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Interesting puzzle. Need Help.

Ok, no beating on the messenger here. I'm trapped between sales, design, and a very finicky client.

I need a solution to this problem:

I have a client that has 1 wall mounted TP in each area of a divisible room. They are happy with this but would like a way to control the volume with a simple IR remote in each room (IR is important for security reasons). The idea here I need to get signal from the remote into the NetLinx Processor and in a recognizable form that I can use in code. Add to this the salesman has told the client about a third party 3 button remote, and is sort of set on the idea of a simple 3 or 4 button remote, not understanding there's no real way for me to get that signal into the AMX and recognized in code. So what do I do now?

I DO have 2 TXC4+'s that if I had the proper AMX hardware (AXR-IRSM+), I could use and see the channels in code, but the salesman is still set on the third party remote.

I have called AMX, they seem to think this isn't a great idea as the third party remote the salesman wants to use will not work with any AMX device.

I have called Xantech to see if I could use their hardware to control their CC12 relay controller with the Tthird party remote, but no dice.

Does anyone have any other ideas? Thanks in advance.

Comments

  • Which in-wall panels are you using and why not use the AMX IR receiver in each panel?
  • feddxfeddx Posts: 183
    PHSJason wrote: »
    Which in-wall panels are you using and why not use the AMX IR receiver in each panel?

    They are NXD-1200V panels. And I was not aware that each panel had an IR receiver. I didn't see that in the documentation for the panel

    http://www.amx.com//assets/dataSheets/Modero.NXD.NXT-1200VG.DataSheet.pdf
  • jimmywjimmyw Posts: 112
    the easiest way to do this is to put an ir receiver, ie a xantech ir receiver, in the area, and have that connect to a global cache IRL, that way you can see what each codes looks like and write a parsing script to fire event based on that, that way it wont even matter what format or code this 3rd party remote puts out, just identify what each button is once, build a tolerence array, and then check to see if you have a match, if you need any help with it, let me know
  • ppdkppdk Posts: 31
    ...or you can buy a programmable Xantech remote control and insert to it the default AMX 255 IR channel codes. I have done it in a Villa a long time ago and it worked like a charm!

    The remote from Xantech was the URC-2.

    Kostas
  • John NagyJohn Nagy Posts: 1,742
    The URC-2 is not going to meet the requirement for a 3 button experience. It has 48.

    The 12"panels do not have an IR pickup built in. Only the 5, 7 and 10" panels (and the old G3 CP4/a) had them, and the new version 5 and 10 do not. And the new X series says nothing about it, so it's over.

    The GlobalCache solution is one I was going to suggest as well. A bit complicated.

    Another way would be to find a simple remote that can trigger simple relays, and attach the relays to the IO ports on the NetLinx to sense their states and take actions. There's a selection of such things on eBay and other web locations.
  • ppdkppdk Posts: 31
    John Nagy wrote: »
    The URC-2 is not going to meet the requirement for a 3 button experience. It has 48.
    True true true!

    I only mentioned the model for reference of what i achieved in a similar situation :)

    Kostas
  • feddxfeddx Posts: 183
    jimmyw wrote: »
    the easiest way to do this is to put an ir receiver, ie a xantech ir receiver, in the area, and have that connect to a global cache IRL, that way you can see what each codes looks like and write a parsing script to fire event based on that, that way it wont even matter what format or code this 3rd party remote puts out, just identify what each button is once, build a tolerence array, and then check to see if you have a match, if you need any help with it, let me know

    John Nagy wrote: »
    The URC-2 is not going to meet the requirement for a 3 button experience. It has 48.

    The 12"panels do not have an IR pickup built in. Only the 5, 7 and 10" panels (and the old G3 CP4/a) had them, and the new version 5 and 10 do not. And the new X series says nothing about it, so it's over.

    The GlobalCache solution is one I was going to suggest as well. A bit complicated.

    Another way would be to find a simple remote that can trigger simple relays, and attach the relays to the IO ports on the NetLinx to sense their states and take actions. There's a selection of such things on eBay and other web locations.


    This was my thought too, but there is an appearance issue on the remote side of things. We want to find a remote that is simple yet appears to be Professional (Yeah, can you tell sales is involved?). I was all set to use the CC12 from Xantech, IR control of 2 relays right into the IO's, but you need the RC68 to control it (not configure it as it reads on the data sheet)

    Thanks for all the input, now to go through the Global Cache catalog. Really all I need here is a device which converts the IR to a discernible discrete string either via serial or IP. Is the IRL an actual part number for Global Cache?
  • What about one of the new ICSLAN boxes with IR input
    http://www.amx.com/products/EXB-MP1.asp

    And an IR receiver
    http://www.amx.com/products/IR03.asp

    You would still have to use whatever hand-held remote you like as long as it can output the AMX ir codes. Upside is that it will be a lot easier to build and program.
  • Not wanting to sound silly, but you mention that IR is required for security reasons, I guess they don't want Zigbe or Wifi.

    But how about something like a rolling code RF keyfob like one for a car alarm, you can get a simple one with relay outputs on the receiver that would simplify everything.

    just shoehorn it into a remote control style case to make it look good.
  • John NagyJohn Nagy Posts: 1,742
    If cost isn't an object (as it appears you are expected to put unlimited hours into an arbitrary specification), consider having a custom remote made, or just a custom overlay for an existing remote. There is a credit-card size remote that AMX actually sells, that puts out AMX codes. While it has 24 buttons, a new overlay for the front can hide all but the few you want. This should cost less than your hourly rate spinning over this for a week.

    Here's what our version looks like.
  • DHawthorneDHawthorne Posts: 4,584
    John Nagy wrote: »
    If cost isn't an object (as it appears you are expected to put unlimited hours into an arbitrary specification), consider having a custom remote made, or just a custom overlay for an existing remote. There is a credit-card size remote that AMX actually sells, that puts out AMX codes. While it has 24 buttons, a new overlay for the front can hide all but the few you want. This should cost less than your hourly rate spinning over this for a week.

    Here's what our version looks like.

    Any trouble with bounce on those, or is that managed by your receiving device? ReQuest uses something that looks a lot like it, and the bounce drives me insane ... almost impossible to not double-tap every other button press. Though I suppose you could put something in your AMX code to account for that.
  • John NagyJohn Nagy Posts: 1,742
    I believe de-bounce is receiver side code, and it can certainly be done badly. The bulk of the import Security DVR units are similarly nearly unusable on IR.

    We use the native AMX codes, with AMX receivers, so any bounce is managed in whatever way AMX managed it since the start. Since it all gets interpreted by the NetLinx and a leading edge (press), hold, and release, it's invisible to us. I've never seen a behavior I'd interpret as a bounce issue. There's hundreds of these is use, a good adjunct to a panel or for the kids. They launder well too, better than an R4.
  • John NagyJohn Nagy Posts: 1,742
    There are a variety of these sort of things on ebay. This one is $25 complete, 4 channel with toggle, latch, or momentary relay.
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Channel-RF-Wireless-Transmitter-Remote-Control-315MHz-1-/400244693136?pt=AU_Gadgets&hash=item5d30715890
    001.jpg 31.9K
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