iRule - Page 259

You can learn the commands using itach ilearn software. It is a bit finicky and I found that I have to learn a command, exit the app, relaunch, and then learn again. Alternatively, if you already have the pronto or hex code or IP code, you can just create as well.

Trying to make my first handset and this sucks big time! (Not the software, the learning curve) I feel like I did when I first started learning C# and VBA, completely lost. I just don't think I have the energy for this right now...

I am using iRule to control:

* Marantz AV 7005 Processor
* Panasonic 4000 Projector
* Popcorn Hour C-200 media center

I am trying to control a XBMC Frodo media center without results.
I enabled http control port 8080 on the xbmc and tryed all the command sets on the iRule database.
No results at all.
Any help?
Edited by marcosreg - 1/9/13 at 8:35am

Can't imagine a device Irule can't control.

Don't give up, Dave, it's not that bad. We are all here to help.

I figured that, but I was wondering how one would go about setting it up? But, after another hour of reading through the tutorials, I may have found a way.
Thanks for the support, I guess I am just tired and I don't know why these videos don't work on their web page?

http://iruleathome.com/how-to-videos/how-to-videos

I'm fiddling with the demo/trial and am hamstrung by some of the limitations on the # of panels. Can I control 3 "identical" DirecTV HR24 receivers in different rooms? using IP commands?

Absolutely.

Import 3 version of the DTV commands (and direct tune channels if you wish) and rename them so you can tell them apart. For me, I named mine by room, DTV Living Room, DTV Family Room, etc.

Assign the commands from these different versions to the correct panels/buttons in the builder. In your family room page use the commands from DTV Family Room.

Save.

Sync. on your tablet/phone

in the iRule app on your tablet/phone, add 3 HTTP gateways, name them the and set each to the respective DTV box's IP address with port 8080. Assign the corresponding device commands to this gateway.

Now each set of commands will control only the DTV box you desire.

Let us know if you have any trouble.

Anyone using GC-100-12s, how does it handle it when a second handset tries to connect?

IOW my ipad controls my theater and i have a handset on my iphone too. What happens if i want to use my phone? Does it just "bump" the ipad or will it not connect until i manually disconnect the ipad?

Thanks that sounds easy - I'll do it as soon as I get home. If I can figure out how to add some more panels to the demo, or maybe just buy the dumb thing already...

Any suggestions on how to hardwire the IR emitters/blasters into three rooms? in the other thread you mentioned CAT5 extenders

I don't really follow - If there only two wires could I just use speaker / lamp wire? Could I use powerline converters? or is there any way to convert that extender to a wireless signal and then back to IR?

It is just 2 wires, I suppose (though I am not an electrician or electrical engineer) that any 2 wire solution would work. I just happened to have 1000ft of cat6 wire on hand so used that. I used it again to connect my garage doors to the contact closure relays on my gc-100-12 to control my garage doors via iRule.

I am not certain the blaster would work over that distance extended in this manner. I have no experience with using the blasters. All of my IR controlled equipment has its own emitter or dual emitter.

The cat5/6 emitter extension method was suggested to me by forum guru and sometime iRule consultant Barry Gordon.

A new device can be made to control a unit if none exists. I did this for controlling J. River Media Center (a PC program). All that is necessary is knowledge of the codes necessary to control the device or use of an IR reader to learn the IR codes. In my case J. River built in the necessary network codes at my request. Users have contributed numerous such devices, providing control via IR, IP, and RS232, so chances are that there already exists a device to control the unit. Do you have a specific unit in mind?

I don't follow your comment on the limitation on the number of panels. You can add additional panels. You can control identical devices in separate rooms via separate IP addresses, RS232 ports, or IR emitters (Global Cache iTach IP2IR or WF2IR). You could uses separate Global Cache devices in separate rooms, or run separate IR emitters from the three IR ports on one device. Import the same device multiple times into the builder, rename some of the devices, use them to control separate HR24 receivers using separate gateways or IR ports.

You probably want twisted pairs for long runs.

You should probably test it to be sure, but the GC docs say that the second handset will steal the connection if it's been idle for more than 10 seconds. But that leaves the first handset unaware that it's not connected and it won't be able to send more commands until you go back to Panels in iRule and reenter the panel you were using.

Oh, man... That's a problem with the iRule site that needs to be fixed - those links went to really old videos, anyway. There are all new text, PDF, and video tutorials here:

http://support.iruleathome.com/customer/portal/articles/497964-all-irule-tutorials

Some of those pages have video tutorials on them, but you can just go to the iRule YouTube channel to see them all:
http://www.youtube.com/user/iruleathome?feature=watch

Use the Quick--Start guide to get started... WIth it, you should be able to get a nice, basic remote working in half an hour or less, then you can go nuts from there customizing, adding new devices, etc.
http://support.iruleathome.com/customer/portal/articles/880532

And of course, you're always welcome to post here or on iRule's support site if you run into any problems.

Cheers,
SC

Like krikstsemaj99 said, in general, the second handset can steal the connection from the first after a period of inactivity. However, if you have feedback, then I've noticed that situation can result in flakey behavior from both handsets. Put one to sleep, wait a few seconds, and everything returns to normal.

In my system at least, ideally one handset should be put to sleep (disconnected) before you try to connect another.

iTach is definitely better in this regard. Still, it's rare that I'm ever trying to control my HT system with more than one handset, or if I do, I'm in the room and I could put one to sleep and use the other.

SC

Once you get one up and running, it is easier..and then depending on how much a perferctionist you are, you can spend endless amount of time tweaking.
There is also template that you can use, which had some pre-assigned layout. That could get you started quicker.

I have read a lot of the tutorials, and looked at the quick start guide, but when I tried to make mine things like inputs were not there b/c I don't have a receiver in the living room. I guess I was just tired last night and things were not making sense. Once I get the iTach and Global cach units next week, I supposes I will be able to debug after running it for the first time.

Thanks for the links BTW.

I am a perfectionist and since I have used Photoshop for the last 10 years or so, I envisioned a custom remote from the beginning. I am starting to see how things work , so I am not as stressed as I was before. And I am guessing the IR learn feature will get me all the codes for things like changing channels,looking at menus etc, on my cable TV receiver here in Japan?

Where is the cheapest place to get some of the IR and Serial Itach adapters?

@mborner Thanks! for both the overview in laymans terms and also the diag. After posting I read of some referrals to 'RoomieRemote' and upon checking out their site they had similar digs and also a video tutorial that explains things much better. Then PENNY HAS DROPPED! Was such a mental block for me, now i get it I cant believe how stoopid I was being!! I understand the IR Blaster can in most cases do the job so I will start with that as I just dont like the thought of running more cables thru the system - although I've heard the Sony projector can play havoc with IR due its own rather strong IR emitter - so the individual emitters may be a necessity.


@ Mark P Thanks also! No I'm not scared, I was just plain confused After reading your feedback and the info @ roomieremote I have gone ahead and ordered a Itach IP2IR. I actually may give RoomieRemote a shot as it looks like it may do the trick, if in a less customisable way. No free trial though, so $10 to run 2 devices. Still needs emitters/blasters and the Itach so either way i think I'm now set. Am also looking into INSTEON lighting/HVAC options, is great that you can retro fit to existing building. But I'm getting ahead of myself.....

There may be some local brick & mortar options, but i just bought the IP2IR and found it marginally cheaper (inc P&H) at roomieremote.com (than irule store). Amazon were somewhere in between - various sellers shipping costs made it a more expensive option..

How do you upload your own background and set it?

This and this does nothing for me.

I can upload an image, but it will only be a button when dragged and dropped??????

Hi SC,

Thanks for the response. How do you put the app to "sleep?" Does that mean exiting the app in IOS or puttin the handset in standby with the top button?

Nicholas

The size of the image background is what determines how it will appear after you upload it. The first link shows you how to upload your own image, it can be whatever size you want. I have a Kindle Fire as my remote, it uses 1024 x 600 landscape backgrounds. So I searched the net and found some I wanted to use and uploaded them using the process shown in the first link. They fit perfectly in the background of my panels following the instructions from your second link:

Dave, your getting there! Look carefully at step seven of "Adding Backround Images" You must select the backround layer, otherwise, everything dragged onto your page will be a button. Be sure to set the Collumn and row to 1 and 1. Also, change the cell width and height of your backround to 1X1.

Edited by mborner - 1/10/13 at 7:01am

On the bottom left of the builder, under the panel your building, there is a drop down box, you have to change to "background." Think of it as layers. The background layer will be your wallpaper. You can drag and drop multiple images to this layer, however I'm not sure if there is a limit.
In the drop down box there is also a "foreground" layer. This layer is where your buttons reside. This allows you to place your buttons and to use the grid to line everything up. In the foreground you cannot see your background layer (just as you cannot see buttons in your background layer).

Then there is the "all layers" layer. It does just that. Composes your button layer on top of the background layer.

What happened to you was that it defaults to all layers when building a new panel. But if you drag a background image to the all layers panel it makes it a giant button.

Also a quick note. If you have a full size wallpaper in the background layer and another image on top of that in the same layer (my company logo on top of a wallpaper in my case) you can move the second background image while in the all layers panel. Sounds unimportant but is actually very helpful.

Sorry for being long winded but I hope that solves your problem!

If you put the handset in standby with the top button, then wake it up again, iRule should reconnect to all the gateways. Not sure if that's quicker than going back to the Panel list and reentering the panel you want, but at least you don't have to think about which panel you were using (it wakes up on the same page you were on when it went to sleep).

The second link is unfortunately not doing it for me.

The problem I am encountering is when browsing the libraries , the image is not there. But it is in my new library I created when I click on it?????

How do I get it to show up in the browse menu?

Cheers Dave

BTW, I can't change the properties of the image after I have clicked on it.

It will only be in the browse menu if you elected to share the image folder with the community. Also, make sure the folder you wish to add the image to is the one highlighted in builder. I've made that mistake before. I uploaded an image to what I thought was my own folder but it added it to one of the many other imported folders I had and was lost. I came across it months later when looking for some buttons.

So, add image library, name it something you wish, highlight it, upload images, select images from your computer you wish to add, upload, they will then be in the folder/image library you named in step one and can be dragged and dropped from there as backgrounds/buttons/what have you.