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🖥️ActiveHome Pro => SDK => Topic started by: dwayne on October 08, 2005, 11:37:07 AM

Title: IR Commander
Post by: dwayne on October 08, 2005, 11:37:07 AM
Does anyone have any idea how to get the IR
Commander to work? I could not get the
software to run, so I am playing with the
commands through the Active Home SDK to no
avail yet.
Title: Re: IR Commander
Post by: roger1818 on April 21, 2006, 01:54:13 PM
To the best of my knowledge you can't use it from AHP or the SDK yet.  Hopefully this will change soon.  As far as I know, the only way to control the IR Commander is with the free software you download for it.  According to the product page (http://www.x10.com/products/ux17a_bj2.htm), the software only supports the CM17A.  I am surprised that it doesn't also support the CM19A and CM15A since the firecracker software supports both of these interfaces.  Is this correct?
Title: Re: IR Commander
Post by: billy on April 27, 2006, 04:19:28 PM
dwayne,

The IR Commander (UX17A), VCR Commander(UX21A)  or VCR Commander II (UX23A)  have to be setup with X10 Commander software before you can use the RF codes..
roger1818 is correct,  you need a CM17A firecracker to run the X10 Commander software that will allow you set up the IR/VCR commander. I have the X10 Commander software on an old Win98se box, if I remember there are issues with X10 Commander and XP.
Once you have the IR/VCR Commander setup for the devices you want to control (TV, CD, VCR,DVD),  you can use the CM15A to send the RF commands.  You must use the "Old RF Remote Commands"  ie: 00TV, 03Power, 01MUTE....

ahcmd sendrf e1 00TV             (selects the TV device)
ahcmd sendrf e1 03POWER       
ahcmd sendrf e1 01MUTE

Make sure you include the 2 digits at the beginning of the command, that one bit me for awhile.

Title: Re: IR Commander
Post by: roger1818 on April 27, 2006, 05:19:50 PM
Billy: Thanks for the information.  One question though.  What are the differences between the UX17A, UX21A and UX23A?
Title: Re: IR Commander
Post by: X10 Pro on April 27, 2006, 05:43:08 PM
UX17A has only the IR Commander features in it. UX21A and UX23A are VCR Commander & VCR Commander II, respectively. They have the features used by IR Commander, but are mainly used to start and stop recording on a VCR (or DVDR or DVR) based on input from X10 motion sensors.
Title: Re: IR Commander
Post by: Tuicemen on April 27, 2006, 10:47:57 PM
dwayne:
Inorder to get the Ir commander working you can't have any other X10 software installed on the PC.
I have it installed on an old windows 98 box as well as a XP box. It took some doing to get it installed and working in XP but I now have it running and sending commands. ;) :D
Title: Re: IR Commander
Post by: Tuicemen on May 12, 2006, 03:32:50 PM
Billy: since you have the commander working using the Sdk are you running the sdk from win98 or XP? The old commands don't work for me with XP, Ahp reports a different code than what is documented in the help file! I've only tried controling the vcr, haven't tried the tv yet! ???
Title: Re: IR Commander
Post by: billy on May 15, 2006, 12:00:43 PM
Tuicemen,

I have X10 Commander running on my old "Win98 SE" box, normally with a Firecracker (CM17A)  & Mouse Remote Receiver(MR26A).  The CM19A USB Transceiver does work with X10 Commander on the Win98 box.  I have the SDK and AHP (no X10 Commander) on my "XP SP2" box.   I use the SDK (ahscript.dll, X10nets) for my applications using the CM19A.  My CM15A runs disconnected from the PC, and acts as a transceiver for the commands from the CM19A.
Title: Re: IR Commander
Post by: Tuicemen on May 15, 2006, 01:03:04 PM
humm I don't have  commander on the same machine as the SDK I didn't think the commander software needed to see the rf commands sent to the ircommander.
when I press TV power in the commander software my cm17a sends the command
RecieveRF E Power is seen with AHP Activity monitor  on my other pc
If i use the sdk and try to send the power command  the activity monitor in AHP sees
TransmitRF E Pause
TransmitRF E SkipNext
 ??? Perhaps it is a cm15a issue ! ??? ::)
Title: Re: IR Commander
Post by: billy on May 15, 2006, 04:48:05 PM
Tuicemen,

I'll check that out tonight when I get home, and let you know.
Title: Re: IR Commander
Post by: billy on May 15, 2006, 10:22:17 PM
Tuicemen,

Here's some of the commands and logs.

Send "TV Power" to VCR Commander UX21A (Toggles TV ON-OFF):
Note: must send the 63Release after each command.

Windows XP SP2 with CM19A:
C:AHP Projects>ahcmd sendrf e3 03Power
C:AHP Projects>ahcmd sendrf e3 63Release

Windows XP SP2 with CM15A:
C:AHP Projects>ahcmd sendrf e3 03Power
C:AHP Projects>ahcmd sendrf e3 63Release


NOTE: FIRST LINE IS LAST RECEIVED BY COMMAND LOGGER

Received on XP SP2 with CM15A:

From PERL app. MR House on Win98 SE Box:
recvrf e8 63Release -1 Tue May 16 02:03:29 CDT 2006
recvrf e8 63Release 0 Tue May 16 02:03:29 CDT 2006
recvrf e3 03Power -1 Tue May 16 02:03:29 CDT 2006
recvrf e3 03Power 0 Tue May 16 02:03:28 CDT 2006
recvrf e8 63Release -1 Tue May 16 02:03:28 CDT 2006
recvrf e8 63Release 0 Tue May 16 02:03:28 CDT 2006
recvrf e1 00TV -1 Tue May 16 02:03:27 CDT 2006
recvrf e1 00TV 0 Tue May 16 02:03:27 CDT 2006


From Commander on Win98 SE Box:
recvrf e8 63Release -1 Tue May 16 01:55:07 CDT 2006
recvrf e8 63Release 0 Tue May 16 01:55:06 CDT 2006
recvrf e3 03Power -1 Tue May 16 01:55:06 CDT 2006
recvrf e3 03Power 0 Tue May 16 01:55:05 CDT 2006
recvrf e8 63Release -1 Tue May 16 01:55:05 CDT 2006
recvrf e8 63Release 0 Tue May 16 01:55:05 CDT 2006
recvrf e1 00TV -1 Tue May 16 01:55:05 CDT 2006
recvrf e1 00TV 0 Tue May 16 01:55:04 CDT 2006
recvplc p16 On                     $ This is just part of Init of Commander, which I just ignore


'RecieveRF E Power is seen with AHP Activity monitor on my other pc
If i use the sdk and try to send the power command  the activity monitor in AHP sees
TransmitRF E Pause
TransmitRF E SkipNext'

Yes, I see the same thing, AHP does not handle the commands correctly.



Title: Re: IR Commander
Post by: Tuicemen on May 16, 2006, 09:56:43 AM
Hey thanks Billy! :)
Thought I was going of the deep end with the Activity monitor showing completly different commands!
So do I need the release command after the unit selection eg C:\AHP Projects>ahcmd sendrf e3 00TV?
or just after the action eg C:\AHP Projects>ahcmd sendrf e3 03Power?

Which command are you using for your vcr? 06VCRAux11, 11VCRAuxA, 47TVOrVCR or something else? ???


Title: Re: IR Commander
Post by: billy on May 16, 2006, 10:30:16 AM
Use ahcview.exe from the SDK page to monitor the commands using CM15A.

Yes,  the 63Release must be sent after each and every command.
Otherwise the VCR Commander will keep sending the IR command.
How do I know this?
I use an XCAM2 with a lens from a VC10A (old color indoor cam) which does not have an IR filter in it.
Now with modified IR cam I can see the flashing of the IR Emitters.

Removing the IR filter makes the XCAM2 an excellent low light cam, but it does screw up the colors!


Title: Re: IR Commander
Post by: Tuicemen on May 16, 2006, 11:58:44 AM
Quote from: billy on May 16, 2006, 10:30:16 AM
Use ahcview.exe from the SDK page to monitor the commands using CM15A.
I thought of this but since I'm using the cm15a to send the commands it only shows recieved thats why I used the Activity monitor!
I'll play more with this on the week end at least I know now not to rely on the activity monitor info! ;) thanks again!
Title: Re: IR Commander
Post by: steinie44 on November 25, 2006, 05:45:21 PM
I know that you can't program the IR Commander with AHP, but once it is programmed will it work with AHP?
I don't care if the activity monitor reports different commands.
I Just need Record and Stop to work.
ie; A1 on send Record, A1 off send Stop.
Title: Re: IR Commander
Post by: Tuicemen on November 25, 2006, 10:24:12 PM
steinie44:

Once the ir commander is programed (royal pain unless you have a free pc with no other x10 stuff on it)

you can have AHP send a windows command (batch file) that will turn on/off your device.

or any other ir command you wish but this is a long about way!

Hopefuly x10 will make a plug-in for this
***SOON*** ;) :D ;D
Title: Re: IR Commander
Post by: steinie44 on December 17, 2006, 07:41:03 AM
We need something like this....! ;)

http://www.smarthome.com/1623.html

Any one know where I can Get one? ???

 ;)
Title: Re: IR Commander
Post by: steinie44 on December 17, 2006, 08:30:03 AM
Quote from: Tuicemen on November 25, 2006, 10:24:12 PM
steinie44:

Once the ir commander is programed (royal pain unless you have a free pc withno othe x10 stuff on it)

you can have AHP send a windows command (batch file) that will turn on/off your device.

or any other ir command you wish but this is a long about way!

Hopefuly x10 will make a plug-in for this
***SOON*** ;) :D ;D
:D


I have a laptop with no x10 at all on it!

Can I program the IR Commander on the laptop then use it on my desktop with AHP?

Why do I need to use a batch file? can't I just send a x10 code with AHP or a RF Transmitter?

 :-\
Title: Re: IR Commander
Post by: Tuicemen on December 17, 2006, 10:54:13 AM
You cam program it with your laptop if you have never installed any x10 software on it!
you'll need a firecracker CM17A for you laptop as well
Write down all the codes for your devices configured with the commander! ::) ;)
You then need to use the SDK on your desktop to send extended RF commands like:
[/b][/color]
AHP can't send this code YET ::) :o :(
AHP can start a batch file which send the commands from the SDK, this can be triggered with the windows command option in a macros.
The batch file would look something like this:[li]@rem echo off[/li]
[li]cd C:C:Program FilesAHSDKin[/li]
[li]ahcmd sendrf e3 00TV[/li]
[li]ahcmd sendrf e3 63Release[/li]
[li]ahcmd sendrf e3 03power[/li]
[li]ahcmd sendrf e3 63Release[/li]
[/list]
Your TV code no doubt will be different!  ;) :D
Name the batch file TV_Power.bat then from AHP you have a macro with window command "(location of batch file)TV_Power.bat"
You have to do this for each commad  you wish to use so you can see it is a lot of work! ::) :( ;)
For powering on/off you would use the same batch file,so if you just want to turn on/off devices it isn't too bad! ;) :D ;D
;)***GOOD LUCK*** ;)
 :) Cheers :)
[/size]
Title: Re: IR Commander
Post by: Charles Sullivan on April 27, 2007, 12:27:03 AM
Tuicemen,
I finally got X10 Commander for the UX17A (xcom027) working, with a fresh new Win XP installation.

However I can only control ONE device with it.  If I setup for TV, I can control only the TV; if I setup for VCR, I can control only the VCR.
Which ever device is setup last is the only device which can be controlled.

Regardless of what mode is selected in the GUI,  Commander sends the exact same RF code (say for Power and Channel numbers) according to the output I see from a MR26A.  I've tried two different UX17A units with the same result.

Have you (or anyone else) actually managed to control more than one device at a time with a UX17A ?
Title: Re: IR Commander
Post by: Tuicemen on April 27, 2007, 06:56:39 AM
Charles Sullivan
Wish I could say I had it working with more then one device, but I only ever set it up for one. I had other projects on the table so I boxed it up and haven't used it since ::) Perhaps someone else has been able to program it for more than one device. Maybe your missing a save command or a simple device switch in your testings ???
I'm off for a weeks holidays so I'll try to remember to have a look at it(play with it) when I get back ;) :D ;D
Title: Re: IR Commander
Post by: MichaelC on April 27, 2007, 02:34:13 PM
Tuicemen, it takes a lot of dedication to make batch files like that. The IR Commander hardware is basically like pushing buttons with RF commands, not like sending the commands or even the instructions to send the commands. While it's a great idea, it's fundamentally flawed.
Title: Re: IR Commander
Post by: Charles Sullivan on April 27, 2007, 05:00:59 PM
Quote
I wrote:
Regardless of what mode is selected in the GUI,  Commander sends the exact same RF code (say for Power and Channel numbers) according to the output I see from a MR26A.  I've tried two different UX17A units with the same result.

OK, I've finally got this figured out.  The problem is that the UX17A Commander software (xcom27.exe) is buggy and doesn't send any code to switch modes between TV, VCR, DVD, etc., when the Commander MODE menu item is clicked.  However I was able to discover the correct switch codes and send them with the CM17A Firecracker using my own software.  They can also be sent with the AHP SDK.

Unfortunately the SDK code for UX17A TV mode is not the "e3 00TV", nor does "e3 03Power" control the power switch.  But the following work:
   To switch to TV mode:
      ahcmd  sendrf  e3  29MenuToggle
      ahcmd  sendrf  e3  63Release

   To switch to VCR mode:
      ahcmd  sendrf  e3  28Six
      ahcmd  sendrf  e3  63Release

   To turn Power On/Off in either mode;
      ahcmd  sendrf  e3  30MouseAuxB
      ahcmd  sendrf  e3  63Release

When I get a round tuit, I'll try to post the equivalent SDK commands for the rest of the UX17A functions (assuming anyone really cares).

Title: Re: IR Commander
Post by: Tuicemen on May 07, 2007, 08:00:51 PM
Quote from: MichaelC on April 27, 2007, 02:34:13 PM
Tuicemen, it takes a lot of dedication to make batch files like that. The IR Commander hardware is basically like pushing buttons with RF commands, not like sending the commands or even the instructions to send the commands. While it's a great idea, it's fundamentally flawed.
True
The post was just an example to show the posibilities.Perhaps X10 will make a plugin for this which would make lfe simpler!
As Charles Sullivan   stated he has his own program to do this! perhaps once the bugs are ironed out he'll post a link to it! ;)
Title: Re: IR Commander
Post by: Charles Sullivan on May 07, 2007, 11:17:15 PM
Quote from: Tuicemen on May 07, 2007, 08:00:51 PM
Quote from: MichaelC on April 27, 2007, 02:34:13 PM
Tuicemen, it takes a lot of dedication to make batch files like that. The IR Commander hardware is basically like pushing buttons with RF commands, not like sending the commands or even the instructions to send the commands. While it's a great idea, it's fundamentally flawed.
True
The post was just an example to show the posibilities.Perhaps X10 will make a plugin for this which would make lfe simpler!
As Charles Sullivan   stated he has his own program to do this! perhaps once the bugs are ironed out he'll post a link to it! ;)

I've got both the UX17A and UX23A working (including the initial setup) on my Linux system using Heyu as a back end to drive a CM17A.  It's in pieces at the moment and I'm in the process of putting it all together.  The most time consuming part has been due to bugs in the two Windows Commander programs - it's a little more difficult to reverse engineer a program when the original doesn't work.   :-\    Both the UX17A and UX23A are neat little devices.  It's unfortunate that X-10 didn't take more care with the Commander software.

Once I've got them finished I'll put the source code up on the Heyu website and post a message here.  It ought to be easy enough to port back to Windows using the AHP SDK to drive the CM15A.  The main usability limitation will be whether the built-in tables in the UX17A and/or UX23A include the IR codes for more recent models of TV, VCR, DVD, etc.  (AFAIK, there's no provision for the UX23A to "learn" the IR codes for anything beyond Record/Stop for a VCR.)

Title: Re: IR Commander
Post by: Charles Sullivan on June 26, 2007, 04:39:26 PM
I wrote:
Quote
Once I've got them finished I'll put the source code up on the Heyu website and post a message here.  It ought to be easy enough to port back to Windows using the AHP SDK to drive the CM15A.

As promised:
Lux17 and Lux23 are console programs to configure and operate, respectively, the X-10 UX17A "IR Commander" and UX23A "VCR Commander II" devices under Linux/Unix/Mac OS X.  They use Heyu as a back end to drive a CM17A "Firecracker" RF transmitter.  The source code is available in the utilities section of the Heyu website (http://www.heyu.org) and is released under the GNU General Public License.

Note: I tried a simple port to Windows XP using the ahcmd.exe command from the AHP SDK to send the RF signals with a CM15A.  Unfortunately ahcmd.exe crashes so frequently as to make the port essentially useless.