Building an IR Blaster

[steets250]

IMPORTANT: After forum data loss deleting half of this topic I recreated a newer and updated topic intro. If you haven't read this topic before, I recommend starting here: http://forum.mysensors.org/topic/146/building-an-ir-blaster/50

After discovering that I could create an IR device using MySensors, I wondered if I would use this as a substitute to SQ Blaster, iTACH, or USB-UIRT.

I tossed together an Arduino Nano, the NRF24L01, and an IR LED. I then created a simple program based to see what I could do with the IR device, and if I could get the Vera to use the Arduino as an IR transmitter.

Here is the program: I got rid of the # because it made the text a weird size in the forum.

include <Sensor.h>
include <SPI.h>
include <EEPROM.h>
include <RF24.h>

define ID 1
Sensor gw;

void setup()
{
gw.begin();
gw.sendSensorPresentation(ID, S_IR);
}

void loop()
{
delay(10000); // Wait 10 seconds
}

After adding the Arduino to the gateway, I encountered a problem. As soon as I add the IR device to Vera, the whole MySensors plugin glitches out, preventing all of my sensors from working. The first picture shows what the IR device looks like right after I add it, and then 20 seconds later, the second picture shows what happens until I delete the IR device from Vera.

Does anybody know what I am doing wrong? Thanks for your help!!

Steven

[hek]

No device files exist for the IR device on vera. This needs to be developed by someone. You could use some other device type for controlling your arduino blaster, like a normal light switch.

[steets250]

This post is deleted!

[steets250]

@hek I was looking through Vera's Luup files and I saw D_IrDevice1.xml, D_IrTransmitter1.xml, S_IrDevice1.xml, and S_IrTransmitter1.xml. Would I be able to use these?

I am also checking out the SQ Blaster plugin to see if I can change it.

Thanks for the response!

[steets250]

Quick update: I was unable to get the SQ Blaster plugin to work. Still looking for some more options.

Quick question: Why does my sensors have a S_IR option for device presentation if it doesn't work with vera??

I really don't want to pay $90 for a wired IR blaster when I have a cheap, wireless one all built...

[hek]

The plan a few months ago was to offer some sort of IR-device in Vera. But I never came around building it (because I couldn't find a way to create a dynamic "remote"-like UI). Maybe someone else has an idea on how to do this and could create it?

[steets250]

@hek It doesn't look like you have to create a remote ui, as Vera is able to do that for you. If you look at the SQ-Blaster and iTach plugins, they only connect the blaster to the Vera, and don't have a ui. All they have to do is show up as an IR blaster on Vera, and then the remote UI is created by individual TV devices, created on Vera. (Devices, Add Device, IR Device)

I gave the SQ Blaster plugin a test run to see what it did.

Plugin uses urn:schemas-micasaverde-com:device:IrTransmitter:1 as the device_type.

Here are a few images demonstrating that:
Plugin itself does not require remote UI. (Shows no info because I did not connect an SQ Blaster.) The plugin has nothing to be setup besides the IP address of the SQ Blaster.

Remotes are created on Vera using built-in setup menu.

Vera contains hundreds of remote codes to create remotes for different IR devices. I created an example Sony TV. (Different button menus located on the left).

Button layouts and codes can also be changed based on individual needs. (I was not able to test this because of not having an actual IR blaster to use.)

I hope this clarifies what is needed to create an IR blaster device in Vera.

I wish I could create this code myself and post it, but I have absolutely no Luup knowledge (hopefully that will change soon)

Thanks for replying!
Steven

[BulldogLowell]

@steets250

This will be a good one! One need only consider the cost of the alternatives.

great job of working this through!

[gregl]

Hi Steven ,

Standing by to see how you get on... i do have one use case for this type of IR send device, so pls keep us updated/ask for help as you need!

Greg (mgf909)

[gregl]

Hey Steven,
I was searching on mcv forum, and found this..Click Here!!! - thought it may contain some good info for you!

[hek]

Problems I found when investigating this earlier.

1. The IR codes (from the xml-files) is too large to fit in one message. They need to be splitted into 2-3 parts. The Pronto-codes also needs to be converted into something usable by the Arduino library. If a checksum is calculated they could perhaps be stored on the Arduino-side in EEPROM after transmission and be "executed" by just sending checksum to trigger IR-transmission.
2. Blaster is only one-way. We might want to receive remote commands back to vera also right? Learn-mode?

SQBlaster plugin code http://code.mios.com/trac/mios_sqblaster/browser/trunk

I would be really happy if someone could pursue this and provide a PR.

[naveen]

This would be really cool and a great alternative to the 200$ SQBlaster, good luck!

[steets250]

@gregl Thanks for the link! It helps to be able to create custom IR codes, should help with Hek's problem.

@hek Would it be possible to store the IR codes on the Arduino and have them transmitted locally? Using GREGL's custom device creation, the xml could transmit a two or three-digit code that is then matched to a larger code in the Arduino.

If the received message = 001, then transmit the code. Each number represents a different remote button.

Problem or learning codes can be solved using an IR reciever, like http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2049727. Codes can be printed to the Serial and then copied into the Arduino's code.

Thank you!

[BulldogLowell]

@steets250 said:

@hek Would it be possible to store the IR codes on the Arduino and have them transmitted locally? Using GREGL's custom device creation, the xml could transmit a two or three-digit code that is then matched to a larger code in the Arduino.

If the received message = 001, then transmit the code. Each number represents a different remote button.

That's it!

If there are a lot of long codes, you may have a problem with memory. Look into PROGMEM if you are not already familiar with it, and store all the codes in flash.

[steets250]

A quick code that I made that should be able to work with MySensors, I just need S_IR to be set up. Any news, @hek ??

#include <IRremote.h>
#include <Sensor.h>
#include <SPI.h>
#include <EEPROM.h>
#include <RF24.h>
#define ID 1

Sensor gw;

int recvLED = 13;
int numberBtns = 34; //The number of entries in irRECIEVE.
IRsend irsend;

const unsigned long irTRANSMIT[] = {
0xA3C8EDDB, //Power
0xA3C8EDDB, //Volume Up
//Insert other codes.
};

void setup()
{
pinMode(recvLED, OUTPUT);
digitalWrite(recvLED, LOW);

gw.begin();
gw.sendSketchInfo("IR Sender and Reciever", "1.0");
gw.sendSensorPresentation(ID, S_IR);
}

void loop() {

unsigned long recv_value;

if (gw.messageAvailable()) {
message_s message = gw.getMessage();

if (message.header.type==V_IR_SEND) {
recv_value = atoi(message.data);
irsend.sendSony(irTRANSMIT[recv_value], 1);
Serial.println(recv_value);
}
}
}

[hek]

@steets250 said:

A quick code that I made that should be able to work with MySensors, I just need S_IR to be set up. Any news, @hek ??

News? Me? :) Sorry..
Someone need to create/design a new "urn:schemas-arduino-cc:device:ArduinoIr:1"- device on the Vera side. As I said earlier I would be glad if someone else looked into this as I'm working on other parts right now.

[steets250]

@hek I think I may have just found a solution!! (Or I might have done something useless).

I the L_Arduino.lua, you have IR = {20, "urn:schemas-arduino-cc:device:ArduinoIr:1", "D_ArduinoIr1.xml", "IR "},

I simply changed it to IR = {20, "urn:schemas-arduino-cc:device:ArduinoIr:1", "D_IrTransmitter1.xml", "IR "},

and I updated the plugin. Now see what happens when I present S_IR:

And, when I create an IR device:

.

MySensors doesn't crash like before, and all I had to do was change D_ArduinoIr1.xml to D_IrTransmitter.xml.

My next problem is that I can't get the Arduino to serial printout the IR message that it is receiving. I have this program set up (simplified version that I posted before):

#include <Sensor.h>
#include <SPI.h>
#include <EEPROM.h>
#include <RF24.h>
#define ID 2

Sensor gw;

void setup()
{
gw.begin();
gw.sendSketchInfo("IR Transmitter", "1.0");
gw.sendSensorPresentation(ID, S_IR);
}

void loop() {

if (gw.messageAvailable()) {
message_s message = gw.getMessage();
Serial.print(message.data);
}
}

Seeing that I am not familiar as to how messages are sent from Vera to Arduino, I am not sure if there is something that I am missing.

Thanks for your help!

P.S. If you do not have time to further look into this, is there anyone else that would be able to help me with this? I saw that you mentioned that you are working on other things currently.

[gregl]

@steets250 said:

recv_value = atoi(message.data);

atoi means asci to int

so i presume if you are getting something back its just a number?

I had same issue, again in heater sketch.
http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,24588.msg170887.html#msg170887

try:
Serial.print(message.data);

And see why you get... if its the data you expected then you should be able to use it directly???

[steets250]

@gregl Thanks for the correction, but still no serial data. I changed the code in my previous comment to reflect your suggestion. I will have to see what Hek says. I have a feeling that the Vera is not sending a message back to the Arduino.

[BulldogLowell]

@steets250 said:

P.S. If you do not have time to further look into this, is there anyone else that would be able to help me with this? I saw that you mentioned that you are working on other things currently.

try to use a simple binary switch first

try to use a change of state:

 if (gw.messageAvailable())

to then trigger a get:

gw.getStatus(CHILD_ID, V_VAR1);

vera side, send a new variable to V_VAR1 (variable 1) and then toggle the switch

once you grab the number in the arduino,, toggle the switch off and you are ready for the next command