USB-UIRT events keep generating different names

[thejipster]

Hi,

When I try to generate events through my USB-UIRT by pressing a button on my remote pointed at the USB-UIRT device, the log of EventGhost keeps showing different name for the same button each time I press it. Is this normal? Also, a different name will also be generated when I adjust the distance between the USB-UIRT and the remote.
Thanks in advance

Thanks
- J

[Bitmonster]

If the code changes between two or four different codes for one button (so to speak the code is cycling), this can be fixed.

If the codes are complete random, most likely either:

- The USB-UIRT gets distorted by another IR source like a Plasma or LCD display that is shining into the sensor. Or a fluorescent lamp. Or even the sun. We also had a user in a german forum, that had a similar problem. He was searching for some days till he found out, that another remote lay under a book and the book was pressing a button of the remote permanently.

- Your remote uses one of the protocols nearly every generic receiver will have problems with (RC-MM codes for example). What kind of remote is it? If it is a universal remote, try another code branch, like Sony.

[thejipster]

I have lots of flourecent lighting in the office right now where I am doing the testing.
Incidently, when I put the remote right up against the face of the USB-UIRT, the code seems to be consistent. Should I do this this way then?

It is a remote for a Pansat 2500A Free-to-Air Satelite box.

Thanks!
- J

[Bitmonster]

Normally the USB-UIRT receives codes very well, even if they are bouncing from walls. So to find out if the light is the problem, I would try to turn of the light and look if reception then works well.

I don't know your satellite box, but many of them are using RC-MM (I guess because all of them are using a chipset from the same manufacturer) and that is bad luck. Try some other remote to see if this is the problem.

[thejipster]

Normally the USB-UIRT receives codes very well, even if they are bouncing from walls. So to find out if the light is the problem, I would try to turn of the light and look if reception then works well.

I don't know your satellite box, but many of them are using RC-MM (I guess because all of them are using a chipset from the same manufacturer) and that is bad luck. Try some other remote to see if this is the problem.

So, having the Remote touch the face of the USB-UIRT is not reliable even though it produces the same code everytime in the event log? Can you please clarify.

Incidentally, I placed the remote 2 inches from the USB-UIRT unit and covered it up using my hands and the code was consistent. So your theory about the light being a factor is true. I cannot simply turn off everyone's office light right now


thanks again

[Bitmonster]

So, having the Remote touch the face of the USB-UIRT is not reliable even though it produces the same code everytime in the event log? Can you please clarify.

thanks again

Do you want to control your PC this uncomfortable way?

[thejipster]

So, having the Remote touch the face of the USB-UIRT is not reliable even though it produces the same code everytime in the event log? Can you please clarify.

thanks again

Do you want to control your PC this uncomfortable way?

The code learned in this method would be the same code generated if there wasn't any light interference right? So I assume if the code is correct, then when I put the unit away from the light source, I wouldn't have to have the remote "touching" the USB-UIRT to work.

[Bitmonster]

Oh, and to make this topic more complete. Even if you get consistent codes if you go very near to the receiver, this does not mean, the codes are suitable. Especially RC-MM has the characteristic to show such behaviour. It's like a green light, that you are watching through red glasses. You might see something with it in a dark room, but it is not suitable to work as a good torch.

So grab a remote from your colleagues and compare the results.

And don't misinterpret the results from "learning" codes (in the Transmit action). This works through a complete different sensor. This will only work if you go very near. But the results are very accurate even for problematic codes. So if your goal is only to learn these codes for transmission, then your chances are good.

[thejipster]

Thanks for the comments!

Actually, it is kind of hard to explain what I want to do, so I am trying to figure out if EventGhost can help.

I want to be able to VNC into the box that the USB-UIRT is connected to and somehow have it send IR signals to the Pansat STB receiver via USB-UIRT as if I was holding a remote and pointing directly to the Pansat.

I hope I got my terminalogy correct, but here is what I was thinking.

I would imagine what once I am VNC into the machine, I would need to start some sort of program so that I can activate an event which would give me an exclusive on a Context folder with a bunch of macros defined that has all the IR transmiter codes learned from the Pansat remote. Maybe if fired up notepad and cause it to call an exclusive on that Pansat macro folder. Then assign a keyboard event that will trigger these macros. Perhaps, assign the number 1 for the "1 macro" which send the IR code through the USB-UIRT.

Can you even tie keyboard strokes to events as triggers for various Macros within the context of the Notepad application?

Do you think this would work? Do you have any recommendations on how one maybe able to achieve what I want?

Thanks

[Bitmonster]

Well, yes, the chance to get such kind of setup running is not bad, but it is also not the easiest.

You can for example use the "Desktop Remote" plugin to get some button panel to control the USB-UIRT through VNC. http://www.eventghost.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=513

Or you can use the Webserver plugin (if you have a secure connection to the remote machine. VPN for example).

You can also use the Network plugins to control a remote EG instance. Then you can use the Desktop Remote, or Keyboard, or any other plugin locally to send the events to the remote machine, that then controls the USB-UIRT.

There are endless setups thinkable. You have to be creative with the "EventGhost's LEGO-like blocks".

[thejipster]

Wow, the "desktop remote" plug in looks superb. It might do the trick. I will also check out the other options you had mentioned to see which one I like most. I do like the webserver option as well.

Just found an example of the HTTP plugin. Man, that looks simple to use. I think I can just great an Event called Button1, Button2 .... and call it directly from HTTP.

I then tie that Event to a Macro, which spits out the right IR code.

That should work. I will test it out tonight and report back. I tried installing the latest beta earlier today and ran into some issues when learning the IR code. If I hold the button too long during the learning process, it crashes in Vista. So the Desktop Remote solution may have to wait, but for now, the HTTP solution may just do the trick.

-------- results

I ended up using the Desktop Remote plugin from the beta release and was able to build a "remote" w/ the same functionalities as the Pansat remote. If anyone is interested in a Pansat 2500a Remote XML file, let me know.

I also started playing w/ the Webserver plugin and built a simple HTML page that can fire off the events as well. All is good now.

Thanks!!! I am going to donate!

Thanks
- J