In the past I've been using a laptop combined with Marantz RC5000i as an IR emitter to learn all my discretes into non PC programmable remotes. This works fabulously especially since most of the IR profiles out there are in .ccf format. I've also built quite an extensive colletion of .ccfs that typically require a Pronto or Marantz remote to use.

However, the RC5000i I've been using is a company resource that I will lose this week as I am now subcontracting and will require all my own resources. Rather than trying to find another RC5000i/5200 or a Pronto as a cheap replacement, it occurred to me that I have an IR data port on my Toshiba M30-YSJ laptop.

It occurred to me that it might be possible to use the IR port as an emitter rather than an actual remote. Has anyone attempted this or is anyone aware of software that allows you to use the IR port for such an activity. I know the range/strength of the blaster will be significantly less than that of an actual remote, but for close range learning of commands and testing I believe it should function acceptably. (I've used my Palm Tungsten 3 before and it suffices)

This would solve the other conflict with COM ports that I run into periodically. Since my laptop (and it seems virtually every laptop these days) lacks an actual serial lOlO port, I use a USP to serial adapter. Unfortunately since the Marantz Touch Screen Setup software defaults to look on COM 1 for the remote and is apparently not assignable I run into conflicts. My onboard modem defaults to COM 1 and even though I change it to COM 6 in the hardware profile, it periodically defaults back to COM 1.

TIA

-Neil

I have seen this question asked before and answered with a resounding NO. The computer port uses a different kind of standard, I believe called IdDA, which is designed for very short-range two-way communication of lots of data. Remotes are little bits of data at a time intended to go quite a distance. Something about the usage, or perhaps just the way the system started out, makes it incompatible with remote control codes.

I would go to ebay and keep searching for a 5000i. I was in your boat once, with no remote, when I had to eat a refurbished Pronto TS1000. It was the best $200 I was ever forced into spending, because I have created at least a hundred different working component ccfs with it, and these can be used with any level of Pronto or Pronto-derived remote since all the programs can import TS1000 ccfs.

If you are looking for a learning tool, I would recommend you go to a TS1000; I saw a post yesterday listing a site where rebuilts could be bought for about $150 (if I remember correctly). I only recommend it over the Marantz because there are sometimes problems using panels built in the Marantz software on Prontos, but you can always use a Pronto panel in the Marantz software.

The BIG advantage the Marantzes had over the older Prontos was the BACK command, and I think all the new Prontos have that. That doesn't matter for the purposes you are describing anyway.

A search of ebay shows that TS1000s have gone for $65 - $110 recently, and at least three are up for sale now, one with a "Buy it now" of $110.00.


On 09/10/04 07:00 ET, AVIntegration said...

Actually, you can only be discrete once. That's what it means, after all.