The local Australian ADI distributor does not seem to have the Ocelot IR Reciever - is there any easy way to make this your self? I.e. I have got a lot of old equipment that has IR Recievers built in - could I pull this component out, attach some wires and the little mono plug and make it work????

Cheers, Cam

I use it from TV, but You need a stereo jack - ground, power supply and signal wires.

Cammo,

The Ocelot needs an active low, open collector signal. All of the IR receivers modules that I've salvaged from old equipment, were active high and not open collector. If you're handy with a soldering iron, it's simple enough to convert it to open collector, with one transistor and a resistor.

Be aware that the external IR receiver jack is "wire or'd" with the internal IR receiver. So if there is any chance of the two receivers seeing different IR signals at the same time, you'll get the logical or, of the two and that will prevent recognition.

John Galvin

Thanks for the information John

I think I can handle connecting a transistor and a resistor no problem - what are the details on these? Would there be any limit to the length of wire that you use for the reciever?

Cheers, Cam

Cam,

After verifying that the module you're going to use is active high, non open collector, connect up the output of the receiver module through a 1K ohm resistor, to the base of a general purpose npn transistor. Connect the emitter of the npn transistor, along with the ground connection from the receiver module, to the middle conductor of a 3.5mm stereo plug. Connect the collector of the npn transistor to the tip conductor of the stereo plug. Hook up the +5V connection of the receiver module to the remaining conductor on the 3.5mm plug.

That's all there is to it. It wouldn't hurt to plug in the 3.5mm stereo plug before you wire it up and satisfy yourself that what I've described, makes sense. After that, unplug it, wire it up, double check your work and plug it in. Should work no problem.

John Galvin

Thanks again John - this all makes sense, and seems pretty straight forward. I think I will give it a try!

Is there an easy way of confirming that the reciever module is active high, non open collector?

Cheers, Cam

Cam,

Once you've identified which leads are +5V and gnd, apply power to the module. Look at the output lead with a voltmeter. If it's close to gnd and pulses high on reception of IR, then that is active high, non open collector. If it doesn't pulse high, it's probably open collector. Attach a 1K pullup resistor between the output lead and the +5V lead. If the output is now high and pulses low on reception of IR, then that module is already open collector, active low. In that case, you can connect the output lead directly to the Ocelot, with no need for the transistor.

John Galvin