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1994-12-03
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--------------------------------------------------------------------
IRDC - INFRA-RED Direct Control
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Version 2.00
November 1994
Copyright 1993,1994 - D.Huras - All Rights Reserved
------------------------------------------------IRDC.DOC v2.00------
CONTENTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1. DESCRIPTION
2. WARRANTY
3. FEATURE OVERVIEW
4. REQUIREMENTS
5. ONE FOR ALL REMOTES
6. SETUP INFORMATION
7. INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
8. COMMAND LINE ARGUMENTS
9. COMMUNICATION PORTS
10. PROGRAM OVERVIEW
11. KEYBOARD USAGE
12. APPLICATIONS
13. PROBLEM RESOLUTION
14. REGISTRATION INFORMATION
15. UPGRADE INFORMATION
16. RELEASE HISTORY
1. DESCRIPTION
--------------------------------------------------------------------
IRDC is a program that sends commands to a ONE FOR ALL (*1) Remote
Control that instruct the remote control to emit INFRA RED (I/R)
signals. Essentially, IRDC emulates a person pressing buttons on
the remote control keypad. Any button sequence that can be
physically entered on the remote control keypad can be emulated with
the IRDC program including setting the Device type. The range for
the I/R signals can easily be extended through the use of the X-10
Powermid product.
IRDC will only operate with ONE FOR ALL* remote controls that have
an external port; the ONE FOR ALL 5*, ONE FOR ALL 6*, ONE FOR ALL 8*
and ONE FOR ALL 12* are the models with an external port that are
currently supported. (See the ONE FOR ALL REMOTES section for
further information). A special serial cable with a 3-pin male
connector at one end (that plugs into the ONE FOR ALL external port)
and an RS232 9-pin female connector on the other end (that plugs
into a PC serial port) is used to allow the software to communicate
with the remote control. (This cable can be ordered from many Home
Automation Dealers --- see the CABLE.DOC file) The external port is
located under the battery cover and its primary purpose is for
upgrading the remote control (ie. loading new I/R signals into the
remote control). The ONE FOR ALL remote controls cannot "learn" new
I/R signals; however, they can be "force fed" new I/R signals
through the external port. This may be necessary if you acquire new
electronic equipment with I/R signals that are not defined within
your ONE FOR ALL remote control.
Unless your electronic equipment is located near your PC and you can
"aim" the ONE FOR ALL remote control appropriately, then the
benefits of IRDC may not be readily apparent. To get the most out
of IRDC, you really need an I/R extender such as the X-10 Powermid
product. This enables you to locate your PC and remote control
anywhere in your home or apartment and distribute I/R signals to
other locations. See the 'APPLICATIONS' section of this document
for further information.
IRDC is a DOS program that uses a simple point & click user
interface. (A Mouse though not required is highly recommended).
IRDC is designed to be robust software that is processor speed
independent. This program is shareware and you are invited to
evaluate it for 30 days. If you continue to use the program after
the 30 day evaluation period you are asked to register it. The
author retains all rights to the program.
----
(*1) ONE FOR ALL, ONE FOR ALL 5, ONE FOR ALL 6, ONE FOR ALL 8,
ONE FOR ALL 12 and The "Universal" Remote are trademarks of
Universal Electronics Inc.
2. WARRANTY
--------------------------------------------------------------------
IRDC is supplied AS IS. The author disclaims all warranties,
expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties
of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The author
assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may
result from the use of IRDC.
3. FEATURE OVERVIEW
--------------------------------------------------------------------
- User-Friendly full screen point & click DOS character-based
Interface; your PC screen becomes a large remote keypad.
- All program functions can be controlled using a mouse; no keyboard
intervention is required.
- Supports Standard CommPorts 1 thru 4 and a User Defined CommPort
which can support any IRQ between 1 & 15 (inclusive) and any
Base I/O Address.
- Optional comprehensive on-line Help sub-system.
- All program parameters can be stored within an INI file thereby
obviating the need for any command line arguments.
- Extended Remote Codes can also be defined within the INI file
and presented in a List Box along with your description. (Eg. TV
10 Surround ON). You can simply double click on the list box
entry instead of trying to remember the extended code and then
clicking TV,A,1,0. The entries in the list box are unsorted and
added in the same order as they are encountered within the INI
file. This allows you to arrange the list in the order that you
prefer.
- The program WILL load without a ONE FOR ALL remote control
connected. It will still attempt to use the serial CommPort; in
most cases (eg. if you have a modem attached to the serial port)
the results will be innocuous. However, be aware that any device
connected to the CommPort configured for use with IRDC will
receive serial transmissions.
4. REQUIREMENTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------
- An IBM-Compatible PC with at least 1 serial port.
- A ONE FOR ALL 5, 6, 8 or 12 remote control. See the 'ONE FOR ALL
REMOTES' section for further information on the supported models.
- A Special Serial Cable to connect the ONE FOR ALL remote to a PC
Serial Port. (This cable can be ordered from many Home Automation
Dealers; see CABLE.DOC file).
- A Colour adapter/display is recommended although the program
should run with a monochrome display/adapter. If you
experience problems with the default colors, then try the /BW
command line argument which will set everything to Black &
White.
The program requires approximately 360K available conventional memory
to run. The memory requirements will increase as you add Extended
Remote Code definitions to the IRDC.INI file. (eg. 100 definitions
will require an additional 6.5K of memory --- approximately).
5. ONE FOR ALL REMOTES
--------------------------------------------------------------------
IRDC supports 6 different ONE FOR ALL Remote Control Models. The
Model Number is usually printed on the front of the remote or on the
battery cover. Be sure that you have correctly identified the model
of your remote before using the program. You can identify your
model to IRDC by using the /Mn(n) argument as indicated in the
rightmost column below; you can also dynamically select the model by
using the Configuration Panel.
Model No. Model Name Description IRDC (/M)
-------- -------------- -------------------------------- ---------
URC-2005 ONE FOR ALL 5 Ergonomic Design (paddle shaped) 5
URC-4000 ONE FOR ALL 6 Conventional Design (rectangular) 6
URC-4050 ONE FOR ALL 6 Conventional Design (rectangular) 6A
URC-4005 ONE FOR ALL 6 Ergonomic Design (paddle shaped) 6B
URC-5000 ONE FOR ALL 12 Conventional Design (rectangular) 12
URC-6050 ONE FOR ALL 8 Ergonomic Design (paddle shaped) 8
6. SETUP INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Setup Instructions differ based on the model of the ONE FOR ALL
remote that you are using. It is very important that you
correctly identify the model before using the program. Refer to the
ONE FOR ALL REMOTES section to identify your remote and then follow
the appropriate Setup Instructions below.
SETUP INSTRUCTIONS FOR:
-----------------------
ONE FOR ALL 6 [URC4000]
ONE FOR ALL 12 [URC5000]
1) Plug the Special Serial Cable into the PC Serial Port.
2) Plug the Special Serial Cable into the ONE FOR ALL Remote Control.
3) Ensure that there are no loose connections.
4) Load the IRDC program.
5) VERY IMPORTANT: DO NOT TOUCH ANY BUTTONS on the remote control when
when using the software.
NOTES:
------
∙ The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or
consequential, which may result from the use of IRDC.
∙ If you physically press buttons on the keypad while the software
is communicating with the remote control strange things can happen
that could affect the operability of your remote control. If the
memory contents of your remote control are altered then the only way
to restore it to normal operation is to have it reloaded by
Universal Electronics or a local Service Dealer.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
SETUP INSTRUCTIONS FOR:
-----------------------
ONE FOR ALL 5 [URC2005]
ONE FOR ALL 6A [URC4005]
ONE FOR ALL 6B [URC4040]
ONE FOR ALL 8 [URC6050]
1) Plug the Special Serial Cable into the PC Serial Port.
2) Plug the Special Serial Cable into the ONE FOR ALL Remote Control.
3) Ensure that there are no loose connections.
4) Load the IRDC program.
5) VERY IMPORTANT: You must physically press a button on the remote
control and then click on one of the on-screen buttons WITHIN 5
SECONDS to put the remote online. Once the remote is online it will
remain online (and will not respond to physical key presses) until
you explicitly take it offline by clicking on the 'Take Remote
Offline' button. When you click on the 'Take Remote Offline' button
the LED on the remote will flash twice in acknowledgement of the
request.
NOTE:
-----
∙ The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or
consequential, which may result from the use of IRDC.
7. INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
--------------------------------------------------------------------
There are no special installation instructions; simply copy the
program to a sub-directory of your choice and run it. The program
will look for 2 files in the directory it is run from. However,
the program will run with or without the following 2 files:
1) IRDC.HLP
IRDC retrieves the on-line help text from this file. If the
file is not found then IRDC will disable the 'Help' command
button and the Help feature will be unavailable. The program
will load slightly faster when the help sub-system is not
loaded; if you decide that you no longer require the online
help you can simply delete or rename the IRDC.HLP file.
2) IRDC.INI
IRDC will look for an IRDC.INI file in the current
directory. All program parameters can be defined within
this file as well as Extended Remote Code definitions. Any
errors found within the IRDC.INI file will be reported and
the program will be terminated. IRDC will generate an
IRDC.INI file (or overwrite an existing IRDC.INI file) when
the 'Save' button on the Configuration panel is clicked.
Note that Command Line Args will ALWAYS OVERRIDE
conflicting parameters within the IRDC.INI file. A sample
IRDC.INI file, generated by IRDC, is shown below:
;
;IRDC.INI File Created: 10-02-1993 07:37:33
;
; All Lines prefixed with ; are ignored
; Program Options
; ---------------
; CommPort=1,2,3 OR 4 DEFAULT=1
; Model=5,6,6A,6B,8 or 12 DEFAULT=6
; BW=YES or NO DEFAULT=NO (Colour)
; DisplaySetupInformation=YES or NO DEFAULT=YES
;
Model=6
BW=NO
DisplaySetupInformation=YES
;
; User Defined CommPort
; ---------------------
; IRQ and Base_IO_Address apply to User Defined CommPort ONLY
;
; IRQ=1-15 DEFAULT=4; IF Base_IO_Address is set
; Base_IO_Address=nnnn(n) DEFAULT=1016; IF IRQ is set
;
IRQ=4
Base_IO_Address=1016
;
; Extended Remote Codes
; ---------------------
;
; The codes applicable to your I/R devices can be found in your
; your ONE FOR ALL manual.
;
CODE=TV,10,DISPLAY
CODE=TV,11,MTS
CODE=TV,12,PICTURE +
CODE=TV,13,PICTURE -
CODE=TV,14,SLEEP
CODE=TV,15,TV/VIDEO
CODE=TV,15,ANTENNA/AUX
CODE=TV,18,COLOUR UP
CODE=TV,19,COLOUR DOWN
CODE=TV,20,BRIGHT UP
CODE=TV,21,BRIGHT DOWN
CODE=TV,22,HUE UP
CODE=TV,23,HUE DOWN
CODE=TV,24,MATRIX/SURROUND
CODE=VCR,10,SLOW SRCH UP
CODE=VCR,11,SLOW SRCH DN
CODE=VCR,12,MENU
CODE=VCR,13,SELECT
CODE=VCR,14,ON SCREEN
CODE=VCR,15,CANCEL/SKIP
CODE=VCR,16,TIMER
;
; End of IRDC.INI (07:37:33)
8. COMMAND LINE ARGUMENTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------
DEFAULTS: If the program is run without any command line arguments
it will default to COMMPORT 1,MODEL 6,COLOUR DISPLAY &
WARNING=YES. Note that CommPort, Model & Display can
be toggled from within the program.
The following command line arguments can be entered in any order:
/Annnn(n) - Base I/O Address applicable to User Defined CommPort
(Must be specified as a decimal number)
If /I argument is present, but /A is not; then Base
I/O Address will default to 1016 (3F8 Hex).
/BW - Use Black & White colours
/BW- - Use Colour (You would only use this argument to override
an INI BW=YES)
/Cn - COMMPORT where n = 1,2,3 or 4
/In - IRQ applicable to User Defined CommPort where n = 1 - 15
If /A argument is present, but /I is not; then IRQ
will default to 4.
/Mn - MODEL where n = 5, 6, 6A, 6B, 8, or 12
/NW - Suppress the automatic display of SETUP INFORMATION upon program
load. (This command line argument is not required if you have
elected to forego the online help by renaming or deleting
IRDC.HLP).
/NW- - Display Setup Information (You would only use this argument to
override an INI WARNING=NO)
/? - Display Command Line Arguments
NOTE: - COMMAND LINE OPTIONS OVERRIDE IRDC.INI SETTINGS
- MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES OF THE SAME COMMAND LINE ARGUMENT
ARE ACCEPTED; THE LAST INSTANCE WILL BE USED BY IRDC.
9. COMMUNICATION PORTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------
IRDC supports "pseudo standard" CommPorts 1 thru 4 using the
following settings:
+----------+------+------------------+
| | | Base I/O Address |
| CommPort | IRQ +---------+--------+
| | | Decimal | HEX. |
+----------+------+---------+--------+
| 1 | 4 | 1016 | 3F8 |
+----------+------+---------+--------+
| 2 | 3 | 760 | 2F8 |
+----------+------+---------+--------+
| 3 | 4 | 1000 | 3E8 |
+----------+------+---------+--------+
| 4 | 3 | 744 | 2E8 |
+----------+------+---------+--------+
If one of these CommPort settings matches your hardware
configuration simply use the /C command line argument with the
appropriate CommPort. The CommPort= IRDC.INI directive can also be
used.
You can define your own CommPort by selecting User Defined CommPort
from the Configuration Panel screen and setting the IRQ interrupt
and Base I/O Address. (You could also use the /I and /A Command
Line Args or IRQ= & Base_IO_Address= IRDC.INI file directives).
IRQ can be set to any value between 1 and 15 (inclusive). Base I/O
Address can be set to any value greater than zero. CAUTION: your
hardware may "lock up" if incorrect settings are used. Once you
have enabled communications with the remote, then use the 'Save
Options' menu item to save the information to the IRDC.INI file.
NOTE: THE BASE I/O ADDRESS MUST BE SPECIFIED IN DECIMAL NOTATION.
IBM PS/2 CommPort Parameters are shown below:
+----------+------+------------------+
| PS/2 | | Base I/O Address |
| CommPort | IRQ +---------+--------+
| | | Decimal | HEX. |
+----------+------+---------+--------+
| 1 | 4 | 1016 | 3F8 |
| 2 | 3 | 760 | 2F8 |
| 3 | 3 | 12832 | 3220 |
| 4 | 3 | 12840 | 3228 |
| 5 | 3 | 16928 | 4220 |
| 6 | 3 | 16936 | 4228 |
| 7 | 3 | 21024 | 5220 |
| 8 | 3 | 21032 | 5228 |
+----------+------+---------+--------+
A User Defined CommPort must be used for
PS/2 CommPorts 3-8.
10. PROGRAM OVERVIEW
--------------------------------------------------------------------
When the program loads, it looks for an IRDC.INI file in the current
directory and then proceeds to parse it if one is found. If any
errors are detected within the INI file the program will terminate
with an appropriate message, otherwise it will parse the command
line arguments (which override any conflicting INI directives).
Once again, if any errors are found it will terminate with an
appropriate message. Finally, it will look for a IRDC.HLP file and
activate the online Help if the file is found. The IRDC full screen
interface will then be presented with the remote keypad displayed on
the right and the various program controls displayed on the left.
The upper left button of the remote keypad is the "active" control
at this time. The program DOES NOT open the CommPort until you
actually press one of the remote keypad buttons; this allows you to
confirm the active CommPort before actually using it.
The Status Window on the upper left side of the screen will display
all remote keypad button activity as it is executed. In addition
it will display a message each time a CommPort is opened. (eg. the
first time you press a remote keypad button there will be a very
brief delay as the CommPort must be opened first). There is also
a small LED indicator in the middle of the screen which will flash
briefly whenever a remote keypad button is clicked/pressed.
When the configuration button is clicked, the Configuration panel is
overlaid on the left side of the screen. The current settings for
the Model, CommPort, Display and the Warning Flag are indicated with
option buttons. If you change the Model or Display settings the
screen will immediately reflect the new settings. To make your
settings permanent, click on Save; all current settings (including
any Extended Remote Code definitions) will be written to the
IRDC.INI file. If an IRDC.INI already exists, the program will
display an Overwrite Confirmation before overwriting the existing
IRDC.INI file. To continue with these new settings for the current
session only, click on OK; to restore the prior settings, click on
Cancel (or press ESCAPE).
As stated earlier, a mouse is highly recommended; you can simply
click on the remote keypad buttons, the control buttons and the
Extended Remote Code List Box scroll bars to perform program
functions. To execute an Extended Remote Code contained within the
Extended Remote Code list box, simply Double Click on it.
11. KEYBOARD USAGE
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Use the TAB/Shift-TAB keys to move among the various remote keypad
buttons and the control buttons (eg. Configure, Help & Exit). The
Up/Down arrows can be used to move up and down the Extended Remote
Code List Boxes. Use the Space Bar key to select the current List
Box item, check/uncheck a check box, or invoke a command button.
(The Enter key can also be used for all controls except the Extended
Remote Code list box; the space bar must be used.) The ESCAPE key
will exit the current function or the program if no other windows
are visible.
The cursor keys can be used to navigate within the keypad area; you
can jump to adjacent buttons by pressing the appropriate key. The
program will jump over 1 blank row/button if an ajacent button is
not present.
The following quick access keys are applicable when
the Configuration Panel IS NOT displayed:
Configure - Alt-c
Help - Alt-h
Exit - Alt-x
Remote Codes - Alt-d
The following quick access keys are applicable when the Configuration
Panel IS displayed:
Model - Alt-m
CommPort - Alt-p
Display - Alt-d
Setup Information - Alt-i
OK - Alt-o
Save - Alt-s
Cancel - Alt-a
12. APPLICATIONS
--------------------------------------------------------------------
After experimenting a little with IRDC you may find yourself
thinking: "its a neat 'toy' but what practical uses does it have?"
This section attempts to describe the practical applications for
this type of software.
Generating I/R Signals & IRDQ.EXE
---------------------------------
IRDC allows you to generate I/R signals simply by clicking the
buttons on the on-screen remote keypad. It also allows you to build
a list box of those 'difficult to remember' Extended Remote Codes
which you can invoke with a double click. It offers convenience
since you can leave it running in a window when working in a
multi-tasking or task-switching environment and simply switch to it
as required. However, it does require 'human' intervention since
you have to physically click your mouse button in order to generate
I/R signals. This is where IRDQ.EXE comes into play; IRDQ is a
command line driven version of IRDC that instructs ONE FOR ALL
remotes to emit I/R signals based on a button name passed on the
command line. Alternatively, it will 'press' a series of buttons
that are contained within a file when the filename is passed to IRDQ
on the command line. This means you can build "macros" by creating
files of the button names to be pressed. In addition, it means the
entire library of ONE-FOR-ALL I/R codes is at your disposal because
you can dynamically set the device type at anytime. For example,
you could build a button file containing the following button
names:
;
; IRDQ Button File - Turn on both TV's
; Note: lines prefixed with ";" are ignored
;
; Assign TV Code: 000 (Sony TV)
TV
A
B
C
0
0
0
; The Wait button name does not exist,but instructs IRDQ
; to wait for 1/2 second to allow the ONE FOR ALL remote
; to 'catch up'
Wait
; The SONY TV has an Extended Remote Code to turn the POWER ON
; use this code rather than the POWER button which is just
; a toggle
A
6
8
Wait
; Assign TV Code: 047 (GE TV)
TV
A
B
C
0
4
7
Wait
; The GE TV has an Extended Remote Code to turn the POWER ON
; use this code rather than the POWER button which is just
; a toggle
A
1
8
The end result being you can build a virtually unlimited library
of I/R signal sequences and generate them simply by invoking a
program from the DOS command prompt.
I/R Signal Distribution
-----------------------
The range of the I/R signals that the remote control generates based
on instructions from the software is limited to the same room as
where your PC is located. This limitation is severe enough that the
program would not be very useful at all unless you happened to
locate all of your I/R electronic equipment in the same room as your
PC. This is obviously unrealistic, but fortunately there is a
relatively inexpensive solution that will enable you to distribute
I/R signals to virtually anywhere in your home or apartment. An I/R
extender can be used to "read" I/R signals from one location,
translate them into radio waves and beam them to one or more other
locations where they'll be translated back into I/R signals and sent
to the targeted electronic equipment. The entire process takes
milliseconds and is virtually instantaneous. The X-10 Powermid is
an I/R Extender; it has 2 components, a unit that receives the I/R
signals and transmits them via radio waves, and a unit that picks up
the radio signals and transmits the I/R signals. Both units are
small 3" x 3" x 3" pyramid-shaped devices enclosed within a black
plastic casing. You can install multiple Receiver/I.R emitters that
are sourced by the same Transmitter; this allows you to distribute
I/R signals to multiple locations. Recoton also markets an IR
Extender. To use an I/R extender with IRDC/IRDQ, you'd simply aim
the ONE FOR ALL remote at the I/R Transceiver.
Scheduling I/R Signals
----------------------
With IRDC/IRDQ, a ONE-FOR-ALL Remote & an I/R Extender you have the
capability to easily generate & distribute an I/R signal for just
about any electronic equipment that exists to virtually anywhere
within your home. The capability to schedule I/R signal
transmissions at predetermined times would be a step closer towards
a completely automated I/R system. Since IRDQ can be driven from
the DOS command prompt you could accomplish this through the use of
any DOS-based scheduler. For example, a Scheduler is bundled with
Central Point's PC Tools. You lodge the dates & times of the
programs you want to run and then load the resident portion of the
Scheduler into memory as a TSR from your AUTOEXEC.BAT. The
Scheduler will kick in at the predetermined times and run the programs
you've defined. If you happen to be working on your computer at a
scheduled program time, the scheduler will ask you if you want to
run the Scheduled program now or delay it; if you proceed to run it
the Scheduler will save the memory image of your current working
environment and restore it after it has run the scheduled program.
There are many other DOS schedulers around including several fine
shareware products. Back'n Forth, a shareware Task-Switcher, has
many features including a built in scheduler.
Event-Driven I/R Signal Generation
----------------------------------
A truly automated I/R system should support event-driven I/R signal
generation. The transmission of I/R signals should not be limited
to scheduled times, but rather, should be driven by events such as
the reception of X-10 signals, changes in temperature, motion
detection, contact closure, etc. Most PC-based home automation
systems which react to received events support 'shelling to DOS' to
execute programs based on the events you specify; so IRDQ could be
used with these programs to integrate I/R signal generation. The
HC2000 program is an example of a home automation system that is
based on 2-way X-10 communications.
The HC2000 Home Automation Program
----------------------------------
HC2000 is a software-based X-10 home automation system. It requires
a dedicated PC but will run quite satisfactorily on a 4.77 MHz XT.
If you've upgraded your PC and have an older machine that is
collecting dust as a paperweight somewhere then HC2000 will allow
you to put it to good use as the 'brain' of your home automation
system.
HC2000 requires a TW523 device which is a two-way X-10 module that
sends and receives X-10 signals. An Editor is supplied with HC2000
that allows you to build your home automation program. You can
send X-10 signals at scheduled times, or when other X-10 commands
are received (allowing you to build remote 'macros'), or based on
the values of user variables that you define and manipulate. In
addition to having the program respond to events by sending X-10
commands, you can also run DOS programs. This means you can use
IRDQ.EXE to emit I/R signals based on the events that are trapped
by HC2000. For example, you could define an X-10 command that would
invoke the button sequence to turn on the two TV's that was defined
earlier in this section; the following steps outline how you could
accomplish this:
1) Create the Button File: TURNTVS.ON
2) Start up the HC2000 editor and create a User Variable entitled
'DOS IRDQ.EXE TURNTVS.ON'.
3) Add an X-10 remote command using the House/Unit Code that you
want to define and add a 'LOG' statement using the User Variable
you defined in step 2: eg:
■ A1 ON {Turn on both TVs} ::=
Log "DOS IRDQ.EXE TURNTVS.ON'
(This command would respond to House Code A, Unit 1.)
4) Exit the HC2000 editor and run HCDOS; HCDOS checks all of the
messages that HC2000 logs and when it encounters the IRDQ.EXE
message it will execute IRDQ.EXE and pass it the TURNTVS.ON
parameter.
IRDQ.EXE has been successfully tested with HC2000.
13. PROBLEM RESOLUTION
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The ONE FOR ALL remote control PC interface deploys a relatively
simple communications protocol and you should not experience any
problems provided that your special serial cable is in good
condition and there are no loose connections. However, the timing
of the serial communications is very critical and there is not much
tolerance for even minor deviation. Any resident software that
tampers with the system clock could throw the serial communications
out of sync.
If IRDC does not appear to be working at all, then read through the
following checklist to confirm your hardware/software setup.
1) Verify that your remote control is supported; See the ONE FOR ALL
REMOTES section for further information on the supported models.
2) Ensure that you are using the correct CommPort; click on the
Configuration button and verify that the active CommPort is
correct.
3) Ensure that the special serial cable connections are firm and
that the cable is not bent or stretched; The most likely cause is
the 3-pin serial connector not being seated properly in the
external port of the ONE FOR ALL remote. In some cases, it may
appear to be properly seated but in fact it is not. It may be
necessary to tape the connection to ensure that it is sound.
4) Ensure that memory resident software is not conflicting with
IRDC by booting your PC without any Device Drivers or TSR's.
(ie. use a stripped down CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT).
If IRDC appears to be working but you run into a situation where the
LED on the remote control stays ON with an amber colour and will not
turn off, then communications between the remote control and the
software have been disrupted. The most likely cause for this is a
loose connection. The remote control is in Serial Execution mode;
power OFF your PC, check cable connections, power ON your PC and
reload IRDC. Click on a remote button and the LED should flicker
amber, then green, then turn off. This problem can also be caused
by a CommPort IRQ conflict (ie. having a TSR loaded which uses
CommPort 4 while attempting to use IRDC with CommPort 2); in this case
it is necessary to perform a cold boot to reset serial devices and
then booting without loading the conflicting TSR. If your remote
consistently becomes stuck in Serial Execution mode, then it is
probably the result of a timing problem; please contact the author
in this case, adjustments can be made to the software to work around
this.
If the ONE FOR REMOTE becomes "unresponsive" to IRDC, it could be
because commands were sent to it while it was executing a macro.
This only applies to a ONE FOR ALL 12 which will not act on commands
sent while it is executing a macro; you should wait for the macro
to complete before sending more commands.
As a last resort, you may want to try using another serial port to
see if this eliminates the problem. Other common problems &
solutions are listed below:
Interrupt Conflict
------------------
If you're using a COMMPORT that shares an interrupt with another
COMMPORT (eg. 1 & 3, 2 & 4), then you must ensure that no memory
resident software (eg. a FAX TSR) that uses the other COMMPORT is
loaded as it will not release the interrupt.
Serial Mouse Drivers
--------------------
If you use a Serial Mouse, this may cause a conflict if IRDC
attempts to communicate with a remote on the same CommPort. IRDC
will not run properly if it attempts to communicate with a COMMPORT
that has been initialized with a Mouse Driver (ie. you cannot use a
switchbox between the remote and a Mouse unless you reboot without
loading the Mouse Driver).
IRDC Encryption
----------------
The IRDC executable file is encrypted and there is a remote
possibility that the decryption process may fail with certain
processors; a blank screen immediately after attempting to run the
program typifies this problem. Please contact the author if you
encounter this problem.
The open architecture of the PC compatible operating environment and
the near infinite combinations of hardware and software complicate
the compatibility of applications software. While every effort has
been made to ensure that IRDC is compatible with as many hardware
and software combinations as possible, there may be operating
environments in which IRDC will not run properly.
Problems can be reported to:
David Huras
37 Ruddell Crescent
Georgetown, Ont. L7G 5N4
CANADA
FAX: 905-873-6429
CIS: 72767,472
Internet: david.huras@canrem.com
14. REGISTRATION INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The registration fee for IRDC is $25. (US Dollars for US shipping
addresses, CDN Dollars for Canadian shipping addresses). IRDC is
currently supplied as fully functioning software without built-in
delays or "nag" screens prompting you to register. However, the
program will timeout after 10 minutes. This limitation does not
apply to the Registered version.
A SIGNIFICANT amount of time and effort went into this program;
please register the program if you intend to use it beyond the 30
day evaluation period. Registered Users will be shipped a printed
manual and a 3½" diskette (if you would prefer a 5¼" diskette please
advise) containing the Registered Version of the IRDC.
Registered Users will also receive IRDQ.EXE, a command line driven
version of IRDC. With IRDQ you can press buttons on ONE FOR ALL
remote keypads simply by entering commands at the DOS prompt, for
example you would type IRDQ POWER to press the POWER button.
Alternatively you can pass a file name containing a list of button
names to IRDQ, eg. IRDQ /F:BUTTON.FIL where BUTTON.FIL contains
AUX
WAIT
POWER
TV
WAIT
POWER
VCR
WAIT
POWER
"<<"
This "macro" would turn on your Receiver, TV & VCR and rewind the
tape in the VCR. IRDQ is a compact program which was designed to be
interfaced with software based home automation systems like HC2000.
You could also "grow your own" home automation system by using IRDQ
with a DOS-based program scheduler like the one provided with
Central Point's PC Tools. All IRDQ program options can be imbedded
within the DOS environment thereby eliminating the need for any
command line arguments other than button names or a filename
containing button names. (See the APPLICATIONS section for further
information about IRDQ).
To expedite your registration, you may wish to register using
CompuServe Shareware Registration; you will receive a Registration
Key via CompuServe E-Mail within 1 business day that will enable the
registered program features. (See CompuServe Shareware Registration
below). If you elect to use this method of registration then your
your software will ship within 1 business day.
If you do not wish to register via CompuServe Shareware Registration
then complete the order form in the REGISTER.FRM file and send with
your payment to:
David Huras
37 Ruddell Crescent
Georgetown, Ont. L7G 5N4
CANADA
CompuServe Shareware Registration
=================================
You can register IRDC, IRDCw or BOTH using CompuServe Shareware
Registration. The Registration Fee will be charged to your
CompuServe billing account and the latest version of the software
along with a printed User Guide will be shipped within one business
day. In addition, you will receive a Registration Key via
CompuServe E-Mail (within one business day) that will immediately
allow you to run IRDC with the registered version features enabled
while you wait for your diskette to arrive. GO SWREG while on
CompuServe to use Shareware Registration.
Program Title Program Name Program ID# Charge
=================== ============ =========== =======
INFRA-RED Direct Control (DOS) IRDC 1449 $25.00
INFRA-RED Direct Control (WINDOWS) IRDCw 2521 $25.00
INFRA-RED Control Bundle (DOS & WIN) IRCB 2522 $40.00
15. UPGRADE INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Quick Upgrade
=============
REGISTERED USERS of prior versions of IRDC can immediately run the
shareware version of IRDC v2.00 and all future shareware versions of
IRDC with the registered features enabled. IRDC will look in the
current sub-directory for the IRDC.KEY file; if a valid file is
found then IRDC will enable all registered program features. This
means you can upgrade by downloading the latest shareware version of
IRDC and ensuring that your IRDC.KEY file resides in the same
sub-directory.
Existing Registered Users
=========================
If you registered a version of IRDC prior to 2.00; then you are
entitled to an IRDC.KEY file that will enable you to immediately use
the shareware version of IRDC v2.00 with the registered features
enabled. Your IRDC.KEY file can be forwarded via CompuServe E-Mail,
Internet E-Mail, or you can download it directly from the author.
Please contact the author via E-Mail or FAX to arrange for the
delivery of your IRDC.KEY file.
Diskette Upgrade
================
REGISTERED USERS of prior versions of IRDC can request a diskette
containing the current version of the software at ANY TIME by simply
sending a diskette containing their registered version of the
software and $2 for postage to the author.
REGISTERED USERS of IRDCw(WIN) can upgrade to IRDC(DOS) for
a special price of $15.00. (See REGISTER.FRM for Details)
REGISTERED USERS of IRDC(DOS) can upgrade to IRDCw(WINDOWS) for
a special price of $15.00. (See REGISTER.FRM for Details)
16. RELEASE HISTORY - IRDC Shareware/Registered Version
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Version Changes
------ ---------- ----------------------------------------------
NOV'94 2.00 -Added support for 4 additional ONE FOR ALL
remote control models (URC2005,URC4005,URC4050,
URC6050)
-Added Dynamic User Defined CommPort Support
-Added Quick Upgrade/Registration
-Changed initial warning prompt to contextual
jump into the Help Dialogue
APR'94 1.03 -Added Save IRDC.INI prompt when Exit attempted
without saving a changed Configuration
MAR'94 1.02 -Re-enabled ESCAPE key to exit Configuration
Panel
OCT'93 1.01 -Enabled ESCAPE key to exit Program
-Corrected typo in Help File Warning
(URC-5000-2 not supported should have
read URC-5000-1 not supported)
OCT'93 1.00 First Public Release
-Configuration Panel Re-organized
-SAVE Button Added
-Warning CheckBox Added
-'F1' Key to invoke Help added
-Cursor Key navigation added to keypad area
(cursor keys will navigate to adjacent
buttons - will skip 1 row or button if
no adjacent button).
-OFA-12 Button Definition Problems Corrected
(Mode Buttons, A,B,C, Power, CH+,CH-)
-OFA-12 Extended Remote Code support added
for F1 - F4.
-European Date Format Support Added
SEP'93 1.00ß Beta Test
------