Being a PS3 owner using the PS2 USB dongle solution, I would love full IR control of the PS3 similar to the bluetooth remote. I have had to use the USB dongle for 3 installations so far, and I hate having to give them such limited use of the PS3. But it beats giving them a custom T2-C and the Sony remote separately.

Please offer us an affordable custom solution.

Well, no power control...and have you been able to reliably get these remote commands to work in a third party remote or panel? I've never had a single device defeat me until I met this POS.

I for one would be VERY interested.. i have turned down a great many PS3 units a Blu-ray due to decent control options!

Hi everyone,

Daniel Tonks started that thread on my behalf. I first contacted him in mid November to explain that I designed a gismo to fully control PS3 with IR remote. My question was: Is there any interest for such product? His answer was: "At minimum I'd love to get one for myself!".

So I did my homework. My proto was put to test for a month. Wife and kids are controlling DVD playback with the Harmony 880 IR remote and they love it. Family is now back to ONE remote that controls all the features of my home theater system, as it should be. And this includes the PS3.

I’m very well aware of USB solutions. First problem for me was the unavailability here in Canada and second problem was the bug reports I saw here and there on forums. So my solution is not based on a USB dongle.

The big questions everyone is probably asking themselves, how was it done? My solution is simple; the best way to control the PS3 is with the native PS3 remote (see ). Sony will always guaranty full functionality with there own products. So how can I extend the BlueTooth functionality and add the IR capability, in short create an IR to BlueTooth converter for PS3. So what I did is to integrate in the Sony PS3 remote an IR receiver plus small embedded CPU that will decode the IR stream (I used the standard PS2 coding, probably known by all programmable remotes) and next simulate the key press. This ‘add on’ circuit is embodied in the PS3 remote. In the front of the remote a small hole is done to expose the IR receiver. On the side of the remote a type M jack is added to allow permanent external 3V power supply to be used. The ‘add on’ circuit doesn’t interfere at all with the keypad functionality of the remote. With this, you now have a bi-mode remote: BlueTooth + IR. You can see this solution as a bridge between IR and BlueTooth. The only keys I can’t address are the four RED, GREEN, BLUE, and YELLOW keys because there are no discrete PS2 IR codes for those, at least for Logitech.

I'll put on the side the 3V Power jack because for permanent integration it makes big sense. Moreover during my test I realized very quickly that when BlueTooth is active between the Sony PS3 remote and the PS3 it can drain the batteries in a month. So for integrators it is a must. The 3V Power Supply + the type M jack are available at Radio Shack/The Source.

My proto phase is completed and I'm ready to order PCBs and parts. With my first minimal order I'll have 162 small PCBs to start with! Parts can be order in smaller quantities.

So my offer is the following:

- You own the Sony PS3 remote; I modify it for you: 30$/remote.

- You don't own one; you buy one, and next I modify it for you: 30$/remote.

- I buy the remote for you and I modify it for you: PS3 remote street price $? + 30$/remote. You save one way shipping in this case.

- You have VERY WELL TRAINED electronic assembler available (I mean it, very small fine pitch components need to be soldered inside the remote), I provide the instructions + the ready to use circuit: 20$/circuit. BTW to open the PS3 remote is not as easy as it looks; I had to design a tool to efficiently and safely open the remote.

- The modification on my side will be done by a very well trained production technician. I'll conduct myself the programming of the ‘add on’ and will also does a small test after the mod. It is not a 5 minutes job, which explains the 30$/remote.

- Shipping in/out is not part of my pricing.

- I’ll address only the Canadian market to start. At the moment I have no clue how to address the custom/border/brokers issues. But I’ll document myself on this. Comments are welcome.

- Payment method to be confirmed.

- Availability is for early January 2008.

- 3 months warranty.


Please understand that this is an aftermarket thing. It will not become a Google business, :( for me. I first did this to address a need I had for my personal setup. With the replies I saw in this thread so far and the response I had with few integrators here in Montreal I see that there is a small market for my device. I know that sooner or later a major will have a ready to go device that will do exactly what I achieved. In the mean time, I’m there and ready to share.

BTW, to achieve all this I had to buy an emulator to debug the code on my CPU and a Digital Sampling Oscilloscope was a must to understand the protocol I had to implement. This is not necessarily easily accessible to everyone. I don’t think this is a DIY project. But I’m 100% certain I’ll be copied or somebody else will have the same idea, if not, I’m feeding the idea here.

On a final note, I’ll do my best to provide to Daniel Tonks a modified remote before the end of 2007 so he can review it and say if it’s a go or not.

If you are interested in my offer, please post at: [email protected]. I’ll be able to established accurate demands and order right amount of components. And also prepare myself business wise. Hope I’ll hear from you PS3 owners.

Regards,
Ben

[email protected]

Hi Ben

why use the PS2 and not something more standard that could have more codes so that it also has the extra 4 codes for the colour buttons

I used what was defined for the PS3 in the Logitech database, recall that my remote is a Harmony 880. It was the shortest path for the proof of concept. Unfortunately the Logitech SW don't allow end customer to forge a code. This feature would be a good one I believe. In my previous exchange with Daniel I asked about other remotes, please let me quote him here:

"Re portability - that's a good question. For any computer programmable remotes this won't be an issue, since codes will already exist or can be easily added. I also expect that most current preprogrammed databases will have Sony PS2 codes due to the age and popularity of the PS2 DVD system, although I honestly can't be certain about this."

If an existing IR remote do have similar (identical) keymap as the Sony PS3 BD remote than I should use it. Someone can point me one? As I wrote only RED, GREEN, BLUE, and YELLOW keys are not address. So far I haven't seen the situation where they are required. Anyone can correct me on this? The Nyko Blu-Wave don't have these buttons also, so I didn't bother.

For me it is a mather of decoding the stream, use the right 'Look Up Table' and simulate the corresponding key.

On a final note, I can only produce the BlueTooth code that the Sony PS3 BD remote can produce, 51 buttons == 51 BlueTooth code.

Ben

It's my understanding that those buttons are designated for "future use" with media interactivity not currently supported on Bluray disks. So right now, they have no function.

To back up a bit: Your solution is to install a IR receiver within the Sony developed PS3 remote. Route IR commands through a CPU that translates the IR code into some usable input for the remote. That is then transmitted by the remote via Bluetooth to the PS3? So, the end result is that you keep your PS3 remote in the rack say beside the PS3 with the IR receiver pointed into your room...correct?

That's correct. The Sony PS3 remote is in the rack powered by 3V supply and you forget about it. The IR remote of your choice (that can be programmed to handle PS2 codes) now control the PS3.

For the RGBY keys if someone or myself can create the code I'll handle them.

Don't forget that in a rackmount situation using an RF universal remote you could simply have the modified PS3 remote hidden behind everything with an IR emitter stuck on it and the power supply plugged in for an invisible, no-fuss solution.

I was meaning to ask Ben how he handled commands that weren't covered by the normal Sony PS2 codeset, so I took a look at how the PS2 command set actually works.

* For all normal DVD commands (Play/Stop/Chapter/etc) it actually uses the STANDARD Sony Code 1 DVD command set.

* For special PS2 functions (Circle/Square/L1/L2/etc) it uses a different device code.

So, by default, all PS2 DVD remotes use stock Sony DVD player commands. I tried out my official PS2 remote on my old single disc Sony DVD player upstairs, and it worked.

For functions not covered by the stock DVD code, such as the Red/Green/Blue/Yellow codes, I would recommend to Ben that he just uses some other unrelated functions from Sony DVD Code 1. Off the top of my head, it would be simple to use Disc 1/Disc 2/Disc 3/Disc 4. But just make sure it's a part of DVD Code 1 and it won't conflict with anything else.

sorry if I did not make myself clear. What I meant is that there are many devices with more codes then the PS2 remote. Using some other device your chip could receive those codes and then map them to what is needed.

In that case, why worry about a receiver at all? A 3.5 mm stereo IR input jack would work too. It's probably cheaper and it's easier to connect.

That sounds more like an commerical solution...meaning CI based. The IR receiver would be a more general solution for everybody (mainly for those without base stations).

An IR-in jack was, in fact, discussed, but it would end up being for CIs only, and at this point I figured it'd be easier for him to only have to build one design. :-)

The Sony BDP-S300 Blu-Ray player has colour keys on its remote, so why not use those codes?

Well, those would use the Sony BD codeset, and I don't know if it's a wise idea to cross-link codesets like that (so now the remote conflicts with DVD *and* BD players).