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homebrew IR receiver

 

 

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jdonahue at timekiller

Aug 8, 2004, 4:44 PM

Post #1 of 6 (2212 views)
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homebrew IR receiver

I am looking to change my myth setup. I want a dedicated backend server,
and having several frontend-only boxes throughout the house. Only
problem right now is that the frontends are currently using the tuner
card IR receivers, but if I move the tuners to one backend, I need to
make my own IR receivers for the frontends.

Best case scenario, I just go to Radio Shack and buy the parts I need.
But the most important thing is that it work just as well as the current
receiver, I do not want to have to deal with having a weaker receiver,
etc.

Can anyone suggest either something I can buy, or build that will do the
trick?


catfather at donpoo

Aug 8, 2004, 5:46 PM

Post #2 of 6 (2162 views)
Permalink
Re: homebrew IR receiver [In reply to]

On Aug 8, 2004, at 7:44 PM, Jason Donhaue wrote:

> I am looking to change my myth setup. I want a dedicated backend
> server,
> and having several frontend-only boxes throughout the house. Only
> problem right now is that the frontends are currently using the tuner
> card IR receivers, but if I move the tuners to one backend, I need to
> make my own IR receivers for the frontends.
>
> Best case scenario, I just go to Radio Shack and buy the parts I need.
> But the most important thing is that it work just as well as the
> current
> receiver, I do not want to have to deal with having a weaker receiver,
> etc.
>
> Can anyone suggest either something I can buy, or build that will do
> the
> trick?

I have had various A/V installers over the years and they all use some
variation of these: http://smarthome.com/irsignals.html You can get IR
receivers and splitters from various manufactures. Wiring is just cat5
cable.

For example, in my A/V setup I have an IR receiver over the TV. Signals
travel from the receiver over cat5 to my equipment rack where they
enter a splitter. Out of the splitter I have 6 (you can have more or
less) IR transmitters that stick over the clear IR window on various
pieces of equipment. If you have long distances involved or split into
several transmitters you'll want to supply power to the splitter and
receiver to amplify the IR signal.

As far as brands go, all my IR is xantech. Yes, if you're handy you can
make the equivalent hardware much cheaper :)

--
Scott


dan at milkcarton

Aug 8, 2004, 6:19 PM

Post #3 of 6 (2155 views)
Permalink
Re: homebrew IR receiver [In reply to]

This site has step by step distructions on how to build an ir receiver.
http://lnx.manoweb.com/lirc/?partType=section&partName=parts


You can also buy the packard bell ir receivers at tekgems
(http://tekgems.com/Products/winamp-remote-control.htm). You don't need
to use the transmitter that comes with it. I have one, and it works
really well.

-dan

Jason Donhaue wrote:

>I am looking to change my myth setup. I want a dedicated backend server,
>and having several frontend-only boxes throughout the house. Only
>problem right now is that the frontends are currently using the tuner
>card IR receivers, but if I move the tuners to one backend, I need to
>make my own IR receivers for the frontends.
>
>Best case scenario, I just go to Radio Shack and buy the parts I need.
>But the most important thing is that it work just as well as the current
>receiver, I do not want to have to deal with having a weaker receiver,
>etc.
>
>Can anyone suggest either something I can buy, or build that will do the
>trick?
>
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>_______________________________________________
>mythtv-users mailing list
>mythtv-users[at]mythtv.org
>http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
>
>

--
Pinky, Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

I think so, Brain, but where are we going to get latex gloves, a swimming pool filled with vaseline and a herd of yaks at THIS time of night?

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holists at v92net

Aug 9, 2004, 5:20 PM

Post #4 of 6 (2149 views)
Permalink
Re: homebrew IR receiver [In reply to]

On Sunday 08 August 2004 09:19 pm, Dan Morphis wrote:
> This site has step by step distructions on how to build an ir receiver.
> http://lnx.manoweb.com/lirc/?partType=section&partName=parts
>
>
> You can also buy the packard bell ir receivers at tekgems
> (http://tekgems.com/Products/winamp-remote-control.htm). You don't need
> to use the transmitter that comes with it. I have one, and it works
> really well.
>
> -dan
>

That is the site I used when I built my serial receiver. The instructions are
very detailed and easy to follow. I substituted a 3/32" stereo sub-mini jack
instead of the IR receiver and used my PVR-250 IR receiver. I could not tell
the difference between the sensitivity of the receiver when connected to the
PVR-250 vs. the serial dongle, with the exception that the PVR-250 only
decodes RC-5 codes and the when connected to the dongle you can decode any IR
codes the receiver can read (36-38 MHz?).

HTH!


-- Harry O.
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dan at milkcarton

Aug 9, 2004, 10:13 PM

Post #5 of 6 (2144 views)
Permalink
Re: homebrew IR receiver [In reply to]

Harry Orenstein wrote:
> codes and the when connected to the dongle you can decode any IR
> codes the receiver can read (36-38 MHz?).
Umm, thats kilohertz :-) And the range is more like 36khz to 42khz if I
remember correctly.

-dan
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holists at v92net

Aug 10, 2004, 7:14 AM

Post #6 of 6 (2126 views)
Permalink
Re: homebrew IR receiver [In reply to]

On Tuesday 10 August 2004 01:13 am, Dan Morphis wrote:
> Harry Orenstein wrote:
> > codes and the when connected to the dongle you can decode any IR
> > codes the receiver can read (36-38 MHz?).
>
> Umm, thats kilohertz :-) And the range is more like 36khz to 42khz if I
> remember correctly.
>
> -dan

That's what I like about the Internet. All the information in the world is
there when you need it. About the same as my memory, except I haven't yet
found the VC to create a good search engine ;-)

(Well, it's either a fault with my memory or my PVR has been changing channels
every time I make microwave popcorn)

Thanks for the correction!


-- Harry O.

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