Roomie Remote - Page 13

I control my Epsom 8700ub via serial using gc-100. Works great!

Thanks for the extra details. To answer your question, my own setup is still evolving - I've been focusing on control of my home theater, but my approach for music playback (currently dictated by a distinct lack of free time) is to gather all the jigsaw pieces before putting the full puzzle together. I anticipate using Pandora (or similar) from my iTouch, to an AppleTV puck, and then doing a D/A conversion to my B&K CT600 whole-house controller.

I used to run JRiver on an HTPC into the CT600 (and to a dedicated audio rig), but ultimately became tired with the overhead and relative inconvenience of having a Windows box in the chain. I've used JRiver's Media Center since version 7, and, IIRC, have a version 15 license currently. I hadn't really thought about using MC in my latest setup, but your comments about sound quality resonated with me (and awoke old demons!).

Serial control is the way to go with projectors! At least until IP control becomes standard.

I have several different models of Motorola DC cable boxes in my home. Roomie Remote does an excellent job of controlling them except for the use of channel selection from the program guide. This happens on an iPhone 4 and an iPad 2.

When selecting channels or for that matter any command from the virtual controller I am not having any issues. It is only selecting a channel from the guide which gives me issues. On 3 digit channel numbers I sometimes get a smooth transmission of numbers to the cable box and everything works or I get a choppy transmission of the numbers and the cable box will only recognize a subset and switch based on that. (the way the sent numbers/commands display in blue on top of Roomie screen as well as numbers rec'd appear on TV screen)

eg: selecting the guide for channel 201 will sometimes give me channel 20, channel 1 or even switch to 20 and then to 1. Sometimes it will give me 201. No consistency. I have played with delays from 100 to 1000ms without any significant change. Have also played with re-transmit settings. Multiple combos & variations of same as well.

In all cases commands, numbers etc. sent from the virtual controller always work and channel selection from the guide is erratic. I am using the blaster on port 3 of the itach units.

Anyone else having this issue. Any solutions?

Update: Problem is resolved. Issue was a flaky DLink wireless router - seemed to rapidly reset connections. Changed to a new airport extreme and all switching seems fine as well as giving me better house coverage than the DIR655

Other than that I must say that Roomie has been great.

I couldn't get the DC6416 to work reliably on channel change with any regular IR emitter. When I switched to the iTach IR blaster on output 3 - it got 99% reliable.

Make sure to set the iTach to IR blaster mode.

I should add that I use JRemote on my Ipad alongside Roomie when initially selecting which media I want to start playing be it audio or video. I would highly suggest to any J River users with an Ipad throw down the $10 now and grab this app. It is simply fantastic!

Any recommendations?

I used EditRocket until my 30-day trial ran out, and I don't wish to pay $50 for such a limited need.

When I installed three different free editors, none would open the plist file created on EditRocket. I am completely clueless about this stuff and just slavishly plug the IR commands into the template furnished by Roomie.

Consequently I need to be able to add new commands for control of an HDMI matrix switcher without disrupting what's already in my plist file.

Thanks!

I'm still enjoying my Roomie Remote and love the updates.

I just added an HTPC w/ a Ceton USB device to one of my rooms. I see that Roomie can control Windows Media Center either directly through IP or through IR. I was hoping that those of you who are using Roomie to control WMC could chime in on your experience and recommendations. I'm obviously leaning toward direct IP control but am curious about how "laggy" it is.

Thanks!

Patience is not my long suit, so I forged ahead and paid for EditRocket. Then I was not able to correctly follow the formatting to add the switch to the RommieCodes plist. In the process of trying repeatedly, I noticed that there are codes already in the library for a Monoprice 4 x 2 HDMI switch. Thinking the JTech switch I had purchased and the Monoprice came from the same factory, so they probably use the same IR codes...and they do!

So I'm very pleased to have Roomie controlling everything so nicely that I expect my wife may no longer be intimidated, but very annoyed to have paid for an XML editor.

Well, I went ahead and loaded MCE Controller and added direct IP control through Roomie. It seems to work very well. Not surprisingly, the MCE Controller application has to be running on your PC for it to work. However, if it is executing, there seems to be little lag.

The only problem is that MCE Controller cannot "wake" a computer from sleep or hibernation. Thus, the question I have (and that someone else posed a few days ago) is this: Does Roomie support Wake On Lan (specifically, can Roomie send a WOL "magic packet")? It should be simple enough to do. In fact, I'm currently using a free iPad app (Mocha) to wake my HTPC. It would be awesome if I could do it in Roomie.

I do have to ask 1 question. Can anybody get the .VOLUME SET activity control to work? I've tried many times, but the activity doesn't change the volume in any way. When you choose .VOLUME SET, the bottom volume says "(null).(null)". I have deleted the above and inputed -50 and it shows (-50.0) when I''m done. Is this wrong? Is there something I'm missing?

Thanks

On a Denon 1912 as well as a Pioneer 1021, I can get the command to work. To get the sound at 38.5, I enter -38.5 in the space for volume at the bottom of the command parameters page.
I think the commands may appear differently for different brands/models.

I have a Sony BP (bdp-s580) which is under the roomie remote IP compatible DVD BP. It does say its not able to be turned on via IP.

I would really Iike to have this power on without having to manually do it. Just wondering if some other member have a work around. Thx.

If you have an Itach unit nearby you could use it to either blast or use an emitter on the Sony to power the unit up. Just add the player a second time as an ir device controlled by the Itach. Then you could use the ir based power toggle as part of a macro command sequence and/or custom map it to the power button of the ip-based virtual Sony remote that you use.

Wow. Awesome idea. Thanks, worked perfectly.

Hi All. Ive read most of this thread and decided to try roomie on the ipad for myself. Wow! What an awesome app. I got and Itach ir wired adapter and bought a new Denon avr-2112ci reciever to replace my old Yamaha reciever. Also have a dish vip922, PS3, Xbox, New Apple TV, and Roku. Took me about 2 days to get everything working the way I want it too but really was pretty easy. The SAT guide on the Ipad is very cool and even have zone 2 (outside speakers) working perfectly. My question is, since roomic can show the Dish Sat programming guide on screen, is it possible to get the Internet radio, pandora ect info from the 2112ci on the ipad as well? If it can do this I will be one happy person. Mainly want this so when Im outside listening to Pandora, internet raido ect, I can see and choose channels without having to look at the tv inside. Any help would be appreciated.

Just downloaded Roomie Remote and ordered the Itach controllers. So far I've managed to set up a couple of devices. So far I love what I'm seeing. Although it is simple to set up, is there a manual or "how to" document anywhere ??

With the avr-2112ci, can't you just run Pandora on the iPad and airplay it to the AVR. Then you get the full Pandora UI.

Biggest weakness. There are online video tutorials - but they are very basic.

They either need a good manual or a good Wiki.

I've been using it about a month and I'm hooked. I've figured out what I need by trial/error/google and received excellent email support on the two instances where I needed device mods. I set up my own device file for my Sony projector (I only needed on and off to work - I don't change the settings).

Well sure you can AirPlay but I would like to be able to choose channels within roomie app, and AirPlay won't help with the Denon Internet radio. Would love to find a way to add them in the roomie app so I don't have to go inside to view tv to look for a channel. Kind of like the dish guide shows up on the watch tv activity.

The Pandora app on the iPad can not use AirPlay as far as I know, at least I don't see any airplay icon in the app.

If you expose the running applications (dble tap home button or 4 finger swipe up), scroll to the very left most position and you will find the music controls and the airplay icon there.
Pandora is a bit odd that way.

Thanks I would never have thought of that... I never use the iPad to play music iPod style so never use the audio on controls..

I don't think the Denon has the ability to report any of this info. (I'm using a bit older Denon 5308CI so this may have been fixed in newer models)

I actually just added small Bluetooth receivers Belkin BT receiver to each of my stereos. That allows me to run whatever music app I want (or even youtube music videos) on the ipad and listen on the stereo. Works great.

Airplay is even better if you have it on the receiver since you have the greater range of wifi and less compression.

It would be great if there was a way to integrate pandora and other music services into Roomie without having to page in/out.
To Aplear - If you want to control internet radio without going back to the house, why not download one of the internet radio apps and you could airplay stream from your iPad/iphone without using the Denon to control the station.

I'm no Spielberg but I posted a YouTube clip of my iPad screen programming Roomie Remote with a basic home theater set-up of IP devices in less than 2 minutes

Very cool - and consistent with my own experiences with creating configs for existing IR/IP controlled devices. Thanks for taking the time to capture and post the clip.

Dave

I am considering buying a refurbed iPad to use as a dedicated Roomie Remote on my home theater system (TV, amp, PS3, laser disc, VCR & satellite receiver)

Is 16GB memory size sufficient?

Thanks,

Bob

More than enough. Roomie is very small

Rew

Thanks for the prompt response.