Quite a few years ago(circa 1994) I got a OneForAll 12(URC 5000) which has a 3 pin serial(RS-232) interface. I used this with my MS windows machine and some software(IRDC/pcir) to tell the remote to issue IR commands to control my A/V systems. Shortly after getting the little beast I moved and so ended up not using it much. I recently dusted the thing off and much to my suprise it still works! So I have decided to see if I can put it to use again!

Anyhow I went hunting on the web for info about the remote to see what was new, and found the IRDC web site at -> [Link: home.inforamp.net] which says that the software now also handles other OFA remotes, namely

URC-2005: ONE FOR ALL 5
URC-4000: ONE FOR ALL 6
URC-4005: ONE FOR ALL 6
URC-4050: ONE FOR ALL 6
URC-5000: ONE FOR ALL 12
URC-6050: ONE FOR ALL 8
15-1919: RADIO SHACK 6 in 1 RF

Anyone know if any of these are still being sold, or if there is a supply of them around somewhere?

I'm interested in porting the code over to Linux(being that is what I use now). I am also interested in knowing if any of the new models have more upto date codes. Anyone know if the three pin interface is used on any newer remotes? The 15-1919 looks like the newest remote on the above list, but I don't think they will have codes from my PVR's!

Is it possible to add codes to any of these remotes?

Thanks for any help!

If you're not familiar with the work ongoing with an interface to the 6-pin connector on newer OFA remotes, see [Link: hifi-remote.com] Schematics and instructions are provided for the construction of an interface box, and beta software is available. Through this interface we can read and write the EEPROM storage and add upgrade codes to the remotes. We cannot interact with the remote's processor to simulate button presses and stimulate IR transmissions.

But you know what, if there was a demand for controlling the remote from the PC, I bet Mr. HW Hackr could figure out how to do it.

Rob.

I wonder if there is any similarity between the older 3 pin interface and the "new" six pin one? Is any of the command set/protocol the same?

Don't know about anyone else, but I sure would be interested in getting a six pin remote to send IR based on commands from the computer. Especially if I could store the codes on the computer and then just send them to the remote when needed.

The 3 pin protocol is based on:

COMMUNICATION SEQUENCE

HOST REMOTE CONTROL

DTR high
BRK (50 ms min) ----> {wake up, turn on LED yellow}
wait for WAK} <---- WAK (06Eh)

SEX (0BCh) ----> {set Serial Execute mode, LED off}
{wait for SAK} <---- SAK (06Fh)

KCC (see below) ----> {execute Keycode Command normally}
wait for echo} <---- KCC for last Keycode executed

DTR low {power down}
{wait 200 ms}

Keycodes are a single byte.

With the 3-pin interface you were communicating with the microcontroller in the remote, and could issue commands and keycodes to it. With the 6-pin interface, the microcontroller is slammed into a reset state and we mess with it's EEPROM while it's out cold. When it wakes up the EEPROM has a good checksum and it doesn't know it's been altered.
A hacker could build an interface that would simulate button presses on the remote by closing solid-state switches on the key matrix, but it wouldn't be through the 6-pin interface. A more sophisticated interface box would be required also.

Just got an email from EIC, they say the URC-8800 and URC-9800 both have the serial port interface. Do any of you have these remotes? Do they have a three pin interface? This means either of these remotes should be controlable from a computer!!!

Those model numbers are for the Producer 8 remotes and they have the same 6-pin interface as the other remotes that we are hacking.

Rob.

I wonder if the same pins can also be used to talk to the processor when it's not shutdown for EEPROM interaction.