Ir Project

Post by **TANE** » Sat May 10, 2008 10:05 pm

I received my Irtrans Lan Controller XL today.
WOW what a device.

This device has so many possibilities that it will keep me busy for few days.
signal is so strong that every IR device in the room can be reached in any corner.

http://www.irtrans.de/en/technicalinfo/ ... rol-xl.php

Post by **MindBender** » Sat May 10, 2008 11:40 pm

Please post your experiences! I've been having my eye on one of those for some time now, but I never had the curage to actually buy one

Post by **Bwired** » Sat May 10, 2008 11:52 pm

Same goed for me

long time on my wishlist
Chak can you post exactly which type and options you ordered, lots of versions
Thanks

Post by **TANE** » Sun May 11, 2008 12:30 am

This is my second Irtrans device
The Lan Controller XL. The one with the most options.

The USB and the RS232 are the basic versions
The second one is the LAN version
Then we have the PoE Lan version

The two high end models
Lan Controller
Lan Controller XL

All the version have client server software.
this means you can run the server on any machine and connect to any Irtrans.

If you go for the USB version you can connect this to you MCE and run the server software from there.
Homeseer plugin will than access the Irtrans server running on the MCE for sending and receiving IR

The ethernet versions has also build in webpage..you can use http calls for sending IR..or just use the software
Windows, Mac, Linux

For the following applications drivers are supplied by either IRTrans or the software vendor:
homeputer by contronics
IP-Symcon
V8tech MultiMediaController (MMC)
Homeseer
MisterHouse
Girder
HIP
Meedio / Sceneo
Different Mac applications via iRed
myHTPC (using the WinLIRC plugin)
Mediaportal (using the WinLIRC plugin)
VDR
Microsoft Media Center Edition

Furthermore the following standard interfaces are supported:
LIRC / WinLIRC
LCDHype
lcdproc
xAP
Active-X
.NET

Post by **Snelvuur** » Sun May 11, 2008 11:31 am

Chak, basicly this also means that you can remove the pronto extender, and use homeseer events instead to control the audio right? But the plus side is that you can also control everything then via the pc. (something the extender misses) although i'am afraid that zapping wont be so quick then. (you solved that anyway, by making huge buttons of each channel, which is also a solution ofcourse)

// Erik (binkey.nl)

Post by **TANE** » Sun May 11, 2008 1:31 pm

I have done some basic testing to control my DVB-C via Homeseer.
Response in channel swapping is a bit faster than the pronto extender.

<b>Process flow</b>

- Pronto Pro Chanel up
- IP command will send to the Prontonic plugin (homeseer)
- Event trigger in Homeseer
- Learned Ir Command will send to the Irtrans via IP
- IRtrans will send the Ir command to DVB-C

You can also do this directly via Irtrans
Pronto Pro Chanel up
Ir Command will send to the Irtrans
Itrans will send the command to the DVB-c directly.

For the Pronto users.
When installing Irtrans you can also select the installation of the application CCF extractor.

Post by **Snelvuur** » Sun May 11, 2008 4:41 pm

so you can use the pronto to directly contact the irtrans too? then we dont need pronto extenders anymore

// Erik (binkey.nl)

Post by **TANE** » Sun May 11, 2008 9:46 pm

I think so...but not sure how to do that via IP
there is something like Repeat Mode.

At the moment only the external leds are working...

Not sure what the problem is. I have done a reset to the default settings did not help.

here is not so much documentation available.

Post by **Snelvuur** » Thu May 15, 2008 3:00 pm

Do you have normal ir receiver on the end or boxes? meaning, if you have 8 outputs then you can just pull cables to every room for instance, attach a sender/receiver on it and control everything in every room (since the signals are really well according to you) does that also count for 1 of the 8 ports for powerfull transmission? (and is it possibel to run a cable from ground floor up to second floor without any other strange side effects?)

// Erik (binkey.nl)

Post by **TANE** » Thu May 15, 2008 5:18 pm

Erik,
On the box self there is a receiver. Also you can connect external receiver.
My box is for repair to Irtrans, just got a message from Irtrans. They will send it back to me tomorrow.
I also ordered extra external receiver.

Nice thing of this box is you can also use it as IR redirect.
This will free up my Pronto extender. So I can use the extender box in another room.
I the current version of the Pronto / extender there is always a short delay (+/- 1 sec) because of reconnect time to wifi.
With Irtrans there is no network connection need when using the redirect option.

Post by **Snelvuur** » Thu May 15, 2008 6:28 pm

Well the zapping is always slow for me.. with pronto/extender..

// Erik (binkey.nl)

Post by **TANE** » Thu May 15, 2008 8:49 pm

slow response is connection bug in pronto firmware.
Pronto has to reconnect every time again. The stay connect option is not always working well.

Post by **TANE** » Mon Nov 17, 2008 11:47 pm

Long time no Info about Ir..

Irtrans is now fully integrated in my HA
I'm using Irtrans + Homeseer for:
TV
Hifi
Blinds
MCE

<b>TV</b>
Irtrans is so fast that I'm no longer using the Philips pronto extender for channel switching.

For every channel I have build a event in Homeseer
Pronto will send RS232 string to Homeseer server via Wifi (Prontonic Plugin)
This will trigger the correct event.
event will send the IR command via Irtrans

Example I want to switch Discovery HD
On the Pronto just push the Discovery HD channel logo
Pronto is sending discoveryhd to Homeseer
Homeseer event will be triggerd
IR command will be send to TV

All is more than twice the speed that you can do this manually.
Channel switching is so fast that I'm also sending zeros before the chanels..that the Tv don't have to wait for auto completing the channel.

For Ned 1 you can send Tv,1
This command is much faster TV,0,0,1

[img]uploaded/Chak/20081117223941_trigger.gif[/img]

[img]uploaded/Chak/20081117224011_action.gif[/img]

Post by **Snelvuur** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 1:19 am

so your using the pronto to send a signal to homeseer.. this send a signal to irtrans on the network (i presume cabled) (homeseer/pronto = wifi) and then irtrans sends a signal to the t.v. and the zapping goes faster? because thats the only real drawback on my pronto.. the zapping isn't quick anymore and the WAF factor complains about thats, especially with irritating new girlfriends that use it.. they just hold the button and then it repeats to much times so it ends up on the wrong channel

// Erik (binkey.nl)

Post by **TANE** » Tue Nov 18, 2008 9:29 am

yep that's all.
What you need is a irtrans module somewhere in you living room and you are done. This can be the USB version or the LAN.
You can make it wireless if you buy a cheap AP with lan on it. Like the Asus AP.

Irtrans en Prontonic plugins are for free