IRBlaster.info

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2008-08-21T18:18:00.001-07:00

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Individually control up to 2,048 Infrared Targets

2008-08-02T07:55:00.001-07:00

We have had several customers ask us how to control a large number of identical infrared targets. The most common application seems to be set top box developers who want to test hundreds of boxes all closely stacked in the same room. We have also seen demand for this type of system in hotel/bar applications with a large number of TV decoder boxes feeding a single media server.

The solution we typically recommend for these applications is the ocelot controller coupled with 16 zone IR expansion modules. Once connected, each ir blaster can be individually controlled by sending a command using the CPUXA protocol via rs232 from a PC.

More details on these items can be found on our special order page. Please contact mike at irblaster dot info with your specific needs and we can put together a great package deal for you.

upgrade quad kits to octal kits

2008-07-22T19:35:00.000-07:00

Quad kits can now be used to control up to 8 infrade devices by upgrading the ir emitters to double headed light up units. The upgrade is available on both the RS232 (serial) version of the quad ir blaster kit and the in wall ir receiver version for $20. Just add the upgrade to your cart after you add the kit!

foobar2000 on a laptop

2008-07-16T17:04:00.000-07:00

Jeremy in NY wrote me to say he was using the irblaster.info cabled RS232 ir receiver on his windows XP desktop to control foobar2000. Foobar has a winlirc client plugin that makes this possible and he was enjoying the setup, but wanted to also have it work on laptop. As is the case with most laptopsl these days, his did not have a serial port. The solution: a 16C550 compatable PCMCIA uart card from dealextreme for just $17.25 with free shipping. Jeremy is now able to enjoy foobar on both of his machines!

Do you have an irblaster.info story that you would like posted here? E-mail it to mike at irblaster dot info.

IR Blaster on Wikipedia

2008-06-15T18:32:00.000-07:00

A while back I put a few notes on infrared blasters on wikipedia. Hopefully it will have some more details filled in by myself or some others in the near future.

Research Paper with IRBlaster.info products

2008-05-13T20:03:00.000-07:00

I was googling for interesting uses of products from this website again and I came across a research paper on Measuring perceived video quality of MPEG enhancement by people with impaired vision. The paper mentions using our IR Receiver to allow participants to interact with a PC via remote control.
Thanks for the mention!

Double Headed LU IR Blasters Back In Stock

2008-04-29T20:18:00.001-07:00

The double headed light up ir blasters with 1/8" plugs are back in stock, but on a very limited supply. They are currently available for $12 each. Single headed light up ir blasters are only available for large special order applications. (Note: We have plenty of the standard non light up variety on hand and ready to ship - just $6 for the 1/8" plug version)

Environmental control with DynaVox communication devices

2008-03-20T18:20:00.000-07:00

IRBLaster.info carries two great products for interfacing lighting control to the environmental controls integrated into DynaVox communications devices.

The IR543 (pictures) is available for $30 + shipping and allows one way infrared to X10 and Insteon (in X10 compatibility mode) bridging.

For more advanced DynaVox integration we offer the Applied Digital Ocelot controller available on our special order page for $200. The Ocelot has the following features:
› 2-way X10 compatibility, IR capability, and control of almost anything
› Control 256 X10 devices and execute up to 1024 IR commands
› Expandable with up to 128 expansion modules
› Features built-in RS-232 port for programming by a PC

Feel free to contact us if you need help designing a complete DynaVox environmental control system.

Using WinLIRC with SnapStream Beyond TV

2008-02-06T18:16:00.001-08:00

I found this interesting thread over on the SnapStream forums on using winlirc ir blasters with Snap Stream Beyond TV. Remember, I recommend the windows version of the ir blaster if you want the best compatibility with winlirc. Here is a direct shopping cart button for the windows version of the $12 RS232 IR blaster.

To summarize the procedure, Snap Steam Beyond TV can call an external channel change script by adding the a key to the registry. For example, this registry code causes SnapStream to call c:\winlirc\channel.cmd with an argument of the channel number on every channel change.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\snapstream media\EXETunerPlugin]
"Executable"="C:\\Winlirc\\channel.cmd"
"Arguments"="%CHANNEL%"

This same post on the SnapStream forum also has some info on using winlirc and IREX for an ir receiver. The IR Receivers from irblaster.info work well on both windows and linux so you can use them with this method.

irblaster.info products for car based computing

2008-01-28T20:07:00.001-08:00

There are several interesting posts over at mp3car.com on using irblaster.info products for car based computing. I recommend checking out this site if you are thinking of putting a pc in your vehicle.

SlingBox IR Blaster

2008-01-26T08:10:00.000-08:00

Do you need a replacement single or dual head ir blaster for your slingbox? Our tivo series of ir blasters with standard 1/8" mono plugs will do the trick! Consider the light up models for easier debug of your setup.

Why Insteon over X10?

2008-01-13T09:45:00.000-08:00

X10, Insteon, UPP, and ZigBee can all perform similar lighting control tasks. Irblaster.info prefers insteon for several reasons outlined in the insteon product comparison application note. In summary, here is what the note has to say:

INSTEON: Moderately priced, highly reliable Dual-mesh RF & Powerline technology
UPB: Expensive single-band technology
X10: Inexpensive but lacks the robustness, flexibility and reliability required by home-control applications
ZigBee & Z-Wave: Single-band (RF-only) wireless networks that require a network controller

Here's a youtube video of some MythTV/Lighting control integration:

Insteon IR Receiver

2008-01-07T18:50:00.000-08:00

The new Insteon IR Receiver will be available starting mid February to link your insteon devices to a universal ir remote control. You could also use it to link your pc to your insteon devices using one of our ir blasters instead of using an insteon usb or serial bridge.

The MSRP of this device is $100. As always, I can give much better insteon pricing on bundles so feel free to e-mail me a list of insteon equipment to get a price quote.

Also of note, if you don't mind running your insteon devices in X10 compatibility mode the X10 IR-543 is available today for $30 and is in stock and ready to ship. I have used the IR-543 on several projects to allow control of insteon lighting from the logictech harmony series of remote controls. Just e-mail me to order an IR-543. US shipping is still just $3.95/order.

Thanks,
mike /at/ irblaster /do/t info

HD Mediabox IR Receiver

2007-12-17T19:53:00.000-08:00

I was contacted a few weeks ago by Jeff in California about my Hauppage PVR-250 replacement IR Receiver cable. Apparently, some folks on the pixel magic forums for the HD Media box MB100 and MB200 figured out that the IR Receiver input on the back of their HD Media boxes was the same as that of the Hauppauge PVR-250 cable. Only problem is the PVR-250 cable is a 3/32" plug and the HD media cable is a 1/8" plug. Adapters to convert are generally available at Radio Shack for this type of thing, but I had my wire shop build up something for Jeff pretty quickly to try out the theory and save some adapters. Jeff informed me the solution worked great so I'll be offering these cables for sale to the general public for the same price as the PVR-250 version ($10 + shipping). I'll add a cart button soon. In the mean time, you can just e-mail me at mike at irblaster dot info to order.

Latest Home Theater Installation

2007-12-06T20:21:00.000-08:00

This picture is from the first test of our latest home theater installation.

This job used the following equipment available from irblaster.info:

In wall IR Repeater Kit

6 Button Insteon Keypad

3 Insteon Dimmer modules

X-10 IR-543 IR Receiver

Plus the following equipment from other sources:

1 Pair JBL HTI-8 In Wall Speakers

3 Pair JBL HTI-6 In Wal Speakers

Onkyo TX-SR575 7.1 Channel Receiver

EliteScreens R100WH 100" 16:9 Screen

Benq W500 3LCD Projector

All audio, video, and lighting systems are controlled via a logitech 880 universal remote control

Dell XPS All In One

2007-12-04T20:10:00.000-08:00

We have received reports that the standard tivo 1/8" plug IR Blasters work great with dell machines such as the XPS all in one that have standard ir blaster jacks.

SqueezeBox

2007-11-28T19:53:00.000-08:00

Doug from the UK wrote in to tell me:

Thank you,
I ordered two ir blasters, one serial and one 3.2 mm mini plug and they arrived in the UK safely.
In your sales pitch you don't mention it, but the 1/8" plug "tivo" type
ir blasters work well when connected to the head phone jack of the Squeezebox and
configured with a plugin to the slimserver software on my headless linux
music server to control the volume/power of my amplifier.
The serial one will probably be used with a sat receiver when I get
around to it.
Regards,
Doug.

Multi-Room IR Distribution Setup

2007-11-19T19:32:00.000-08:00

We have just added the ability to purchase extra in wall IR Receivers to go with the Quad IR Distribution kits. The extra receivers can be daisy chained to create advanced multi-room IR distribution setups. See these instructions for additional details.

New Cart, New Shipping Rates, & Google Checkout

2007-11-10T19:58:00.000-08:00

irblaster.info now has a new cart system to allow combined orders at just $3.95/order shipping. International shipping is calculated at checkout and will average around $4.95/order. The new checkout system also allows you to complete your order with either paypal or google checkout. Please e-mail mike@irblaster.info if you have any problems with the new system.

IR Blaster, IR Receiver, and Lighting control in one device

2007-11-08T18:37:00.000-08:00

Application note: Using the applied digital ocelot as an ir blaster, receiver, and lighting control instrument all in one simple unit.

The ocelot can be programmed to convert serial port commands to IR commands and X10 lighting control commands. Furthermore, the ocelot can be programmed to transfer received ir commands to serial commands.

Also, since the ocelot uses standard RS232 signalling it can be connected to the PC using a usb to serial adapter.

I will be adding sample code to help setup this system shortly.

The ocelot is available on the Special Order page for $199 and typically ships in less than 1 week. Custom programming is also available.

Help picking the right product

2007-10-26T17:41:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a page to help visitors to this site pick the right product for their application. So far, I have info on the blasters, receivers, and some of the distribution kits on the ir help page. I'm planning on adding more info shortly. Please let me know if you have any suggestions.

Linux Home Automation

2007-10-11T16:52:00.000-07:00

The author of Linux Smart Homes for Dummies has a great website that lists every linux home automation project imaginable. There are plenty of ir blaster and receiver related projects on there that look very interesting.

By Remote HIP Program and Win LIRC

2007-10-10T20:18:00.000-07:00

By Remote's HIP Program has a direct plugin for sending/receiving ir data through winlirc. The plugin can be found on their downloads page.
I have not tried this yet, but it definately looks interesting.

MythTV Issues/Features I'm following

2007-08-19T20:07:00.000-07:00

These are the MythTV issues/Features I'm most interested in right now:

MythTV Guide Data - Watching Schedules Direct for more info on their solution to this issue. Hopefully they will find a way to drop their pricing. Right now they are set at $15 / 3 months non-recurring. According to the FAQ they have a goal of $20/year.

MythTV Cable Card - Windows Media is going to support this - when will Myth?

Using MythTV with a firewire output from a cable box

Using a UPnP (universal Plug and Play) media box as a front end to play high definition content.

Beta Testers Wanted

2007-06-26T18:49:00.000-07:00

If you want to beta test a cabled IR Receiver + IR Blaster connected to a single DB9 please e-mail me at mike at irblaster dot info. So far I have had a few peple try them out with good success, but I want some more trials before I make this a generally available product. The cost of the unit is $30 + shipping. As always, if you are not satisfied you can return the device no questions asked (see the FAQ for more details on this policy).