Best posts made by 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 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