas my Prolific cable does *not* work (even though it does work with other remotes), and I can't tell from that page whether the board uses an FTDI chip, it mentions the right part number (FT232RL) but never actually says FTDI. Do you have a link for the USB cable? It has 6 pins which means it's likely to work, but again, it might be relevant which chip it uses.

I try to keep everything we know about potential cables listed here:
http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=16360

but keep in mind that eBay listings come and go, so the links in there often expire.
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JackFrost · Joined: 25 Dec 2020 Posts: 12

The Robman · Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2020 7:25 pm Post subject:

If they guarantee that it's an FTDI board, I think it's highly likely that it will work.

Do you have a link for the no-name cable?
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Please don't PM me with remote questions, post them in the forums so all the experts can help!

JackFrost · Joined: 25 Dec 2020 Posts: 12

It is in polish: https://allegro.pl/oferta/konwerter-usb-ttl-uklad-ftdi-ft232rl-9979654199

Translated description:

Barf · Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 5:26 am Post subject:

First of all, it should be 3.3 Volt; otherwise you will (likely?) fry the remote.

I have been using original cables from FTDI, model TTL-232R-3V3, but they appear to be comparatively hard to find today. (Mouser has them though; there is even a mouser.pl site.)

A third-party cable with FTDI chip "should" work, as long as it is 3.3 V and has the required signals.

JackFrost · Joined: 25 Dec 2020 Posts: 12

From I have read here, I can use the remote batteries as a power source without connecting VCCIO from the board and it is actually not even recommended.
So in that way it should be safer while leaving the jumper in 3.3V position.

mdavej · Expert Joined: 08 Oct 2003 Posts: 4501

I think Barf is referring to the signal voltage on each pin, not VCC since we never connect that anyway. If that jumper makes everything 3.3V, you should be ok.

The Robman · Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 9:56 pm Post subject:

I think all FTDI cables come with 5v on the VCC line, and that's all that I take that listings mention of 5v to mean, so I think that cable should work perfectly fine for JP1 use.
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Please don't PM me with remote questions, post them in the forums so all the experts can help!