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Can iPronto be used via RF?
This thread has 11 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Thursday April 15, 2004 at 16:05
Ernie Bornn-Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
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I am working with a client who bought two TSU6000s and two iProntos for a spec house she has remodeled.

We want to load the TSU6000 programs, modified however needed, into the iPronto. The size of the place and the number of locations from which we use the 6000s demands that we use the RF approach.

Does that one fact turn the iPronto into a doorstop for this house?
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 2 made on Thursday April 15, 2004 at 16:53
Barry Gordon
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yes, but you need the additional NetX device which converts the RF signals to IR. I know of now way that the iPronto will talk to a component that has an rf remote. I am getting such a component soon and may play around.
OP | Post 3 made on Friday April 16, 2004 at 11:41
Ernie Bornn-Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
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Barry,
thanks for the response.

I do not know what NetX device you are talking about, as I am new to the networking side of things.

I get really picky when I am trying to describe technical things, so I have to ask these questions --

The NetX device "converts the RF signals to IR." Okay; what RF signals? I do not see any device anywhere that makes RF signals that can be converted to IR. Does the iPronto put out RF and Philips just did not tell us? Does the iPronto send info out on its wireless card when you use the remote control functions, and THIS is the RF you are talking about?

I assure you, though, that I am not trying to have an RF signal from any remote talk directly to an RF receiving part of a component. I am trying to get the IR info to a Pronto-type RF to IR converter such as the RX77, exactly as you would do with a TSU6000. In fact, since the system I am using has two TSU6000s that talk to an RX77, that is EXACTLY what I want to do.

But...please let me know what the NetX device is.

Thanks.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 4 made on Friday April 16, 2004 at 12:28
wattsn
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The NTX6400 (NetX) is a WiFi IR extender which allows to enhance the capabilities of the networked home. Designed for the iPronto, it extends the control beyond the line of sight and into multiple rooms. Using a wireless home network, iPronto can use NetX to control your A/V and Home Control devices from virtually any location in the home.


Control AV devices that are not in line of sight

A NetX can receive Infrared (IR) control commands via 802.11b signal that iPronto sends through the wireless network. NetX can output those commands either by using the built-in IR blaster, or by using one of the four IR emitters that are included.

Control AV devices remotely in multiple rooms -

By placing a NetX in another room, you can control the devices in that room without leaving your seat.

Multiple NetXs are addressable in your wireless home network

Each NetX can be given a unique name, and can be addressed separately by one or more iProntos in the network.

Note: To be able to use and configure the network extender, you need to make use of iProntoEdit 2.1 and your iPronto needs to be running firmware version 1.4.5 or higher



The iPronto talks to the netX via RF (Not wi-fi). Wi-fi is only used to set the netX (or multiple netX's) up on the network, and for addressing purposes, not for sending the commands to be converted to IR.

HTH
Post 5 made on Friday April 16, 2004 at 12:35
Barry Gordon
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Ernie, Wattsn is correct. Here is what I sent you

The NetX is to the iPronto as the RX77 is to the TSU6000. The iPronto has the ability to make the global choice as to whether it is to use IR or RF. It is for the ipronto as a whole, every device programmed into the iPronto.

I do not believe that the NetX and the RX77 are compatible, I suspect not. They may use different encoding etc. The netX can be found as the Philips NetX if you search the web. I think the price is somewhere around $300. I had one but returned it as it did not do what I wanted. The Netx also "plugs" into a wireless ethernet network (wi-fi). It is configured by the iProntoEdit software vis the network since a PC does not issue RF other than as Ethernet protocol (wi-fi) and the iPronto communicates with it for some tasks (mostly setup) as an IP device on the wireless network. iProntoEdit also talks to the iPronto in the same manner for purposes of downloading to the iPronto

When the iPronto is communicating with the NetX to direct the netX to send IR codes, I believe it does that using a wireless protocol that is similar to that used by the RX77, but I suspect not the same.

Hope the above helps

OP | Post 6 made on Sunday April 18, 2004 at 00:49
Ernie Bornn-Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
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Barry,
thanks for the information. I bet all this is explained somewhere else...or maybe not! Knowing this site, you are probably one of a few who have figured this out on your own time, with little support from Philips.

As for whether the netx communicates with the same protocol as the RX-77, that would only be an issue if I wanted to try to use an RX-77 with it...and I'll give it a try...no use not trying the stupid thing that probably won't work, because if it does, what a boon!

I don't really care if the darn thing uses smoke signals as long as it can be done.

Thanks again.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 7 made on Sunday April 18, 2004 at 06:09
wattsn
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"It is for the ipronto as a whole, every device programmed into the iPronto."

That is not true. You program IR or RF communication on a per device basis, NOT for the iPronto as a whole. Also, if you create an RF device and then simply link buttons on another device to ones on the RF device you can mix IR and RF buttons on the same device/page. It is very flexible and works very well. Also easy to set up.
Post 8 made on Sunday April 18, 2004 at 16:03
Barry Gordon
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Wattsn, You are correct. I was thinking of the channel advance hard keys which are for the iPronto as a whole. If I am wrong there let me know, but I am pretty darn sure. I do not know what Philips were thinking when they made the channel advance hard keys global!

Post 9 made on Monday April 19, 2004 at 02:05
harmelzinga
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Ernie,

Your conclusion philips has little support is not completely correct.

The is quite some support on their internet site: (www.pronto.philips.com)

Regards, Harm
Post 10 made on Tuesday April 27, 2004 at 09:40
Dave Houston
RF Expert
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On 04/18/04 00:49, Ernie Bornn-Gilman said...

I don't really care if the darn thing uses smoke
signals as long as it can be done.

If there is a wired LAN for the iPronto to communicate with, look at the Global Cachè GC-100.
  • [Link: globalcache.com]
    It is a network (wired) device that has multiple IR outputs.
  • OP | Post 11 made on Wednesday April 28, 2004 at 14:28
    Ernie Bornn-Gilman
    Yes, That Ernie!
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    On 04/27/04 09:40, Dave Houston said...
    If there is a wired LAN for the iPronto to communicate
    with,

    That IF is exactly the issue here.

    This is a spec house up for sale. There are phone lines and a proper amount of CAT5 wiring to HOME from different rooms, but no network. I need to know what to get JUST to make it possible to program and use the iPronto in the house.
    A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
    "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
    Post 12 made on Wednesday April 28, 2004 at 15:25
    Dave Houston
    RF Expert
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    On 04/28/04 14:28, Ernie Bornn-Gilman said...

    That IF is exactly the issue here.

    From Barry's comments in another thread, I'm now not at all sure that the wired LAN can be used and that means you cannot use the GC-100.

    Since the NTX6400 uses an IP address and is configured by the iPronto, I suspect the iPronto sets up a peer-to-peer WiFi link to a specific NTX6400 to send IR.

    Instead of peer-to-peer I should have used the term ad hoc. In infrastructure mode, 802.11B units need a WAP or wireless router. In ad hoc mode, units communicate directly. The iPronto probably uses ad hoc mode when sending codes to NTX6400 units.

    That probably means you need an NTX6400 at each remote point where you need IR.

    This message was edited by Dave Houston on 04/30/04 10:11.


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