Ultra Interface questions

Nils_Ekberg · Post by **Nils_Ekberg** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 5:20 pm

The Robman wrote:I really don't know if it cures the laptop voltage issue, but that is why it was invented, so I'm guessing it does (I've never owned an Ultra myself).

I can attest to the fact that it does. With a simple cable on my Thinkpad I had nothing but trouble. Since I went with the Ultra I have not had a single problem with a great many different remotes.

Mark Pierson · Post by **Mark Pierson** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 5:33 pm

Nils_Ekberg wrote:have not had a single problem

U-S-B

... U-S-B

8)

e34m5 · Post by **e34m5** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 6:00 pm

I've never had a single problem with my laptop and a simple cable.

Post by **ElizabethD** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 9:36 am

e34m5 wrote:I've never had a single problem with my laptop and a simple cable.

Interesting. The laptop I now use is Compaq Evo (3.25v), behaves a bit worse than the old Compaq Armada 300 (3.5v).
It just can't pull the line well enough. When remote batteries are new, I have to replace 2 with old ones. When slightly used, 1 replacement is sufficient. In and out, in and out - it's becoming a pest during quick IR trials.

I believe Nils clued me in a while back to the reasons and wrote about the battery swapping trick or ultra cable option. I just haven't acted on that advice yet. Does this ultra thing, by the way, have decent thumb screws or these pesty little screwdriver jobs my 'simple' cable has?

Mark, is USB an option to consider? why? why not?

e34m5 · Post by **e34m5** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 12:49 pm

Oddly enough I've never had any issues with batteries either. I've programmed about a dozen 8810's for friends and family so far.

zackark · Post by **zackark** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 10:38 pm

I've been using an original simple design (10K resistors) cable with my Dell laptop for about 2 years (1994 remotes) with no problems. I did follow the advice in Tommy's construction manual when I built my cable and made a "dummy" battery out of dowel rod and aluminum foil. I always replace one of the batteries in the remote with the dummy battery and it works every time.

Bill

Nils_Ekberg · Post by **Nils_Ekberg** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 9:46 am

Thats what it comes down to. If you use a simple interface you may have to try different workarounds like with batteries, without batteries, old batteries, new batteries, standing on your head, special way of holding your mouth, and a dummy battery. With the ultra you don't need to worry about that as it compensates for the voltage mismatch.

Simple/personal choice. If you are happy with the workarounds then stay with the simple interface but since I work with so many different remotes and each one needed a different workaround I decided to convert to the ultra and happy I did.

Mark Pierson · Post by **Mark Pierson** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 11:26 am

Nils_Ekberg wrote:since I work with so many different remotes and each one needed a different workaround...

My reasoning for going with the USB.

Plus, my laptop doesn't have serial or parallel ports when out of the docking station.

Nils_Ekberg · Post by **Nils_Ekberg** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 12:13 pm

Mark Pierson wrote:My reasoning for going with the USB.

Plus, my laptop doesn't have serial or parallel ports when out of the docking station.

I agree on the USB as the long range way to go

but I just have not had to make the jump yet since my laptop has the parallel port.

Post by **ElizabethD** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 2:41 pm

This battery replacement routine is a nuisance to me, so thanks for lots of good advice, as usual

.

zackark wrote:I've been using an original simple design (10K resistors) cable with my Dell laptop for about 2 years (1994 remotes) with no problems.

Yeah, Dell. Sure. I wish I had one. Desktop PC was fabulous. Ages ago, when we used Dells and Compaqs, Compaq repairmen used Dells, 'cause they worked

.