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Volume 3 Issue 4
August 1998

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Background:
Communication with the PC-Remote is simple. It's just like using a standard universal remote controller, but you 'virtually' press and release keys by sending the PC-Remote commands over your serial port.

Send a key press sequence:
To send a key press command to the PC-Remote, you follow this sequence:

  • Select which button you wish to 'press' from the PROTOCOL table.
  • Send the byte to your COM port
  • Wait about 200 milliseconds (min) if you are sending an IR command, or 25 milliseconds (min) if you are programming your PC-Remote
  • Send a '$00' to 'release' the button

This four step process is all you need to know to begin sending IR commands to your audio/video equipment.

Programming the PC-Remote for your devices:
The PC-Remote can be programmed for up to 4 devices, but since you can write your own applications to send commands, you can use the PC-Remote to control as many devices as you wish. Just reprogram it on the fly!

Step 1: Select the source to program (Source 1, Source 2, Source 3, or Source 4)
Step 2: Send the 'Program' command (C0h)
Step 3: Wait 25 milliseconds
Step 4: Send the 'Release' command (00h)
Step 5: Send digit 1 of setup code
Step 6: Wait 25 milliseconds
Step 7: Send the 'Release' command (00h)
Step 8: Send digit 2 of setup code
Step 9: Wait 25 milliseconds
Step 10: Send the 'Release' command (00h)
Step 11: Send digit 3 of setup code
Step 12: Wait 25 milliseconds
Step 13: Send the 'Release' command (00h)

You have now programmed your PC-Remote to control the device stored in Source 1. To send IR commands, follow this similar procedure:

Step 1: Select the source to program (Source 1, Source 2, Source 3, or Source 4)
Step 2: Send the code for the button you wish to 'press'
Step 3: Wait 200 milliseconds
Step 4: Send the release button code (00h)

Binary Protocol:
HomAtion 2000 and CyberHouse cannot send binary protocol, but if you are writing your own applications, use the following protocol to communicate with the PC-Remote. Don't forget to send the 'release key' command '00' in between key presses.

Table 1:

Code Code (HEX) Function or key press
0 80h #0
1 81h #1
2 82h #2
3 83h #3
4 84h #4
5 85h #5
6 86h #6
7 87h #7
8 88h #8
9 89h #9
10 8Ah ENTER
11 8Bh MUTE
12 8Ch VOL+
13 8Dh VOL-
14 8Eh CH+
15 8Fh CH-
16 90h REWIND
17 91h PLAY
18 92h FF
19 93h RECORD
20 94h STOP
21 95h PAUSE
22 96h POWER
23 97h RECALL
24 98h TV/VCR
     
64 C0h PROGRAM
65 C1h SOURCE 1
66 C2h SOURCE 2
67 C3h SOURCE 3
68 C4h SOURCE 4
     
80 D0h Transmit IR continuously until told to stop
81 D1h Transmit IR once
82 D2h Transmit IR twice
83 D3h Transmit IR three times
84 D4h Transmit IR four times
85 D5h Transmit IR five times
86 D6h Transmit IR six times
87 D7h Transmit IR seven times
88 D8h Transmit IR eight times

ASCII Protocol: For use with the Gate Way I as the interface to the PC-Remote

If you plan to use the PC-Remote with HomAtion, CyberHouse, or any other program which uses ASCII text, but not binary, you must use the GateWay as an intermediate interface and follow the protocol outlined in Table 2:

Table2

PCRemote Function

ASCII
Protocol

PCRemote Function

ASCII Protocol

PCRemote Function

ASCII
Protocol

A

!

VOL-

D

CH UP

+

B

(

AUX2

#

REWIND

B

C

)

AMP

H

PAUSE

Q

POWER

P

TUNER

\

FF

F

1

1

CD

W

SPECIAL

G

2

2

7

7

CH DOWN

-

3

3

8

8

SHIFT

&

VOL+

U

9

9

STOP

S

AUX1

@

SCAN

N

VIDEO

Y

VCR

V

A/B

$

DISPLAY

*

TV

T

PLAY

L

RECORD

X

CABLE

C

AUDIO

A

PROGRAM

=

4

4

ENTER

E

MUTE

M

5

5

0

0

   

6

6

RECALL

R

   

If you are using the ASCII protocol, the Gate Way takes care of the timing. All you need to do iis send the command for the button press. With the Gate Way as the interface to the PC-Remote, you can send IR scripts within a single command.

The format in which you send commands to the PC-Remote via the Gate Way is as follows:
'Qn<Enter>' Where n is the function from the above table. Commands must be sent at 9600 baud and end with a Carriage Return and a Line Feed. To send a script, simply send more than one command at a time; i.e., QCP03<CR> will turn on the Cable box and set it to channel 3.

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